Judge Stanford Pettway

These awards are based on the information below and per applicable DoD Directives and Awards Manuals:
Purple Heart Awarded to any member of the Armed Forces of the United States who, while serving under competent authority in any capacity with one of the U.S. Armed Forces, after April 5, 1917, has been wounded, killed, or who has died or may hereafter die of wounds received in action against an enemy of the United States.
American Campaign Service Medal Awarded for military service within the American Theater between December 7, 1941 and March 2, 1946.
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal Awarded for military service for service within the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater between December 7, 1941 and November 8, 1945.
World War II Victory Medal Awarded for military service between December 7, 1941 and December 31, 1946, both dates inclusive.

Documents, Forms and Resources Found:
No  Alabama Newspaper Obit, Notice, or Report
No  Application For Headstone or Marker, OQMG Form 623
Yes Survivor Statement or Report, Sinking of Liberty Ship SS William B. Woods
Yes Grave Marker Photos, Tablets of the Missing, Find A Grave
Yes National Archives Database, Enlistment Records
No  Photo of veteran, Find A Grave
Yes WWII Draft Card Data

WWII Draft Card Data
Name: Judge Stanford Pettway
Race: Black  -  Age: 21  -  Relationship to Draftee: Self
Birth Date: March 22, 1919  -  Birth Place: Wilcox County, Alabama
Residence Place: Alberta, Wilcox County, Alabama
Registration Date: October 16, 1940  -  Registration Place: Alberta, Wilcox County
Employer: Tom Ottoway Pettway
Weight: 165  -  Complexion: Black
Eye Color: Black  -  Hair Color: Black  -  Height: 5' 10"
Next of Kin: Tom Ottoway Pettway
Members of Household: Judge Stanford Pettway, Self
Tom Ottoway Pettway, Father

Note 1: The death location, "northeast of Palermo, Sicily in the Mediterranean Sea" is based on the best information available at this time. In the case of PFC Judge Pettway, this location was estimated based on:

A. The ABMC website data identifies his assigned unit as the 3272nd Quartermaster Service Company, date of death on March 10, 1944, and he was awarded the Purple Heart Medal.

B. The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency website reports his area of loss was "NORTH SEA OR TYRRHENIAN SEA".

C. The only ship listed as sunk in the Tyrrhenian Sea on March 10, 1944 was the Liberty Ship SS William B. Woods, details on this event:

  - This ship was carrying general cargo, ammunition and army vehicles headed for Naples, Italy
  - On board were nine officers, 34 merchant crewmen, 28 US Navy Armed Guards, and 407 US Army troops
  - At about 4:15 PM, local time, the ship was hit by a torpedo from the German submarine U-952
  - The ship sank by the stern at about 8:40 PM, local time
  - 52 lives were lost including the ships Master, one Navy Armed Guard, two members of the 3271st
   Quartermaster Service Company and 42 members of the 3272nd Quartermaster Service Company
  - The US Navy Armed Guard lost was S1C Henry Dorsey Norman, USNR (6368729). He was from
   Bibb County Georgia and his body was recovered.
  - The 426 survivors were rescued by British boats in the area.
  - The U-952 was sunk in a French port on August 6, 1944 by AAF B-24 Liberator bombers.

Anyone with corrections or further details is welcomed and encouraged to submit an email to: ww2updates@withmilitaryhonors.com.

The following information on this casualty is sourced from The National Archives Database:
 Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, ca. 1938 - 1946 (Enlistment Records) - See Note 2

 Do you have comments, questions, corrections or updates about PFC Judge S. Pettway? With Military Honors would like to hear from you. To submit a picture, leave a comment or add any relevant military or family information to honor this veteran, send an email to nick@withmilitaryhonors.com.
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Note 2. Information is sourced from the public domain and may be copied and distributed without permission.