Born in Hood River, Oregon, Ens Childs registered for the draft on 16 Oct 1940. He went missing on 6 May 1943 around the Solomon Island when his plane crashed. According to Carol Tyler of the American Battle Monuments Commission, “In many cases when someone was listed as missing a search was initiated. If the Sailor couldn't be accounted for, there was a general rule to issue an Administrative Date of Death one year and one day after the individual was listed as missing. This is most common with air crews and sailors.” This accounts for the differences in dates of death. While he was killed on 6 May 1943 he was administratively labeled Killed in Action a year and a day later.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/147055318
https://www.oregondigital.org/catalog/oregondigital:fx71b965k#page/4/mode/1up/search/childs+ (pg 4)
https://www.oregondigital.org/catalog/oregondigital:fx71bm360#page/12/mode/1up/search/childs+ (pg 12)
https://www.oregondigital.org/catalog/oregondigital:fx719t26t#page/16/mode/1up/search/childs+ (pg 16)
https://www.dpaa.mil/portals/85/Documents/WWIIAccounting/oregon.html