Orlando, Orange County, Florida
United States Navy
Fireman, First Class
New York, NY

US Navy Fireman, 1st Class (FN1) Marvin C. Powers, died in the icy waters of the North Atlantic.  He was a member of the crew aboard the destroyer USS Ingraham (DD-444).  On 22 August 1942, the destroyer was assisting with a situation involving two other ships when it collided with the oil tanker USS Chemung (AO-30) off the coast of Nova Scotia.  The cause was due to poor visibility by heavy fog and weather conditions during their escort/convoy efforts.  Reports state that the USS Ingraham sank almost immediately and that depth charges on her stern exploded.  Only 11 men of the near 200 onboard survived. Due to protocol at the time, dates of death for presumed casualties are listed as one day after twelve months after an absence and unrecovered remains – hence the 23 August 1943. 

Marvin was the youngest son of Ernest and Arvilla (Hobson) Powers of Orlando, born 10 Oct. 1923.  He was 18 years old when he died.  He had attended Orlando High School, left the Class of 1942 to enlist in the Navy in Dec. 1940.  He mustered aboard the USS Ingraham in July 1941.  His older brother, Leroy E. Powers enlisted in the USMC, and both of his sisters married military men. 

FN1 Marvin C. Powers is also remembered on the Tablets of the Missing at East Coast Memorial, New York, along with a memorial at Woodlawn Cemetery in Gotha (Orlando), Florida.