Richard Shipp Dies of Injury
Richard Shipp, 20, former East High athlete, died at 6:45 a. m. Monday’ at a Galveston, Tex., naval hospital, of injuries received when he fell from the deck of an LST in the south Pacific. His mother, Mrs. Eva Shipp, 611 Ankeny, made a hurried airplane trip to Galveston to be with her son. Story on page 3.
Air Race to Dying Son’s Bedside Late
Efforts of his naval commanding officer and of the Red Cross office in Waterloo in arranging a hasty trip by airplane to Galveston, Tex., failed to get Mrs. Eva Shipp, 611 Ankeny street, to the bedside of her critically injured son before his death at 6:45 a. m. Monday in a naval base hospital there.
Richard (Dick) Shipp, 20, gunner’s mate second class, who had been outstanding in athletics at East high school, died after arrival from the Pacific area.
The message told that her son was brought in Saturday after having fallen overboard from an LST ship, that he was bleeding from the lungs, and although he was conscious, chance for his recovery was “very poor.” His commanding officer requested Mrs. Shipp’s presence.
Frantic long distance telephone calls here Sunday brought only the information that all airline seats from Des Moines were taken, and if a train reservation could be secured it would be 11 p. m. Tuesday before she would arrive.
The Waterloo Red Cross was called in, and it was able to get priority for a seat on a Mid-Continent airliner from Des Moines at 8:20 p. m. Sunday. She was scheduled to arrive in Houston, Tex., at 3:45 a. m. Monday, and the Red Cross arranged for someone to meet her there and take her to Galveston. Terry Flying Service here took her to Des Moines Sunday afternoon.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Shipp’s daughter, Mrs. Joyce Thompson, who has made her home with her mother, is in serious condition in St. Francis hospital, stricken by a sudden illness as yet undiagnosed. She had not been told details of her brother’s death Monday.
Richard Shipp was born Jan. 9, 1925, in Waterloo, son of Phalen and Eva Shipp, graduated from East Waterloo high school. He was awarded major Trojan letters in baseball, in which he played first base, football, as an end, and wrestling, in the 155-pound class. He was in the training school of the Chicago Cubs in 1941.
He had been serving overseas for 18 months in the Pacific, having entered service Jan. 4, 1942.
Surviving are both parents, his sister, Mrs. Thompson, and a brother, James Shipp, Fort Wayne, Ind.
Source: Waterloo Dailey Courier, Waterloo, Iowa, Monday, July 23, 1945, Pages 1 & 3 (photo included)
Body of Fatally Injured Sailor
To Be Brought Here
Richard Shipp Dead Before Mother Arrives.
The body of Richard (Dick) Shipp, 20, gunner’s mate second class, who died at Galveston, Tex., Monday, will be brought to Waterloo for burial, his sister, Mrs. Joyce Thompson, 611 Ankeny street, said Tuesday.
His mother, Mrs. Eva Shipp, lost the race with death when she flew to Galveston late Sunday in an attempt to get to his bedside in a navy hospital before his death.
She sent a telegram Monday night to Mrs. Thompson informing her that she had arrived too late to see her son alive, that she was returning with the body Wednesday, and would arrive late that day.
Cause of his death, according to navy doctors’ reports to the Associated Press at Galveston, was bronchial pneumonia. The doctors refused to confirm a report that Shipp had fallen overboard at sea, causing the respirational ailment.
His commanding officer requested his mother’s presence immediately and the Red Cross officials in Waterloo arranged for Mrs. Shipp’s flight to Texas.
Mrs. Thompson, who was confined to a hospital at the time of the call for Mrs. Shipp, has returned to her home. She is suffering with a nervous condition.
Source: Waterloo Dailey Courier, Waterloo, Iowa, Tuesday, July 24, 1945, Page 2
DEATHS
RICHARD SHIPP.
Further delay in the arrival at Kearns Garden chapel of the body of Richard (Dick) Shipp, 20, gunner’s mate second class who died at Galveston, Tex., on Monday, was reported Friday. The body will not arrive until Saturday morning because of a delay at Kansas City, Mo. Services will be at Grace Methodist church, as was previously planned.
Rev. H. W. Farnham will conduct the services. Burial will be at Fairview cemetery. The body will remain at the chapel until time of services.
Source: Waterloo Dailey Courier, Waterloo, Iowa, Friday, July 21, 1945, Page 2
Body of Sailor to Arrive Monday
The body of Richard (Dick) Shipp, 20, gunner’s mate second class, who died at Galveston, Tex., Monday will arrive in Waterloo Friday morning accompanied by a military escort, and will be taken to Kearn’s Garden chapel.
His mother, Mrs. Eva Shipp, 611 Ankeny street, lost the race with death when she flew to Galveston late Sunday in an attempt to get to his bedside in a navy hospital before his death. Mrs. Shipp arrived back in Waterloo Wednesday evening.
Cause of his death, according to navy doctors’ reports to the Associated Press at Galveston, was bronchial pneumonia. The doctors there refused to confirm reports that Shipp had fallen overboard from the LST [USS LST 308] on which he was serving at sea.
His commanding officer requested the sailor’s mother’s presence immediately, and Red Cross officials in Waterloo arranged for Mrs. Shipp’s flight to Texas.
Funeral services will be at 3:30 p. m. Saturday at Grace Methodist church, with Rev. H. W. Farnham, pastor, officiating. Casket bearers will be service men, friends of Shipp now home on leave. Full military honors will be conducted at the graveside at Fairview cemetery by members of the American Legion. The body will remain at Kearn’s Garden chapel until time of the services.
Source: Waterloo Dailey Courier, Waterloo, Iowa, Thursday, July 26, 1945, Page 2
Mother Receives Details Concerning
Shipp Boy’s Death
“Got Kick Out of Liberty That Night.”
Details concerning the death of Richard Shipp, son of Mrs. Eva Shipp, 611 Ankeny street, who died Monday, July 23, at Galveston, Tex., of injuries suffered when he fell overboard from an LST, were received Tuesday by his mother from a buddy and one of Shipp’s officers.
Lt. M. J. Mehaffey wrote:
“While the entire ship’s company was engaged in a drill, you son, having completed his assigned task, was waiting for the drill to be over. He rested himself upon an ammunition ‘ready box’ which is so constructed that in an emergency it can be thrown overboard merely by throwing a release lever. On Saturday afternoon the lever was not yet thrown but the ‘ready box’ fell overboard and your son with it.
“He was wearing a life jacket and a small boat which was alongside our ship at the time picked him up almost immediately. In keeping with navy custom, he was taken at once to the navy doctor at the base for a complete physical checkup.”
The close friend of Shipp’s, Carl Fulfe, gunner’s mate second class, wrote:
“I was up on the next deck and watched as the small boat picked him up. I went down to the gangway to meet Dick and he was having as big a laugh over it as the rest of us. I waited for him in the compartment while the pharmacist’s mate administered first aid. He still laughed about getting his cigarettes wet but was beginning to cough a slight film of blood.
“We helped him with his jumper as he lit a cigarette as if he were rather bored at the idea of going to the base. We had planned to go on liberty that night and Dick sort of got a kick out of being the only man to go ashore while the rest of us had to stay aboard.”
The certificate of death sent Mrs. Shipp recorded that her son died of pneumonia broncho and complications.
Source: Waterloo Dailey Courier, Waterloo, Iowa, Tuesday, August 01, 1945, Page 5
