Machinist's Mate, First Class Kenneth Earl Cockrum
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The Tribune
Seymour, Indiana
Thursday, December 18, 1941
Page 1
America's first battleship sand by the Japanese was the Arizona, pictured here off Califonia some time ago. Lack of any direct word of Kenneth Earl Cockrum, of Seymour, known to be a member of the crew up until about two months ago, has led to rising hopes that he may have been among the survivors when the ship went down. The 32,600-ton dreadnaught was sunk in Pearl Harbor when the Japs attacked on December 7. The ship was commisioned in 1916, and carried a main battery of twelve fourteen-inch guns and eight five-inch anti-aircraft guns.
Kenneth Earl Cockrum, son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Cockrum, 512 East street, was a member of the crew of the U.S.S. Arizona when his parents last heard from him. Above photo was made when he was here on furlough several years ago.
The Tribune
Seymour, Indiana
Friday, January 23, 1942
Page 1
Declared Killed in Action
YOUNG COCKERUM LISTED AS DEAD
Is Believed to be First Jackson County Service Man to Give His Life.
FAMILY GETS MESSAGE
Navy Department Says Exhaustive Search Has Failed to Locate Missing Youth.
Jackson county's service flag today bears what is believed to be the first gold star of the present war.
Member of the family of Kenneth Earl Cockrum, 512 East Secomd street, received a telegram from the Navy Department informing them that the youth, who had been officially reported as missing following the Jap attack on December 7, is now officially listed as dead. The message stated that an exhayustive search had failed to locate him, and because of the fact that every available means of finding him had been utilized to no avail, his is now officially classed as having been killed in action.
Kenneth Earl was a son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Cockrum, and was born at Brownstown on May 16, 1916. He attended Riley Grade School here in Seymour, and after being graduated there, went to Shields High School from 1930 through 1933. While in high school he participated in athletics, and was well known and liked among members of the student body.
He enlisted in the Navy six years ago last August 8, and after completing his preliminary training at the Great Lakes station, was sent to Norfolk. For about six years he had been on active duty.
The youth had been home twice since enlisting, his last visit being nearly six years ago.
He was a member of the First Baptist Church, of this city.
In addition to the parents, he is survived by two brothers, Joe Cockrum, of New Albany, and Robert Cockrum, of Seymour, and a sister, Mrs. Woodrow Mantz, of Vallonia. Robert Cockrum lives with his parents here, but stays with his sister in Vallonia during the week and attends Vallonia High School.
So far as is known, his is the first death to be officially reported among Jackson county service men in any of the armed forces of the nation.
The Tribune
Seymour, Indiana
Saturday, January 24, 1942
Page 1
County's First War Casualty to be Honored Sunday.
Dr. A.A. Cohn, pastor of teh First Baptist Church, announced today that a memorial service will be held Sunday morning at 10 o'clock in connection with the regular worship period for Kenneth Earl Cockrum, son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Cockrum, East Second street, who is listed as Jackson county's first casualty of the present war.
Young Cockrum was a member of the Baptist Church, and has been officially listed as dead after an exhaustive search was made when he was reported missing shortly after December 7.
The Tribune
Seymour, Indiana
Wednesday, January 28, 1942
Page 6
CARD OF THANKS
WE WISH to thank all of our kind friends and neighbors for their many expressions of sympathy and condolence during our recent bereavement in the loss of our son, Kenneth Earl Cockrum, who was killed in action with the United States Navy. We especially thank Dr. A.A. Cohn for his impressive memorial service.
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Cockrum and Family.