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Casualty Info
Home Town Emeryville, CA
Last Address 381 D St Chula Vista, CA
Casualty Date Apr 08, 1945
Cause KIA-Body Not Recovered
Reason Other Explosive Device
Location South China Sea
Conflict World War II
Location of Interment Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery (VA) - San Diego, California
Wall/Plot Coordinates MAA 41 (memorial marker)
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
USS Snook (SS-279) was on her ninth war patrol when she was lost. Her last radio transmission was on 8 April 1945 when she reported her position to the submarine Tigrone (SS-419). Tigrone replied, but Snook did not respond. She was lost, with all hands and her fate has never been determined. Lieutenant Commander Farrel - the Snook's Executive Officer - was listed as missing in action and later declared dead 6 May 1946.
Although all available official Navy records have LCDR Farrel's last rank as Lieutenant, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency has him listed as a Lieutenant Commander. It can only be assumed that he was promoted at some time between when he was listed as missing in action and officially declared dead
Comments/Citation:
Service number: 100401
Silver Star
Awarded for action during World War II
Service: Navy
General Orders: Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 320 (November 1943)
Citation: The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant William S. Farrel, United States Navy, for gallantry in action while serving as Damage Control Officer in a warship during an engagement with Japanese forces off Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, on 7 August 1942. Lieutenant Farrel entered a burning compartment to remove explosives and assist in extinguishing the fire. His prompt action helped keep the ship in action and undoubtedly prevented further dangerous explosions. His gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Naval Service.
Command duties:
Excutive Officer aboard USS S-14 (SS-119) - April 1944
Acting Captain aboard USS S-14 (SS-119) - April 30, 1944
Excutive Officer aboard USS Snook (SS-279) - August 1944 - April 9, 1944
Submarine war patrols: USS Snook (SS-279) - 7th through 9th
Note: Duty station dates are estimated from news articles.
The information contained in this profile was compiled from various internet sources.
Guadalcanal Campaign (1942-43)/Battle of Savo Island
From Month/Year
August / 1942
To Month/Year
August / 1942
Description On 7 Aug 1942, the United States committed to its first land based counterattack. The Marines landed at both Tulagi and Guadalcanal, on both sides of Savo Sound. The installation at Guadalcanal was mostly construction workers and was an easy landing. The more established base at Tulagi involved heavy fighting, but was captured in two days. The Japanese responded immediately with air attacks from their bomber bases in New Britain (Rabaul) from the north and fighter strips in the northern Solomons (Bougainville). US carrier planes operating near the invasion fleet in Savo Sound defended. Thirty-three enemy were shot down for a loss of 12 US planes, one destroyer crippled, and a transport, George F. Elliot (AP-13), set afire and lost. The IJN also sent the Eighth Fleet from Rabaul to attack the US beachhead. This fleet (VAdm Mikawa) consisted of five heavy cruisers, two light cruisers and a destroyer.
The western approaches to Savo Sound were guarded by a screening force of six heavy cruisers and six destroyers (the battle fleet had been destroyed at Pearl Harbor) in two groups covering both passages. Radar pickets were the destroyers Blue (DD-387) and Ralph Talbot (DD-390) deployed west of Savo Island. The south passage was defended by HMAS Australia (flagship of RAdm Crutchley, RN), HMAS Canberra, USS Chicago (CA-29), Bagley (DD-386) and Patterson (DD-392). The northern group was made up of Vincennes (CA-44), Quincy (CA-39), Astoria (CA-34) and destroyers Helm (DD-391) and Wilson (DD-408). The eastern approaches also had a screening force, made up of light cruisers San Juan (CL-54 flag), HMAS Hobart, and destroyers Monssen (DD-436) and Buchanan (DD-484).
The IJN 8th fleet of fast cruisers arrived the second night and meet the US screening force for the Battle of Savo Island. At the same time, the three US carriers and their escorts, including North Carolina (BB-55), six cruisers, and 16 destroyers, were withdrawing to get out of sight of land-based bombers from Rabaul.
The enemy force of fast cruisers sent out scout floatplanes that reported the American forces. Both radar picket ships (radar range about 10 miles) were at the extreme ends of their patrols sailing away from the Japanese fleet which passed undetected about 500 yards from Blue. The enemy was lost in the visual and radar shadow of nearby Savo Island. Allied ships were faintly silhouetted by a freighter burning far over the horizon. The enemy discovered the southern force and fired torpedoes before they were detected. Simultaneously with the explosions, the scout plane dropped flares illuminating the allied fleet. Canberra was stuck by two torpedoes and heavy shelling. The US ships fired star shells and opened fire. Chicago of the southern force was torpedoed. The Jap force turned north in two columns. The northern defense force had not gotten the word, there was a rain squall in the area, and they assumed the southern force was shooting at aircraft. The two Jap columns passed on each side of the US force and opened fire on Astoria, Quincy, and Vincennes. The American captains ordered "cease fire" assuming they were Americans firing on their own ships. Vincennes caught a torpedo. Robert Talbot came charging south and was attacked first by friendly fire and then raked by the enemy escaping to the north. Quincy and Vincennes went down. During rescue operations for Canberra, Patterson was fired on by Chicago. Canberra was sunk the next morning to prevent capture as the US fleet left the waters that was hereafter called Iron Bottom Sound. Astoria sank about noon while under tow. Chicago had to undergo repair until Jan'43.
In just 32 minutes the enemy had inflicted massive damage. Four heavy cruisers were sunk and a heavy cruiser and destroyer badly damaged. 1,270 men were killed and 708 injured. The enemy had comparative scratches on three cruisers.
