Wiltsie, Irving Day, CAPT

Fallen
 
 Service Photo   Service Details
15 kb
View Shadow Box View Printable Shadow Box View Time Line
Last Rank
Captain
Last Primary NEC
111X-Unrestricted Line Officer - Surface Warfare
Last Rating/NEC Group
Line Officer
Primary Unit
1943-1943, 131X, USS Liscome Bay (CVE-56)
Service Years
1921 - 1943
Captain Captain

 Last Photo   Personal Details 

12 kb


Home State
Connecticut
Connecticut
Year of Birth
1898
 
This Military Service Page was created/owned by Michael D. Withers (Mike), OSCS to remember Wiltsie, Irving Day, CAPT.

If you knew or served with this Sailor and have additional information or photos to support this Page, please leave a message for the Page Administrator(s) HERE.
 
Casualty Info
Home Town
Hartford. CT
Last Address
USS Liscome Bay in the Pacific.

Remembered at the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial - Hawaii

Casualty Date
Nov 24, 1943
 
Cause
KIA-Body Not Recovered
Reason
Torpedoed
Location
Pacific Ocean
Conflict
World War II
Location of Interment
Buried at Sea - N/A, Pacific Ocean
Wall/Plot Coordinates
Lost at sea on the USS Liscome Bay in the Pacific.
Military Service Number
57 209

 Official Badges 




 Unofficial Badges 




 Additional Information
Last Known Activity:

In the predawn darkness of 24 November 1943, a Japanese submarine, I-175, torpedoed Liscome Bay—the flagship of Rear Admiral Henry M. Mullinnix—and started fires among bombs and ammunition. Fed by aviation gasoline, the flames spread rapidly, and the carrier rocked with explosions.

Captain Wiltsie immediately left the bridge and proceeded along the starboard gallery deck level to ascertain the damage to his ship, as communications had been severed early-on. Despite the tremendous structural damage and raging fires, the captain bravely headed aft to determine the full extent of the damage. Damage control efforts failed, however, and the carrier sank soon thereafter, carrying the intrepid Wiltsie, Admiral Mullinix, and 644 officers and men down with her.

CAPT Wiltsie was listed as missing in action and later declared dead.

   
Comments/Citation:

USS Wiltsie (DD-716) was a Gearing-class destroyer named in honor of Irving Wiltsie.

Navy Cross Citation:
Awarded for Actions During World War II
Service: Navy
Division:
U.S.S. Liscome Bay (CVE-56)
General Orders: Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 327 (June 1944)
Citation:
"The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Captain Irving Day Wiltsie (NSN: 0-57209), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the Escort Carrier U.S.S. LISCOME BAY (CVE-56), during operations at Makin Island in the Gilbert Islands on 24 November 1943.
...
Captain Wiltsie's ship was struck by a Japanese torpedo in the predawn darkness, igniting fires among bombs and ammunition. Fed by aviation gasoline, the flames spread rapidly, and the carrier rocked with explosions. Captain Wiltsie immediately left the bridge and proceeded along the starboard gallery deck level to ascertain the damage to his ship, as communications had been severed early-on. Despite the tremendous structural damage and raging fires, the captain bravely headed aft to determine the full extent of the damage. Damage control efforts failed, however, and the carrier sank soon thereafter.
...
The conduct of Captain Wiltsie throughout this action reflects great credit upon himself, and was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country."

Silver Star Citation: 
Awarded for Actions During World War II
General Orders: Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 312 (March 1943)
Service: Navy
Rank: Commander
Citation:
"The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Commander Irving Day Wiltsie (NSN: 0-57209), United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving as Navigator on board the Aircraft Carrier U.S.S. YORKTOWN (CV-5), in action during Battle of Midway, on 4 - 6 June 1942.
...
Commander Wiltsie supplied air plot with such complete and accurate navigational information that the YORKTOWN Air Group units achieved complete success in making contact with their objectives; his expert control of the ship under the Captain's direction was responsible for avoiding two of the enemy's torpedoes. He also assumed the duties of Executive Officer when the latter was injured, and directed salvage operations.
...
Commander Wiltsie's gallant actions and selfless devotion to duty, without regard for his own safety, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."

   
 Photo Album   (More...


  1941-1942, USS Yorktown (CV-5)

Commander

From Month/Year
June / 1941

To Month/Year
June / 1942

Unit
USS Yorktown (CV-5) Unit Page

Rank
Commander

NEC
Not Specified

Base, Station or City
Not Specified

State/Country
Not Specified
 
 
 Patch
 USS Yorktown (CV-5) Details

USS Yorktown (CV-5)
Hull number CV-5

Type
Surface Vessel
 

Parent Unit
Yorktown-class

Strength
Aircraft Carrier

Created/Owned By
Not Specified
   

Last Updated: Mar 24, 2019
   
   
Yearbook
 
My Photos For This Unit
No Available Photos
76 Members Also There at Same Time
USS Yorktown (CV-5)

Kiefer, Dixie, Cmdre, (1918-1945) OFF Captain
Mead, Sanford, CAPT, (1927-1958) OFF Commander
Flatley, Jr., James Henry, VADM, (1929-1958) OFF 131X Lieutenant Commander
Massey, Lance Edward, LCDR, (1930-1942) OFF 131X Lieutenant Commander
PETERSEN, Wallis, RADM, (1920-1963) OFF 111X Lieutenant Commander
Adams, Samuel, LT, (1935-1942) OFF 131X Lieutenant
Crommelin, Richard Gunter, LCDR, (1938-1945) OFF 131X Lieutenant
POLLARD, Joseph, CAPT, (1940-1968) OFF 210X Lieutenant
Powers, John James, LT, (1931-1942) OFF 131X Lieutenant
Ricketts, Milton Ernest, LT, (1935-1942) OFF 111X Lieutenant
Stroh, Robert Joseph, VADM, (1930-1969) OFF 131X Lieutenant
Ware, Charles Rollins, LT, (1929-1942) OFF Lieutenant
Austin, Walton Anderson, LT, (1940-1943) OFF Lieutenant Junior Grade
Denniston, Radcliffe R, LCDR, (1936-1944) OFF 131X Lieutenant Junior Grade
McCusky, Elbert Scott, CAPT, (1938-1965) OFF 131X Lieutenant Junior Grade
Vejtasa, Stanley Winfield, CAPT, (1938-1970) OFF 131X Lieutenant Junior Grade
Baker, John Drayton, ENS, (1941-1942) OFF 131X Ensign
Bass, Horace Ancel, ENS, (1939-1942) OFF 131X Ensign
Bassett, Edgar Rees, ENS, (1940-1942) OFF Ensign
Berry, David Render, LCDR, (1939-1945) OFF 131X Ensign
Bigelow, LaVell, CAPT, (1939-1968) OFF 131X Ensign
Butler, John Clarence, ENS, (1941-1942) OFF 131X Ensign
Campbell, Kendall Carl, ENS, (1940-1942) OFF 131X Ensign
Chaffee, Davis Elliott, ENS, (1941-1942) OFF 131X Ensign
Coolbaugh, Walter Wesley, LTJG, (1940-1942) OFF 131X Ensign
Dibb, Robert Allan Murray, LCDR, (1941-1944) OFF 131X Ensign
Kinzer, Edward Blaine, ENS, (1939-1942) OFF 131X Ensign
Roche, David John, ENS, (1940-1942) OFF 131X Ensign
Smith, Leonard, ENS, (1940-1942) OFF 131X Ensign
Barnes, Doyle Clayton, ENS, (1933-1942) OFF 734X Warrant Officer
Clark, Joseph James, ADM, (1917-1953) Commander
Radford, Arthur William, ADM, (1916-1957) Commander
Soucek, Apollo, VADM, (1921-1955) Commander
Biard, Forrest, CAPT, (1934-1955) Lieutenant Commander
Thach, John, ADM, (1927-1967) Lieutenant Commander
MATTSON, Edward, LCDR, (1935-1944) Lieutenant
McCuskey, E, CAPT, (1938-1965) Lieutenant
Brassfield, Arthur, CAPT, (1937-1969) Lieutenant Junior Grade
Hall, William Edward, LCDR, (1938-1946) Lieutenant Junior Grade
MATTSON, Edward, LCDR, (1935-1944) Lieutenant Junior Grade
Sanko, Joseph Daniel, LT, (1942-1952) OFF 6302 Lieutenant Junior Grade
Adams., John Paul, CAPT, (1940-1972) Ensign
Brassfield, Arthur, CAPT, (1937-1969) Ensign
Hall, William Edward, LCDR, (1938-1946) Ensign
Isaman, Roy Maurice, RADM, (1944-1974) Ensign
Osmus, Wesley, ENS, (1940-1942) Ensign
Vanacore, Tony, CPO AD AD-0000 Chief Petty Officer
Kleinsmith, Charles, CPO, (1922-1942) WT WT-0000 Chief Petty Officer
Mills, Andrew, CPO, (1934-1945) SC SC-0000 Chief Petty Officer
Wright, Wilburn Clay, CWO4, (1926-1957) EM EM-0000 Chief Petty Officer
Zutter, Andrew, CPO, (1930-1944) AMM AMM-0000 Chief Petty Officer
Karrol, Joseph John, PO1, (1934-1942) ARM ARM-0000 Petty Officer First Class
Quick, Sidney William, CPO, (1936-1943) AP AP-0000 Petty Officer First Class
Stambaugh, William Henry, PO1, (1941-1942) ARM ARM-0000 Petty Officer First Class
Stanley, Forest Glen, PO1, (1940-1942) ARM ARM-0000 Petty Officer First Class
Beshore, Edward, PO2, (1941-1942) AM AM-0000 Petty Officer Second Class
Jacobs, Robert Peter, PO2, (1941-1943) SK SK-0000 Petty Officer Second Class
Roy, William G., LCDR, (1936-1981) Pho PhoM-0000 Petty Officer Second Class
Brazier, Robert Boyd, PO2, (1939-1942) ARM ARM-0000 Petty Officer 2nd Class

Copyright Togetherweserved.com Inc 2003-2011