Age 28. 1820 North Payson Street, Baltimore, MD. Born 7/06/1914, in Maryland. Died of burns (death certificate). Musician, 1st class, U.S. Navy, attached to the naval battleship U.S.S. Massachusetts. Had recently returned from a mission to French North Africa. Visited his mother and wife the past weekend in Maryland while on leave. "He had brought home parts of a shell fired by the French...One French shell, he said, went through the American flag flying from his ship" (Cumberland Evening-Times, Cumberland, MD, 11/30/1942). Left the past Tuesday under orders to report to Boston. "Mrs. Spies talked with her husband by telephone only two hours before the fire broke out..." (The Morning Herald, Hagerstown, MD, 12/01/1942). "Mrs. Spies said that on Wednesday night she had had a terrifying dream that she was in a building afire and that she was trying to escape...to reach her husband, who was outside attempting to help her" (The Evening Sun, Baltimore, MD, 11/30/1942). Identity of his remains were confirmed through military dental records. Was residing at Tressler Orphans' Home, Loysville, PA (at age 15), as of the 1930 federal census. Joined the Navy at age 18. Wife former J. Bernice Dalton, age 25 (surname Parkin by a previous marriage. Born 10/11/1917, Big Horn, WY. Died as Lynn Bennett on 8/04/1992, Miami, FL, age 74), married in February 1941, in San Diego, CA, where he had been stationed (wife was not present). Had formerly rented a home with his wife at 4452 North Avenue, San Diego (address shown on the final official 1943 Boston Committee on Public Safety master list of casualties). Was previously divorced. One of 31 Navy personnel (including two WAVES) killed in the disaster. His hometown city of Baltimore was one of four outside New England to lose as many as three residents each, also New York, NY (six dead), Montgomery, AL, and Green Bay, WI (three dead). Parents Mrs. G. Irene (Shaffer) and stepfather Mr. William S. Davis, same Baltimore address. Late birth father Mr. Royal L. Spies, Sr., died in 1919. Burial at Loudon Park Cemetery, Baltimore. Middle name Leo.

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