Willie Ray Denmark was born near Leakesville, Greene, MS on 06 Feb 1917 to Walter and Ethel (Parnell) Denmark who married in Alabama about 1916. Willie was the eldest of four children, three boys (Willie, Walter Buford, and Hollis Denmark) and one daughter, Alma E. (Denmark) Johnson. On 5 Jun 1917, Walter registered for the WWI draft. He indicated that he was married with one child and his residence was near Leakesville, Greene, MS. His occupation was a laborer on roads.

By 1920, Walter was engaged in a new occupation; that of teamster, who with a team of horses, was a log hauler. Work in the timber industry was plentiful but dangerous with over fifteen hundred mills and more than thirty-seven thousand workers. By 1925, Mississippi’s lumber industry ranked second in the South and fourth in the nation. Lumbermen poured into the state from other regions to fill the demand. By the late 1920s, the boom had slowed considerably as vast regions of the highly sought after species of Longleaf, shortleaf, and Loblolly pines, Cypress and other bottom-land hardwoods were clear cut with abandon. By 1930, Walter had taken up farming on a rented farm in Citronelle, AL. Just about that time, the Great Depression began. Apparently, Walter didn’t find much success as a farmer because at some point in the 1930s, he returned to work in the logging industry. Also, during this time, the oldest sons, Willie and Walter (Buford) were needed to help with the farm work then they found part-time work where they could to help with family finances. Willie completed the eight grade about 1930, but he was needed elsewhere so he left schooling behind.

Willie, like many of his contemporaries, was lured to the opportunities available in the US military services. A steady income to help the family with expenses, adventure and the chance to learn a trade pulled strongly on many youth of the day. Not long after his twentieth birthday, Willie went to his local Navy Recruiting Station (NRS) and obtained an enlistment application. He completed preliminary entrance examinations, submitted personal references, completed administrative paperwork and passed background checks. Most importantly, he obtained his father's permission to enlist (he wasn’t 21 yet). After he completed the necessary paperwork, Willie was placed on a waiting list for enlistment. In early April 1937, Willie received notification to report to the regional NRS in Birmingham, AL on 06 Apr 1937 for final enlistment processing that included physical and dental exams. Willie passed those exams and with twenty-five other young men he swore the oath of allegiance. He enlisted in the US Navy (NSN: 272-14-95) for a period of four years at the entry rank of Apprentice Seaman (AS). Later that day, Twenty six new navy recruits boarded the train for a trip to the Naval Training Station (NTS), Norfolk, VA where they began 12 weeks of recruit training. Upon completion of this training, AS Denmark was granted 10 days of leave to visit family and friends before he was assigned to a service school or a ship of the US Fleet.

Presumably, AS Denmark was assigned to the Carpenter’s Mate Service Class A School during which he advanced in rate to Seaman Second Class (S2c). The name Carpenter’s Mate, one of the navy’s oldest rates, is actually a misnomer as it has little to do with woodworking. The Carpenter’s Mate’s primary responsibility is to mitigate damage to ships received under either combat or non-combat conditions (In 1948, the Carpenter’s Mate rating was consolidated along with several other ratings in the Damage Controlman [DC] rating).

On 6 Mar 1938, S2c Denmark transferred to the light cruiser USS Detroit (CL-8) beginning a two year tour of duty on board her. In early 1939, he was temporarily transferred to the destroyer tender, USS Melville (AD-2) for instruction which he completed on 28 Feb 1939 when he returned to Detroit. Several months later, S2c Denmark advanced in rate to Seaman First Class (S1c) on 16 May 1939. The following year, S1c Denmark advanced in rate to Carpenter’s Mate Third Class (CM3c) on 16 Feb 1940. Several months later while Detroit prepared to steam from San Diego to the Navy Yard at Mare Island, CM3 Denmark agreed to extend his enlistment by two years on 08 Mar 1940. The same day he detached from Detroit and transferred to the Receiving Station (R/S) at the Navy Yard, Philadelphia for duty on the commissioning detail of the new destroyer tender, USS Dixie (AD-14).

It was a quick 4 day trip across the country for CM3 Denmark as he reported for duty at the R/S Philadelphia on 12 Mar 1940. The following month, Dixie’s commissioning detail reported for duty on board her on 25 April 1940; her commissioning date. Dixie sailed from Norfolk, VA on 20 Jun 1940 bound for Pearl Harbor where she serviced the destroyers of the Battle Force until October when she returned to San Diego. Later in 1940, CM3 Denmark advanced in rate to Carpenter’s Mate Second Class (CM2). On 19 May 1941, Denmark went on leave from Dixie to his home in Alabama. He rode several ships in order to reach the west coast. He first boarded the repair ship, USS Vestal (AR-4) as a passenger for a ride to the escort carrier, USS Santee (CVE-29). On 25 May 1941, CM2 Denmark boarded Santee that would transport him to the West Coast. This would be the last time Willie Denmark would ever see his family!

At the expiration of his leave, Denmark returned to Dixie in Pearl Harbor. A short time later, Denmark received orders to detach from Dixie and report via the transport ship, USS Henderson (AP-1), to Asiatic Station (ASTA) in Manila, Philippines for assignment. On 20 Aug 1941, Denmark boarded Henderson. She steamed out of Pearl Harbor on 22 Aug 1941 bound for Manila via Guam. She arrived in Manila on 14 Sep 1941.

CM2 Denmark was assigned to the fleet replenishment ship, USS Trinity (AO-13) for duty on 17 Sep 1941. Shortly after he reported on board Trinity, Denmark was sent to the US Naval Hospital (USNH), Canacao, P.I. for medical treatment (illness unknown). Denmark was discharged from the hospital and returned to duty onboard Trinity on 03 Oct 1941. In Nov 1941, Trinity made the last of eight round trip voyages in 1941 between Manila and the oil rich Netherlands East Indies. She arrived back in Manila on 03 Dec 1941. On 5 Dec 1941, CM2 Denmark was again admitted to the USNH, Canacao, P.I. for treatment of an unknown illness (this illness was to change his fate.*).

Two days later on 08 Dec 1941 (Manila Time) word was received by the Commander In Chief, Asiatic Fleet, Admiral Thomas Hart, that the Japanese had attacked Pearl Harbor. Admiral Hart immediately ordered a number of ships to depart Manila and steam South to the Netherland East Indies including seaplane tender, USS Langley (AV-3), and fleet replenishment ships USS Trinity (AO-13) and USS Pecos (AO-6). Unfortunately, a number of Trinity crewmen, including CM2 Denmark, were still in the hospital when she steamed out of Manila Bay.

On 10 Dec 1941, the Japanese mounted a large scale bombing attack on the US Naval Base at Cavite causing wide scale destruction. The destroyer, USS Peary (DD-226), inport Cavite undergoing repairs and maintenance was hit by a bomb that cause damage and killed and wounded a number of Peary crewmen. Replacements for these lost crewmen were ordered to Peary for duty. CM2 Denmark was one of the replacement sailors. He was discharged from the USNH and reported to Peary on 14 Dec 1941.

On 23-24 Dec 1941, Peary got underway on her first war mission; an antisubmarine patrol assignment in the Verde Island Passage between Luzon and the Philippine island of Mindoro. The day after Christmas 1941, the CO's of USS Pillsbury and Peary were ashore at a conference with the Commandant, Sixteenth Naval District, Admiral Rockwell, to discuss releasing the ships to join other US forces in the Netherlands East Indies when enemy bombers suddenly appeared overhead. Peary was attacked by five flights of Japanese high level bombers. Each flight consisted of between 6 to 9 planes.

Lt Bermingham watched from shore as his new executive officer, Lt Martin M. Koivisto (he was also the gunnery officer), deftly maneuvered Peary around Manila Bay dodging bomb after bomb for several hours. Though she suffered a few near misses, Peary emerged virtually unscathed. Later that evening, Peary and Pillsbury were ordered to put to sea and proceed south by the best route and join Task Force 5 at Soerabaja, Java. For safety, each ship was to proceed independently.

Peary's voyage south was eventful and dangerous as the Japanese held mastery of the air and sea. Intelligence information provided to Peary just after her departure from Manila indicated that Japanese warships probably lurked along his intended route to Surabaja. Lt Bermingham changed his track and destination to Darwin, Australia. During this voyage south, CM2 Denmark was kept very busy mitigating damage from several air attacks.

Capt. Birmingham traveled only by night and during the day he brought his ship close to shore and tied up to trees and covered the ship with palm fronds and green paint in order to blend with the flora of the various islands. Several times, Japanese bombers flew overhead but did not detect the ship. At about 0800, 28 Dec, Peary sighted a large Japanese four-engine seaplane shadowing her. It was a Kawanishi HK6 "Mavis" flying boat. About 1400, three more Mavis' joined and the attacks began with each plane making two runs dropping a single bomb estimated at 500 pounds. During the attacks Kovisto's gun crews kept up continuous fire at the enemy planes. Peary maneuvered successfully avoiding the bombs.

Finally, after the flying boats completed their attacks, two twin engine, single wing torpedo planes appeared and commenced an attack on Peary dropping two torpedoes off the port bow and two off the port quarter. Again, the skipper maneuvered the ship out of danger. However, after dropping their ordnance, the enemy torpedo planes fired several strafing bursts which struck the stacks. They were driven off by heavy shipboard machine gun fire from Lt Kovisto's angry gunners.

About 1800, off Kema Island in the Bangka Strait, three Australian Lockheed Hudson patrol bombers were sighted approaching from astern. The aircraft challenged Peary via signal light and she responded. The pilot was seen to wave his arm. However, one of the planes assumed a glide bombing profile. Peary's anti-aircraft batteries opened fire and began maneuvering radically. One of Peary's crewman lost his balance and fell overboard (he was picked up by a fisherman, but was turned over to the Japanese. He worked in a mine in Japan and was repatriated at the end of the war.).

Each Hudson made two attacks dropping a single 250 pound shrapnel bomb. There were no direct hits but near misses caused extensive damage. Peary was hit in various places topside and in the engineering spaces. The shrapnel hit in the engineering knocking one of Peary's two main engines out of commission. One crewman was killed when he was struck by shrapnel (S1c Kenneth E. Quinaux, a machine gunner, was buried at sea during services at 2000 on 29 Dec 1941.). Prior to departing, each Hudson made a strafing run on the ship.

Peary anchored at Port Darwin at 0840, 03 Jan 1942 after a 2100 mile plus transit from Manila, Philippines to Darwin, Australia. Within a week of arriving at Darwin, twenty-eight enlisted men and officers became ill with a virulent form of Malaria or Dengue Fever, contracted when the ship anchored off remote Maitara Island near Ternate in the Halmakeras. It was necessary to stop there to make repairs after being attacked by Australian aircraft. Eventually eight men would die.

Peary received tender availability services from USS Black Hawk (AD-9) to affect temporary repairs and make Peary seaworthy. Those repairs were completed on 22 Jan 1942. Peary assumed submarine escort duties on numerous occasions. She was an anti-submarine escort for USS Langley (AV-3) from Darwin to Fremantle, Australia between 08-13 Feb 1942 and she steamed with USS Houston escorting a Darwin-Koepang convoy from 14 to 18 Feb 1942.

Peary gained sound contact with a possible enemy submarine. After a fruitless search that expended much fuel, she returned to Port Darwin to refuel. Peary anchored about 0100, 19 Feb 1942. About 1045, Port Darwin was attacked by a combined Japanese carrier and land base force of over 200 fighters and bombers. Peary was hit by five bombs. The fifth bomb, an incendiary, exploded in the after engine room opening the ship to the sea. Peary sank, stern first with her anti-aircraft guns still firing until the last enemy plane left the area.

Eighty-eight officers and men including the commanding officer were killed in her sinking; 57 survived, 20 of whom were wounded. CM2 Denmark did not survive. He was listed as missing in action on 19 Feb 1942 but his parents weren’t notified until 11 Apr 42. His remains were unrecoverable. He was presumed dead on 20 Feb 1943.

CM2 Denmark was posthumously awarded a Purple Heart Medal, American Defense Service Medal w/Fleet Clasp (bronze star in lieu of clasp), Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal w/Fleet Clasp and two bronze stars (one bronze star in lieu of clasp), Philippine Defense Medal with a bronze service star, and the WWII Victory Medal. He may be eligible for the Combat Action Ribbon.

* Note: Were it not for Denmark’s illness on 05 Dec 1941, he would have probably survived on board the Trinity and may have survived WWII. Trinity survived WWII. She was decommissioned on 28 May 1946 at the Mare Island Naval Shipyard.

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CM2 Denmark’s family received a personal commemoration from President Franklin D. Roosevelt. It reads:

In grateful memory of Willie Ray DENMARK who died in the service of his country at SEA, Asiatic Area, ATTACHED U.S.S. PEARY, 20 February 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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Primary Sources:

1) Cox, Jeffery R., Rising Sun, Falling Skies, Osprey Publishing, UK, 2015.

2) Kehn, Donald M. Jr., In the Highest Degree Tragic, The Sacrifice of the U.S. Asiatic Fleet in the East Indies During World War II, Potomac Books, 2017.

3) Fickle, James E. Forests and Forest Products before 1930. Center for Study of Southern Culture, 11 July 2017 updated 14 Apr 2018. From Mississippi Encyclopedia

4) Deck logs USS Peary retrieved 15 November 2021.

5) Northern Territory Library Roll of Honour: Browse location. www.ntlexhibit.nt.gov.au. Retrieved 20 November 2021.

6) Wikipedia page, USS Peary (DD-226), Retrieved 12 November 2021.

7) Wilde, E. Andrew Jr. (Ed). U.S.S. Peary (DD-226) in World War II, Manila to Darwin, 12/10/41-2/19/42 : Needham, Mass. : The Editor, 2007. http://destroyerhistory.org/assets/pdf/wilde/226peary_wilde.pdf

8) Kehn, Donald M. Jr., A Blue Sea of Blood: deciphering the mysterious fate of the USS Edsall, Zenith Press, 2008.

9) Fold3 by Ancestry Navy Muster reports and Change reports.

10) Ancestry.com Navy WWII muster and Change reports.

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Link to USS Peary memorial in Darwin, Australia with list of names of those lost in the sinking of the ship. It's a cenotaph. https://www.maritimequest.com/misc_pages/monuments_memorials/uss_peary_memorial.htm

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Bio#370 compiled by Gerry Lawton (G47/GML470)

Military Hall of Honor #133258

Find A Grave Memorial #238591208