Those Adams Boys of World War II, All Brothers - All Navy

Updated information added August 13, 2021.

August 10, 2021 - Bertha Camelia Bush and Hartwell Dee “Bud” Adams, Sr. raised their family in Shelby County, Texas where Bud resided for seventy-two years and was self-employed as a farmer like many of the time. They raised six children: Eureka Adams Fielder (1913), Hardwell Dee, Jr., Avis Audrey Adams Meyers (1917), John Marlin (1920), Joe Ward (1922) and Iva Jane Adams Jackson (1925). Times were hard with the “Great Depression” of the early 1930’s and having these children to help out on the farm was no doubt a blessing. 

The Selective Service Act of 1940 was the first peacetime conscription in the United States history and required all men who reached their twenty-first birthday but not yet reached their thirty-sixth birthday to register with local draft boards. The Adams brothers complied with Hartwell, Jr. age 24 registering on October 16, 1940; John Marlin age 21 registering on July 1, 1941; and Joe Ward, age 19 registering on June 30, 1942. 

With the Japanese attack on the US Naval facilities at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, December 7, 1941, the United States was once again embroiled in a World War but this time on two fronts, Europe and the Pacific. Registered men could volunteer before being called to service and pick their branch of service.(1)

Joe Ward AdamsAlthough the youngest, Joe Ward was the first to volunteer for the Navy at age 21. On January 27, 1944, Joe took the oath of enlistment and was sent to the Naval Training Center in San Diego, California for six weeks of “boot camp”.  After a quick furlough to see wife Pauline and the family he was received on board the USS Uranus (AF-14) in San Francisco on April 4, 1944. His ship served as a floating refrigerated storage vessel that provided stores and provisions to American Forces. After arriving on board the Uranus made two round-trip Pacific passages between San Francisco, Pearl Harbor and Midway Island and then sailed for Majuro in the Marshall Islands. In April 1945 she received an overhauling at San Francisco and was then based there for the remainder of the war in the Pacific. Following the Japanese surrender on September 2, 1945 that ended World War II, the USS Uranus participated in “Operation Magic Carpet”, bringing veterans back to the United States from Pacific battle zones. On January 31, 1946, Report of Changes published by the Uranus ordered Water Tender Third Class Joe W. Adams, serial # 8402031 to Camp Wallace, Texas for separation.  He was honorably discharged February 16, 1646 and his ship decommissioned three months later on May 8.  For his service, Joe was awarded the Navy Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal and the World War II Victory Medal. He and Pauline Bradshaw were married in Shelby County, Texas on January 15, 1942. They raised children, Kenneth, Joleen and Sarah before Pauline’s death in 1971.  Joe passed at the age of 75 at Holiday Nursing Home in Center leaving wife Joyce Edge Adams, children above, sons David and Jessie and three stepdaughters, Martha, Hazel, and Judy and two stepsons, Travis and Jack Quinn. Joe and Joyce rest in the Folsom Chapel Cemetery, Shelby County, Texas.(2)

John Marlin AdamsJohn Marlin enlisted eight months after his brother on September 27, 1944 at the age 24. He left his job at the local sawmill and said goodbye to wife Johnnie Frances Crocker and family. . He was then also sent to the Naval Training Center in San Diego, California for six weeks of “boot camp” followed by duty in the Marshall Islands between Hawaii and the Philippines. World War II ended September 2, 1945 and John was returned to the United States and honorably discharged February 23, 1946. Awarded the Navy Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal and the World War II Victory Medal. Following the war he and Johnnie had four children, Mary Kathryn, Barbara Sue, John Marlin, Jr. and Jan. John worked as an automobile mechanic and passed at the early age of 35 at his residence in Center of a heart attack March 12, 1955. He and Johnnie rest in Oaklawn Memorial Park, Center, Shelby County, Texas.(3)

Hartwell D. Adams, Jr.Hartwell, Jr. married Miss Bessie Crocker in Shelby County on March 3, 1939 with employment as a farmer. Taking the oath of enlistment on April 26, 1945 at the age of 29, he was assigned to the US Navy and like his brothers sent to the Naval Training Center in San Diego, California for six weeks of “boot camp”. He then joined the crew of the battle hardened Navy destroyer, USS Caldwell (DD-605) that was performing minesweeping operations off Brunei Bay. On June 27, 1945 the Caldwell detonated an influence-type mine but escaped with moderate damage and no casualties. After temporary repairs at Victoria, Australia she sailed to San Pedro Bay, Philippines for final repairs. Before she could get underway again World War II ended with the surrender of Japan on September 2, 1945. Following a visit to Tokyo Bay, the Caldwell returned to the States. On October 10, 1945 Fireman Second Class Hartwell Adams, Jr., serial # 9689967 was transferred to a demobilization staging center and was honorably discharged November 2. The USS Caldwell received eight battle stars for her service and was placed out of commission April 1946 and sold for scrap on November 4, 1966. Hartwell, Jr. was awarded the Navy Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal and the World War II Victory Medal. He and Bessie raised six sons, Teddy, Bobby, H. D., Tommy Johnny and Donnie along with two daughters, Jerelyn and Janie. Employed as an automobile mechanic, Hartwell passed of a heart attack at Memorial Hospital, Nacogdoches at the age of 63. He and Bessie rest in Oaklawn Memorial Park, Garden of Prayer, Center, Shelby County, Texas. Day is done, God is nigh.

It is hard to imagine the worry and anguish the family went through with three sons on active duty during a time of war. It was also no doubt a time of pride having a banner with three blue stars hanging in their window for all to see. Their Boys answered the call to duty.

Source Citations:

(1). “Conscription, World War II | Encyclopedia.Com.” Accessed August 5, 2021. https://www.encyclopedia.com/defense/energy-government-and-defense-magazines/conscription-world-war-ii

(2). https://military.wikia.org/wiki/USS_Uranus_(AF-14) 

(3). Book, The Men and Women in World War II from Shelby County.

(4). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Caldwell_(DD-605)