Briefing Document: Everett Neil Strahan

Subject: Biographical Information and Military Service of Everett Neil Strahan

Date: October 26, 2023

Introduction:

This document provides a summary of key biographical details and military service information for Everett Neil Strahan, as extracted from the provided text. The primary focus is on his origins, his family, his enlistment in the US Navy, and his ultimate loss at sea during World War II.

Key Themes and Facts:

Early Life and Family:

Everett Neil Strahan was born on November 28, 1925, in Cottonwood, Callahan County, Texas.

His parents were Martha Irene Everett and Oral Donnell Strahan.

Martha was 22 at the time of Everett's birth and was born in Rising Star, Eastland County, Texas.

Oral was 33 at the time of Everett's birth and was born in Cottonwood, Callahan County, Texas.

The family was living in JP3, Callahan County, Texas in 1930, 1935, and 1940.

He had three brothers and lived with his family in Callahan County.

Education and Draft Registration:

Strahan had four years of high school education.

He registered for the draft on November 30, 1943, in Baird, Callahan County, Texas. He was living in Cottonwood and was not employed at the time.

He listed his father, Mr. O.D. Strahan, as his next of kin contact.

Military Enlistment and Service:

Strahan enlisted in the US Navy from civilian life in Lubbock, Texas, on March 17, 1944. His service number was 9393199.

He was a single white male born in Texas in 1925.

He again listed his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Oral D. Strahan, as his next of kin.

His initial training was at the Naval Training Station in San Diego, California, followed by additional training at Pearl Harbor.

He was transferred to the USS Monaghan on May 31, 1944.

Loss at Sea:

Strahan was serving as a Seaman Second Class Petty Officer aboard the USS Monaghan (DD-354) in the Philippine Sea.

He was lost at sea on December 18, 1944, when the Monaghan and two other US Navy ships were sunk by a typhoon.

Memorialization:

Strahan is remembered on the Tablets of the Missing in the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in Manila, Philippines.

Key Quotes:

"...a single white male born Texas in 1925 residing in Callahan County, Texas with four years of high school education enlisted from civilian life into the US Navy at Lubbock, Texas on 17 March 1944..."

"Seaman Second Class Petty Officer Everett Neil Strahan 9393199 US Navy USS Monaghan DD-354 location Philippine Sea was lost at sea when the Monaghan and two other US Navy ships were sunk by a typhoon on 18 December 1944."

Analysis and Significance:

The provided text offers a poignant glimpse into the life of a young man who went from rural Texas to serving in the US Navy during World War II. His story is a microcosm of the many Americans who served and sacrificed during the war, highlighting the personal costs of the conflict. The information is valuable for anyone researching individuals who served in WWII, particularly those who were lost at sea. The details of his service, from enlistment to the tragic loss of the USS Monaghan, offer a stark reminder of the dangers and hardships faced by those in combat. The fact that he is memorialized at the Manila American Cemetery demonstrates the lasting recognition of his sacrifice.

Conclusion:

Everett Neil Strahan's life story, although cut short by the war, reveals a typical pattern of rural Texas life, followed by his enlistment and service in WWII. He serves as a reminder of the many individuals whose lives were irrevocably changed during the conflict, and whose memory is preserved in memorial sites such as the Manila American Cemetery.