Thomas Steger Sanford
Thomas Steger Sanford was born on 15-NOV 1918 in Tuscumbia, Alabama. Thomas was the son of Robert M. Sanford and Susan Steger Sanford. His mother Susan died two weeks after Thomas was born. He was brought up by his cousin Mary Lou Sanford who acted as his foster mother. They lived at 757 Ponce, St. Louis, MO. in 1940. Thomas had 3 sisters and 2 brothers.
He enlisted in the Navy on 12-OCT 1940 His service number was 2724170.
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.
Thomas Sanford was Killed in Action on the USS ARIZONA (BB-39) during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on 12/07/41.
He is listed on the “Tablets of the Missing”, Honolulu, Hawaii and has a memorial in the Oakwood Cemetery, Tuscumbia, Colbert County, Alabama.
- Purple Heart
- Combat Action Ribbon
- World War II Victory Medal
- American Campaign Medal
- Navy Presidential Unit Citation
- Navy Good Conduct Medal
- Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
- Navy Expeditionary Medal
For more of his story, click on the link below:
KIA 7-DEC 1941 Thomas Steger Sanford
