Thomas Jewel Greathouse
Sex: M
Individual Information
Birth: 24 Jun 1912 - Kansas City, Jackson, MO 866
Christening:
Death: 4 May 1945 - At Sea, Okinawa, Japan 867
Burial:
Cause of Death: died at sea
Events
• He appeared on the census in 1920 in Kansas City, Jackson, MO. 456 Listed with Oscar Greathouse.
Parents
Father: Oscar Columbus Greathouse (1872-1946)
Mother: Lillie Dell Davis (1885-1916)
Spouses and Children
1. *Nora Blanch Ring (27 Sep 1913 - 29 Jul 1987)
Marriage: 17 Jan 1931 - , Jackson, MO 868
Children:
1. Private
Notes
Birth Notes:
Father: Oscar Greathouse, age 41, b. Osceola, MO, ironworker.Death Notes:
Mother, Lillie Davis, age 27, b. Osceola, MO, housewife, 2 children, 2 living
Died At Sea In Military Service off the cost of Okinawa.General:
Died aboard the U.S.S. Luce on May 4, 1945. Excerpts from letter to his wife, Mrs Blanche Greathouse dated 27 July 1945.
The ship had been assigned a hazardous but very important task, and was on this duty early in the morning of May 4, about thirty miles west of Okinawa, when many enemy planes were seen approaching. Although some of these planes were shot down by our aircraft, and the ship was fully ready and firing with all its guns, a Japanese plane succeeded in coming in and attacking the ship. For several minutes after the ship was hit, we continued shooting at other planes. We believe that the damage might not be fatal to the ship, but suddenly it began to go over and went down rapidly at about 8:15 am, carrying many of the crew with it. Other ships in the vicinity immediately came to our assistance, and picked up the survivors as quickly as possible. In view of the excellent weather conditions, it is felt certain that every survivor was picked up at this time; however, ships remained in the area and made a thorough search but found no additional men.
Your husband's regular battle station was #3 - 5 inch gun crew. Thomas' calm and efficient work under the strain of enemy action on previous occasions contributed greatly to making that gun a thoroughly dependable unit of the ship's company. We know this was the case the morning the ship was sunk. However, as this station was in the vicinity of the hit, we believe that Thomas was killed instantly as there were no survivors from this station.
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