Robert Thomas Stout
Robert Thomas Stout was born 27-Feb 1920 in Oklahoma but later moved to St Louis at 3900 Botanical Avenue in Missouri. His father was Guy Robert Stout (1901–1976) and his mother was Esta Mae Hoffman (1900–1979). He had two brothers: Billy and Benny and one sister: Betty Jo.
Robert enlisted in the Navy 3-Sep 1939. His service number was 3720786. He was a Petty Officer Third Class, Fire Controlman’s Mate Third Class on the U.S.S. Oklahoma.
On December 7, 1941, at 7:56 a.m., the Japanese launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, targeting Battleship Row. The USS Oklahoma was struck by as many as nine torpedoes. Within 12 minutes, at 8:08 a.m., the battleship capsized. Hundreds of men were trapped below deck, struggling in the pitch-dark, upside-down compartments as they filled with water. 429 officers, sailors, and Marines lost their lives, marking the second-greatest loss of life at Pearl Harbor after the USS Arizona.
Navy Petty Officer Third Class Stout was reported missing and ultimately declared dead on 7-Dec 1941.
On 18-Jun 2020 the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced that his remains had been identified and accounted for. He is Memorialized Honolulu Memorial Honolulu, Hawaii, USA Courts of The Missing, Court 2 (Recovered). He has been laid to rest next to his parents at Victoria Cemetery in Missouri.
Robert was eligible for the following medals:
- 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 pdf below:
