ussbristoldd857.org 21 March 2019

USS BRISTOL DD857 VETERANS ASSOCIATION SPRING 2019

ARLINGTON is given a wreath pin that is worn IN THIS ISSUE CEMETERY on their lapel signifying they served Jeopardy Question: as guard of the tomb. There are Arlington only 400 presently worn.The guard On Jeopardy the other night, the Cemetery……………..1 must obey these rules for the rest of 1. How many steps does the guard their lives or give up the wreath take during his walk across the pinEvery guard spends five hours a USO Rallies Around Service tomb of the steps: It alludes to the day getting his uniforms ready for Members During Typhoon twenty-one gun salute which is guard duty. the highest honor given any Relief.2 military or foreign dignitary. 2. How long does he hesitate after ETERNAL REST GRANT THEM Don’t Wash that Coffee his about face to begin his O L O R D A N D L E T Mug……2 return walk and why? 21 seconds PERPETUAL LIGHT SHINE for the same reason as answer UPON THEM. Driver’s n u m b e r o n e . 1 Seat…………………….4 3. Why are his gloves wet? His gloves are moistened to prevent his In 2003 as Hurricane Isabelle was approaching Washington,DC, our The Battle Off losing his grip on the rifle. US Senate/House took 2 days off Samar……………5 4. Does he carry his rifle on the with anticipation of the storm. On s a m e s h o u l d e r a l l t h e the ABC evening news, it was Inside the Wild Ride of the time and ,if not, why not? He reported that because of the dangers carries the rifle on the shoulder from the hurricane, the military USS away from the tomb. After his members assigned the duty of Chopper…………………… march across the path, he executes guarding the Tomb of the Unknown …..14 an about face and moves the rifle to Soldier were given permission to t h e o u t s i d e s h o u l d e r . suspend the assignment. They 5. How often are the guards respectfully declined the offer, "No Humor in changed?Guards are changed every w a y, S i r ! " S o a k e d t o t h e Uniform……………..16 thirty minutes, twenty-four hours a skin, marching in the pelting rain of d a y , 3 6 5 d a y s a y e a r . a tropical storm, they said US Navy Undersea 6. What are the physical traits of that guarding the Tomb was not just Museum…..19 the guard limited to? For a person an assignment,it was the highest to apply for guard duty at the tomb, honor that can be afforded to a service person. The tomb has been Amazing Story of he must be between 5' 10' and 6' 2' tall and his waist size cannot patrolled continuously, 24/7, since Bravery……..19 exceed 30.They must commit 2 1930. years of life to guard the tomb, Harry Reisen live in a barracks under the tomb, God Bless and keep them. Journal…………..20 and cannot drink any alcohol on or off duty for the rest of their lives. I'd be very proud if this email Kenneth Hickman They cannot swear in public for reached as many as possible. We can the rest of their lives and cannot b e v e r y p r o u d o f o u r m e n Memorial….22 disgrace the uniform or the tomb in and women in the service no matter any way. After two years, the guard where they serve.

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USO Rallies Around Service many units were in tents. Water and throughout the month of November, Members During Typhoon electricity was scarce throughout the the USO also provided service Relief entire island, and there were no members with a full Thanksgiving flights or ocean cargo ships going to meal on Tinian, along with fun either island to deliver goods. games with prizes and giveaways. Tech. Sgt. Christopher Ruano, Without internet, residents and Guam National Guard service members alike were cut off The Northern Mariana Islands from their friends and family as they continue to recover from Typhoon By Danielle DeSimone continued relief efforts. Yutu, but service members began leaving in mid-December and made When the fifth-strongest tropical In response to the military it home just in time for the holidays. storm in recorded history made mobilization to Saipan and Tinian, landfall in a U.S. Commonwealth, the USO Pacific team mobilized as …………………………………….. the U.S. Armed Forces were ready to help – and so was the USO. well. Just over one week after Typhoon Yutu made landfall, USO DON’T WASH THAT On Oct. 24, 2018, Typhoon Yutu hit Guam was able to arrange flights, COFFEE MUG! the U.S. Commonwealth of the cargo assistance and ground November 25, 2013153 transportation that was otherwise CommentsFeatured, History, Northern Mariana Islands of Saipan Newschief, coffee, coffee mess, and Tinian, where 52,000 U.S. not available to other organizations. funny, navy, navy chief citizens and nationals currently live. USO shipments arrived, including The tropical storm left catastrophic USO Care Packages, snacks, water, damage in its wake. Most homes c o o l e r s , m i c r o w a v e s a n d and businesses were destroyed from entertainment equipment. The USO either the storm itself or from also worked around the clock to flooding, trees were torn up by their ensure their on-site team would have roots, roads impassable and there access to internet on the island. By Nov. 10, USO staff and supplies were no utilities – electricity, water The obsession began over seven and internet were completely wiped were at the ready, and a temporary years ago. In 2006, I began at the out. USO lounge was opened in an Hampton Roads Naval Museum as a abandoned hotel on Saipan. wide-eyed intern, ready to take on the new and fascinating world of As soon as the storm passed, service naval history. I thought the coffee members from the Army, Navy, Air mess at work was reserved for staff Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard This temporary USO lounge served and volunteers only. I did not feel and the Guam National Guard were as a site of relief and relaxation from comfortable partaking in the the deployed service members on delicious brew until somebody told immediately deployed to the islands me I could. When I finally got the to begin relief and recovery efforts. the island. Aside from having a green light, I happily brought my clean, dry space to spend downtime coffee mug in the next day, eager to Photo credit 9th Mission Support in, service members also had access drink from the well all working class souls go to each morning. Command to board games, television, coffee, The destruction left in the wake of water, snacks and Wi-Fi so that they This was my first experience with Typhoon Yutu on the southern end could remain connected to family “Navy coffee.” It was hot and strong. Very strong. The thickness and friends at home. of the island of Saipan. of it closely resembled crude oil. It tasted both wonderful and terrible at However, conditions were tough. On The USO is committed to keeping the same time. Your mind can trick Saipan, more than 500 service service members connected to home you into believing anything. When a supreme pot of joe is brewed, members bedded down in an in other ways as well. While units many of the volunteers would call it abandoned hotel, while in Tinian, continued in their relief efforts “Signal Bridge Coffee,” recalling

2 ussbristoldd857.org 21 March 2019 the nostalgia of long nights and blogger noted, “You may not be able Several recent articles about the many cups consumed. to embrace your loved ones while practice surfaced on the internet on you are gone, but at least you can message boards and military news After that first morning of coffee, I still taste the same coffee you drank blogs. One blogger from the went to the break room to wash my the day you left.” Military Times (Broadside Blog) cup and let it dry for the next day’s wrote about it this past August. angry fix. As I washed out my cup, To many in the military, this is “There are only a few things you I felt the sting of glaring eyes from nothing new. Ask anybody who need to know about Navy coffee, behind my back. I’m sure whoever served or is currently serving in the and most of it involves the cup,” the it was, they could sense my military, and they will likely give blogger writes. “You do not wash a hesitation. I turned around to see you a story about an experience Navy coffee cup. Ever.” GMC Dana Martin, the museum’s i n v o l v i n g t h e p r a c t i c e o f active duty OIC. He had a puzzled, “seasoning” their cup. Navy Chiefs, I took Chief Martin’s advice, but not concerned look on his face. Chief however, are considered by many to at first. For the first few weeks Martin was grizzled and salty. He be the most Spartan of stalwarts to following our confrontation, I was by far one of the saltiest sailors the unwashed coffee mug. I spoke washed my cup out after he left for I have ever met. He grabbled my to some retired CPOs who counted the day. But I got lazy after a while. arm washing the cup. My hesitation four or five deployments on a single I starting noticing dark brown rings grew to fear. He leaned in close and unwashed cup. The August 1949 inside my cup. My mug started to told me to “never wash it again,” edition of All Hands Magazine look like the inside of a tree, and I staring back down at my cup and declared that coffee was the started to like it. The mug was back to me. I looked at him, “Lifeblood of the U.S. Navy.” The white, so it was easy to measure my puzzled with fascination and article goes on to discuss why many progress. disbelief. Although I drink my sailors take their coffee so seriously. coffee black, my mind struggled to The article opens with this The rings grew larger and darker find reason in the practice. paragraph: until the entire inside was jet back. Although I was never in the military, “I don’t understand,” I told him. “I I felt a swelling of pride at my need to clean my cup.” I was F r a n k e n s t e i n c r e a t i o n . merely doing what I was taught. Unfortunately, that mug did not Bills should be paid on time. Five survive. My latest and greatest minutes early is five minutes late. creation came about in 2009. It has Coffee mugs should be washed out not been washed or cleaned since its after use. Simple, right? Wrong. I purchase. I don’t know if my peers held my breath and found out just understand it. My wife surely how wrong I really was. doesn’t. I have a similar mug at The 1945 Cookbook of the United home that she avoids looking at, States Navy lists several reasons He leaned in again, this time more and, on rare occasions, will clean why a clean mug and pot of coffee is relaxed (and less confrontational). when I am not looking. “I know you are just starting out essential to a flavorful experience. here, but I want to let you in on a All parts of the coffee mess had to Here is my (meager) contribution to little secret.” He was almost be “scrupulously clean,” according this fine naval tradition. I warn you, whispering. “If you intend to stay to the cook book. Sailors today if you are unfamiliar with the here at the museum, you can might read those guidelines and practice, you might be shocked. impress the Navy guys with your laugh at the rules and regulations. Behold: My four year “seasoned” mug.” He went on to explain to me the significance of an unwashed or “seasoned” coffee mug, particularly in the Navy Chief community. “And keep it as tarry black as possible,” he added. “Sometimes it’s the only way you can drink this swill. But you will grow to love it and depend on the taste.” I would never think I would believe him. Boy, was I wrong. mug: Old coffee in a cup signifies …………………………………….. seniority and stature in the military, particularly on deployment. As one

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DRIVER'S SEAT FOR shack. They slobbered over the glamour photos from his bulkheads JAN. 23 2019 pictures, as could be expected of (Navy for "walls.") He said, "Sorry Guideposts, Mrs. Epworth and young sailors about to spend a frigid I was slow in getting these back to Ensign Muldoon winter guarding the bleak perimeters you." of Korea. Most columnists soon learn that I could have faced a captain's mast what they write has all the impact of One day the pictures caught the for my intrusion. It didn't come. a pebble tossed into a pond. A few attention of Ensign Muldoon, a Muldoon stayed silent. A good guy, ripples, and then oblivion. But good-natured, easy-going officer. Muldoon was. occasionally surprises occur. His eyes lit up. "Where did you get these?" I told him. He said, "Could On the other hand, Mrs. Epworth In the summer of 1951 I underwent I borrow these for a few days?" I was a pain where you can't put a one of my sporadically religious replied, "Sure." plaster. I was discharged, and went impulses. I submitted a description home to Harrisburg. Somehow Mrs. of it to Guideposts, a magazine In the following weeks I received E. had learned where I lived. Her founded by minister Normn Vincent more importuning letters from Mrs. "We must meet!" entreaties Peale. To my surprise, they Epworth, who looked forward to our continued despite my evasions. published it. End of story? Not meeting one day. And Ens. quite. Muldoon did not return the pix of One Sunday morning I was at home the movie tootsies. I learned that he with my father. Uninvited, Mrs. The article appeared in October, as had taped the photos all over his Epworth -- her husband in tow -- my ship crossed the Pacific en route stateroom in the officers quarters. entered our driveway in a shiny to the Korean war. By the time we black Lincoln Continental. As she reached Yokosuka, Japan, I had I could have asked him to relinquish rolled down her window I took received two fan-mail responses. the pictures, but I didn't. Muldoon charge, with words largely to this One was from a gushing middle- was a likeable guy. But as time effect: aged clubwoman (let's call her Mrs. passed, resentment set in. Epworth) who lived in Harrisburg, Big mistake. "M'am, I'm here with my father. He Pa.. Her announced mission: to one is a good man, but painfully shy day meet me in person, just to thank My ship made a liberty call in when suddenly facing complete me for finding God, saying so, etc. Sasebo. I went ashore, ignored my strangers. So am I. If I ask you in, More about her (below). neglible religious promptings, and we all will experience an hour of got drunk. An hour later, as I social awkwardness you couldn't The second letter was from Ian, a boarded my ship, I had a marvelous even dream of. So let's avoid it. New Yorker who worked as a idea: "By god, I'll go get those And, please, no more letters." The publicity man for one of the pictures back from Muldoon." Epworths departed. Hollywood film studios. He accompanied his compliments with U.S. Navy regulations state: What's the point of this column? a dozen black-and-white glossy "Plastered enlisted personnel should Avoid submitting your thoughts to photos of movie stars, mostly not invade officers' quarters without religious publications. Once you do, glamorous women. very good cause." I knocked on God only knows what may happen. Ens. Muldoon's door. He My first mistake was not ducking responded. "Hello, Driver. What's Reader, this concludes today's the overtures of Mrs. Epworth. My up?" It took him 0.4 of a second to pebble in your pond. Let the ripples second goof was showing the starlet figure that out. He invited me in roll. Contributed by Robert Driver photos to my buddies in the radio while he calmly removed the ……………………………………

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The Battle Off Samar earlier. Together the three TafRes innotent mistake had been made by made up Estoit Carrier Task Group the scout plane. But confirmation 77.4 of the United States Seventh came from another source—a Wilfred P. Deac Fleet. lookout on one of Sprague’s other carriers, the Kitkitu Buy. Scanning Wednesday, October 25, 1944 —a The first warning of a break in the the hori/on beneath the gradually gloomy overcast punctuated by rain morning routine came shortly after clearing cumulus cloud canopy, the squalls gave the predawn sky a dirty six thirty as the ships’ crews sat seaman could make out pagoclalike yellow-gray hue. Six small United clown to breakfast. Radio equipment masts: Japanese battleships and States carriers and seven escort in the Fanshaw Bay’s Combat cruisers. ships moved through the somber Information Center picked up seas east of the Philippine island of Japanese voices. Since the nearest Admiral Sprague’s voice boomed Samar. From the gently swaying enemy ships were supposedly over a into the squawk box: “Come to flight decks of the carriers, white- hundred miles away, the American course 090 degrees … launch all starred planes took oil on routine radiomen reasoned that the enemy planes as soon as possible … speed early-morning missions. chatter must be coming from one of 16.” the nearby Japanese-held islands. On the bridge of the flagship, U.S.S. With the exception of the beachhead The little carriers swung due east, Fanshaw Bay , Rear Admiral Clifton on Leyte and a few islands in the far enough into the wind to launch A. F. Sprague watched the adjacent gulf, all of the Philippine aircraft without bringing them closer Grumman aircraft rise into the archipelago was in Japanese hands. to the enemy. Planes were soon northeasterly wind toward the soaring into the damp sky armed broken ceiling of clouds. The day Eleven minutes later, n message with whatever bombs and bullets had all the earmarks of being Hashed in from an American scout they had when the alarm sounded. another long, tiresome succession of plane. The unbelievable words were Gun crews settled expectantly reconnaissance, antisubmarine, and hurriedly relayed to the bridge: behind the breeches of the carriers’ ground-support missions. Sprague, a “Enemy surface force … twenty 5-inch guns—the biggest they had. forty-eight-year-old veteran, miles northwest of your task group At 11:58 A.M. , bright flashes lit the scanned his little Meet, called Tatty and closing at go knots. hori/on seventeen miles north of the 3(its radio call sign). Merchant-ship Admiral Sprague, at this moment, flotilla. Sixty seconds later, Japanese hulls turned into baby Hattops to was trying to make sense of two range-marker shells rattled into the meet wartime needs, the thin- other odd reports. His lookouts had sea to throw lowering geysers of skinned escort carriers—designated just seen antiaircraft fire on the colored water into the air behind the CVE’s—were not even half the size northern horixon, and his radar had American carriers. The Rattle off of conventional aircraft carriers. Old picked up an unidentified something Samar had begun. hands claimed the CVE stood for in the same direction. Surely, “ C o m b u s t i b l e , Vu l n e r a b l e , Sprague was thinking, the cause of The Battle oft Samar was a direct Expendable.” Three destroyer« and all the unexpected commotion must result of Japanese Higli Command four destroyer escorts ringed the be Admiral William Halsey’s Third plans. As the American 1'orces flotilla of CVE’s like watchful guard Fleet, the closest large naval unit to advanced relentlessly across the dogs. Somewhere to the soutli. Tally 3. The pilot’s message stopped Southern Pacific: during the final Sprague knew, two other carrier him short. months of World War II, four Sho groups, Taffies 1 and 2, were on (Conquer) plans were devised to similar missions in support of the “Check that identification!” ordered blunt U.S. thrusts against the American G.I.'s who had gone Sprague, hoping with a growing F.mphe’s inner defenses. At best, ashore at Leyte Gulf five days feeling—of doubt thai some these were little more than delaying

5 ussbristoldd857.org 21 March 2019 tac ties which might postpone the protecting American Third Fleet. warships, the Yamato and the end of the war and give Japan a This Japanese force was made up of Musashi . Each displaced 68,000 belter bargaining position at the four regular carriers, two converted tons and carried i8.i-inch guns, as peace table. Sho No. i was designed battleship-carriers, and smaller compared to 45,000 tons and 16- to counter any United States move screening vessels. The battleship- inch guns for the largest U.S. against the Philippine Islands, and carriers—the Ise and the Hyuga — warship. Also in this formidable by the fall of 1944, with the were merely old battleships with fleet were the battleships Haruna , Americans moving northwestward, their two main aft turrets replaced Kongo , and Nagato , twelve it appeared that the time for putting by small flight decks. Designed to cruisers, and fifteen destroyers. it into ell’ect had arrived. compensate for Japan’s shortage of aircraft carriers, the hybrid ships Once inside Leyte Gulf, Shima’s In mid-October the Imperial would never have a chance to prove and Nishimura’s Southern Force and Japanese Navy began to move. themselves. There were not enough Kurita’s Center Force were to pool Powerful naval forces steamed airplanes available in the fall of their firepower to disrupt the e a s t w a r d f r o m t h e L i n g g a 1944 to give the Ise and the Hyuga American invasion. Whatever lay in Archipelago near Singapore, and even one of the twenty-four each the gulf or blocked its approaches, southward from the home islands. was supposed to carry; and Ozawa’s warships and cargo vessels alike, On October 18, while the Japanese other carriers were decidedly short w a s t o b e w i p e d o u t . T h e fleets were still at sea, the word of planes, too. importance of Ozawa’s Northern flashed (Vom Combined Fleet Force as a decoy to draw oft the commander Admiral Soeniu Toyoda The second prong of Sho No. 1 was powerful U.S. Third Fleet was in Tokyo: “Execute Sho Plan No. to swing in against the Americans in emphasized by the marked Japanese 1!” American landings had begun in Ley te Gulf from the southwest, inferiority in aircraft and by the totaf Lcyte Cull, in the eastcentral through Surigao Strait. The melange number of Meet units involved—64 Philippines. of battleships, cruisers, and Nipponese vessels against a 16 destroyers in this Southern Force— American and 2 Australian Two U.S. fleets were covering the seventeen ships in all—were warships. invasion beaches—the Third Fleet, commanded by Vice Admirals under Admiral William F. Halsey, K i y o h i d e S h i m a a n d S h o j i In undertaking Sho Plan No. 1, the composed mainly of fast new Nishimura. Japanese were placed in the battleships and big carriers; and the The third prong, the Center Force, unenviable position of the frantic Seventh Fleet, commanded by Vice was the most potent of the poker player who, reduced to a lew Admiral Thomas C. Kinkaid. made Nipponese units, and was to deliver chips after a losing streak, plays his up mostly of pre-Pearl Harbor the knockout blow. Sailing from hand all or nothing. Admiral Kurita battlewagons and cruisers. The Lingga Roads during the early said to his officers before the battle: Third Fleet was acting the role of morning hours of October 18, it “I know many of you are strongly roving watchdog, while the Seventh would stop at North Borneo for opposed to this assignment. But the was directly overseeing the landing refueling and final preparations. war situation is far more critical of Sixth Army G.I.’s on Leyte Then, following a devious patli than any of you can possibly know. Island. through the Sibuyan Sea and San Would it not be a shame to have the Bernardino Strait north of Leyte, it fleet remain intact while our nation Sho Plan No. 1 was to be a three- would swing around and enter Leyte perishes? … You must all remember pronged maneuver supported by Gulf through “the back door"—from there are such things as miracles. land-based aircraft. A Northern the east. In this key Center Force, What man can say there is no Force under Vice Admiral Jisaburo under Vice Admiral Takeo Kurita, chance for our fleet to turn the title Ozawa would steam southward from were the world’s two largest of war in a decisive battle?” Japan and attempt to decoy away the

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First blow in the Battle for Leyte and a costly one for the Center enthusiastic pursuit of the Japanese Gulf was struck by the U.S. Force. The planes were landbased bait—sixty-five warships against submarine Darter against the Center Japanese Zeros ordered to provide seventeen. Force as Kurita’s ships steamed air cover for Kurita. Faced with northeast along Palawan, the heavy antiaircraft fire from the very It was a questionable action, and led daggerlike island jutting southwest warships they were to protect, the to one of the hottest controversies from the middle of the Philippine fighters understandably returned to about naval tactics in World War II. archipelago. The sub’s torpedoes their island base. Then, at 8:10 that Halsey had enough ships and planes slammed into two of the enemy morning, an American scout plane to handle both Ozawa and Kurita; cruisers just as the first light of sighted the Japanese armada. Two but as it was, nobody was left to October 23 was streaking the eastern hours and sixteen minutes later, guard the exit of the San Bernardino sky. The force flagship, the heavy single-engined bombers and fighters Strait. Through that exit Kurita’s cruiser Atago , shuddered and sank from the carriers of Admiral still very menacing force was in less than twenty minutes, sending Halsey’s Third Fleet pounced on the steadily plowing in order to turn Admiral Kurita and his staff for an Center Force. Dodging the pink and southward off the eastern coast of unscheduled swim before they were purple bursts of antiaircraft fire, Samar and come in to Leyte Gulf on rescued by a destroyer. The cruiser American Helldivers and Avengers October 25—its role in Sho No. 1. Takao , also hit, belched fire and pressed one attack after another smoke. The task force swung to against the wildly weaving ships. At Steaming at twenty knots through starboard into the path of a second the cost of eighteen dive bombers the narrow strait between Luzon and U.S. submarine. Torpedoes from the and torpedo planes, they sank the Samar islands, Kurita’s Center Force Dace scrubbed the cruiser Maya gargantuan Musashi , badly debouched into the Philippine Sea at from the scene in four minutes. damaged a heavy cruiser, and thirty-five minutes past midnight. In Kurita, shifting his command post to slightly hurt the other battleships. addition to the battleships Yamato , the huge Yamato , was badly shaken Kurita wavered—lie actually had his Haruna , Kongo , and Nagato , there up. The enemy hadn’t even been fleet reverse course for several hours were the heavy cruisers Chikuma , sighted, and already five valuable —but in the end he rallied and Chokai , Haguro , Kumano , Suzuya warships (counting two destroyers carried on toward San Bernardino , and Tone , the smaller-gunned light detached to escort the damaged Strait. cruisers Noshiro and Yahagi , and Takao to Borneo) were eliminated Admiral Halsey was very much eleven destroyers. from the battle to come. pleased by his carrier pilots’ reports Prepared to have to fight their way of their successes over the Sibnyan through to Leyte Gulf, the Japanese The sun shone down from clear Sea. Unfortunately, these reports sailors were pleasantly’ surprised skies on whitecapped water and were somewhat exaggerated, and led when dawn revealed nothing on the mountainous islands as the Center- him to the optimistic conclusion that southern horizon but open water. Force moved into the Sibuyan Sea Kurita’s Center Force “could no Well beyond that horizon, below northwest of Leyte on Tuesday, longer be considered a serious Leyte Gulf, Admiral Kinkaid’s October 24. Within twenty-four menace.” Meanwhile Admiral O/ Seventh Fleet had turned southward hours, if all went well, Kurita’s awa’s decoy Northern Force had to encounter the Japanese Southern ships would be steaming into Leyte been cruising the waters of the Force under Admirals Shima and Gulf from the east. But their bad Philippine Sea off Luzon, hoping to Nishimura in a triumphant fight, luck had not left them yet. Their be spotted by Halsey’s search later to be known as the Battle of antiaircraft batteries, nervously planes. About 4 P.M. on October 24, Surigao Strait. Nothing but the three anticipating American air strikes, cut one of the searchers made the light Taffy forces now stood loose at a flight of fighter planes contact, and by 8:30 that evening the between the U.S. invasion troops on soon after dawn. It was a mistake, whole U.S. Third Fleet was off in Leyte and possible disaster. Of the

7 ussbristoldd857.org 21 March 2019 three, only Taffy 3 lay directly in planes from Taffies i and 2 were the Japanese Southern Force, the Kurita’s path as his Center Force ordered to the assistance of Taffy 3. Americans would have some chance swept south. Glancing away from the enemy, of stopping the enemy. Sprague noted with pride that his This was the astonishing situation little fleet was following orders with Deployed in a formation of two when, just after dawn on October the precision of a well-trained team. concentric circles—the six carriers 25, Admiral Kurita’s twenty-three Straddled by the red, yellow, blue, forming the inner circle—the U.S. warships, three hours north of Leyte and green splashes of marker shells, flotilla was rapidly being overtaken Gulf, ran into Admiral Clifton Taffy 3 was laying heavy smoke by the speedier enemy ships. Then, Sprague’s small group—the 10,000- screens, the white clouds pouring at 7:06 A.M. , Taffy 3 dipped its ton black-and-gray camouflaged from chemical generators nose into a welcome rain squall. escort carriers Fanshaw Bay, St. Lo, contrasting sharply with the oily Hindered by ineffective radar, White Plains, Kalinin Bay, Kitkun black smoke from the ships’ funnels. enemy fire fell off in volume and Bay , and Gambier Bay ; the 2,050- accuracy. During the fifteen-minute ton destroyers Heermann, Hoel , and Launching her planes as rapidly as respite afforded by the rain, Sprague Johnston ; and the 1,275-ton possible, the White Plains trembled made a decision. He would order a destroyer escorts Dennis, John C. violently as the mere concussion of torpedo attack by his destroyers. Butler, Raymond , and Samuel B. the big enemy shells caused minor Roberts . damage. Water spray from a In the meantime, the first desperate shellburst that threw a geyser high strikes by the U.S. carrier planes had Kurita, thinking he must have above the carrier rained over the been made on the pursuing enemy. stumbled onto Halsey’s Third Fleet, ship’s bridge. One plane preparing Dropping the small bombs and abruptly ordered his ships into to take off from the flight deck was depth charges with which they had pursuit formation. Since the Center bounced forward by the concussion been loaded in expectation of Force had been in the process of of explosions pummelling the sea. routine missions, the Navy planes switching over from its tight night Its spinning propeller bit a chunk harassed the Japanese ships for formation to a dispersed daytime out of the wing of another fighter. twenty minutes. Bombs soon gone, deployment, the new order spread The St. Lo , ebony clouds pouring they strafed with machine-gun fire. confusion through the Japanese from her four small exhaust stacks, And even when their ammunition fleet. The result was a fierce but was also buffeted by the Japanese was exhausted, the pilots continued surprisingly unco-ordinated attack barrage. to buzz the enemy, hoping to bluff on the American ships. the Nipponese ships off course and Although the enemy ships had give Taffy 3 a chance to escape. At 6:58 A.M. , a salvo of j.aoo- closed to within fifteen miles of Only when their fuel ran low did pound shells, each some fifty per their prey, they were still beyond the they leave. Unable to land on their cent heavier than the largest U.S. range of the puny U.S. 5-inch guns. own carriers because the ships were warship projectile, spun out of the If only he could keep his ships heading downwind, the Taffy 3 Yamato’s huge gun barrels. It was swinging in a wide circle around to planes were forced to rearm and the first time the superbattleship had the southwest without being refuel at an airstrip on the Leyte fired its 18.1-inch batteries at overtaken or cut off, Sprague beachhead to the west, and on the another ship. The Haruna’s 14-inch thought, he could hope to lead the flattops of Taffy 2 to the southeast. guns joined in three minutes later. Japanese fleet into the guns of the Joined by other Wildcat fighters and now-alerted battleships of the Avenger torpedo bombers from At 7:01 A.M. Admiral Sprague Seventh Fleet. Then, even though Taffy 2, they soon returned to the ordered the transmission of an Kinkaid’s ships were not in top attack. urgent plea for help. The request shape for battle after their heavy was immediately picked up, and night action in Surigao Strait against

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First blood for the airmen was Evans, who had a very short time to gear, and bouncing men limply off drawn when a bomb pierced the live, emerged from the salvo with bulkheads. deck of the heavy cruiser Suzuya . half of his clothes blown off and Shuddering under the detonation, minus two fingers of his left hand. Steaming on one engine and the i4,ooo-ton warship slowed to maneuvering on emergency steering twenty knots and fell behind the The destroyers Heerman and Hoel apparatus, with three of her 5-inch Japanese formation. The bold swept past the stricken ship toward cannons out of commission, the American planes, delaying the the enemy. Although smoking and Hoel made another run on the pursuers by forcing them into time- slowed to sixteen or seventeen enemy. The target this time was the consuming evasive maneuvers, also k n o t s , t h e J o h n s t o n s w u n g heavy cruiser Haguro . The inflicted minor damage on a few of awkwardly in behind the other destroyer’s five remaining torpedoes the other Japanese ships. destroyers to support them with her swooshed from their tubes. Then, as guns. Further back, the slower one of her officers later stated, the The two-funnelled Johnston , which destroyer escorts formed a second Hoel tried to “get the hell out of had already opened fire with her attack wave. It was the story of there.” But this was easier said than five 5-inch guns, was the first David and Goliath in a terrifying done. destroyer to respond to Sprague’s modern context. order for a torpedo attack. As the Barely able to keep ahead of the helmsman swung the wheel hard to With guns banging and torpedoes onrushing enemy, much less get out port, the outgunned Johnston sliced knifing toward the Japanese ships, of the line of fire, the Hoel absorbed bravely through the gray sea at the Heermann and the Hoel won over forty hits as she fought back twenty-five knots toward the much-needed time for the fleeing with her two remaining guns. The Japanese heavy cruiser Kumano . At escort carriers. But while the big battleships passing to port and 9,000 yards the destroyer heeled Heermann received reparable the heavy cruisers steaming by to steeply over, her ten torpedoes damage as she darted nimbly in and starboard deluged the quivering splashing into the sea. One of the out of the Japanese salvos, the Hoel destroyer with heavy shells. Flames missiles reached the sleek cruiser, was less fortunate. erupted from the Hoel’s aft section, blowing off its bow in a thunderous e x p l o s i o n s s h r e d d e d h e r eruption of flame, smoke, and The first hit smashed high on the superstructure, and an inferno raged debris. Its blunted nose dipping deep Hoel’s forward superstructure, inside her hull. And still the dying into the low swells, the limping sending hot pieces of steel whistling ship’s remaining guns fired Kumano dropped astern and joined through her radar antennas and stubbornly at the thundering enemy. its damaged sister ship Suzuya . The falling on her decks. Seeking out her Then, punched full of holes, the ship battle was already over for the two target through blotting rain and finally gave up the uneven struggle. badly hit cruisers. clouds of black and white smoke, She was dead in the water, her stern the destroyer dashed to within 9,000 almost submerged and her forward Then luck ran out for the plucky yards of the giant Kongo and magazine ablaze, when the Johnston . As she turned about, three released a spread of five torpedoes. “abandon ship” order was given. 14-inch and three 6-inch shells Not sixty seconds later, one of the Only a handful of the warship’s slammed into her thin hull. “Like a battleship’s 14-inch projectiles crew was able to respond. At 8:55 puppy being smacked by a truck,” as screeched into the Hoel’s side A.M. , an hour and a half after she one of her officers put it, the ship behind the funnels. Detonating in was first hit, the Hoel rolled over dipped into the boiling sea and the after engine room, it hammered and sank to the bottom of the bobbed back up, her steering gear one of the ship’s two engines into Philippine Sea. Of her crew of more severely damaged, and many men junk. A second i4-incher plowed than 300, 253 went down with her. dead and wounded both above and into the ship’s tail, knocking out Fifteen of her wounded later died. below decks. Commander Ernest E. guns, damaging the electric steering

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The first torpedo run was over. funnel became what one survivor gunfire. Narrowly avoiding Despite the destruction of the Hoel , called an “inert mass of battered collisions as they zigzagged to the skipper of the shell-peppered metal.” escape the enemy shells, Admiral Heermann calmly radioed a modest S p r a g u e ’s f l o t i l l a c h u r n e d report to Admiral Sprague: One gun crew, courageously southward. “Exercise completed.” i g n o r i n g f l a m e a n d s m o k e , continued firing its weapon by hand The Japanese pursuit had by now At a quarter of eight, meanwhile, the after the ammunition hoist went out assumed a rough pattern. In an destroyer escorts had sailed in under of action. Suddenly, one of the attempt to box in the carriers, which the cover of rain and smoke. charges ignited in the hot breech could barely reach eighteen knots, I n t e n d e d p r i m a r i l y f o r before the 5-inch gun could be fired. the swift Nipponese heavy cruisers a n t i s u b m a r i n e p a t r o l s , t h e Demolishing the cannon, the blast raced across the wakes of the lightweight escorts were no match sent the gun crew tumbling in all Americans to close in from the east for some of the world’s most directions like so many rag dolls. at almost thirty knots. The Japanese powerful ships. Yet, running to The first man to enter the gun mount destroyers and light cruisers, kept to within 4,000 yards of the enemy after the shattering detonation found the rear until now, pushed down with their 5-inch guns blazing, the the gun captain, his body blown along the starboard side of the baby American escorts managed to throw open, holding a cannon shell in his flattops. And, at a greater distance, the Japanese off stride. scorched hands. He was begging for the Nagato and the huge Yamato help to get the fifty-four-pound were doing their best to aim straight Dashing ahead of the pack, the little projectile into the cannon. Minutes down the back of the U.S. Roberts traded blows with the later, he was dead. formation. In the meantime, the enemy heavies for forty-five battleships Haruna and Kongo minutes before she was hit. At 8:51, In all, the Roberts —the runt that swung wide to outcruise the cruisers a heavy shell thumped into the water fought like a champion—fired 608 to the east. alongside the veering ship and shells from its 5-inch guns before plowed into her side, opening a hole the end came. She had inflicted For almost two and a half hours— below the waterline. One hit serious damage on an enemy cruiser between 6:58 and approximately followed another, turning her into a and had incurred almost two dozen 9:20—the little American carriers shambles. That the heroic escort Japanese hits. Five minutes after ten were under constant fire from managed to go on fighting for three- that morning, the second of the Kurita’s Center Force. Only the quarters of an hour is an amazing “little boys” went down off Samar. Yamato and the Nagato , badgered tribute to her captain and crew. Killed in the action were 3 of her 8 by the U.S. destroyers into Answering the 14- and 8-inch shells officers and 86 of her 170 men. performing wild, evasive maneuvers of the Japanese cruisers with her Their torpedoes expended, the that ultimately steered them out of inadequate 5-inchers, the Roberts surviving escort ships fought their range, were denied the honor of was raked at point-blank range. way back to cover the carriers. To remaining in the slugfest. Admiral the manmade maelstrom nature Kurita, aboard the Yamato , was thus At approximately 9 A.M. , minutes added her own effects, giving the out of touch with the action, a after the Hoel went down, two or scene an eerie quality. One moment development that was to produce three 14-inch shells from the Kongo the sun’s rays would clearly unhappy consequences for the slammed into the Roberts’ port side. illuminate the opposing forces. A Japanese. Like some gigantic can opener, the few seconds later, the whole tableau monstrous explosion tore a jagged would be obscured by a curtain of As the battle unfolded, Admiral hole over thirty feet long and seven rain or drifting smoke. And between Sprague saw that the greatest to ten feet high in the escort’s hull. the clouds and the sea was the immediate danger to his group were The area aft of the tossing ship’s incessant lightning and thunder of the four enemy heavy cruisers

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Chikuma , Chokai , Haguro , and flooded, and men cursed and died at lobbed 14-inch shells at the Taffy 2 Tone . Closer than the other their posts. Efforts by the destroyers ships for almost half an hour, it Japanese ships, they were rapidly Johnston and Heermann to draw failed to score a hit. moving in from the northeast—their attention away from the dying CVE Sinch shells striking into, and in failed. Nipponese destroyers were now also many cases through, the thin-hulled closing in on Taffy 3. Led by the carriers. Sprague told his planes and By 8:45 A.M. , the carrier was light cruiser Yahagi , four of them ships to concentrate on them. entirely without headway and was streaked in from the west for a settling. Five minutes later, the 750 torpedo attack on the crippled Although smoke screens and living of the Gambier Bay ’s 854- Johnston . Her decks littered with maneuvering threw Japanese man crew began going over the side. wreckage tinted by blood and the m a r k s m a n s h i p o ff , A d m i r a l Still the enemy shells came, killing dye of enemy marker shells, the Sprague’s flagship, the Fanshaw some men in the water. Seven Johnston challenged the Japanese Bay , received four direct hits and minutes after 9 A.M. , their ship attack with her two operational two near misses which killed three turned turtle and sank. Fighting the guns. Trading blows with five of her crew and wounded others. suction of the plunging io,ooo-ton undamaged ships, the limping The White Plains , the Kitkun Bay, flattop, the survivors struggled to destroyer scored a number of hits on and the St. Lo got off lightly; but the keep afloat until help came. It would the 6,000-ton Yahagi . A U.S. plane Kalinin Bay took more than a dozen come—almost forty hours later. joined the fray with chattering 5o- heavy projectiles, miraculously caliber machine guns. Twenty remaining afloat. Meanwhile Taffy 3 aircraft pounced minutes after starting their attack, like hawks on the enemy cruisers. the enemy ships released their Shrewd guesswork and clever Bomb bursts erupted on the ships as torpedoes and turned about. But the steering by her skipper saved the the Japanese paid for their lack of Japanese had been tricked into Gambier Bay , steaming on the air power. The Chokai , mortally releasing their missiles prematurely. exposed left rear corner of the U.S. wounded by the sea-and-air blows it Losing their aim and speed because formation, for a full twenty-five received, turned away. Moments of the extreme range, the torpedoes minutes. Then, at 8:10 A.M. , a shell later, struck by a torpedo dropped by failed to score. from a Japanese cruiser hit the aft one of the American bombers, the Now the cruisers Haguro and Tone end of the carrier’s flight deck. Fire Chikuma also pulled out of the swept by on the opposite side of the broke out in the ship’s hangar as the battle. But the Haguro and the Johnston . The American destroyer projectile sheared through the upper Tone , the remaining enemy heavy rolled under the rain of shells for deck. More heavy-caliber shots cruisers on the port side of the another thirty minutes. Fires raged slashed in. A gaping hole was torn in American formation, pressed closer. through the beaten ship, cremating the Gambier Bay ’s forward port the wounded and dead huddled in engine room, flooding it with Pounding in behind the cruisers for the wreckage, trapping the living in cascading water. Less than half an the kill, the closest of the Japanese the steel coffin of her hull. Her hour after first being struck, the battleships—the Haruna —suddenly ammunition blew up in a series of escort carrier slowed to eleven knots veered to the southeast. The big blasts, adding to the carnage. Her and dropped back. The heavy ship’s observers could see, about engines gone, her communication cruisers Chikuma , Chokai , and twenty miles away, the northernmost system obliterated, the wallowing Haguro , the light cruiser Noshiro, ships of Admiral Felix B. Stump’s destroyer still barked pugnaciously and a Nipponese destroyer poured Taffy 2. With the Imperial Navy’s at the enemy with her remaining salvo after salvo into the blazing penchant for dividing its forces, the cannon. Then, at 9:45 A.M. , carrier’s hull. Steering and power Haruna swung her heavy two-gun Commander Evans ordered the aboard the Gambier Bay were shot turrets toward the new target. out, the after engine room was Although the ag.soo-ton leviathan

11 ussbristoldd857.org 21 March 2019 surviving crewmen off the doomed A m e r i c a n r e s i s t a n c e , p o o r ordered all his units to take a ship. communications, lack of co- northerly course. ordination, and, above all, the lack Like Indians in a western movie, the of air strength, the enemy attack fell Despite the blows dealt to Kurita’s Japanese destroyers steamed around apart. The Yamato and the Nagato ships, there was precious little to the settling Johnston in a circle until had let themselves wander off; the keep his fleet from blasting its way the riddled vessel turned over and Haruna was in pursuit of Taffy 2. through Taffy 3 to Leyte Gulf. Far to sank at 10:10 A.M. the north, off Cape Engaño, too Expecting at any moment to be distant to do any good, Halsey’s The survivors in the water watched swimming for his life, Clifton T h i r d F l e e t w a s o n l y n o w their blazing ship disappear. One of Sprague had been grimly sizing up reluctantly giving up its chase of them reported that as it went down a the situation as the enemy salvos Ozawa’s Northern Force and turning Japanese destroyer captain saluted. boomed into the midst of Taffy 3. about in answer to urgent messages Most, swimming or clinging to life His ships had arced into their from Admiral Kinkaid and Pacific rafts and debris, were numbed and southwesterly course as ordered. Fleet Headquarters at Pearl Harbor. shocked. One moment they had Ahead and a bit to the right he could To the south, Kinkaid’s Seventh been going about their daily routine; make out the dark outline of Samar Fleet was on the other side of Leyte the next they were racing to their some thirty miles away. Then, at Gulf. Its ships, low on fuel and battle stations. And then, after hours 9:25, as he concentrated on evading ammunition, were still busy with of brain-pounding battle that the torpedoes launched minutes mopping up what remained of the demanded automatic response, they before by the Yahagi and her Japanese southern thrust. had been cast into a tropical sea destroyers, the skipper of Taffy 3 shadowed by the haze of gunsmoke was treated to the sweetest words he Yet it takes no great stretch of the and burning ships. There was now could ever hope to hear. imagination to understand the only the slapping of waves and the indecision and uncertainty that gasping of hoarse voices. A “Goddamit, boys, they’re getting marked Takeo Kurita’s actions at torpedoman, with a casualness awayl” called out a signalman on this point in the battle. He had been produced by shock, remarked to a the bridge of the Fanshaw Bay . forced to swim for his life when the fellow survivor that they’d gotten Atago was sunk on the twenty-third. off all torpedoes. Unable to keep in touch with his The Center Force had been under f l e e t b e c a u s e o f b a d r a d i o repeated air assault since it first In a sea alive with activity, the fate communication, Admiral Kurita had entered the Sibuyan Sea. He had of the Johnston ’s crew was to be a launched the Yamato ’s two received no news of Ozawa’s harsh one. Only 141 of her crew of reconnaissance planes less than an success in decoying Halsey, and was 327 would be saved—49 were killed hour apart to survey the situation. still under the impression that Taffy during the action, 45 died of their Both were shot down some fifteen 3 was part of the U.S. Third Fleet. wounds after abandoning ship, and minutes after they were catapulted Discouraged by reports of the 92 (including Commander Evans) from the stern of the battleship. Surigao Strait action, he felt his perished while awaiting rescue. Unaware that his ships were finally ships were alone. Fatigued, his Sharks got at least one man; the closing in on their prey—with nerves strained, Kurita decided to others succumbed to exposure. victory off Samar still possible—the disregard the order that called for confused Japanese admiral had his charging into Leyte Gulf. As the battle raged, the ultimate decided to regroup his fleet before a Instead, as a face-saving gesture, the weaknesses of the Japanese attack fuel shortage and the relentless Center Force would shift to a new finally made themselves felt. American air attacks put it out of target. Hampered by a combination of rain action. At 9:11 A.M. Kurita had squalls, smoke screens, stubborn

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Earlier in the day, an American task chew apart two of the diving suicide far outnumbered the Japanese, Taffy force had been reported in the planes. They fell into the ocean. The 3 had been overwhelmed by almost Philippine Sea to the northeast. White Plains sent streams of tracer 2-to-i odds and immeasurably Kurita would attack it. Several hours b u l l e t s i n t o t h e r e m a i n i n g greater fire power—yet Clifton spent in search of the phantom U.S. Kamikazes. One of the enemy Sprague and his men had made a force proved fruitless. Assisted in exploded a few yards behind the fighting retreat and convinced his decision by the nagging flattop, injuring eleven Americans Admiral Kurita that he was engaged persuasion of U.S. Navy planes that and spraying the deck with debris with a full-fledged fleet. continued to peck at his ships, the and pieces of the pilot. The other Center Force commander finally plane, its engine sputtering, swerved Having dispatched the surviving called off the hunt and ordered his toward the St. Lo. With a grinding Taffy 3 escort ships to pick up fleet to head back where it came of metal and a shower of sparks, the crewmen of the stricken Sf. Lo, from. Zero tore into the carrier. A ball of Admiral Sprague asked Seventh fire sent clouds of smoke boiling Fleet Headquarters to handle the Suffering the final indignity of being heavenward. One explosion rescue of the survivors of the mistakenly attacked by two followed the other as bombs and Gambier Bay , Johnston , Roberts , Japanese land-based aircraft, the torpedoes stored inside the St. Lo and Hoel . Unfortunately, poor co- Center Force slipped westward were set off. Torn apart and burning ordination, a sudden flurry of through San Bernardino Strait a few from stem to stern, the little ship Japanese suicide plane attacks, and hours later. Fast warships from that had survived the Yamato ’s erroneous position reports radioed in Halsey’s Third Fleet reached the great shells sank in less than twenty by aircraft delayed these rescue strait soon afterward, too late to minutes. She was the first major operations for almost two days. catch Kurita but in time to bag one victim of the Divine Wind. Of her lagging Japanese destroyer. more than 800 men, 754 were saved Finally, at 10:29 on tne light of by Taffy 3. October 26, a seven-ship detail But despite Kurita’s departure, the personally ordered out by Admiral ordeal of Taffy 3 was not quite over. There was more to come. At 11:10 Kinkaid obtained results. Guided by A.M. Admiral Sprague’s little fleet flares fired high above the rough At 10:50 A.M. , soon after Admiral was attacked by enemy torpedo black sea, the vessels under Sprague ordered Taffy 3’s pilots to planes. Two were immediately shot Lieutenant Commander J. A. Baxter return to their carriers, five Japanese down by U.S. interceptors near the picked up more than 700 survivors planes had roared in just over the Kitkun Bay . A third exploded from the Gambier Bay . Suffering wave-tops. Soaring upward, they almost on top of the carrier and from exposure, hunger, and fatigue, climbed a mile above the carriers showered the ship with flaming the carrier survivors had clung to and suddenly dived down. The aircraft parts. The Kalinin Bay was life rafts for some thirty-nine hours Divine Wind—the newly organized severely damaged by planes making and drifted almost to the coast of Kamikaze suicide corps—was about suicide runs. One smashed into her Samar before being sighted. Many to wreak its vengeance on Taffy 3. flight deck, the other caught her on had drowned. With the coming of the starboard side in the after dawn, survivors from the Johnston , A single-engined Zero fighter exhaust pipe. Only the Fanshaw Bay Roberts , and Hoel were found. crashed on the port side of the escaped unscathed. Kitkun Bay and bounced into the The last raft, containing fifteen men sea. Its bomb, however, exploded By 11:30 A.M. the attacks had from the Johnston, was spotted at and damaged the carrier. Tensely ended. Admiral Sprague’s battered 9:30 A.M. on the twenty-seventh— watching from the Fanshaw Bay , flotilla headed into Leyte Gulf for a forty-eight hours after the sinking of Clifton Sprague saw the ship’s 40- much-needed rest. In an over-all the destroyer. By early the following and ao-millimeter anti-aircraft fire battle where American naval forces morning, the 1,150 survivors of the

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Taffy 3 ships sunk by the Center successful smoke screen, our the Chopper, however, it was Force had been transferred from torpedo counterattack, continuous completed too late to actually see Baxter’s seven vessels to hospital harassment of enemy by bomb, any action, and was quickly ships and transports in Leyte Gulf. torpedo and strafing air attacks, outclassed in the post-war era by nuclear-powered subs with new, timely maneuvers, and the definite innovative teardrop-shaped hulls. The over-all Battle for Leyte Gulf, partiality of Almighty God.” spread across a total area twice the For much of its life, the boat size of Texas, was the greatest sea …………………………………….. served as a simulated target for fight in history. Every element of other ships before finally being naval warfare, from submarine to Inside The Absolutely Wild struck from the Naval Register in aircraft, was involved. And when it 1971. was over, the Imperial Japanese Ride Of The USS Chopper A notable, popular, and public Navy had ceased to exist as a submarine is also a submarine fighting unit. The United States and that isn't very good at its job, so her allies had undisputed control of information about much of the the Pacific Ocean. Chopper's Cold War operations is scarce. It engaged in a few Between October 23 and 26, Japan’s patrols in the Mediterranean, the Philippines, off the coast of Sho Plan No. 1 cost her three China, and in the Caribbean, but battleships, four carriers, ten mostly thanks to the fact that the cruisers, and almost a dozen other Michael Ballaban Cold War never really turned hot, there are no unusual stories of fighting ships. Scores of aircraft and 6/07/14 2:00pm unusual happenings. some 10,000 Japanese seamen were Filed to: Boatlopnik also lost by the Empire. The U.S. Except for one incident, off the losses added up to 2,800 lives, about coast of Cuba, in 1969, which two hundred aircraft, and six l e d t o i t s e v e n t u a l warships. Taffy 3, bearing the brunt decommissioning. Mostly of the punishment, had lost the because no one would ever want escort carriers Gambier Bay and St. to get in it again, I imagine. Lo , the destroyers Johnston and At 1:40 in the afternoon on Hoel , the destroyer escort Samuel February 11th of 1969, Chopper B. Roberts , 128 planes, and 1,583 was participating in a training men killed and missing. exercise with the destroyer USS Sometimes when a submarine Hopkins off the coast of Cuba. goes wildly out of control, it Everything seemed relatively “In no engagement of its entire sinks to the bottom. Sometimes normal, for a submarine. It was history,” Samuel Eliot Morison has when a sub goes wildly out of traveling at about eight knots, written, “has the United States Navy control, it go straight to the almost horizontal in the water surface. When the USS Chopper shown more gallantry, guts and with a one-degree down angle, lost control, it did both. At gumption than in those two morning and was cruising below the tremendous speed. Terrifyingly. hours between 0730 and 0930 off surface at 150 feet. Samar.” You'd be forgiven if you hadn't As I said, fairly standard stuff for heard of the Chopper. It was one a submarine. Rear Admiral Clifton Sprague had of 122 Balao-class diesel-electric his own observation on the battle: submarines, which were a Two minutes later, everything significant fighting component of “The failure of the enemy … to went haywire. For reasons that United States naval power during completely wipe out all vessels of were immediately unknown to this task unit can be attributed to our World War II. Unfortunately for

14 ussbristoldd857.org 21 March 2019 the crew, the sub lost electrical submarine was stuck at a 45- happened a minute ago was now power. Completely. degree down angle, making it happening again, except in easier to walk on the walls than it reverse. Everything that had And for some reason, the dive is to walk on the floors. gone flying through the corridors planes at the rear of the sub as now flying again, smacking immediately reverted a full-dive The officer on deck ordered a people on the head, until it configuration. The sub was full emergency blow of the finally came to a rest at the back headed towards the bottom, and submarine's ballast tanks, of the submarine. the crew was deaf, blind, and desperate to get to the surface. powerless to stop it. And still, nothing happened. The The submarine wasn't so much Chopper was operating as if it as a submarine, as it was a rocket The crew attempted to regain had a mind of its own, and all it headed for the sky. Filled with control within the first five wanted to do was head straight cork. seconds, according to this US for the bottom like a rocket. Navy report into the incident. It broke through the surface of Unfortunately for them, their 30 seconds after that, the the water, and came crashing wild ride was just beginning. submarine sat, suspended in the down, propelled with so much water, nearly vertical. Anyone momentum that it actually fell Within 15 seconds of the loss of trying to move from one place to 200 feet below the waterline power, the Chopper was pointed another was thrown from their again, before finally bobbing up downwards at a 15-degree angle. feet. It became impossible to to the surface one last time The helmsman in the conning walk normally. Anything not where it came to rest. tower desperately tried to call for strapped down or bolted to the help from the maneuvering room floor went flying down the Various parts of the sub were in the forward section of the corridors. Chaos reigned. flooded and otherwise destroyed, submarine, but couldn't get but the crew managed to get the through on the sound-powered To make matters worse, the Chopper back to port under its phone. Balao-class submarines were own power. only rated to dive to a maximum T h e c o m m a n d i n g o ff i c e r of 400 feet. The Chopper sat in And that was the last time the immediately leapt to his feet in the water with its stern at 720 USS Chopper ever saw service. the Officer's Mess, and tried his feet below the surface. The front It had suffered so much best to make it to the control of the boat was at over 1,000 feet structural damage that the Navy room. That simple task was below the surface. immediately decommissioned becoming increasingly difficult, her. as the boat continued to pitch About a minute after first losing downwards like a drunken electrical power, the sub stopped. The Navy later learned that the college student falling over a It sat there, still at a horrifically loss of power was caused by slight curb. vertical angle and pointed battery voltage fluctuations downwards, but it was no longer induced by different propulsion And if you think I'm joking plunging towards the bottom and orders, but the damage was done. about how difficult it was just to the inevitable crushing depths of walk, just watch this video of a the ocean. No submariner has since gone modern submarine, operating for a wild ride like that one. under normal conditions, at just And just as suddenly as 29 degrees: everything all went to hell and seemed to fix itself, everything Those submariners aren;t went to hell again. standing like they're in Michael Jackson's Moonwalker just for Instead of being pointed straight Charlie Weaver contributed to fun. down towards the bottom, the this article. Thanks again Chopper was now pointed nearly Charlie. By 15 seconds after the loss of straight up, at an 83-degree power in the USS Chopper, the angle. Everything that had ………………………………………….

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Humor in Uniform "Mom," said the boy, "what are all The effects of the taser were those women doing?" supposed to be short lived, with no "They're waiting for their husbands A doctor that had been seeing an 80- long-term adverse safety affect on to get off work," she replied. year-old woman for most of her life your assailant, allowing her finally retired. At her next checkup, The taxi driver turns around and the new doctor told her to bring a says, "Geez lady, why don't you tell adequate time to retreat to safety. . list of all the medicines that had him the truth? They're hookers, been prescribed for her. As the boy! They have sex with men for money." WAY TOO COOL! Long story doctor was looking through these his short, I bought the device and eyes grew wide as he realized The little boy's eyes get wide and he Grandma had a prescription for birth says, "Is that true Mom?" brought it home. control pills. His mother, glaring hard at the driver, answers "Yes." "Mrs. Smith, do you realize these I loaded two AAA batteries in the are birth control pills?" After a few minutes the kid asks, darn thing and pushed the button. "Yes, they help me sleep at night." "Mom, if those women have babies, "Mrs. Smith, I assure you there is what happens to them?" She said, "Most of them become absolutely nothing in these that Nothing! I was disappointed.I taxi drivers." could possibly help you sleep!" learned, however, that if I pushed She reached out and patted the young doctor's knee and said, "Yes, An elderly, but hardy cattleman the button AND pressed it against a dear, I know that. But every from Texas once told a young metal surface at the same time; I'd morning, I grind one up and mix it female neighbor that if she wanted to live a long life, the secret was to get the blue arc of electricity darting in the glass of orange juice that my back and forth between the prongs. 16-year-old Granddaughter drinks. sprinkle a pinch of gunpowder on And believe me it definitely helps her oatmeal each morning. She did me sleep at night" this religiously and lived to the ripe AWESOME!!! Unfortunately, I have You gotta love Grandmas! old age of 103. She left behind 14 children, 30 grandchildren, 21 great- yet to explain to Julie what that burn spot is on the face of her Students in an advanced Biology grandchildren, five great-great- class were taking their mid-term grandchildren and a 40 foot HOLE microwave. exam. The last question was, 'Name where the crematorium used to be. This piece contributed by Don seven advantages of Mother's Milk.' Okay, so I was home alone with this The question was worth 70 points Tanner or none at all. One student was hard …………………………. new toy, thinking to myself that it put to think of seven advantages He couldn't be all that bad with only wrote: two triple-A batteries, right? 1) It is perfect formula for the child. 2) It provides immunity against Pocket Taser Stun Gun, a several diseases. great gift for the wife. There I sat in my recliner, my cat 3) It is always the right Gracie looking on intently (trusting temperature. little soul) while I was reading the 4) It is inexpensive. directions and thinking that I really 5) It bonds the child to mother and A guy who purchased his lovely vice versa. wife a pocket Taser for their needed to try this thing out on a 6) It is always available as needed. anniversary submitted this: flesh & blood moving target. And then the student was stuck. Finally, in desperation, just before the bell rang indicating the end of Last weekend I saw something at I must admit I thought about the test he wrote: Larry's Pistol & Pawn Shop that zapping Gracie (for a fraction of a 7) It comes in two attractive sparked my interest. The occasion second) and thought better of it. She containers and it's high enough off is such a sweet cat. But, if I was the ground where the cat can't get it. was our 15th anniversary and I was He got an A+. looking for a little something extra going to give this thing to my wife for my wife Julie. What I came to protect herself against a mugger, I A woman and her 12-year-old son across was a 100,000-volt, pocket/ did want some assurance that it were riding in a taxi in Detroit. It would work as advertised. Am I was raining and all the prostitutes purse-sized taser. were standing under awnings. wrong?

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So, there I sat in a pair of shorts WHAT THE HELL!!! about 8 feet or so from where it and a tank top with my reading originally was. My triceps, right glasses perched delicately on the I'm pretty sure Jessie Ventura ran thigh and both nipples were still bridge of my nose, directions in in through the side door, picked twitching. My face felt like it had one hand, and taser in another. me up in the recliner, then body been shot up with Novocain, and slammed us both on the carpet, my bottom lip weighed 88 lbs. I The directions said that a one- over and over and over again. I had no control over the drooling. second burst would shock and vaguely recall waking up on my disorient your assailant; a two- side in the fetal position, with Apparently I pooped myself, but second burst was supposed to tears in my eyes, body soaking was too numb to know for sure cause muscle spasms and a major wet, both nipples on fire,testicles and my sense of smell was gone. loss of bodily control; a three- nowhere to be found, with my I saw a faint smoke cloud above second burst would purportedly left arm tucked under my body in my head which believe came make your assailant flop on the the oddest position, and tingling from my hair. I'm still looking ground like a fish out of water. in my legs. for my nuts and I'm offering a Any burst longer than three significant reward for their safe seconds would be wasting the The cat was making meowing return!! batteries. All the while I'm sounds I had never heard before, looking at this little device clinging to a picture frame P. S. My wife loved the gift, and measuring about 5' long, less hanging above the fireplace, now regularly threatens me with than 3/4 inch in circumference; obviously in an attempt to avoid it! pretty cute really and (loaded getting slammed by my body ……………………………… with two itsy, bitsy triple-A flopping all over the living batteries) thinking to myself, 'no room. 'If you think Education is possible way!" difficult, try being stupid.' Note: If you ever feel compelled What happened next is almost to 'mug' yourself with a taser, A male patient is lying in bed in beyond description, but I'll do one note of caution: there is no the hospital, wearing an oxygen my best. such thing as a one second burst mask over his mouth and nose. A young student nurse appears and when you zap yourself! You will gives him a partial sponge bath. I'm sitting there alone, Gracie not let go of that thing until it is "Nurse,"' he mumbles from looking on with her head cocked dislodged from your hand by a behind the mask, "are my to one side as if to say, 'don't do violent thrashing about on the testicles black?" it,' reasoning that a one second floor. A three second burst would burst from such a tiny little ole be considered conservative. Embarrassed, the young nurse replies, "I don't know, Sir. I'm thing couldn't hurt all that bad. I only here to wash your upper decided to give myself a one THAT HURT LIKE HELL!!! body and feet." second burst just for the heck of it. I touched the prongs to my A minute or so later (I can't be He struggles to ask again, naked thigh, pushed the button, sure, as time was a relative thing "Nurse, please check for me. Are my testicles black?" and . . . at that point), I collected my wits (what little I had left), sat up and Concerned that he might elevate HOLY MOTHER OF GOD . . . surveyed the landscape. My bent his blood pressure and heart rate WEAPONS OF MASS reading glasses were on the from worrying about his DESTRUCTION . . . mantel of the fireplace. The testicles, she overcomes her embarrassment and pulls back recliner was upside down and the covers.

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She raises his gown, holds save them up. When we "To the IRS?" questioned his manhood in one hand have enough, we send them the auditor in disbelief. and his testicles gently in back to the candle maker the other. and every now and then, "Ah, yes," replied the they send us a free box of Rabbi, "directly to The IRS She looks very closely and candles." ...And about once a year, says, "There's nothing they send us a little prick wrong with them, Sir. They "Oh," replied the auditor like you.” look fine." somewhat disappointed that his question actually had a Contributed by”Charlie” The man slowly pulls off practical answer. So he Weaver his oxygen mask, smiles at thought he'd try another her, and says very slowly, …………………………… question, in his obnoxious "Thank you very much. … way... "Rabbi, what about That was wonderful. all these matzo purchases? Now listen very, very Having already downed a What do you do with the closely: few Tequila Shooters, she crumbs from the matzo? t u r n e d a r o u n d , f a c e d Are - my - test - results - him, looked him straight in "Ah, yes," replied the back?” the eye and said, 'Listen Rabbi calmly, "we actually here, good looking, I C o n t r i b u t e d b y collect up the crumbs, we screw anybody, anytime, “Charlie”Weaver…. send them in a box back to anywhere, your place, my the manufacturer and every IRS and the Rabbi place, in the car, front door, now and then, they send a back door, on the ground, free box of matzo balls." The IRS sends their auditor standing up, sitting down, (a nasty little man) to audit naked or with clothes on, a synagogue. "Oh," replied the auditor, dirty, clean . . . it doesn't matter to me. I've been The auditor is doing all the thinking hard how to fluster doing it ever since I was a checks, and then turns to the Rabbi. "Well, Rabbi," teen, and I just love it.' the Rabbi and says, "I he went on, "what do you noticed that you buy a lot of do with all the foreskins E y e s n o w w i d e w i t h candles." from the circumcisions?" "Yes, here too, we do not interest, he responded : 'No "Yes," answered the waste," answered the kidding. I'm a Navy Diver Rabbi. "Well, Rabbi, what Rabbi. "What we do is save too. do you do with the candle up all the foreskins, and drippings?" he asked. when we have enough we Where are you stationed? actually send them to the Contributed by”Charlie” "A good question," noted IRS" Weaver the Rabbi. "We actually ………………………………

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On this day, February 17, 1945 (age U.S. Naval Undersea Museum 24) Owen Francis Patrick Hammerberg What does a $60 million sacrificed himself to rescue two French ocean liner have to do trapped divers during salvage with training Navy divers? operations of the post Pearl Harbor Attack. His Medal of Honor citation More than you might think! reads: In December 1941, the U.S. "For conspicuous gallantry and s e i z e d a n d c o n v e r t e d intrepidity at the risk of his life the French liner Normandie to above and beyond the call of duty as a transport ship. Two months a diver engaged in rescue operations later, #OnThisDay in 1942, at West Loch, Pearl Harbor, 17 the newly renamed USS February 1945. Aware of the danger Lafayette caught fire and when 2 fellow divers were capsized at a New York City hopelessly trapped in a cave-in of pier. The ensuing salvage steel wreckage while tunneling with operation was the largest ever jet nozzles under an LST sunk in 40 attempted by the U.S. Navy at feet (12 m) of water and 20 feet (6.1 the time. These articles have been m ) o f m u d . H a m m e r b e r g Supervisor of Salvage Cmdr. provided by “Charlie” unhesitatingly went overboard in a valiant attempt to effect their rescue William Sullivan made the Weaver despite the certain hazard of best of a bad situation by ………………………………. additional cave-ins and the risk of establishing a salvage training fouling his lifeline on jagged pieces school at Pier 88. Within a An amazing story of of steel imbedded in the shifting year, more than 430 men bravery! mud. Washing a passage through the gained first-hand salvage original excavation, he reached the experience. More than half ⚓ � first of the trapped men, freed him from the wreckage and, working also qualified as salvors or The following piece contributed by second class divers. “Charlie” Weaver desperately in pitch-black darkness, finally effected his release from fouled lines, thereby enabling him to reach the surface. Wearied but undaunted after several hours of arduous labor, Hammerberg resolved to continue his struggle to wash through the oozing submarine, subterranean mud in a determined effort to save the second diver. Venturing still farther under the buried hulk, he held tenaciously to his purpose, reaching a place immediately above the other man just as another cave-in occurred and a heavy piece of steel pinned him February 17, 2017 ·

19 ussbristoldd857.org 21 March 2019 crosswise over his shipmate in a to do position which protected the man and trusted each other - but prayed a lot too. beneath from further injury while In a sewer pipe coffin we just did placing the full brunt of terrific our jobs pressure on himself. Although he pulling sticks, cycling vents or succumbed in agony 18 hours after adjusting some knobs. When all hell broke loose we he had gone to the aid of his fellow knew what was best divers, Hammerberg, by his cool because we had dolphins affixed judgment, unfaltering professional to our chest. skill and consistent disregard of all But although we knew every valve on the boat personal danger in the face of that made it submerge or caused tremendous odds, had contributed it to float effectively to the saving of his 2 it wasn't dolphins or qualcards or years worth of studies comrades. His heroic spirit of self- that would save us... but rather sacrifice throughout enhanced and our crewmates... our buddies. sustained the highest traditions of Many stood by us then, but they the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly stand here no more. On Eternal Patrol they have left gave his life in the service of his their last shore. country." Husbands and fathers and grandfathers too ………………….. who sailed with us, challenged us under the blue. Then and Now Forever a mate, forever our friend US Troops relaxing before we're bonded as shipmates DDay, Tourquay, England beyond our lives end. We pray for them now as we prayed with them then: May you rest in peace always, my brothers - AMEN. When asked what I did to make life worthwhile in my lifetime....I can respond with a great deal of pride and satisfaction, "I served a career in the United States Navy Submarine Force.” …………………………………. Harry Reisen Journal Harry Reisen’s granddaughter is a friend of Maureen Molnar’s son , When we were young and feeling Brian our oats We joined the navy and went on those boats That sank on purpose sliding into the sea. Nobody knew where we were going to be Except for a few who charted the way To be continued next newsletter To a far off coastline or a secret bay. …………………………………….. The rest of us did what we're trained

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From: Georgina Haynes

Sent: Sunday, February 24, 2019 8:53 AM To: Tony Molnar Subject: Re: Burial at sea - Hickman

Hello and Happy New Year to you! I had told you that when I had my display for Mr. Kenneth Hickman that I would be sure and share some photographs from the event with you. The event was held on Saturday February 23, 2019 from 12 noon until 4pm at the Stephenson County Farm Bureau in Freeport, Illinois, Kenneth Hickman's h o m e t o w n . T h e f a m i l y m e m b e r s o f K e n n e t h Hickman in attendance were his sister, Jacqueline, her husband, their son and his wife. Many others were in attendance as well. And "Thanks again" for your h e l p ! ...... i t i s g r e a t l y appreciated!

Take Care....

Georgina!

Pete Zingarella supplied the photos of the Burial at Sea Ceremony on Bristol. See the newsletter spread in photo top. Ed Lynch

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Are you a Purple Heart Medal VA's current caseload of initial Recipient? Do you need to file benefits claims include more an initial claim with VA? If so, than 83,000 that have been here is good news starting April pending for more than 125 days, 1, 2019. the department's target timeframe for rendering a decision. The Purple Heart Initial Disability policy change will not affect Claims Will Move Faster supplemental claims or veterans' appeals. VA Secretary Robert Wilkie announced that on April, it will H.R. 299, Navy Blue Water provide priority disability Vietnam Veteran Act of 2019, benefits claims processing for Reintroduced the initial claims from discharged combat veterans who TREA continues to strongly have been awarded the Purple support and is pleased to report Heart Medal. Secretary Wilkie that after meeting with House announced the decision at a and Senate Committee on hearing before the House Veterans Affairs officials, that Appropriations Subcommittee on Congress will pass the bill. Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies. Buoyed by an appeals court Maureen Molnar sent the ruling, House and Senate leaders following photo from an The Veterans Benefits began another push for a "Blue Administration will amend its Water Navy" bill on Agent establishment in Colorado priority processing categories to Orange benefits that failed last include initial claims received year following opposition from Springs, Co from Purple Heart recipients on the Department of Veterans ……………………………………… or after April 1, 2019. The move Affairs. Sen. Johnny Isakson, follows existing department rules chairman of the Senate Veterans which give priority classification Affairs Committee, said he has Email received from Marty to Purple Heart veterans who enough votes in the Senate to request medical appointments at pass the bill. He hopes to Walsh: VA hospitals. Those veterans are overcome two Senators who last also exempt from all co- year blocked a Senate vote on Received my copy of 2018’s payments for their medical care. the previous bill, which had Bristol Reunion Book today and passed 382-0 in the House. thank Duane for producing a According to The Military Order quality publication. Duane takes of the Purple Heart more than Isakson and Phil Roe, the House 35,000 Iraq War veterans and committee ranking member were the time during the reunion to more than 22,000 Afghanistan joined by Rep. Mark Takano, photograph as many good scenes War veterans have received the chairman of the House Veterans as he can and then picks the best medal, one of the best known Affairs Committee, and Sen. Jon for inclusion in the reunion book. military honors in the country. Tester, ranking member of the T h i s y e a r D o n S i n g e r The Purple Heart award is the Senate committee, in urging VA contributed some great photo’s, oldest U.S. military decoration Secretary Robert Wilkie not to and is awarded to U.S. service appeal a January ruling by the which Duane also used in members for wounds suffered at U.S. Court of Appeals for the making up another fine reunion the hands of the enemy. General Federal Circuit in favor of book. George Washington awarded the extending Agent Orange health . first purple-colored heart-shaped care and benefits to offshore M. W. badges to soldiers who fought in sailors. the Continental Army during the American Revolution ……………………………… ……………………………………..

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