Seaman 2nd Class
Robert Jay Harkey
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| Robert Jay Harkey |
Robert graduated from Hicksville High School in 1942 and enlisted in the Naval Reserves very soon after. By July 31, 1942, he was starting his training at the Great Lakes Training Center in Chicago.
Born on April 23, he was the son of Harry Jennings and Freda (Dull) Harkey, who lived at 115 West Smith Street in Hicksville. Robert was soon cast into the war. In September 1942, he reported to Norfolk, Virginia, for his final training before heading overseas.
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| Draft registration |
His first assignment was on the battleship, U.S.S. New York, and then he was transferred to the U.S.S. Rowan, a destroyer. On September 9th, the Rowan was helping with the invasion of Italy.
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| The Rowan |
It was serving as a fleet escort into the Gulf of Sicily, screening the freighters and transports that followed. Late on September 10th, they headed back to Oran with empty ships.
Sometime after midnight, the Rowan was approached by 4 German boats which the Rowan fired at and chased away. Within five miles, another enemy boat approached which they tried to allay, getting their torpedo guns ready.
One enemy boat got too close and hit the Rowan with a torpedo.
The Rowan exploded and sank in less than a minute, according to reports, taking 202 of 273 men with it. Some were rescued by one of our nearby ships, but Seaman Robert Harkey was not one of the lucky ones.
His body was not recovered, and as was customary, he was declared dead a year and a day after he went missing. His date of death on the Navy rolls was September 12, lost at sea, but other sources use the date of the sinking, September 11, 1943.
At the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery and Memorial, Nettuno, Rome, Italy, Seaman Robert J. Harkey is listed on the Tablets of the Missing. A memorial stone listing him and his parents is also present in Six Corners Cemetery, Hicksville Township.
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| Six Corners Cemetery |
Dianne Kline, Researcher
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