AMM1/c William Adler Josen was born in Chicago, Illinois, on February 10, 1913, to William A Josen and Laurel Smith-Josen, and had one sister. His family resided at 803 West Boulevard, Maywood, Illinois, and graduated from Proviso Township High School in 1932. He married Maben Chapman and was the father of a son. At some point, he moved to California, and the family resided at 656 A Avenue, Coronado, California.
On October 17, 1939, he enlisted in the US Navy and was issued the serial number 336 76 10. He did his basic training at the San Diego Naval Training Center and trained as a machine gunner. After basic training, he was assigned to the USS Yorktown. When Pearl Harbor was attacked on December 7, 1941, the Yorktown had recently completed a patrol of the Atlantic Ocean and was in port in Norfolk, Virginia. The ship was ordered to San Diego, California, and became part of Task Force 17. The USS Lexington and the Yorktown sailed for New Guinea were their planes attacked Japanese shipping off the island’s east coast in March 1942.
The carrier next sent planes against the Japanese invasion of Tulagi Island. The attack resulted in the loss of several ships by the Japanese. The Lexington and Yorktown were then sent to New Guinea as part of an attempt to stop the Japanese Invasion of Port Moresby which became known as the Battle of the Coral Sea. Planes from the Yorktown sunk the Japanese light carrier, Shōhō, on May 7th. The next day the two carriers made contact with the main Japanese force of carriers. During the battle one of the Japanese carriers was damaged and so were the Lexington and Yorktown. The Lexington was later scuttled by its crew.
It was during this battle that William was killed on May 8, 1942, when a bomb from a Japanese plane penetrated the Yorktown’s deck and exploded in the hanger. In all, 66 sailors were killed or wounded. Walter’s military records show that he was buried at sea. It is not known when his wife learned of his death.
After the war, when the new American Military Cemetery was opened outside of Manila, Walter’s name was placed on the Walls of the Missing in the cemetery.
