The son of John Wesley "Wes" Yates and Mary Jones Yates. Freeman spent his first formative years in Yell County Arkansas, in the beautiful La Fourche Valley at the foot of the Boston Mountains. His extended family was large and he never lacked for cousins or friends to visit in the Gravelly township area close to the Scott County line. Times were tough but good the first few years of his life
In 1925, things began to change. His father Wes Yates, was murdered by a jealous husband named Smallwood. The resulting economic loss and shame wounded the family unit and at some point in the 1920's Belle moved the family to McIntosh County, Oklahoma. The 1930 US Census shows the family as living in Checotah, McIntosh County, Oklahoma. The following family members are shown as living in the home:
Head Bell Yates F 43 Arkansas
Son Cleo Yates M 23 Arkansas
Dau Vicklea Yates F 20 Arkansas
Dau Lola M Yates F 15 Arkansas
Dau Amy Yates F 12 Arkansas
Son Freeman Yates M 6 Arkansas
In the 1930's, like so many other families trying to escape the Depression in Oklahoma and Arkansas, the family migrated to California looking for work and a fresh start in their lives. The 1940 US Census shows that she was living in the Alila Judicial Township located in Tulare County, California. Her sons Cleo and Freeman Yates were living in the home with her.
The family history of the Yates direct line can be traced back several generations without difficulty. Some family members were known to have swarthy colored skin and features commonly associated with Native Americans. Freeman's shipmates called him an "Indian" due to his complexion, dark hair and sometimes stoic personality. His brother Cleo, had very noticeable Native American facial features and color. The family history from that generation states that there was "Black Dutch" in their family and was due to having intermarried with Native Americans.
Freeman joined the Navy during World War II and was a Coxswain on the USS BUSH, a Fletcher Class destroyer. During the battle of Okinawa, the BUSH was on "radar picket duty" providing naval support for the Marines and Army soldiers who were landing on the island. The ship was struck on three separate occasions by Japanese Kamikaze fighter planes, causing the BUSH to sink. Freeman was seen by his shipmates going into a Bosun's Locker (see note below)to get equipment to help put out fires burning on the ship when the third plane hit, destroying the area of the ship where the locker was located.
Freeman's body was never recovered. He is still standing duty in the Bosun's locker on the BUSH in its watery grave with approximately 85 of his shipmates, all who lost their lives that day.
His military decorations include the following:
- Combat Action Ribbon
- Purple Heart
- American Campaign Medal
- Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
- World War II Victory Medal
- Philippine Liberation Medal with bronze star
- Philippine Presidential Unit Citation ribbon
- Republic of China War Service Commemorative Medal
Freeman is listed on the "Tablets of the Missing" at the Honolulu Memorial Cemetery, Honolulu, Hawaii. But in 2006, for a local family memorial, I placed a US Govt marble marker (cenotaph)at Parks Cemetery, Nola, Scott County, Arkansas next to his father's grave.
"Non sibi sed patriae" (Not self but country)- the unofficial motto of the US Navy.
**NOTE** - A Bosun's locker, AKA Boatswain's Storage Room is the "office" for Bosun's mates. This is an equipment room wherein equipment is kept for the ship's boatswain's to work on or repair ship damage. A photo of a Bosun's Locker is attached to this memorial for reference.
In 1925, things began to change. His father Wes Yates, was murdered by a jealous husband named Smallwood. The resulting economic loss and shame wounded the family unit and at some point in the 1920's Belle moved the family to McIntosh County, Oklahoma. The 1930 US Census shows the family as living in Checotah, McIntosh County, Oklahoma. The following family members are shown as living in the home:
Head Bell Yates F 43 Arkansas
Son Cleo Yates M 23 Arkansas
Dau Vicklea Yates F 20 Arkansas
Dau Lola M Yates F 15 Arkansas
Dau Amy Yates F 12 Arkansas
Son Freeman Yates M 6 Arkansas
In the 1930's, like so many other families trying to escape the Depression in Oklahoma and Arkansas, the family migrated to California looking for work and a fresh start in their lives. The 1940 US Census shows that she was living in the Alila Judicial Township located in Tulare County, California. Her sons Cleo and Freeman Yates were living in the home with her.
The family history of the Yates direct line can be traced back several generations without difficulty. Some family members were known to have swarthy colored skin and features commonly associated with Native Americans. Freeman's shipmates called him an "Indian" due to his complexion, dark hair and sometimes stoic personality. His brother Cleo, had very noticeable Native American facial features and color. The family history from that generation states that there was "Black Dutch" in their family and was due to having intermarried with Native Americans.
Freeman joined the Navy during World War II and was a Coxswain on the USS BUSH, a Fletcher Class destroyer. During the battle of Okinawa, the BUSH was on "radar picket duty" providing naval support for the Marines and Army soldiers who were landing on the island. The ship was struck on three separate occasions by Japanese Kamikaze fighter planes, causing the BUSH to sink. Freeman was seen by his shipmates going into a Bosun's Locker (see note below)to get equipment to help put out fires burning on the ship when the third plane hit, destroying the area of the ship where the locker was located.
Freeman's body was never recovered. He is still standing duty in the Bosun's locker on the BUSH in its watery grave with approximately 85 of his shipmates, all who lost their lives that day.
His military decorations include the following:
- Combat Action Ribbon
- Purple Heart
- American Campaign Medal
- Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
- World War II Victory Medal
- Philippine Liberation Medal with bronze star
- Philippine Presidential Unit Citation ribbon
- Republic of China War Service Commemorative Medal
Freeman is listed on the "Tablets of the Missing" at the Honolulu Memorial Cemetery, Honolulu, Hawaii. But in 2006, for a local family memorial, I placed a US Govt marble marker (cenotaph)at Parks Cemetery, Nola, Scott County, Arkansas next to his father's grave.
"Non sibi sed patriae" (Not self but country)- the unofficial motto of the US Navy.
**NOTE** - A Bosun's locker, AKA Boatswain's Storage Room is the "office" for Bosun's mates. This is an equipment room wherein equipment is kept for the ship's boatswain's to work on or repair ship damage. A photo of a Bosun's Locker is attached to this memorial for reference.
The son of John Wesley "Wes" Yates and Mary Jones Yates. Freeman spent his first formative years in Yell County Arkansas, in the beautiful La Fourche Valley at the foot of the Boston Mountains. His extended family was large and he never lacked for cousins or friends to visit in the Gravelly township area close to the Scott County line. Times were tough but good the first few years of his life
In 1925, things began to change. His father Wes Yates, was murdered by a jealous husband named Smallwood. The resulting economic loss and shame wounded the family unit and at some point in the 1920's Belle moved the family to McIntosh County, Oklahoma. The 1930 US Census shows the family as living in Checotah, McIntosh County, Oklahoma. The following family members are shown as living in the home:
Head Bell Yates F 43 Arkansas
Son Cleo Yates M 23 Arkansas
Dau Vicklea Yates F 20 Arkansas
Dau Lola M Yates F 15 Arkansas
Dau Amy Yates F 12 Arkansas
Son Freeman Yates M 6 Arkansas
In the 1930's, like so many other families trying to escape the Depression in Oklahoma and Arkansas, the family migrated to California looking for work and a fresh start in their lives. The 1940 US Census shows that she was living in the Alila Judicial Township located in Tulare County, California. Her sons Cleo and Freeman Yates were living in the home with her.
The family history of the Yates direct line can be traced back several generations without difficulty. Some family members were known to have swarthy colored skin and features commonly associated with Native Americans. Freeman's shipmates called him an "Indian" due to his complexion, dark hair and sometimes stoic personality. His brother Cleo, had very noticeable Native American facial features and color. The family history from that generation states that there was "Black Dutch" in their family and was due to having intermarried with Native Americans.
Freeman joined the Navy during World War II and was a Coxswain on the USS BUSH, a Fletcher Class destroyer. During the battle of Okinawa, the BUSH was on "radar picket duty" providing naval support for the Marines and Army soldiers who were landing on the island. The ship was struck on three separate occasions by Japanese Kamikaze fighter planes, causing the BUSH to sink. Freeman was seen by his shipmates going into a Bosun's Locker (see note below)to get equipment to help put out fires burning on the ship when the third plane hit, destroying the area of the ship where the locker was located.
Freeman's body was never recovered. He is still standing duty in the Bosun's locker on the BUSH in its watery grave with approximately 85 of his shipmates, all who lost their lives that day.
His military decorations include the following:
- Combat Action Ribbon
- Purple Heart
- American Campaign Medal
- Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
- World War II Victory Medal
- Philippine Liberation Medal with bronze star
- Philippine Presidential Unit Citation ribbon
- Republic of China War Service Commemorative Medal
Freeman is listed on the "Tablets of the Missing" at the Honolulu Memorial Cemetery, Honolulu, Hawaii. But in 2006, for a local family memorial, I placed a US Govt marble marker (cenotaph)at Parks Cemetery, Nola, Scott County, Arkansas next to his father's grave.
"Non sibi sed patriae" (Not self but country)- the unofficial motto of the US Navy.
**NOTE** - A Bosun's locker, AKA Boatswain's Storage Room is the "office" for Bosun's mates. This is an equipment room wherein equipment is kept for the ship's boatswain's to work on or repair ship damage. A photo of a Bosun's Locker is attached to this memorial for reference.
In 1925, things began to change. His father Wes Yates, was murdered by a jealous husband named Smallwood. The resulting economic loss and shame wounded the family unit and at some point in the 1920's Belle moved the family to McIntosh County, Oklahoma. The 1930 US Census shows the family as living in Checotah, McIntosh County, Oklahoma. The following family members are shown as living in the home:
Head Bell Yates F 43 Arkansas
Son Cleo Yates M 23 Arkansas
Dau Vicklea Yates F 20 Arkansas
Dau Lola M Yates F 15 Arkansas
Dau Amy Yates F 12 Arkansas
Son Freeman Yates M 6 Arkansas
In the 1930's, like so many other families trying to escape the Depression in Oklahoma and Arkansas, the family migrated to California looking for work and a fresh start in their lives. The 1940 US Census shows that she was living in the Alila Judicial Township located in Tulare County, California. Her sons Cleo and Freeman Yates were living in the home with her.
The family history of the Yates direct line can be traced back several generations without difficulty. Some family members were known to have swarthy colored skin and features commonly associated with Native Americans. Freeman's shipmates called him an "Indian" due to his complexion, dark hair and sometimes stoic personality. His brother Cleo, had very noticeable Native American facial features and color. The family history from that generation states that there was "Black Dutch" in their family and was due to having intermarried with Native Americans.
Freeman joined the Navy during World War II and was a Coxswain on the USS BUSH, a Fletcher Class destroyer. During the battle of Okinawa, the BUSH was on "radar picket duty" providing naval support for the Marines and Army soldiers who were landing on the island. The ship was struck on three separate occasions by Japanese Kamikaze fighter planes, causing the BUSH to sink. Freeman was seen by his shipmates going into a Bosun's Locker (see note below)to get equipment to help put out fires burning on the ship when the third plane hit, destroying the area of the ship where the locker was located.
Freeman's body was never recovered. He is still standing duty in the Bosun's locker on the BUSH in its watery grave with approximately 85 of his shipmates, all who lost their lives that day.
His military decorations include the following:
- Combat Action Ribbon
- Purple Heart
- American Campaign Medal
- Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
- World War II Victory Medal
- Philippine Liberation Medal with bronze star
- Philippine Presidential Unit Citation ribbon
- Republic of China War Service Commemorative Medal
Freeman is listed on the "Tablets of the Missing" at the Honolulu Memorial Cemetery, Honolulu, Hawaii. But in 2006, for a local family memorial, I placed a US Govt marble marker (cenotaph)at Parks Cemetery, Nola, Scott County, Arkansas next to his father's grave.
"Non sibi sed patriae" (Not self but country)- the unofficial motto of the US Navy.
**NOTE** - A Bosun's locker, AKA Boatswain's Storage Room is the "office" for Bosun's mates. This is an equipment room wherein equipment is kept for the ship's boatswain's to work on or repair ship damage. A photo of a Bosun's Locker is attached to this memorial for reference.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
