Person

Billy Joe Boegen

A tall, blue-eyed Texan, with an infectious smile, Billy Joe Boegen served on USS Cassin Young (DD-793) during World War II.

As a young man, Boegen joined the Navy as an Apprentice Seaman (AS). He enlisted on October 27, 1941, just six weeks before the attack on Pearl Harbor. After completing his training in San Diego, California, Boegen received assignments in Pearl Harbor. He served on the flying boat squadron, Air Battle Force, and detailed as a Messmate, where his outgoing personality was an asset.

Long before he joined USS Cassin Young, Boegen saw a lot of intense action. AS Billy Joe Boegen was stationed on USS Yorktown (VC-5) during the battles of the Coral Sea (May 4-8, 1942) and Midway Island (June 4-7, 1942) where the enemy sunk his ship. Shortly after, Billy Joe was promoted to Seaman first class (S1c). He spent nine months on USS West Virginia (BB-48). February 23, 1943, he joined the crew of USS Salt Lake City (CA-25). As part of task Group 16.6 Salt Lake City, Boegen served with distinction during the surface engagement off the Komandorski Islands (March 26, 1943). This earned praise from Admiral Nimitz: "At two to one odds you have delayed the enemy mission and inflicted telling damage. Well done. Your courageous action approved in every respect. Nimitz".¹ Salt Lake City received damaged from three Japanese cruisers.

Franklin D. Roosevelt is credited with saying "a smooth sea never made a skilled sailor." And Boegen had his share of rough seas. During judicial actions, the Navy discovered he had misinformed them of his age; Boegen had enlisted at 16 years of age. The Navy did not take kindly to this fib and considered discharging him. But looking at his long, arduous, and distinguished record, the Navy sentenced Boegen to confinement and reduced his rank instead.

On January 17, 1945, AS Boegen reported aboard USS Cassin Young (DD-793) for the first time. He served as a part of the 40 mm gun crew. When Cassin Young was strafed by enemy planes and hit by a kamikaze on April 12, 1945, Boegen took multiple gunshot wounds, earning a Purple Heart, which he received while recovering. He was also awarded a Silver Star

… for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as Director Operator for a forty millimeter mount on board the Destroyer U.S.S. CASSIN YOUNG (DD-793), during operations against the enemy in the vicinity of Okinawa on 12 April 1945. After he had assisted in the control of guns which destroyed two planes, his ship was struck by another plane, seriously wounding him and damaging his [gun] director. Despite his injuries, he courageously remained at his station and aided in directing the gun battery in shooting down another plane attacking his ship. His courage and disregard for personal safety were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.²

Kamikaze struck Cassin Young a second time on July 30, 1945. Boegen received multiple wounds from shrapnel in his legs and a severe head wound. The following day he died aboard USS Hamul (AD-20) at 20 years old. He had served in the Navy for almost four years.

Originally buried among shipmates in an American Military Cemetery on Zamami Shima, Ryuku Retto, Boegen's remains were moved to Grove Hill Memorial Park in Dallas, Texas. His mother, who lived to be 99, had a beautiful headstone for Billy Joe and baby brother Robert, who only lived 39 days. Billy Joe Boegen’s half includes the inscription, "He Died That Others Might Live."

Shipmate James O’Hara wrote:

Nobody enjoyed a good time on the beach (ashore) [more] than Billy Joe. In his lighter moments, he would often call me "O’Harry." When he would use that phrase, or name, I knew we would have a lot of fun. His usual expression was "O Harry, let’s stay on the Sunny Side of the Street." Translation – let’s avoid trouble. Billy Joe was the perfect liberty partner.
1. He was very good looking. He had a head full of black, curly hair and always wore a smile. A Big Texan Smile.
2. He always made me think of what a Texan would look like. Tall, about 6' 2" or so, broad shoulders and narrow waist. Very friendly with those around him. Particularly girls.
He always seemed to have a knack for knowing were the interesting places to were located.³

More than 50 years after his death, during a reunion in Boston, Massachusetts, his shipmates remembered the skills, the antics and the smile of Billy Joe Boegen.

Footnotes:

Official Military Personnel File of Billy Joe Boegen, National Personnel Records Center, National Archives and Records Administration, St. Louis, MO.
Military Times Hall of Valor https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/307338
Letter from James O’Hara to Debbie Christie Rogers, dated November 24, 1999. USS Salt Lake City (CCA-25) web page http://usslcca25.com/boegen.htm