The Marlborough
Historical Society

William was born the 19^th of November 1924 in Marlborough, Massachusetts the second of three sons born to Charles and Minnie Ripley. He made his home with his parents at 68 East Elm Street and was working at the Marlboro Enterprise when he enlisted into the Navy the 22^nd of October 1942. He received his basic training at Naval Training Station, Newport, Rhode Island. William was promoted to Seaman 2^nd Class the 19^th of November 1942 and was shortly afterwards transferred to the Armed Guard School at the Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, Virginia the 4^th of December 1942. Following his graduation from the Armed Guard School, William was sent to the Armed Guard Center in Brooklyn, New York the 1^st of January 1943. He was promoted to Seaman 1^st Class on the 12^th of January and was assigned to the Armed Guard Crew of the SS ESSO BOLIVAR, a tanker moving petroleum products along the eastern seaboard. Detached from the ESSO BOLIVAR on the 15^th of January 1943, he was next assigned to the SS LIBERTY GLO a cargo ship which sailed in multiple convoys to the Mediterranean theater serving aboard until the 27^th of August 1943.

Following a period of leave, William was next assigned to the SS DANIEL H LOWNSDALE a Liberty Ship the 14^th of September 1943 again sailing in multiple Convoys to the European and Mediterranean theaters. While assigned to the LOWNSDALE, William passed all required testing and was recommended for advancement to Signalman 3^rd Class. He continued to serve aboard the LOWNSDALE until the 3^rd of July 1944. William was admitted to the Naval Hospital at Chelsea, Massachusetts while on leave the 24^th of July 1944. He was diagnosed with Tubercular Pneumonia and spent until the 4^th of September 1944 as a patient at the Chelsea, Naval Hospital. Based on a review of his medical condition, the Navy honorably discharged William the 9^th of October 1944 and he was transferred to the Veterans Administration Hospital in Rutland, Massachusetts for further treatment. William continued to suffer from the effects of Tuberculosis until his death the 7^th of October 1945. He is buried at the Immaculate Conception Cemetery in Marlborough.

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