What Happened to William K Steele in WWII?

What Happened to William K Steele in WW2?

Keller Steele’s son, William K Steele, was born in 1921 in Henry County, GA.  He was drafted and enlisted in the U S Army July 31, 1942 at Fort McPherson in Atlanta, GA in the Branch of Warrant Officers.   He had 4 years of high school, was a railroad clerk, weighed 121 pounds and was 5’ 8” tall, was single and no dependents.

William never returned from the War and his family never knew what happened to him.  This writer remembers as a child hearing Aunt Helen, with tears in her eyes, sadly tell my mother, Myrtle Steele, “The government won’t tell us what happened to William”.

William was killed November 1, 1943 in Noumea, New Caledonia in the South Pacific.  He was helping put out a fire at the Nickel Dock where merchant ships were unloading ammunition when there was an explosion.

The family was unaware of these details until his sister found the story on the internet and an eye witness account of the accident.  The story was classified until 1976 when it was released.

   He is Buried at  Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery   

 St. Louis, Missouri

U S Army Administrative Decision, Private First Class William Steele was buried  September 23, 1949 at the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, Saint Louis, Missouri, Plot: 82 0 96-99 u.   

      

                               

By U S Army Administrative Decision, Private First Class William Steele was buried                                

 September 23, 1949 at the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, Saint Louis, Missouri, Plot: 82 0 96-99u.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

Released eyewitness accounts of the Nickel Dock Explosion:

  Nickel Dock Explosion

Two eyewitness accounts of the explosion:

On November 1, 1943, four cargo ships were loading: SS Juan Cabrillo, USS Cassiopeia, SS James Buchanan and SS Cape Breton were unloading at two finger piers that had been built by US Navy Seabees, when handling of munitions caused an explosion. About 100 men were lost, (killed or missing) and another 100 wounded. The ships were removed from their moorings, but did not sustain serious damage. The explosion was, for some years, classified, and now declassified, but there has been little collection of data from each individual file.

Ben Glusing adds:
"I was an officer of the 208th Military Police Company, which furnished guard duty of the docks. I arrived at the scene 8-10 minutes after the first blast. Explosion was followed by fires, all lasting about four and a half hours. We suffered seven men injured; no fatalities. The explosion was, for some years, classified, and now declassified, but there has been little collection of data from each individual file.

New Caledonia was a major base in the South Pacific in WWII in the fight against Japan.

New Caledonia is a French Colony, one of the largest of the Pacific Islands, which is why it was selected by the US Military in WWII for a major staging, training, fueling and supply depot to fight the Japanese in the South Pacific.  Being surrounded by coral reefs gave a safe haven from enemy ships and torpedoes.  The island had a rich deposit of nickel which was exported all over the world.

After the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Navy Seabees were sent to New Caledonia to build a long runway for aircraft, clear a seaplane landing strip, build fuel docks for supply ships, and all facilities needed for a full base operation.  The U S Army was sent there to defend and protect the island, the base and the docks from Japanese attacks.  As revealed in an old military film, they were issued “small vehicles” that we know as Jeeps and motorcycles to patrol the sandy unimproved roads and trails of the island.  They towed 37 mm. guns behind the Jeeps.  The commanding officer was Lt. Col. A.M. George.  The US troops were aided by local tribesmen and French soldiers.  U S Merchant ships frequented the docks at Noumea, New Caledonia bringing men and supplies for distribution all around the South Pacific  .Now that this information has been unclassified, there is a lot of information on the internet about the U S Military at New Caledonia, the battles around the South Pacific Islands and the Coral Sea.                           

Location of New Caledonia

750 miles east of Australia

Modern day New Caledonia is a thriving island, a resort and cruise ship destination.








Let us in the Steele Family be thankful for William and all of the family members who served in the military.   Some gave the ultimate sacrifice in their military service to protect our freedom.  Many men in our family were call to duty and required to serve by the draft.  They bravely served with honor and made us proud.