Radioman Petty Officer Third Class Harry Wilbur Beggs, Jr. was born July 30, 1924, and was a resident of Downers Grove. He died in the line of duty, serving on the USS England (DE-635) during World War II on May 9, 1945, at the age of 20. He received the Purple Heart, awarded for sacrifice to those wounded or killed in combat.
The USS England (DE-635) was a renowned United States Navy Buckley-class destroyer escort during World War II, famous for sinking six Japanese submarines in a 12-day span in May 1944. Commissioned in late 1943, she set a record for anti-submarine warfare, named in honor of Ensign John C. England, killed at Pearl Harbor.
Memorials of Harry W Beggs Jr.
RM3 Harry Wilbur Beggs Jr. is included at the monument at the Honolulu Memorial, Honolulu, Honolulu County, Hawaii at the Plot of the Courts of the Missing.
Harry W Beggs listed at Okinawa Peace Memorial Park Itoman-shi, Okinawa, Japan.
Harry Wilbur Beggs Jr has a grave marker at Forest Home Cemetery Forest Park, Illinois.
Harry W Beggs Jr is engraved on the plaque at Memorial Park in Downers Grove honoring local servicemen who never returned home.
