William "Bill" Clifford Bouvette

2023-05-08T17:17:16-05:00
Navy Badge
  • Name: William "Bill" Clifford Bouvette
  • Location of Birth: Pembina, North Dakota
  • Date of Birth: July 4, 1916
  • Date of Death: August 26, 1995 (79 years old)
  • Parents: Louis Bouvette and Emma (Lafond) Bouvette
  • High School and Class: 1934 - Grand Rapids High School, Grand Rapids, Minnesota
  • College:
  • Highest Rank:
  • Branch: Navy
  • Other Branch:
  • Date Sworn In: December 8, 1937 (Enlistment Date)
  • Place Sworn In:
  • Date of Discharge: July 28, 1945 (Discharge Date)
  • Place of Discharge:
  • Military Awards:

  • Military Highlights:
    William served from 1937 to 1945.

    Information in the United States, World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947:
    Name: William Clifford Bouvettes
    Gender: Male
    Race: White
    Age: 29
    Relationship to Draftee: Self (Head)
    Birth Date: July 4, 1916
    Birth Place: Pembina, North Dakota, USA
    Residence Place: Grand Rapids, Minnesota, USA
    Registration Date: August 1, 1945
    Registration Place: Grand Rapids, Minnesota, USA
    Employer: Discharged July 28, 1945
    Height: 5' 9"
    Weight: 160
    Complexion: Ruddy
    Hair Color: Brown
    Eye Color: Brown
    Next of Kin: Elayne Bouvette (wife)
    Other obvious physical characteristics that will aid in identification: left shoulder blade, left index finger, left knee, and left upper arm

    William Bouvette served on the heroic Destroy Escort USS Conklin DE 439. The ship while in great peril sank 2 Japanese submarines loaded with the newly invented kamikaze mini subs called Kaitens. The ship later in June of 1946 was in an extremely fierce typhoon that rolled the ship onto its side. Three men were washed overboard. When by a miracle the ship rolled up again, it had still lost all power and the boilers were extinguished. Only extraordinary seamanship saved the ship and remaining crew.

    Information in the United States, World War II Navy Muster Rolls, 1938-1949:
    Name: William Clifford Bouvette
    Ship, Station or Activity: Naval Receiving
    Muster Date: November 30, 1939, September 30, 1940, April 30, 1941

    Ship, Station or Activity: San Francisco
    Ship Number of Designation: CA-38
    Muster Date: June 30, 1939, July 31, 1939, September 23, 1940, September 30, 1940, October 17, 1939, October 31, 1939, November 30, 1939

    Ship, Station or Activity: Stack
    Ship Number of Designation: DD-406
    Muster Date: November 20, 1939, December 31, 1939, March 18, 1940, June 27, 1940, August 31, 1940, September 30, 1940, November 30, 1940, May 3, 1941, June 30, 1941, August 25, 1941

    Ship, Station or Activity: Relief
    Ship Number of Designation: AH-1
    Muster Date: November 30, 1940. December 31, 1940

    Ship, Station or Activity: Kaskaskia
    Ship Number of Designation: AO-27
    Muster Date: May 4, 1941, May 7, 1941, May 13, 1941

    Ship, Station or Activity: Wyoming
    Ship Number of Designation: AG-17
    Muster Date: August 31, 1941, September 30, 1941, October 31, 1941, November 24, 1941, December 31, 1941, February 28, 1942, March 31, 1942, May 31, 1942, June 30, 1942, September 30, 1942

    Ship, Station or Activity: Hamul
    Ship Number of Designation: AD-20
    Muster Date: July 31, 1943

    Ship, Station or Activity: McConnell
    Ship Number of Designation: DE-163
    Muster Date: May 28, 1943, June 30, 1943, July 22, 1943, August 24, 1943, September 30, 1943, December 31, 1943, February 4, 1944

    Ship, Station or Activity: Conklin
    Ship Number of Designation: DE-439
    Muster Date: August 16, 1944, September 30, 1944, December 31, 1944, January 31, 1945

    Ship, Station or Activity: Ticonderoga
    Ship Number of Designation: CV-14
    Muster Date: January 28, 1945

  • Wars Involved:
    World War II

  • MIA / POW:

  • Civilian Life:
    William came to Grand Rapids, Minnesota as a young child where he grew up. He worked for M.A. Hannah Mine as a mechanic through 1951 at which time he started working for the United States Postal Service from which he retired in 1972. He also worked as a school bus driver retiring in 1981.

    Bill was a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Eagles, all of Grand Rapids, Minnesota.

    Preceded in death by his first wife, Elaine Akre Bouvette in 1979 and his second wife, Mona Bouvette in 1994, he is survived by two sons, John and Richard Bouvette; one daughter, Tricia Lukaska; one brother, Earl; ten grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

    Buried in Itasca Calvary Cemetery at Grand Rapids, Minnesota. (Plot C-B-11-0-7)

  • Tribal Affiliation(s):

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