Home > United States of America > Iowa > Adams County > Nodaway > Nodaway Cemetery > SN Joseph Mason “Joe” Strain

SN Joseph Mason “Joe” Strain

Birth	:	26 Dec 1915 Adams County, Iowa, USA
Death	:	30 Jul 1945 At Sea
Burial	:	Nodaway Cemetery, Nodaway, Adams County, USA
Coordinate	:	40.9627991, -94.8858032
Description	:	Nodaway folks were very sorry when the word came that Joe Strain, son of Robert Strain was reported missing in action. Adams County Free Press, August 23, 1945, page 18 Mrs. Virginia Strain of Carbon, has received official announcement from the War Department that her husband, S. 2C Joseph Mason Strain, was lost at sea in the early morning hours of July 30, 1945. Stain was at first reported missing. He was serving on the U.S.S. Indianapolis, enroute to the Philippines from Guam when two heavy underwater explosions occurred on the starboard side of the ship. Time and space will... Read More	Nodaway folks were very sorry when the word came that Joe Strain, son of Robert Strain was reported missing in action. Adams County Free Press, August 23, 1945, page 18 Mrs. Virginia Strain of Carbon, has received official announcement from the War Department that her husband, S. 2C Joseph Mason Strain, was lost at sea in the early morning hours of July 30, 1945. Stain was at first reported missing. He was serving on the U.S.S. Indianapolis, enroute to the Philippines from Guam when two heavy underwater explosions occurred on the starboard side of the ship. Time and space will not this week permit us to give the full letter Mrs. Strain received from Chas. B. McVay, captain of the Indianapolis, giving details of the incident. This will be used next week. Strains death brings to 48 the number of Adam County men dead in World War II. Adams County Free Press, November 1, 1945, page 13 Captain of Indianapolis Writes to Mrs. Strain. Last week the Free Press gave the information that the War Department had officially announced the death of Joseph Mason Strain, seaman second class, who had previously been reported missing. Mrs. Strain received a letter from Chas B. McVay, captain of the USS Indianapolis, the ship on which Strain was stationed when he gave his life for his country. Capt. McVay writes as follows: September 27, 1945 It is with great sorrow that I, as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. Indianapolis, write to you concerning your husband, Joseph Mason Strain, Seaman Second Class, United States Naval Reserve, who lost his life as a result of the sinking of the Indianapolis in the early morning hours of July 30, 1945. The Indianapolis was enroute to the Philippines from Guam after a run which set a new speed record for San Francisco, and after delivery of an atomic bomb, she was approximately 450 miles from Leyte, when two heavy under-water explosions occurred on the starboard side forward. She filled rapidly with water through the gaping holes in her under-water body caused by this explosion and within fifteen minutes sank. Many men lost their lives almost instantaneously. The exact manner in which your husband met his death is not known, but it is believes that he went down with his ship. The first group of survivors were picked up Thursday, August 2, 1945, and the rest, of which I was one, the next morning, bringing the total to fifteen officers and three hundred enlisted men. For days thereafter the area where the ship went down, and where any possible survivors could be, was searched by ships and planes, but no other survivors were picked up. Nothing that I can say will lighten the burden which is yours at this time, but I do want you to know that your husband had done his part in the team work which made the Indianapolis an efficient fighting unit of the flee. The surviving officers and mean of my command join me in the expression of wholehearted sympathy to you in the great loss which you have sustained. Adams County Free Press, November 8, 1945, page 20

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is SN Joseph Mason “Joe” Strain's memorial?
SN Joseph Mason “Joe” Strain's memorial is located at: Nodaway Cemetery, Nodaway, Adams County, USA.
When did SN Joseph Mason “Joe” Strain death?
SN Joseph Mason “Joe” Strain death on 30 Jul 1945 in At Sea
Where are the coordinates of the SN Joseph Mason “Joe” Strain's memorial?
Latitude: 40.9627991
Longitude: -94.8858032

Family Members:

Parent

Loderna “Loe” Mason Strain

(1873 - 1934)

Spouse

Siblings

Minnie Opal Strain Garey

(1900 - 1980)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Nodaway Cemetery
Nodaway, Adams County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9627991, -94.8858032

2. Baldwin Cemetery
Corning, Adams County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9768982, -94.8244019

3. Findley Cemetery
Villisca, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9578018, -94.9571991

4. Methodist Grove Cemetery
Nodaway, Adams County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9136009, -94.8332977

5. Brooks Cemetery
Corning, Adams County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9728012, -94.7953033

6. Villisca Cemetery
Villisca, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9389000, -94.9747009

7. Bakers Cut Cemetery
Villisca, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9083200, -94.9585900

8. Carlisle Cemetery
Villisca, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9225006, -94.9835968

9. Old Brooks Cemetery
Corning, Adams County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9833196, -94.7669190

10. Thompson Cemetery
Adams County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0527000, -94.9161000

11. Prairie Rose Cemetery
Corning, Adams County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9155998, -94.7752991

12. Oakland Cemetery
Corning, Adams County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0331001, -94.7944031

13. Arlington Cemetery
Stanton, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9975014, -95.0093994

14. Sciola Baptist Cemetery
Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0340000, -94.9859000

15. Bolt Family Burying Ground
Villisca, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0362750, -94.9950660

16. Strand Cemetery
Corning, Adams County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0730000, -94.9100000

17. North Quincy Cemetery
Quincy, Adams County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0468500, -94.7862500

18. Oak Hill Cemetery
Corning, Adams County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9763985, -94.7367020

19. Calvary Cemetery
Corning, Adams County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9763000, -94.7350000

20. Walnut Grove Cemetery
Corning, Adams County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9989000, -94.7407000

21. Guss Cemetery
Guss, Taylor County, USA
Coordinate: 40.8502657, -94.8510869

22. Fairview Cemetery
Valley Township, Page County, USA
Coordinate: 40.8570862, -94.9671860

23. North Grove Cemetery
Hepburn, Page County, USA
Coordinate: 40.8422012, -94.9396973

24. Mission Cemetery
Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0052986, -95.0603027