S1/c Robert Benjamin Wise was born in Chicago, Illinois, on May 27, 1921, to Boyd B. Wise and Ingeborg Mausen-Wise and had a sister. His family resided at 230 South Mannheim Road, Bellwood, Illinois, and he graduated from Jefferson School and Proviso Township High School in 1939. After high school, he worked at Armour & Company, Chicago, and he joined the United States Naval Reserve.
On February 16, 1942, he registered with Selective Service and named his father as his contact person. Knowing that he would be drafted into military service, he enlisted in the United States Navy on September 12, 1942, in Chicago. Two places that it is known that he was sent to Camp Peary, Virginia, which was a new boot camp created for the training of Naval Construction Battalions better known as the Seabees. He next trained at Norfolk Naval Base, Virginia. His rank was Seaman First Class and was deployed to the Southwest Pacific Area through Port Hueneme Naval Base, California.
What is known is that he was stationed in New Caledonia. It is known that he was assigned to the 2nd Special Construction Battalion on the island. The Nickel Dock had been built on the south end of the island for the loading and unloading of ships. On November 1, 1943, at about 2:10 pm, the USS Perida was waiting to be unloaded with the 93rd Seabees aboard. There was a huge explosion while unloading ammunition onto Nickel Dock which was followed by a number of smaller explosions. This resulted in the deaths of hundreds of military personnel and wounding many others. From his Individual Deceased Personnel File, it is known that Robert suffered extremely severe multiple injuries resulting in his death. Robert was identified by his finger prints. His parents received a telegram from the military on December 10, 1943, telling them of his death, but the content of the telegram is not known.
Robert was buried in the United States Military Cemetery #1, in Grave 299, Noumea, New Caledonia, in Plot 6, Row 5, Grave 299. His body was exhumed on December 6, 1946, and after being casketed sent to the Schofield Barracks Cemetery, Oahu, Hawaii, where he was buried in Plot 8, Row P, Grave 21. It was after this that his parents received a letter telling them where Robert is buried and the location of his grave in the cemetery. His parents were also told that information Robert’s final burial would be available. were returned to the United States after the war and buried at Chapel Hill Garden West, Oakbrook, Illinois, in Section Churchyard, Grave 15A-A-1.
