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Jacob Jones Survivor's Grandson Dives Wreck

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Cape Ma Star Wave 157TH YEAR NO. 30 CAPE MAY, N.J. SERVING AMERICA’S NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK CITY WEDNESDAY, July 27, 2011 50¢ Jacob Jones survivor’s grandson dives wreck By CAIN CHAMBERLIN Among the 11 survivors was Cape May Star and Wave Joseph “Paul” Tidwell of Tuskaloosa, Ala. Paul, 92, CAPE MAY – It was who retired from the Navy as February 28, 1942 when 11 a Master Chief still remem- men were brought to Cape bers that tragic day vividly INSIDE May after spending hours in and recently came back to the wintry seas, enduring a Cape May to pay his respects. tragedy, which most have His son Jim, and grandson, never heard of. These men Eric, have always had a deep were the only survivors of the interest in the elder Tidwell’s USS Jacob Jones Naval story ever since they first Destroyer that had been sunk heard it. Jim said he and his by torpedoes from a German siblings, Joe and Janet, didn’t submarine just 32 miles hear the story until they were southeast of the city. in their late teens or older, Before the attack by because their father never German U-boat U-578 spoke of the experience. occurred, the USS Jacob “He never talked about it,” Jones was circling the burn- Jim said. “We asked him ing wreckage of tanker R.P. about it a couple of times but Resor, which was torpedoed he didn’t say much.” the previous day east of Eric, who has continued the SPORTS Charter Boat is a family affair on Fetchin , B1 USLA events highlighted, B1 Lou Rodia on fishing, B3 Barnegat Light. It circled the Tidwell family tradition of ship for two hours searching military service, is presently for survivors before resum- a Naval commander fighter CAPE MAY ing its southward course. pilot and special weapons There were 145 men aboard operator. He found out a few Community Events, A4 the 120-foot vessel when it years ago there were people went under attack in the early diving the wreckage of the hours of the morning. The Jones and as a licensed scuba torpedoes struck the ship’s diver, he decided to celebrate TIDES side, completely destroying his 40th birthday by seeing July/August 2011 the bridge, the chart room, the aftermath of what his and the officers’ and petty grandfather endured nearly Eastern Standard Time officers’ quarters. 70 years ago. High Low Most of the men aboard He contacted Gene Cain Chamberlin/Cape May Star and Wave were killed by the initial Peterson of Atlantic Divers in A.M. P.M. A.M. P.M. Top, Eric Tidwell and his father Jim Tidwell speak with Rusty Cassway on the way out to dive the site, blasts, but those who sur- Egg Harbor Township, who 27 5:53 6:17 11:25 vived abandoned ship and located the wreckage in the about 32 miles from Cape May, where the USS Jacob Jones was sunk during World War II. Above, diver 28 6:44 7:04 12:37 12:16 dove into the fiercely cold 90s. Eric said prior this dive, Gene Peterson goes over the side of the Research Vessel Explorer to dive the wreck site. Inset at left, 29 7:32 7:49 1:22 1:06 waters. It took around 45 he’d always gone scuba div- an underwater photo provided by the dive team shows Peterson, left, and Eric Tidwell. 30 8:18 8:33 2:05 1:56 minutes for the vessel to go ing in warmer, tropical 31 9:03 9:17 2:48 2:45 below the surface. As she waters like Key West – but three to four years and want- the dive to see the Jones for “People don’t realize how 1 9:49 10:02 3:31 3:35 sank, the depth charges never in the north Atlantic. ed to see the Jacob Jones himself, so Peterson contact- close that war was to home,” 2 10:37 10:49 4:14 4:27 exploded, killing many of the This dive was also the deep- before he missed his shot. ed Brian Sullivan, Rusty Gatto said. “We’re history men who had survived the est he ever attempted – near- 3 11:26 11:38 5:00 5:22 Peterson said he was thrilled Cassway, Bart Malone and buffs, and this is history.” torpedo attack. Those ly 120 feet. to be asked by Eric to take Steve Gatto of the R.V. This particular quest Moon Phases remaining floated on the can- “I’ve always wanted to dive part in this particular dive (Research Vessel) Explorer marked Malone’s 2,450th New Moon, Aug. 1,30 vas-bottomed life rafts pray- to the wreckage and it could given the circumstances. in Cape May. This boat crew northern Atlantic dive. First Quarter, Aug. 8 ing for help to appear on the be my last chance to,” he “This is going to be a rare has been diving for years, The group set the dive date Full Moon, Aug. 15 horizon, and hours later it said. “I feel it’s going to give opportunity, diving down searching and investigating for Friday, July 22. Leaving Last Quarter, Aug. 23 finally came. There were only me an even greater apprecia- with someone whose grandfa- the hundreds of shipwrecks at 9 a.m., it took over an hour Perigee, Aug. 7 12 men brought back on the tion of what they went ther is a survivor,” he said along the coasts of New and a half to reach the dive USS Eagle 56 ship; one of through.” Apogee, Aug. 21 before the expedition. Jersey, Delaware and site, with Eric and Jim anx whom passed away enroute to Eric is being stationed in He wanted Eric to have the Maryland – many of the them Cape May. Atsugi, Japan for the next ultimate experience and take military vessels from WWII. Please see Wreck, page A2 Maritime Museum idea still alive Avoid heat stroke: drink By CHRISTOPHER SOUTH May. vide quality experiences for Cape May Star and Wave “Looking back, nothing has people who visit the proposed changed,” Maloney said. museum. CAPE MAY – Late last year “People really embrace and Although it lacks a building, water before you are thirsty there was an eleventh-hour love the idea of a maritime the CMMMEC exists as a fed- By CHRISTOPHER SOUTH unusual to get five calls off the beach in a attempt to save the Solarium museum. More and more it eral 501-c-3 non-profit. The Cape May Star and Wave short amount of time. and use it as a maritime group has a board of direc- “In three hours we took five people off museum. tors, and Maloney and his CAPE MAY – The hotter the beach,” he said. Kevin Maloney, a founding wife, Sandy, have attended than normal temperatures Inderwies said most of member of the Cape May Geraldine R. Dodge affecting 37 of our 50 states the victims suffering Maritime Museum and Foundation classes picking haves been felt in the Cape heat exhaustion symp- Education Center (CMM- up information on grants and May area. toms were middle-aged. MEC), led an attempt to save functioning as a non-profit. On Sunday, the Cape May Typically, the most vul- the Solarium and have it He said for now the board has Beach Patrol had more 911 nerable age groups are moved to Delaware Avenue. established a vision and mis- calls for heat exhaustion infants and the elderly. The idea was to put it on a sion statement, and is still than it did for water res- “Elderly people knew city-owned lot between the coming up with a strategy for cues or assists. it was too hot and stayed Nature Center of Cape May creating the museum/educa- There were five 911 calls home. Some of these and the Rutgers Marine and tion center. He said they have for medical emergencies, younger people, maybe, Coastal Science lab. City offi- been looking at other muse- July 24, between 11 a.m. were dehydrated or had cials lauded the idea, but the ums in the area as models for and 2 p.m. One was a C- a late night before and governing body was not will- seems like it’s the right thing what they are trying to Spine injury at the First overdid it,” he said. ing to fund moving the to do.” accomplish. Avenue Beach, which Inderwies said people, Solarium, or delay its demoli- Maloney said he believes a Maloney said this area has according to Fire/Rescue especially if they have tion to make way for a new maritime museum would only an extensive maritime histo- Division Chief Jerry been consuming alcohol, Convention Hall. Even result in positive exposure ry. Initially, it was whaling Inderwies Jr. said resulted in a victim need to drink plenty of water before going though the Solarium went the for the community. He said that attracted sailors to the being medevaced. The other four were all out for a day in the sun. way of the wrecking ball, that the CMMMEC is seeking to Cape May area. Gradually, apparent heat exhaustion. “You really have to hydrate before – did not dash the hopes of create alliances with other boat builders followed. Inderwies said it’s typical for his depart- those interested in creating a organizations and is looking ment to be busy in the summer, but it’s Please see Water, page A3 maritime museum in Cape at various programs to pro- Please see Museum, page A2.
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