WW2 Fallen - Roy Lanham, SS West Ivis, sunk by U-boat

Apprentice Seaman Roy Lanham was lost when the SS West Ivis was sunk by a German U-boat.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/5287065/roy-willis-lanham
https://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?16340
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/291748882082562995/?lp=true 

Roy Willis Lanham never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.

Announcement: Later this month I will be starting a project that will result in the stories of all 400,000 plus of the World War 2 fallen at one online location. There will be an accompanying smart phone app to allow users visiting any war memorial to scan the fallen serviceman's name and be linked to his story. Watch this blog or join the WW2 Fallen 100 Facebook page to learn of upcoming details.

Roy was born on January 5, 1920 in Landover, Maryland. His parents Roy and Gertrude were born in Maryland and Virginia, respectively. His father worked as a railroad mill worker and later as a government carpenter. Roy had two older brothers, an older sister, and two younger sisters. By 1940 Roy had completed two years of high school. He was still living at home and worked as a plumber's helper.

He enlisted in the navy on November 10,1941. He was still in training when the war started one month later. By January he was an apprentice seaman on the cargo steamer SS West Ivis.

On January 24, 1942, West Ivis left New York bound for Buenos Aires. As it was far off the coast of North Carolina on January 26, it was spotted by U-boat U-125. The U-boat fired two torpedoes. One struck and the cargo ship went under within 15 minutes. The U-boat captain observed men getting into lifeboats, but none of the 45 man crew, including AS Lanham made it safely back to land. The ship was listed as missing when it never made it to its destination. Later that year, families were informed that their loved ones were likely lost. It was not until after the war that the fate of West Ivis was learned.

His cenotaph grave is at Arlington National Cemetery.

Thank you AS Lanham for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Roy.

Last year on this date I profiled All American and NFL player Alfred Blozis, 28th Infantry Division. You can read about Roy 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.

Follow on Twitter @ww2fallen100
Please consider joining the public Facebook group to increase the exposure of this project. Go to: WW2 Fallen 100

WW2 Fallen 100 is supported by

The Greatest GENERATIONS Foundation

“Where Every Day is Memorial Day”

http://www.tggf.org