Harry Turner Roehm
Harry Roehm was born on 26-MAR 1918 on a farm a half mile south of Belle Rive, Illinois. He was the son of Harry Love Roehm (1884-1962) and Minnie J. Toppings Roehm (1886-1964). He had one sister: Jennie born in 1922, and a brother Harvey born in 1925. Turner, as he was known, was the oldest of the three children.
The family lived on 923 Compton Avenue and later 5986 Highland Avenue in St. Louis, MO. Harry Roehm graduated from Opdyke Community High School in 1936.
Harry left on 9-SEP 1937, to enlist in the Navy. His service number was 3370014 and he was assigned to U.S.S. Arizona on 07-JAN 1938.
On December 6, 1941, the Arizona returned to its base at Pearl Harbor. The next morning, at approximately 7:55 AM, Japan launched a surprise attack on the naval base. For nearly two hours, more than 350 Japanese aircraft—which included torpedo planes, bombers, and fighters—dropped bombs on U.S. vessels. At approximately 8:10 AM, the Arizona was struck by a 1,760-pound (800-kg) projectile. The impact caused munitions and fuels to ignite, creating a massive explosion that reportedly lifted the battleship out of the water. As it sank, the ship was struck by more bombs. In addition, some claimed that the Arizona was also hit by torpedoes, though no evidence was found to support that assertion. While 334 crew members survived, the death toll on the Arizona was 1,177 and remain entombed on the ship today.
MM 2c Harry Turner Roehm was Killed in Action on the USS ARIZONA(BB-39) on 7-DEC 1941 during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Oahu, Hawaii.
He was eligible for the following medals:
- Purple Heart
- American Campaign Medal
- Combat Action Ribbon
- Asiatic-Pacific Campaign
- World War II Victory Medal
- Good Conduct Medal
The Amvets Post No. 4 in nearby Mt. Vernon Illinois was named in his honor. Harry Turner Roehm’s name is listed on the Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor and on the Court of the Missing in the National Cemetery of the Pacific.
For more of his story, click on the pdf below:
KIA 7-DEC 1941 – Harry Turner Roehm
