Fmn Elmer Clarke Ishum, USS Manly, US Navy.
Born at Harrison Township, Davies Cty, Indiana on 22 December 1893, Elmer was an employee of the Ohio and Baltimore Railroad. He enlisted into the US Navy on 1 September 1917 and was trained at the Great Lakes Naval Station, Illinois and at Norfolk, Virginia. He was later assigned to the USS Manly as a fireman. Sailing from Boston in November 1917, the USS Manly was to become based at Queenstown, Ireland and engaged in patrol and convoy escort duties. On the morning of 19 March 1918, whilst on escort duty a few miles off the English coast, a depth charge was accidentally detonated which destroyed the ship's stern, engulfed the ship in flames and killed one officer and 33 men. Elmer was severely injured in this incident and died later that day. Being buried at sea, Elmer is now listed on the ‘Tablets of the Missing' at Brookwood American Cemetery, Surrey.
19 March 1918
Research by David O'Mara, Croonaert Research Services.
