Gerald C. Cox |
USS Arizona |
300-38-24 S2c Member of the USS Arizona Band Home: Rock Island, Illinois. Graduate of East Molin High School. Attended Racine Conservatory of Music. Previous occupation - Guitar Teacher. Major instrument - Guitar. Nickname - "Jerry" Killed on USS Arizona December 7, 1941 Gerald Clinton Cox was born in Veroqua, Wisconsin on August 17, 1922. He moved to East Moline with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Nathaniel Cox, in 1939. He was an accomplished musician who played both the clarinet and the guitar. He graduated from United Township High School in 1940. In November of 1940, Gerald enlisted in the Naval Musical School in Washington where he was assigned after the prescribed preliminary training at Great Lakes Naval Training Center. He was assigned to the band aboard the Battleship USS Arizona at the time of attack. He was a musician second class. Gerald Cox was declared missing in action shortly after the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor. On December 30, 1941, his family was officially notified of his death aboard the battleship Arizona by the Department of the Navy. He was 19 years old. "He had made the supreme sacrifice, and it is the duty of every American to do whatever is required of him that this nation might win this war and justify the great sacrifice being made by its young manhood" stated by Rev. Edgar Powell in his memorial service. A memorial service was conducted at the First Christian Church for Musician Second Class Gerald Clinton Cox on January 5, 1942 by the Navy Mothers Organization. At the termination of the services, taps was sounded by the post bugler. A large picture of young Cox banked on either side with floral tributes occupied a prominent position on the pulpit. |
SOURCE OF INFORMATION USS ARIZONA BB-39 17 June 1941 Pearl Harbor, Hawaii Deck Log 1600 to 2000 Collated from the USS ARIZONA Deck Log and the July 8, 1941 issue of the "At-Em" newspaper printed aboard the USS ARIZONA BB-39. |
Link to the official USS Arizona site for picture and additional information. |
