Briefing Document: Odis White Arthur Jr.

Subject: Life and Military Service of Odis White Arthur Jr.

Date: October 26, 2023

1. Introduction:

This document provides a summary of the life and military service of Odis White Arthur Jr., based on the provided text. The primary focus is on his personal history, his military service in World War II, and his ultimate fate.

2. Personal Background:

Birth and Family: Odis White Arthur Jr. was born on January 15, 1923, in Brady, McCulloch County, Texas. His parents were Carrie Bell Cornelius and Odis White Arthur. His mother was 33 years old at the time of his birth and his father was 36.

His mother, Carrie Bell Cornelius, was born in Coleman County, Texas in 1890 and died in 1972 in Abernathy, Hale County, Texas.

His father, Odis White Arthur, was born in Clark County, Georgia in 1887 and died in 1958 in Abernathy, Hale County, Texas.

Childhood: Census records indicate Odis lived in Justice Precinct 3 (JP3) of McCulloch County, Texas, throughout his childhood:

1930: Age 7, living with his parents, a brother, and two sisters.

1935: Living in JP3 McCulloch County, Texas.

1940: Age 17, living with his parents, a brother, and a sister.

Marriage: He married Miss Myra Emalyn Sparks. They had one daughter named Janice.

3. Military Service:

Draft Registration: Odis registered for the draft on June 30, 1942, in Dallas, Texas. At the time, he was working at the North American Aviation Plant.

His wife, "Mrs O W Arthur" of the same address in Dallas, was listed as his next of kin.

Enlistment: He joined the U.S. Navy in 1942.

Upon joining, his next of kin was listed as "Mrs. Mary Emalyn Arthur, Box 44, Brady, Texas" suggesting a move from Dallas back to his wife's family area or another change of address.

Assignment: Odis served as a Seaman Second Class Petty Officer (S2c) in the US Navy Composite Squadron 39, and was assigned to the USS Liscome Bay (CVE-56).

Deployment: He participated in the Gilbert Islands operation.

4. Tragic End:

Sinking of the USS Liscome Bay: On November 24, 1943, at 0510 hours, the USS Liscome Bay was torpedoed by the Japanese submarine I-175. This caused massive internal explosions.

"At 0533 hours the Liscome Bay listed to starboard and sank..."

Casualties: The sinking resulted in the loss of 642 sailors, including 58 from Texas.

Missing in Action: S2c Arthur was "missing due to hostile enemy action that day."

Finding of Death: The War Department officially declared a finding of death on November 25, 1944, exactly one year after the sinking.

5. Memorialization:

Odis White Arthur Jr. is remembered on the Tablets of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial in Honolulu, Honolulu County, Hawaii.

6. Key Themes and Ideas:

Ordinary Life Disrupted by War: Odis White Arthur Jr.'s life, beginning in rural Texas and shifting to working in a factory in Dallas, was cut short by his service in World War II, reflecting the common experience of many young Americans during this time.

The Human Cost of War: The specific details of the USS Liscome Bay's sinking, along with the high number of casualties, illustrate the brutal realities of combat in the Pacific theater and its effect on families back home. The detailed timing of the torpedo hit and sinking adds a somber note.

Sacrifice and Remembrance: Arthur's story, though brief, highlights the sacrifices made by countless individuals during the war and underscores the importance of memorializing their service.

7. Conclusion:

Odis White Arthur Jr.’s story is a poignant example of how a life, rooted in the everyday, was irrevocably impacted by World War II. He transitioned from a young man working in Texas to a casualty of naval combat. His memory lives on as part of the historical record and through his inclusion on the Tablets of the Missing.