HARRY GAMALIEL MORLAND SELLE was born on 03 Oct 1923 in Halliday, Dunn, North Dakota. He was a son of Herman Johnson Selle and Clara Gustava Monson who married in 1921. Harry's siblings were; Mildred Jennie, Christina Hannah, Lillian Jewel and Olaf Erling Selle. Herman was a farmer who emigrated from Norway through the port of Boston on 20 April 1911. He served in the US Army during WWI. Clara emigrated from Norway through the port of NY on 28 July 1920. Herman died suddenly on 20 April 1931 in Dunn county, ND. Six months later, Clara married John Bertin Selle on 08 Oct 1931 in Wibaux, Wibaux county, MT. Clara and John were the parents of one child, John Karsten Selle born 3 April 1938 in Lincoln county, SD. Clara died in May 1938. On 17 Jan 1939, John "B" Selle was appointed guardian of the person and estate of Harry Gamaliel Morland Selle so granted in a letter of Guardianship issued by the County Court, Lincoln County, South Dakota. Harrison J. Brown, Judge of the County Court of Lincoln County, South Dakota, presiding. By 1941, Harry completed the 10th grade in high school in Sioux Falls, SD. By 1945, John had moved the family to Washington state.

With his step-father’s permission, Harry enlisted as an Apprentice Seaman (AS) in the US Navy (NSN:316-83-48) on 01 Oct 1941 in Sioux Falls, Minnehaha, South Dakota. His was a minority contract due to expire on the day before his 21st birthday (02 Oct 1944). His pay was $21.00 per month. Later that day, he transferred to the Naval Training Station (NTS), Great Lakes, IL for 8 weeks of recruit training. After he graduated from that training, AS Selle was granted 10 days of graduation leave to visit family and friends before reporting to his first duty station. AS Selle transferred to the Naval Air Station (NAS), Norfolk, VA where he was assigned on 03 Dec 1941 to Torpedo Squadron Five (VT-5) embarked on the aircraft carrier, USS Yorktown (CV-5). Due to pull into port at Norfolk on Dec 4th after completing a Neutrality Patrol in the Atlantic, Yorktown launched her squadrons to return to NAS Norfolk on Dec 3rd.

Harry applied for enlistment into the US Navy on 19 Sep 1941 at the US Navy Recruiting sub-station (NRSS), Sioux Falls, South Dakota where he completed preliminary entrance examinations, submitted personal references, completed administrative paperwork including obtaining a copy of his birth certificate, and passed background checks. He also passed dental and physical exams. With his foster-father's permission, Harry enlisted as an Apprentice Seaman (AS) in the US Navy (NSN:316-83-48) on 01 Oct 1941 at the Naval Recruiting Station (NRS) Omaha, Douglas, Nebraska. His was a minority contract due to expire on the day before his 21st birthday (02 Oct 1944). His pay was $21.00 per month. Later that day, he transferred to the Naval Training Station (NTS), Great Lakes, IL for 8 weeks of recruit training. After he graduated from that training, AS Selle was granted 10 days of graduation leave to visit family and friends before reporting to his first duty station. AS Selle transferred to the Naval Air Station (NAS), Norfolk, VA on 03 Dec 1941 where he was assigned to Torpedo Squadron Five (VT-5) embarked on the aircraft carrier, USS Yorktown (CV-5). Due to pull into port at Norfolk on Dec 4th after completing a Neutrality Patrol in the Atlantic, Yorktown launched her squadrons to return to NAS Norfolk on Dec 3rd. AS Selle reported to VT-5 for duty on 05 Dec 1941.

Yorktown participated in the highly successful Lae-Salamaua raids off New Guinea on 10 March. Several months later Yorktown along with the aircraft carrier, USS Lexington (CV-2) and their embarked squadrons engaged the enemy in the Battle of the Coral Sea on 07-08 May in an attempted to stop the Japanese invasion of Port Moresby, Papua, New Guinea. During the battle, Lexington was badly damaged and was later scuttled. Yorktown was also damaged but was able to return to Pearl Harbor on 27 May where shipyard personnel performed a miracle repair job which allowed Yorktown to steam out of Pearl Harbor three days later with Enterprise and the aircraft carrier, USS Hornet (CV-8) enroute to what became known as the Battle of Midway.

On the morning of 4 Jun 1942 Air Groups from Yorktown, the Enterprise and Hornet launched to attack the Japanese Striking Force carriers approaching Midway. Later that morning enemy Japanese aircraft attacked the Yorktown. She was hit by bombs that caused crew casualties. Another Japanese air attack was mounted against Yorktown early in the afternoon that resulted in torpedo and bomb damage and ship's company casualties yet again. Seaman 2/c Selle was probably killed during one of those two attacks. He was not listed with any of the Torpedo Squadron Three's flight crews. Navy records indicate that he was first reported missing from Yorktown and then declared dead on 5 Jun 1943. His stepfather, John Bertin Selle, applied for a headstone (cenotaph) for Harry in 1959. That document says in bold red letters across the top, "Unrecoverable." It also states that Harry was on the Yorktown and killed in action on 4 Jun 1942. He was (Posthumously) awarded the Purple Heart, American Defense Service Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with two bronze stars, World War II Victory Medal and possibly eligible for the Combat Action Ribbon.

This cenotaph was placed in the Black Hills National Cemetery, Sturgis, SD.

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Honor Scroll

His family also received a scroll from President Franklin D. Roosevelt in commemoration of Seaman 2/c Selle. The citation reads: In grateful memory of Harry Gamaliel M. SELLE, who died in the service of his country at SEA, Pacific Area, ATTACHED U.S.S. YORKTOWN, 5 JUNE 1943 (Presumed). He stands in the unbroken line of patriots who have dared to die that freedom might live and grow and increase its blessings. Freedom lives, and through it, he lives -- in a way that humbles the undertakings of most men.

(Signed) Franklin D. Roosevelt,

President of the United States

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Bio #290 composed on 23 Jan 2017 and updated on 29 Aug 2023 by Gerry Lawton (G47)

Military Hall of Honor #101630

Find A Grave Memorial Page#56121942