Bob Kirk was the only Male child of Russell and Stella Mae Kirk and because of this, he was affectionately known by the nickname "Son." Bob grew up during the Great Depression in the Dallas, Texas area. The whole family worked as farm laborers (pickers) to make ends meet. Bob even had to miss school one year so that he could pick cotton with the family. Bob was drafted during WWII but managed to start a family before shipping out with the U.S. Naval Reserve.
Seaman 2nd Class (S2C) Bob Kirk was a U.S. Navy Reserve Seaman aboard
the U.S.S. Gambier Bay (CVE-73) a Casablanca class Escort Carrier during WWII. Commonly referred to as a "baby flat top", the Gambier Bay was providing air support, (Composite Squadron VC-10), for the U.S. Army landings on the Philippine Islands as a member of "Taffy 3". Bob Kirk lost his life on October 25, 1944, along with 130 other Gambier Bay hands, during the battle of Leyte Gulf off of Samar, Philippines after Taffy 3 was attacked by the Imperial Japanese Navy. The Gambier Bay capsized and sank after sustaining several hits from the 18 inch guns of the Japanese battleship Yamato.
On October 4, 1943, Bob had written a letter to his Sister, Adele Pierce. In the letter, Bob tells his Sister that he had lost his wallet working over the side of the ship as it was underway. Bob dropped it somehow and he joked that he lost $20 and that the sharks probably ate it. Bob told his Sister that he loved being in the Navy and that he could "spend the rest of his Life in it." Those words were prophetic because he did indeed spend the rest of his young life in the Navy.
After his death, Bob's parents, Russell and Stella were never the same and they lived the rest of their days with a degree of sadness and loss that could be seen in their eyes. However, they were very proud people and were extremely proud of "Son" for his service to the people of the United States. Russell and Stella never complained about the sacrifice they had made for American freedom by the loss of their only Son.
Several years later, a survivor from the U.S.S. Gambier Bay sinking contacted Bob's Mother Stella and told her that there was a mix-up with the helmets during the battle and he had somehow gotten Bobs helmet and Bob had gotten his. Because of that mix-up with the helmets, the survivor said, duty stations also got mixed up. The survivor said that it should have been him that died that day and not Bob. The survivor told Stella and Russell that their son had died instantly because he was exactly where the ship was struck by enemy fire.
Robert Kirk (Son's) remains went down with the U.S.S. Gambier Bay that day and are considered by the U.S. Navy to be buried at sea. There is a memorial for the U.S.S. Gambier Bay with Son's name listed at Fort Rosecrans National cemetery at Point Loma, California. There is also a monument at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in Manila, Capital District, National Capital Region, Philippines. There is also a small headstone placed between his parents tombstones at Union Cemetery.
Robert Kirk "Son" continues to be remembered by our family as a WWII Hero.
Bob Kirk was the only Male child of Russell and Stella Mae Kirk and because of this, he was affectionately known by the nickname "Son." Bob grew up during the Great Depression in the Dallas, Texas area. The whole family worked as farm laborers (pickers) to make ends meet. Bob even had to miss school one year so that he could pick cotton with the family. Bob was drafted during WWII but managed to start a family before shipping out with the U.S. Naval Reserve.
Seaman 2nd Class (S2C) Bob Kirk was a U.S. Navy Reserve Seaman aboard
the U.S.S. Gambier Bay (CVE-73) a Casablanca class Escort Carrier during WWII. Commonly referred to as a "baby flat top", the Gambier Bay was providing air support, (Composite Squadron VC-10), for the U.S. Army landings on the Philippine Islands as a member of "Taffy 3". Bob Kirk lost his life on October 25, 1944, along with 130 other Gambier Bay hands, during the battle of Leyte Gulf off of Samar, Philippines after Taffy 3 was attacked by the Imperial Japanese Navy. The Gambier Bay capsized and sank after sustaining several hits from the 18 inch guns of the Japanese battleship Yamato.
On October 4, 1943, Bob had written a letter to his Sister, Adele Pierce. In the letter, Bob tells his Sister that he had lost his wallet working over the side of the ship as it was underway. Bob dropped it somehow and he joked that he lost $20 and that the sharks probably ate it. Bob told his Sister that he loved being in the Navy and that he could "spend the rest of his Life in it." Those words were prophetic because he did indeed spend the rest of his young life in the Navy.
After his death, Bob's parents, Russell and Stella were never the same and they lived the rest of their days with a degree of sadness and loss that could be seen in their eyes. However, they were very proud people and were extremely proud of "Son" for his service to the people of the United States. Russell and Stella never complained about the sacrifice they had made for American freedom by the loss of their only Son.
Several years later, a survivor from the U.S.S. Gambier Bay sinking contacted Bob's Mother Stella and told her that there was a mix-up with the helmets during the battle and he had somehow gotten Bobs helmet and Bob had gotten his. Because of that mix-up with the helmets, the survivor said, duty stations also got mixed up. The survivor said that it should have been him that died that day and not Bob. The survivor told Stella and Russell that their son had died instantly because he was exactly where the ship was struck by enemy fire.
Robert Kirk (Son's) remains went down with the U.S.S. Gambier Bay that day and are considered by the U.S. Navy to be buried at sea. There is a memorial for the U.S.S. Gambier Bay with Son's name listed at Fort Rosecrans National cemetery at Point Loma, California. There is also a monument at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in Manila, Capital District, National Capital Region, Philippines. There is also a small headstone placed between his parents tombstones at Union Cemetery.
Robert Kirk "Son" continues to be remembered by our family as a WWII Hero.
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S2C, U.S. NAVY WORLD WAR II
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