WW2 Fallen - Ernest Fisher, USS Truxtun

Ernest Fisher served on the destroyer USS Truxtun.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/82474583/ernest-c_-fisher
http://www.navsource.org/archives/05/229.htm

Big thanks to Barry Charletta who provided me with information to correct my profile:

On Christmas Day 1941, Truxtun departed Boston, Massachusetts in the screen of Convoy HX-168. She arrived at Reykjavík on 13 January 1942 and, six days later, headed back to Argentia with Convoy ON-57. At 0410 on 18 February while acting as escort to USS Pollux (AKS-2) in Placentia Bay, Newfoundland, Truxtun ran aground "in a howling gale" between the outport communities of Lawn and St. Lawrence, near Chambers Cove. Under extremely violent and freezing sea conditions she broke up almost immediately after grounding and, in spite of the heroic efforts of the local populace, lost 110 members of her crew to the elements. USS Pollux (AKS-2) was also wrecked with 93 fatalities, and USS Wilkes (DD-441) also grounded, but made way with no fatalities.

Ernest Clifton Fisher never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.

He was born on May 31, 1919 in North Carolina. He was named after two local men who lost their lives in WWI: Ernest Fraizer and Clifton Potts. His parents Oliver and Mattie were also both born in North Carolina. His father worked as a farmer. Ernest had two older brothers, two older sisters, one younger brother, and one younger sister. His mother died in 1930 of bronchial pneumonia.

Ernest graduated from high school and enlisted in the Navy in February 1937. He reached the rank of yeoman second class. In the years prior to the war he saw service throughout the world.

Hometown papers in late February 1942 reported that Yeoman Fisher had been killed in action on February 18, 1942. No details were provided, but the only action US Naval forces were engaged in at that time was the ABDA command operating out of Java. He was most likely killed when this group of ships tried unsuccessfully to stop the Japanese invasion of Bali. 

His grave (possibly cenotaph) is at Red Oak Cemetery in Red Oak, North Carolina.

Thank you Yeoman Fisher for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Ernest.

Last year on this date I profiled Spitfire and Skytrain pilot Benjamin Taylor, General Eisenhower's pilot. You can read about Benjamin here.

On behalf of the fallen, if you would like to see more people become aware of this project to honor the WW2 fallen, be sure to share with others on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Thanks for your interest!

I created this video to explain why I started this project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY.

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