William Elmer Greenwell was born on 13 June 1904, to James Oscar Greenwell and Mary Jettie Mattingly. He married Bertha Ellen Crockett on 26 November 1941.
Chief Machinists Mate Greenwell served on the U.S.S. Colorado. He was taken to the Naval Base Hospital for disposition on 10 Sepember 1943. He died at sea beyond continuing limits of the US due to chronic nephritis.
Buried at Etowah City Cemetery, Etowah, TN.
The Chattanooga Daily Times, 25 September 1943
Mrs. Bertha Crockett Greenwell received a message from the War Department stating that her husband, Petty Officer William Elmer Greenwell, died Sept. 10 at a base hospital somewhere in the South Pacific. Petty Officer Greenwell had been ill for some time. He had been in the service 18 years, being in foreign service generally. He was at home on leave at the time of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and returned to duty the next day. Since that time ha has been in service in the South Pacific. On Nov. 26, 1941, he was married to Miss Bertha Crockett of Etowah., who is English and history teacher in Englewood High School. Other survivors are his stepmother, Mrs. J.O. Greenwell, and one brother, Raymond, both of St. Francis, Ky.
- Rank: Chief Machinists Mate
- Date of birth: 13 June 1904
- Date of death: 10 September 1943
- County: McMinn
- Hometown: Copperhill
- Service Branch: Navy
- Division/Assignment: USS Colorado
- Conflict: World War II
- Burial/Memorial Location: Etowah City Cemetery, Etowah, TN
- Location In Memorial: Pillar XV, Bottom Panel
- Contact us to sponsor W. Elmer Greenwell
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