Robert Hull was born on 5 August 1910, in Mt. Gilead, Ohio. His parents are Walter W. & Lottie Hull. Walter and his parents were living in Marion, Ohio by 1920. Robert Hull had attended school in Columbus, Ohio. He was employed as a barber in Columbus after school. He was later back in Marion, Ohio, working with his brother, Homer Hull at Hull’s Lock & Key Shop. The shop was located on North Main Street, Marion, Ohio.

Robert Hull enlisted into the United States Naval Reserves. He received his basic training at Great Lakes Naval Training Station, Great Lakes, Illinois. He then went on for further training at Norfolk, Virginia. He saw stations at Georgetown, British New Guiana, and Trinidad. He then was sent to Hawaii and the South Pacific, serving on the aircraft carrier, USS Wasp (CV-18) aka “The Mighty Stinger,” as a Machinists Mate Second Class (MM2C).

MM2C Robert Hull was reported as killed in action. Sadly not much information was given to the family as to the location or circumstances of their loved one’s deaths, that occurred in the Pacific Theater. Much of the operations in the Pacific Theater were classified to keep the Japanese off balance as to the capabilities and locations of our forces. The author found that MM2C Robert Hull is listed on the Memorial of the USS Wasp (CV-18).

IN MEMORIAM
To those Men of Ship’s Company who, in the LINE of Duty,
Gave their Lives While Serving Aboard USS WASP, this Book
is Respectfully Dedicated in Appreciation of their Efforts to
Make this World a Better Place for All Mankind.
(Names follow of which one is Robert Hull, MM2c)

The following was also taken from the Wasp Cruise Book, describing action on the day Robert Hull was reported as killed in action.

Taking Air Group Eighty-Six aboard on 13 March, Wasp was moved up off the coast of Japan and heavy attacks were launched until the morning of the 19th, when USS FRANKLIN was badly hit and two minutes later a lone Jap plane darted out of the clouds dead ahead of the WASP dropping a five hundred and forty pound semi-armor piercing bomb that exploded in the galley on the third deck just aft of midships. Excellent work by the fire fighting parties quickly controlled the fires and WASP, never out of formation, was ready for flight operations in an hour. Casualties were one hundred and two dead or missing and over two hundred wounded.

MM2C Robert Hull was reported as killed in action on 19 March 1945. Robert Hull left behind a 12 year old daughter, Laura J. Hull. She was in the care of Lottie Hull. His family was given vague information about his burial at sea. I was unable to find out if MM2C Hull’s remains were recovered or not.
MM2C Robert Hull is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing, Court 3, Honolulu Memorial, Honolulu, Hawaii.

Robert Hull is remembered on the Honor Roll, at the Veterans Memorial Park, in Marion, Ohio; on the west wall of the Marion County Courthouse; and on the World War II Veterans Memorial Wall, at the Marion Cemetery.