Briefing Document: Ennis Edgar Brooks

Subject: Biographical Information and Service Record of Ennis Edgar Brooks

Date: October 26, 2023

Source: Provided Text Excerpts

Overview:

This briefing document outlines the key biographical details and military service record of Ennis Edgar Brooks, drawing from the provided text excerpts. The primary focus is on his life trajectory, family, and ultimately, his service and death during the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Key Themes & Facts:

Early Life & Family:

Ennis Edgar Brooks was born on June 1, 1910, in Bangs, Brown County, Texas.

His parents were Myrtle Riordan (born 1885) and Walter Raymond Brooks (born 1884). Both were also Texas natives.

The family had a substantial number of children. Census records show variations:

1920: Ennis (age 9) had one brother and three sisters.

1930: Ennis (age 19) had three brothers and two sisters.

1940 (first census): Ennis (age 29) had two brothers and one sister.

Residence & Movement:

Ennis and his family primarily resided in Brown County, Texas until at least 1940.

The 1940 census data is notably split:

One entry places him at the family home in Brown County in April 1940.

Another record shows him in San Diego County, California, at the US Naval Training Station also in April 1940.

This indicates a significant move likely connected to his naval enlistment during this period.

Military Service:

Ennis Edgar Brooks served as a Fireman First Class Petty Officer (Service Number 3562291) in the U.S. Navy.

He was assigned to the USS West Virginia (BB-48), a battleship.

Death at Pearl Harbor:

Brooks was killed in action on December 7, 1941, during the surprise Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

Quote: "...USS West Virginia, BB-48 was hit by nine torpedoes during the surprise air raid by Japanese airplanes at Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941, he was killed in action."

The USS West Virginia suffered significant damage during the attack, having been struck by nine torpedoes.

Brooks’s remains were recovered.

Final Resting Place:

Fireman First Class Brooks is interred at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Quote: "...remains were recovered and buried at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu, Hawaii."

Analysis and Implications:

This document provides a detailed biographical overview of Ennis Edgar Brooks, from his birth in rural Texas, to his service in the U.S. Navy and his tragic death at Pearl Harbor.

The contrasting 1940 census records highlight a critical juncture in his life as he transitioned into military service, just prior to the outbreak of World War II.

The details of his death on the USS West Virginia underscore the immense human cost of the Pearl Harbor attack.

The document emphasizes the lasting legacy of Ennis Edgar Brooks through his burial at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

The text is focused on factual recording of his timeline but no additional details about the reasons or motivations behind his actions can be gleaned beyond the raw data.

Conclusion:

Ennis Edgar Brooks’s life is a microcosm of a generation impacted by the events of the early 20th century, culminating in his ultimate sacrifice at Pearl Harbor. This briefing document provides a summary of his life, military service, and ultimate sacrifice.