William Clark McKenzie was born at Wichita Falls, Wichita, Texas, the son of James Kenneth McKenzie and Mabel Leigh Clark.
MCKENZIE, William C, Pharmacist’s Mate Third Class, 3573079, USN, from Texas, Apr-45, Honolulu Memorial (bm) + MCKENZIE, William, PhM3c, Hospital Corps, USNR, USS Morris, Okinawa, April 6, 1945 (ms) + MCKENZIE, William Clark, Pharmacist’s Mate 3c, USNR. Parents, Mr. and Mrs. James Kenneth McKenzie, 111 Howard Ave., Clinton, Tenn (na) + MCKENZIE, William C, PHM3, 3573079, USNR, from Texas, USS Morris, location Japan, missing, date of loss April 6, 1945 (pm)
He is memorialized at Honolulu. He served on the USS Morris (DD 417)
In May 1943, USS Morris was transferred to the Aleutian Islands; then overhauled before returning to the Central Pacific. During the Gilbert Islands operation, she stood by a sinking carrier for a fourth time—Liscome Bay, CVE 56. She also participated in the Marshall Islands operation, the occupation of New Guinea, the landings at Leyte and the occupation of the Philippines.
On 6 April 1945, off Okinawa, USS Morris was crashed on the forecastle by a “Kate” bomber carrying a heavy bomb or torpedo. The explosion heavily damaged her bow, blew out plating on her starboard side and caused fires, which spread quickly and continued to burn for more than two hours. After temporary repairs at Kerama Retto off Okinawa, she departed 22 May and arrived at Hunters Point, San Francisco 18 June.
- Rank: Pharmacists Mate Third Class
- Date of birth: 5 March 1924
- Date of death: 6 April 1945
- County: Anderson
- Hometown: Clinton
- Service Branch: Navy
- Division/Assignment: USS Morris (DD 417)
- Theater: Pacific
- Conflict: World War II
- Awards: Purple Heart
- Burial/Memorial Location: Honolulu Memorial, Honolulu, Hawaii
- Location In Memorial: Pillar VI, Top Panel
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