Chester Eugene Hamby was born on 3 June 1920, Crossville, Cumberland, Tennessee, the son of William Andrew Hamby and Edna Ella Myatt. Husband of Ivy Evelyn Kemplin. Hometown Cincinnati, Ohio
Missing since 9 August 1942, Solomon Islands
Finding of Death date 10 August 1943
Memorialized at the Manila American Cemetery, Philippines.
Chester Hamby served aboard the heavy cruiser USS Quincy CA-39. He was killed in action on August 9, 1942 at the battle of Savo Island. The Quincy was sunk by the Japanese cruiser Chokai and 398 American sailors went down with their ship. He was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously.
In the picture below are Chester Hamby (left) with his brother Everett W. Hamby (right). They were both on the same ship; when the ship went down, Chester went down with the ship. His brother survived. He did try to save Chester, and he tried going down and freeing him but could not. Everett was burned while trying to save his brother by the fire from the fuel on the water. He burned his hair and scalp. Everett lived to be in His 80’s. That is all I can tell you.
–Submitted by his nephew, Doug Beckstead
The Crossville Chronicle, November 18, 1943
Seaman Chester Hamby, age 23, son of Mr. and Mrs. W.A. Hamby, Route 2, missing in action since August 10, 1942, is now listed “among the dead” by the United States Government. Chester was a resident of this county until 1936, as were the rest of the family. His father, W. A. Hamby still resides here. Mr. and Mrs. Hamby had three sons in the service.
Paul, in the Army, the eldest, now on active duty in Africa, was among the earliest to embark.
Everett, age 20, gunnersmate third class, U.S. Navy, was rescued, wounded, at the time Chester was reported missing. Both Chester and Everett were on the U.S.S. Quincy when it was torpedoed in the Battle of Savo Island, in the South Pacific on August 10, 1942. Both enlisted in September, 1939.
Everett said the last time he saw his brother Chester was about 11 P.M., on August 9th, when they separated, he to go to his bunk, and Chester to go on duty in the powder magazine. About 2:00 A.M. the next morning the Quincy was attacked. Chester is also survived by his wife, the former Miss Ivy Kemplin, of Cincinnati, Ohio; five sisters; Mrs. Vera Whitaker, Cincinnati, O.; Mrs. Lucile Barton, Nashville; Misses Mescal, Catherine and Joanne, and a younger brother, Thomas, all in Cincinnati.
- Rank: Seaman First Class
- Date of birth: 3 June 1920
- Date of death: 10 August 1943
- County: Cumberland
- Hometown: Crossville
- Service Branch: Navy
- Division/Assignment: USS Quincy CA-39
- Theater: Pacific
- Conflict: World War II
- Awards: Purple Heart
- Burial/Memorial Location: Manila American Cemetery, Fort Bonifacio, Manila, Philippines
- Location In Memorial: Pillar VIII, Bottom Panel
- Sponsored by: Doug Beckstead
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