Joseph Francis Durkin was born December 26, 1925 in Oneonta, NY to Richard Durkin (1889-1949) and Mary Farrell (1890-1970). Both his parents were from Pennsylvania. His dad served in WWI. His parents were married August 20, 1919 in Luzerne, Pennsylvania and shortly thereafter moved to Dietz St. in Oneonta, NY where his dad worked as a Trainman for the D&H Railroad. The 1930 US Census recorded him having two older sisters Helen and Mary and they had moved to Harvey St. with their aunt Mary Farrell. Joseph attended St. Mary's School and Oneonta High School. The Oneonta Directory 1941-1942 lists his sisters Helen and Mary working as Cashiers at local stores and his dad, Richard still working as a Trainman for the D&H railroad. Joseph also worked for the D&H Railroad for a time before he enlisted in the Navy on January 22, 1944. He had just turned 18. He was all of 5'-7” tall. Weighed 135 pounds and had hazel eyes and brown hair.

He received his boot training at Sampson Naval Base on the shores of Seneca Lake, NY and went overseas to the Pacific Theater on June 17, 1944. July 1944 Navy Muster Rolls record him on board the newly commissioned (May 1944) USS LST-993. Under the command of Lt. Albert Bates, LST-993 participated in the Leyte landings in November 1944, the Lingayen Gulf (Luzon) landings in January 1945 and the Tarakan Island (Borneo) operation in April and May 1945. He ultimately served on LST-993 for 16 months. 

LST 993 Tarakan Borneo May 1, 1945

Few details about how S1/c Durkin was killed were in his Individual Deceased Personnel File (IDPF) or other sources.  We do know that he was killed October 6, 1945 of a "gun shot wound" that was "not" a result of "enemy action" while seriving on USS LST-993.  No personal effects were reported found on his body and he was buried at sea and memorialized at the Tablets of the Missing, Manila American Cemetery in the Phillipines.

If you notice anything erroneous in this profile or have additional information to contribute to it, please contact Jim Greenberg at nez13820@gmail.com. 

Sources:

Individual Deceased Personnel File for  Durkin, Joseph Francis, National Archives, St. Louis, MO.  

Marriage Records. Pennsylvania Marriages. Various County Register of Wills Offices, Pennsylvania. 

National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; WWII Draft Registration Cards for New York State, 10/16/1940 - 03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147

Padden, Russ and Irene, https://www.rpadden.com/ohs2004/homecoming.htm

Rilling, Jake, USNT Sampson, accessed at https://www.rpadden.com/sampson.htm, November 12, 2022.

"U.S. World War II Navy Muster Rolls, 1938-1949" database with images

Fold3 (https://www.fold3.com/publication/829/wwii-navy-muster-rolls:

accessed November 7, 2022)

“WWII Buried At Sea" database with images Fold3

(https://www.fold3.com/publication/1089/wwii-buried-at-sea-2016-dpaa-list:

accessed November 7, 2022)

Year: 1930; Census Place: Oneonta, Otsego, New York; Page: 8B; Enumeration District: 0035; FHL microfilm: 2341370

Year: 1940; Census Place: Oneonta, Otsego, New York; Roll: m-t0627-02717; Page: 11A; Enumeration District: 39-44

Photo Credit: USS LST-993 high and dry at low tide at Tarakan, Borneo on 1 May 1945. Headquarters 26th Brigade Infantry troops and vehicles are crossing the muddy beach on a causeway pontoon. Australian War Memorial, Photo No. 090850, Mike Green, access at https://www.navsource.org/archives/10/16/160993.htm, November 12, 2022. 

Supporting Files