Eighty years ago, on May 25, 1945, Lieutenant Harry Leigh Derby Jr. gave his life in service to his country during the Battle of Okinawa, one of the most intense and deadly conflicts of World War II. At the age of 37, Derby was killed in action while commanding the USS LSM-135, a landing ship involved in the rescue of fellow sailors in the heat of battle.
Harry Derby Jr. was born on July 26, 1907, in Passaic, New Jersey, to Harry and Alice Derby. Growing up in a time of rapid change in America, he would go on to dedicate himself to family, duty, and ultimately, military service. His commitment to his country was matched by his devotion to his loved ones.
He married Mary Katherine Dutrow, and together they had three children, building a life filled with promise and purpose. That promise was forever altered by the events of World War II, where Derby answered the call of duty and served with honor in the U.S. Navy.
On the fateful day of May 25, 1945, LSM-135 was engaged in a dangerous and heroic mission—rescuing crewmembers from the damaged minesweeper USS Spectacle (AM-305). As the rescue operation unfolded off the coast of Okinawa, the LSM-135 was struck by a Japanese kamikaze aircraft. The resulting explosion and fire claimed the lives of nearly all aboard.
Only eleven sailors from LSM-135 survived, rescued by the USS Fleming (DE-32). Among those lost was LT Harry Derby Jr., who perished in the line of duty, a leader and a hero to the very end. His bravery and sacrifice remain a powerful testament to the courage shown by so many during the war.
LT Derby is now laid to rest at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, Hawaii, in Plot F, Grave 257. His memory is also honored with a memorial at Mt. Hebron Cemetery in Montclair, New Jersey, near the place where his life began.
His widow, Mary, never remarried after his death. She carried the memory of her husband for the rest of her life and passed away at the age of 65 on October 13, 1976. Today, the legacy of LT Harry Derby Jr. endures through his family, his story, and the enduring gratitude of a nation.
