Floyd June Adams, 77, died Friday, Feb. 16, 2001, at his home in Nebraska City. He was born June 22, 1923, at Peru, the son of Christian and Maude (Hutchinson) Adams. He was united in marriage on Feb. 16, 1946, at Seneca, Kan., to Hazel Edna Bascom. Floyd was employed as a heavy equipment operator in the construction industry. He served his country in the United States Navy during World War II with service in the South Pacific. He was a member of the First Christian Church in Nebraska City, the American Legion Post No. 8 and the Eagles Club, all of Nebraska City. He is survived by his wife, Edna, of Nebraska City; six children; Julie Adams of Lincoln, Jay Adams of Eagan, Ariz., Chris Adams of Hindsville, Ark., Steve Adams and his wife Brenda of Nebraska City, Bill Adams and his wife Christine of Temecula, Calif., and Pat Adams of Syracuse; 18 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren. Also surviving are six brothers and sisters, Helen Kretzer of Belen, N.M., Twyla Gillespie of Warden, Wash., Jesse Adams of Sun Lake, Ariz., Lillian Bauche of Nebraska City, Phyllis Adams of Ogallala and Bill Adams of Salina, Kan.; nieces and nephews; and other family and friends. Funeral services were to be 2 p.m. today at the Gude Mortuary chapel in Nebraska City with the Rev. Richard Markland officiating. Pallbearers were Bill Adams, Chris Adams, David Adams, Jay Adams, Pat Adams, and Ken Mohroff. He was buried in Wyuka Cemetery in Nebraska City with complete military services conducted by the American Legion Post No. 8 of Nebraska City.
Source: Nebraska City News-Press, Monday February 19, 2001.
Seaman First Class Adams was assigned to the Battleship USS South Dakota on 16 February 1943. Battleship South Dakota (BB57) set several records. She was the most decorated US battleship of WWII, earning 13 battle stars and a Navy Unit Citation. In October 1942, she set a record of downing the most enemy planes downed in one engagement where, she shot down 32 planes at the Battls of Santa Cruz. She was the first to shell mainland Japan and she had the youngest official US combat veteran Calvin Graham.Her combat record accredits her with shooting down a total of 64 enemy planes, 9 shore bombardments, unofficially sinking three enemy cruisers, The South Dakota along with the USS Washington dueled the IJN Kirishima in November 1942 durring the Seconf Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, marking one of only two battleship vs battleship engagements in the entire war, and more importantly the loss of 96 shipmates in service to our country.