Julius Ellsberry (August 22, 1921 – December 7, 1941) was an American killed during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. He was the first Alabamian killed in World War II, and one of the first Americans to die in the Pacific during World War II. He was killed while aboard.[2]
Ellsberry enlisted in the United States Navy in 1940, and was serving aboard the USS Oklahoma (BB-37) as a Mess Attendant First Class when it was bombed by Japanese planes in the surprise attack on December 7, 1941. He and 413 other crewmen were killed aboard the battleship. He was awarded a posthumous Purple Heart in honor of his sacrifice.
A Navy press release followed shortly after the announcement of Ellsberry's death describing the heroism of another black seaman, then unidentified. Mess Attendant Second Class Doris Miller assumed control of a deck gun on the USS West Virginia (BB-48) after the gunner was killed and helped defend the ship. Media reports at the time often credited Ellsberry with Miller's heroism and the misidentification still sometimes persists.
Legacyedit
The Birmingham World labeled Ellsberry "the Crispus Attucks of World War II".[3] Birmingham's Black community raised over $300,000 in war bond purchases toward the completion of a B-24 Liberator named The Spirit of Ellsberry.[4]
Birmingham's Ellsberry Park near Finley Boulevard north of downtown was dedicated in his honor in 1979. A marker honoring Ellsberry's sacrifice has also been erected in Kelly Ingram Park, which is named for fellow Navy veteran and Birmingham native Osmond Kelly Ingram, the first American killed in World War I.
Referencesedit
^U.S. Headstone Applications for Military Veterans, 1925–1963; Records of the Office of the Quartermaster General, National Archives at Washington, D.C.
^Miller, Richard E. (January 8, 2008) "Julius Ellsberry". The Historical Marker Database – accessed August 11, 2008
^Cronenberg, Allen (2003) "Forth to the Mighty Conflict: Alabama and World War II. Tuscaloosa: University of Alabama Press. p. 12. ISBN0-8173-5027-6
^Bodnar, John E. (1996) Bonds of Affection: Americans Define Their Patriotism. Princeton University Press. p. 208 ISBN0-691-04396-5
External linksedit
Miller, Richard E. (January 8, 2008) "Julius Ellsberry". The Historical Marker Database
Curry, Dodson M. (January 31, 2010) "Ellsberry Memorial Park". The Historical Marker Database
May 09, 2024
julius, ellsberry, august, 1921, december, 1941, american, killed, during, japanese, attack, pearl, harbor, first, alabamian, killed, world, first, americans, pacific, during, world, killed, while, aboard, bornaugust, 1921, birmingham, alabamadieddecember, 194. Julius Ellsberry August 22 1921 December 7 1941 was an American killed during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor He was the first Alabamian killed in World War II and one of the first Americans to die in the Pacific during World War II He was killed while aboard 2 Julius EllsberryBornAugust 22 1921 1 Birmingham AlabamaDiedDecember 7 1941 1941 12 07 aged 20 Pearl Harbor HawaiiAllegiance United States of AmericaService wbr branch United States NavyYears of service1940 1941RankMess Attendant First ClassUnitUSS Oklahoma BB 37 WarsWorld War II Attack on Pearl Harbor AwardsPurple Heart Contents 1 Early life 2 Military career 3 Legacy 4 References 5 External linksEarly life editEllsberry was born in Birmingham Alabama and was a 1938 graduate of Parker High School Military career editEllsberry enlisted in the United States Navy in 1940 and was serving aboard the USS Oklahoma BB 37 as a Mess Attendant First Class when it was bombed by Japanese planes in the surprise attack on December 7 1941 He and 413 other crewmen were killed aboard the battleship He was awarded a posthumous Purple Heart in honor of his sacrifice A Navy press release followed shortly after the announcement of Ellsberry s death describing the heroism of another black seaman then unidentified Mess Attendant Second Class Doris Miller assumed control of a deck gun on the USS West Virginia BB 48 after the gunner was killed and helped defend the ship Media reports at the time often credited Ellsberry with Miller s heroism and the misidentification still sometimes persists Legacy editThe Birmingham World labeled Ellsberry the Crispus Attucks of World War II 3 Birmingham s Black community raised over 300 000 in war bond purchases toward the completion of a B 24 Liberator named The Spirit of Ellsberry 4 Birmingham s Ellsberry Park near Finley Boulevard north of downtown was dedicated in his honor in 1979 A marker honoring Ellsberry s sacrifice has also been erected in Kelly Ingram Park which is named for fellow Navy veteran and Birmingham native Osmond Kelly Ingram the first American killed in World War I References edit U S Headstone Applications for Military Veterans 1925 1963 Records of the Office of the Quartermaster General National Archives at Washington D C Miller Richard E January 8 2008 Julius Ellsberry The Historical Marker Database accessed August 11 2008 Cronenberg Allen 2003 Forth to the Mighty Conflict Alabama and World War II Tuscaloosa University of Alabama Press p 12 ISBN 0 8173 5027 6 Bodnar John E 1996 Bonds of Affection Americans Define Their Patriotism Princeton University Press p 208 ISBN 0 691 04396 5External links editMiller Richard E January 8 2008 Julius Ellsberry The Historical Marker Database Curry Dodson M January 31 2010 Ellsberry Memorial Park The Historical Marker Database Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Julius Ellsberry amp oldid 1168410869, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
