Fred H. Boyer

U.S. Navy Fireman 1st Class Fred H. Boyer, originally from Tipton County, was identified in July 2024 as a casualty of the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. He was 23 years-old at the time of the attack and the son of Roy D. & Murta (Hunter) Boyer.

Boyer was assigned to the battleship USS West Virginia (BB-48), which was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, when the ship was attacked by Japanese aircraft. The USS West Virginia sustained multiple torpedo hits, but timely counter-flooding measures taken by the crew prevented it from capsizing, and it came to rest on the shallow harbor floor. The attack on the ship resulted in the deaths of 106 crewmen, including Boyer.

Fred had two brothers, Minor who went on to serve two and a half years in the Air Force and Jeane, the youngest, served in the Korean War. Roy and Murta also had a daughter named June Catherine they lost at a very young age and an infant named Ethel lost at birth. Fred Boyer is survived by several nephews and nieces and their families. Boyer was born in Kempton on Oct. 21, 1918, and enlisted in the U.S. Navy in Indianapolis on Sept. 11, 1940. He reported to Naval Training Station Great Lakes in Illinois before being assigned to the USS West Virginia (BB-48) in November 1940.

Boyer served as a Fireman 1st Class (F1c). Navy firemen were responsible for duties involving engineering, machinery and shipboard safety in addition to firefighting and rescue. Their responsibilities included standing engineering, power plant and ship security watches, performing minor maintenance repairs, assisting with underway replenishment and helping transfer fuel and supplies while at sea.

Boyer was promoted to Fireman 3rd Class on Jan. 11, 1941, Fireman 2nd Class on July 1, 1941, and Fireman 1st Class on Nov. 1, 1941.

Boyer’s military decorations include the Purple Heart Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, American Defense Service Medal with Fleet Clasp, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with Bronze Star and World War II Victory Medal.

During salvage operations, Navy personnel recovered the remains of the fallen crewmen and interred them at Halawa Naval Cemetery on Oʻahu. He was among the sailors whose remains were not identified following the attack.

After the war, 42 men were identified. Those who remained unidentified, including Fred, were buried as Unknowns at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) in Honolulu.

The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency began work to identify sailors from the USS West Virginia in 2017, when 35 unknown remains associated with the ship were disinterred from the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Hawaii.

Scientists used forensic anthropology, dental records, personal effects, DNA and other evidence to identify the remains. The process has resulted in the identification of 13 USS West Virginia sailors as of June 2022.

Fireman Fred H. Boyer will be laid to rest with his parents during a graveside service at the Kempton Cemetery at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 30 with Pastor Larry Sims from Kempton Christian Church officiating. Military honors will be provided by the US Navy.

Young-Nichols Funeral Home is greatly honored to once again be involved in repatriating one of our brave warriors. Rest in peace Fireman Boyer.