Weakley County, Tennessee
| WORLD WAR II |
| BROOKS, Francis Doyle
"Doyle" New Hope Cemetery |
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| A painting of Doyle that he sent
to his parents. It was done before the USS New Orleans left California.
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| Francis Doyle Brooks Birth: Nov. 11, 1920 Memphis Shelby County Tennessee, USA Death: Nov. 30, 1942 Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands Francis Doyle Brooks was born 11 NOV 1920 in Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee to Charles Curtis and Mary Magdalene Owen Brooks. He graduated in 1939 from Gleason High School in Weakley County, TN. He played baseball and basketball. He attended Bethel College. He played baseball on the college baseball and basketball teams. He was killed in World War II on the USS New Orleans in the Battle of Tassafaronga in Guadalcanal on 30 NOV 1942. He was a gunner's mate and went down with the gun turret that he was assigned to when it was hit by a Japanese torpedo. All men in turrets 1 & 2 were killed as well as the men in the flooded areas, such as Sick Bay. The bow of the ship was taken off. Coconuts and vines were used to plug up and disguise the ship until it could get to Tulagi Harbor in Australia for temporary repairs. Doyle was lost at sea, assumed killed in the explosion when the torpedo hit the aerial depth charges on the ship. He is listed on the tombstone with his parents in New Hope Cemetery, Gleason, Weakley County, Tennessee, however he is considered barried at sea. Full military honors were given to the men who were killed. His name is listed on a monument at Fort McKinley, Manila in the Phillipines. (See World War II and Korean Conflict Veterans Interred Overseas for more information on the memorials) More information about the battle can be found at Military.com on the unit pages. Parents: Charles Curtis Brooks (1888 - 1957) Mary Magdalene Owen Brooks (1890 - 1975) Burial: New Hope Cemetery Gleason Weakley County Tennessee, USA Information & photos came from his great niece, Sherry Brooks Perry |
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| Damage to USS New Orleans |
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| Doyle Brooks #7 - 1939
Gleason Basketball |
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