Lieutenant Junior Grade
Lawrence Everett LeTulle (Jr)

U.S. Navy Reserves

Ser. # 0 – 120771

April 27, 1918 – December 12, 1944
Fort William McKinley, Manila, Philippines

Tablets of the Missing & Buried at Sea

Gold Star Mother
Winifred “Winnie” (Wilson) [LeTulle] Brewer

Gold Star Father
Lawrence Everett LeTulle, Sr.

Find A Grave Memorial

Lieutenant Junior Grade Lawrence “Larry” Everett LeTulle, U.S. Navy Reserves [April 27, 1918 – December 12, 1944] was born to Lawrence Everett LeTulle (Sr) [October 13, 1879 – February 21, 1936] and Winifred “Winnie” (Wilson) LeTulle Brewer [September 12, 1890 – September 10, 1956] at Richmond, Henrico County, Virginia. His father and stepfather were traveling salesmen, and Larry never had a chance to establish his roots in any one particular town. Prior to joining the US Navy Reserves he attended Miami University at Oxford, Ohio and graduated with a BS in Business on June 4, 1941. He enlisted in the US Navy Reserves on September 10, 1941 at Syracuse, New York. His enlistment was terminated on February 12, 1942 so he could accept an appointment as a Midshipman, USNR on February 13, 1942.  Following his appointment he attended the Naval Reserve Midshipman’s School at Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, the “Annapolis by the Lake”.  The school is a post-college course for training U.S. Navy junior officers. He was appointed an Ensign on April 16, 1942. While attending school at Northwestern University Larry became ill and spent 55 days in the hospital.  Due to his lengthy absence from class his original commission as an ensign was rescinded.  Returning to class and completing his courses he was again appointed as an Ensign on October 30, 1942. Following his graduation he was ordered to the Anti-Aircraft Training Center at Point Montara, California. Following his training at the anti-aircraft center Larry was assigned to several vessels in the Pacific Theater.   The first ship he was assigned to was the USS Platte (AO-24), an oiler. This is an auxiliary ship with fuel tanks and dry cargo holds which can supply both fuel and dry stores during underway replenishment at sea. He reported aboard on December 22, 1942 and detached from the ship on December 13, 1943. On January 1, 1944 he was appointed to the rank of Lieutenant, junior grade. After his promotion he wax assigned to the USS Ibex (IX-119), a tanker carrying gasoline and lube oil. Following these assignments he also served on USS Peter H. Burnett (IX-104) [cargo ship]*, USS Pasig (AW-3) [water distilling ship]. On October 12, 1944 Larry reported aboard the USS Boulder Victory (AK-227) a newly commissioned ammunition supply vessel. In order to support the Allied advances to the west and north, forward ammunition replenishment stations were established at Ulithi Atoll in the Western Caroline Islands and Kossol Passage in the Palau Islands. Boulder Victory received orders to transfer ammunition between these bases as needed. She made port at Eniwetok on 17 November 1944 to refuel, entered the lagoon at Ulithi on 30 November 1944, and reached Kossol Passage on 8 December 1944. On 12 December 1944 at about Noon, while hurrying toward the back of the ship, Larry fell through the open number 4 cargo hold hatch to the deck below, a distance of about 20 feet, and suffered a severe head injury. Immediately following the accident he was attended by the Medical Officer of the USS LST 618 which was tied alongside the ship. It was recommended he be transferred to a ship with a medical department, at which time he was transferred to the USS Prometheus (AR-3) a repair ship. In an unconscious condition, he arrived onboard at about 1:50pm.  He expired at 9:22pm that evening without regaining consciousness. Following his death he was buried at sea with full military honors. Larry’s great uncle, Victor L. LeTulle, who had expired on May 1, 1944 had designated in his will that Larry was to be the sole inheritor of his vast estate. Should he not survive the war, then the estate was to be divided between three of his nieces.

*Note:  While assigned to the Peter H. Burnett Larry sent a letter to the Chief of Naval Personnel expressing his frustration of being assigned to auxiliary ships and requesting assignment to a combatant ship.  The letter was endorsed by his Commanding Officer recommending approval, but no action was apparently taken on his request.
 

Northwestern's World War II Midshipmen's School video

https://www.abmc.gov/sites/default/files/publications/Manila_Booklet.pdf
 

USS Boulder Victory (AK-227)
 

USS Prometheus (AR-3)
 

LeTulle Heir Dies at Sea

Bay City, Dec. 18.--(Sp)--Trustees of the estate of the late V. L. LeTulle were notified Monday by the navy department that Lieut. (jg) Lawrence E. LeTulle, nephew and principal heir of V. L. LeTulle, died at sea Dec. 12 of a head injury.

The young naval officer was buried at sea. His uncle died here some months ago.

Newspaper and date unknown

Photo courtesy of Kenneth L. Thames
 

Killed

Lt. Lawrence Everett LeTulle (j. g.), 25 years of age, died of head injuries on board ship December 12th, according to a telegram received here Sunday by Mr. Earl Vaughn. He was buried at sea with full military honors. He is survived by his mother at Akron, Ohio.

Lt. LeTulle was the sole heir to the vast V. L. LeTulle fortune. Mr. V. L. LeTulle was an uncle to Lt. "Larry" LeTulle and had made his nephew sole beneficiate to his estate. Young LeTulle was little known here in the vicinity having visited here infrequently. His last visit was about a year ago.

December 21, 1944
 

Winifred Brewer

Mrs. Winifred Brewer, 65, of P. O. Box 181, La Quinta, Calif., died Monday at a San Bernardino hospital. A native of Texas, she had resided in San Bernardino nine months and California six years. She was a member of Church of Christ Scientist, Boston, Mass.

Survivors include the widower Wesley, of La Quinta; a brother, Olaf Wilson of Dallas, Tex., and a sister, Mrs. Starkey Kean, of Meridian, Miss.

Funeral arrangements are pending at Grove Colonial Mortuary.

San Bernardino County Sun, September 11, 1956
 

Photo courtesy of Kenneth L. Thames

Lawrence Everett LeTulle

Mr. Lawrence Everett LeTulle age 57 yr. 7 mo. 22 da. died Feb. 21, 1936 at Rosenberg.  Born in Columbus, Colorado Co. to Henry “Harry” and Nannie LeTulle. Married in 1907 to Miss Winifred “Winnie” Wilson. Burial Cedarvale Cem. Survived by: Son, Lawrence “Larry” E. LeTulle. Bro: Eugene. Sis: Vivian. Uncles: Victor and Louis LeTulle.
 

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