Cox LeRoy Roger Worts was born in Chicago on January 17, 1925, to Patrick and Ruth Worts and had one sister. His family resided at 522 South Harlem Avenue, Forest Park, Illinois. He graduated from Saint Bernadine Catholic School and attended Proviso Township High School but left after his sophomore year after enlisting on April 2, 1942, into the US Navy. His serial number was 300 82 22. He received his high school diploma while in the Navy.
Very little is known about his training, but it is known that he trained at the San Diego Naval Base, San Diego, California. and Norfolk, Virginia. He also served on several ships as as Coxswain. In August, 1943, he was on the USS Douglas L. Howard and on the 20th he was transferred to the USS Herbert C. Jones. He was a member of the crew of the U.S.S. Frederick C. Davis from March 31, 1944 to July 10, 1944. He was next on the LCI (L) 589 from September 30, 1944 to December 31, 1944. During this time he was involved in Naval Operations off North Africa, Italy, and Anzio Breach.
He was next stationed at Camp Bradford, Virginia. It was at about 5:00 pm on April 10, 1945, that Leroy was in a car with four other sailors. The car reportedly went off the road and lunged into Lake Smith, Virginia. The state police stated that the car was traveling at a high speed and left the road on Route 13-Y. The car knocked down several guard rails before going into the lake where it landed next to a sunken tree stump about ten feet from shore. The skid mark left by the car was said have bee 170 feet long. The local residents came to the aid of the sailors and pulled them from the car. Leroy had the worst injuries. Two of the other sailors were injured while two more suffered minor injuries. Leroy was taken by military ambulance to the base hospital.
Ccx Leroy R. Worts died from his injuries late in the evening of April 16, 1945. His casketed body was sent home to Chicago by train, and he was buried at Saint Joseph Cemetery, River Grove, Illinois.
