James Harkness Jr.
James Harkness Jr. was born 1919 in Missouri. His father was James P. Harkness (1886–1946) and his mother was Florence Ellen Watkins (1888–1920). He had two brothers: George and Ralph and two sisters: Florence and Pearl. In 1920, according to the Federal Census, the family lived at 1636 Spruce Street in Kansas City Missouri. By 1930, the family was living in Shawnee Kansas. James enlisted in the Navy in about 1935.
James was mustered aboard the USS Atlanta (CL-51). His service number was 3420205. The USS Atlanta was laid down on 22-Apr 1940 at Kearny, N.J., by the Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company and launched on 6 September 1941. The ship was sponsored by Mrs. John R. Marsh (better known by her pen name, Margaret Mitchell, the author of the novel Gone With the Wind) and commissioned at the New York Navy Yard on 24-Dec 1941, Capt. Samuel P. Jenkins in command.
The Atlanta was the first of a new class of ships originally conceived as destroyer flotilla leaders, but which came to be employed as particularly effective antiaircraft cruisers. The Atlanta has had multiple sister ships, including the USS Juneau, USS San Diego, USS San Juan, USS Oakland, USS Reno, USS Flint, and the USS Tucson. The USS Juneau and USS Atlanta were sunk during the same battle and lie nearby in the Solomon Islands in a area known as “Iron Bottom Sound.”.
After fitting out, USS Atlanta conducted shakedown training until 13-Mar 1942, first in Chesapeake Bay and then in Maine’s Casco Bay, after which she returned to the New York Navy Yard for post-shakedown repairs and alterations. Reaching Pearl Harbor on 13-Jun 1942, outside of a brief period of antiaircraft practice in late June, she remained in port, taking on stores and provisions and standing on 24-hour and then 48-hour alert into July 1942.
The USS Atlanta then sailed to the Solomon Islands.
On 13-Nov 1942, the Atlanta took part in the initial night action of the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal. Rear Admiral Norman Scott used the Atlanta as his flagship. In a brutal fight the USS Atlanta, was mortally damaged by Japanese gunfire and torpedoes. During the engagement, Rear Admiral Scott, commander of the task force was killed in action when the bridge of his flagship, the light cruiser USS Atlanta, was inadvertently struck by gunfire from Rear Admiral Daniel Judson Callaghan flagship, the heavy cruiser USS San Francisco. These shell hits together with an enemy torpedo mortally damaged the Atlanta. Ultimately, at 2015 hours on 13-Nov 1942, USS Atlanta (CL-51) sank three miles west of Lunga Point in 30 fathoms. One 172 of her men were killed and 103 were wounded.
James Harkness Jr. was Missing in Action and later classified as Killed in Action during this battle on 13-Nov 1942.
For more of his story, click on the pdf below.
KIA William James Harkness Atlanta
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