Issue 4, 2015 Offspring Issue 4, 2015 OFFSPRING The National Newsletter of the SONS and DAUGHTERS of PEARL HARBOR SURVIVORS, INC. “Pearl Harbor ~ December 7, 1941 ~ Lest We Forget” Fall Issue D ! "# $ &, '()* ~ H+-+.. submitted by Kathleen Farly, CA and written by Brian Bonifant
Wreaths aboard the USS Arizona EWA Field Monument Brian Bonifant & Kathleen Farley, USS Utah Dec. 6 th
he Sons and Daughters of Pearl Harbor Survivors had 0 e USS Oklahoma ceremony was pleasant and moving. Kathleen good representation at the Pearl Harbor Remembrance and Brian presented the Sons and Daughters wreath which stood TCeremonies this year. Kathleen Farley, CA State Chair, led out amongst the black granite and white marble of the memorial. the show with one of our newest members, Brian Bonifant in tow. Saturday December 5 th included a white boat tour of Pearl Harbor 0 e most memorable part of the day was attending the internment exclusively for Pearl Harbor Survivors and families. 0 is tour of Lieutenant Commander Joseph Langdell. It was truly an honor circled Ford Island and stopped at the USS Arizona Memorial. to participate in such an event. With Pearl Harbor Survivors leading the way we disembarked and Pearl Harbor Survivors at Kilo Pier on Dec. 7 th. embraced the serenity of the memorial and sharing the moment with our beloved survivors who were anxious to point out where they were that fateful morning and tell their stories. 0 e night concluded with a gala at the Paci1 c Aviation museum. Sunday morning o2 ered a unique ceremony at Ewa Mooring Mast Field. I was not aware of the historical signi1 cance of this base until that morning. Ewa Field was the birthplace of Marine Aviation and hosted numerous WWII Aces throughout the years. It was one of the 1 rst places attacked by the Japanese on December 7 th to neutralize the American aircra3 and use the 1 eld as a reference point for the attack on Pearl Harbor. Later, Sunday was the USS Utah ceremony attended by a moderate but growing crowd for the “forgotten memorial”. 0 e highlight was meeting “ Baby Nancy” Wagner , twin sister of Mary Kreigh . Baby Nancy was entombed in the USS Utah on Dec . 7 th , 1941. If you don’t know the story you can Google “Nancy Wagner USS Utah”. Kathleen and Brian presented the Sons and Daughters wreath.
As usual, the morning of December 7 th started early. It was a pleasure to watch the arrival of the survivors with military personnel saluting each one and taking care of their every need. A3 er the ceremony, attendees who presented wreaths were taken USS Arizona out to the . All of the wreaths were on display and Urn of Lt. Commander Joseph Dec. 7 th Kilo Pier Walk of Honor with PHS made for some good photo opportunites. Langdell to be interred aboard Ret. CDR John Mathrusse & Miriam Hoppe the USS Arizona Dec. 7 th Offspring Issue 4, 2015 ANNOUNCEMENTS
CONVENTION Our next SDPHS National Convention will be held in Honolulu, Hawaii (December 4 - 8, 2016). All information pertaining to the convention will be in our next issue. Stay tuned!
CHILD SURVIVOR HISTORY PROJECT Send articles and photos to: Joedy Adams , 4065 Paducah Drive, San Diego, CA 92117-5321. Phone: (858) 273-1036 or e-mail: [email protected]
DUES NOTICE It was voted at the last National Convention to raise the annual dues. NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS Starting in 2017 annual Membership dues will be $20, Associate dues $15, Minor dues National President, Louella Large $5, and PHS will pay nothing. succeeded to offi ce: 5533 Clover St., Louisville, OH 44641 Make sure you write your membership number on your check. If you belong to a chapter, PH: 330-309-2813 check with the treasurer to see if he or she is collecting dues and planning to send them E-Mail: [email protected] all in at once. Send dues form to the National Treasurer, Lois Heineken and mark on the form 2016 DUES in large print. 0 e Dues Renewal Form can be found on Page 11. National VicePresident, Deidre Kelley 85034 Rose Marie Rd., Yulee, FL 32097 SDPHS HISTORY PROJECT Got Past O2 spring, Records??, etc. (National, District, State PH: 904 225-0013 E-Mail: [email protected] or Chapters, copies of reports, etc.) or any early history of SDPHS data?? Please send to our National Historians: Linda and Doug Hooks , 1414 Woodville Rd. Mans1 eld, OH 44903-9478 National Secretary, Carol Gladys Phone ~ (419) 526-0079 or email at: [email protected] 1122 Fox Run Grafton, Ohio 44044 NEW! FACEBOOK has a fantastic site for Pearl Harbor survivors that Joe Kralk set up. PH: 850-867-0645 (C) Vist the site and se in pictures an bios of your favorite survivor. opefully we can put a lot [email protected] of things on this Facebook site. Click here: http://www.facebook.com/sdphs Send info you want posted to Joe Kralik at [email protected]. National Treasurer, Lois Heineken 604 E. Gordon Holden, MO 64040 Dues were due December 7, 2015 - Have you paid your dues? PH: 816-517-5991 [email protected]
National Parliamentarian, Don Pavlic 18201 Crystal Lakes Drive DEATH NOTICES OF PEARL HARBOR SURVIVORS North Royalton, OH 44133-6084 SHOULD BE SENT TO THREE PLACES: PH: 440-237-5597 Cell: 216-551-0316 (1) Gordon Sparks, 549 Chadford Road, Irmo, SC 29063 or e-mail to: [email protected] E-Mail: [email protected] (2) For publication in our newsletter send to our Offspring Editor, National Registrar, Linda Hooks Carmen Harding at [email protected] 1414 Woodville Road Mansfi eld, OH 44903-9478 (3) For publication in the Pacifi c Historic Parks Newsletter send to: PH: 419-526-0079 Cell: 419-571-2003 Edean Saito , Pacifi c Historic Parks, E-Mail: [email protected] 94-1187 Ka Uka Blvd. Waipahu, HI 96797 Phone (808) 954-8711 ~ Cell ~ (808) 391-4834 Website Coordinator, Barbara Ford E-mail address: esaito@paci" chistoricparks.org www.sdphs.org Please include, Name, Duty Station and date of death 1353 Kim Place Minden, NV 89423 PH: 775-781-3555 [email protected] DID YOU KNOW... ! e O" spring is the o# cial newsletter of the Sons and Daughters of Pearl Harbor Survivors, Inc. It is published for the Editor, Carmen Harding bene$ t of dues paying members. Please send any editorial content to: 26 High Street o" [email protected]. Next Deadline February 15. For guidelines Brookeville, Maryland 20833 please see “A Note from Your Editor” on page 10 of Issue 1, 2015. PH: 301-774-5577 [email protected] THIS ISSUE IS ARRIVING LATE DUE TO A DELAY OF IMPORTANT INCOMING MATERIAL THAT WAS SIGNIFICANT TO THIS ISSUE. Storekeeper, Jack Saxton PLEASE BE AWARE THAT PRINTED %HARDCOPY' COPIES CAN (see Small Store Order Form for contact ARRIVE UP TO 3 WEEKS LATER THAN E(COPIES. information inside each issue of Offspring) You can also receive an e-copy in color by checking the designated box on the Dues Renewal form on Page 11. 2 Issue 4, 2015 Offspring Issue 4, 2015
FROM THE NATIONAL PRESIDENT.... Louella Large
Dear Members, I am saddened to announce that Rick Carraway has resigned as the National President but he will remain active in Florida. As the National Vice President, I have succeeded to the o^ ce of National President (once again). I will not be running for any National O^ ce at the end of this term. I am proud to have served the SDPHS in the past and proud to step up to the plate once more to complete this term ending December 6, 2016.
On the morning of Dec. 7, 2015 I was the main speaker at the American Legion in Canton, OH during their Memorial Service. 0 at evening I spoke to the Masonic Lodge in Carrollton, OH telling about the past PHSA and the SDPHS goals. For my e2 orts and to my surprise, I received a donation check of $100. for the SDPHS General Fund to aid us in our e2 orts. As National President, I have asked many members to step up and take positions in the SDPHS. Listed below are those members appointed by me with the approval of the Executive Elected O^ cers of the Board. More appointments will follow. All appointments must have the approval of the Executive Board. I will soon be contacting the State Chairs and members to 1 ll those positions. Please make your ancestors proud and help the SDPHS goal to keep the memory alive of those brave military members of our family who fought at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. If you are contacted to take a position it is for the duration of this term ending 12/6/2016. Please say yes!
T_$ I"`{$|+}| T_.} 1. Dues were due on December 7, 2015 – Have you paid your dues for 2016?
2. 0 is is an Election year – If you are interested in running for an o^ ce, please send a short resume to the National O^ ce of the Secretary with a statement of which o^ ce you are interested in running for.
3. 0 is is also Convention year – the 75 th Anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Convention will be in Hawaii. Plans are still being worked out trying to keep the costs low and still be able to o2 er you a memorable convention. 0 ere will be a special yer sent out in February with Hotel and Registration info.
I thank those members who have supported me in the past and am grateful so many volunteer to help when asked.
From the National Secretary.... Carol Gladys
Wishing our SDPHS members Hauoli Makahiki Hou as we begin 2016. May your year be blessed with abundant love, happiness and good health. I look forward to seeing many of you at our next convention. Aloha, Carol
NEW MEMBERS NEW ASSOCIATE MEMBERS Cheryl L. Horning, MT Louis M. Sandrini, CA Sherron D. Sandrini, CA Guy C. Willis, AZ John S. Stuart, NC Donna G. Sage, WA William L. Leiner, Jr., PA Welcome Aboard! Neil F. Crossley, Sr., NC
3 Offspring Issue 4, 2015 NATIONAL OFFICERS NEW APPOINTEES:
DISTRICT 1 - Alaska, California, Hawaii, Nevada DISTRICT 5 - Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, DISTRICT 8 - Connecticut, Maine, Director: Barbara Ford North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisonsin Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, 1353 Kim Place, Minden, NV. Director: Kyle Wehr Rhode Island, Vermont PH: 775-781-3555 8192 W700 N.,Fairland, IN 46126-9507 Director: Kathryn Schwarz E:Mail:[email protected] PH:317-835-0158 113 Marshia Ave., North Syracuse, NY 13212 E-Mail: [email protected] PH: 315-458-9206 DISTRICT 2 - Idaho, Montana, Oregon, E-Mail: [email protected] Washington, Wyoming DISTRICT 6 - Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Director Pat Smith Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, NATIONAL REGISTRAR - Linda Hooks 534 North 15th E, Riverton, WY 82501-3816 South Carolina, Tennessee 1414 Woodville Rd., Mansfi eld, OH 44903-9478 PH: 307-856-2749 Director: Al Pomeroy PH: 419-526-0079 Cell: 419-571-2003 E:Mail: [email protected] 3927 Harvest Hill Rd., Decatur, GA 30034 E-Mail: [email protected] PH: 770-309-7711 DISTRICT 3 - Open Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, E-Mail: [email protected] Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Utah Do have a Survivor’s story that you would Please contact National President Lou Large if interested DISTRICT 7 - Delaware, Maryland, Michigan, like to share with us? Please send your New Jersey, Ohio,Pennsylvania, Virginia, story along with any photo of the Pearl DISTRICT 4 - Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Texas West Virginia, Washington, D.C. Harbor Survivor and if accepted it could Director Gary Gerhard Director: Elaine French be published in this newsletter. Accep- 2707 N “L” Street, Midland, TX 79705-7419 17701 Mill Creek Dr., Derwood, MD 20855 tance basically depends on the length of PH: 432-684-3831 Cell: 432-238-2197 PH: 301-569-6121 Cell: 301-233-0853 the story and if we have space available. E-Mail: [email protected] E-Mail: [email protected] Send to: [email protected]
COLUMBUS, OHIO by Wayne Lingafelter , State Chair At the 2015 Ohio Statehouse Wreaths Across America Ceremony on December 7th, Wayne Lingafelter was honored to present a wreath on behalf of the Sons and Daughters of Pearl Harbor Survivors, Inc. to the past and present veterans everywhere at the Statehouse in Columbus. He was accompanied by Pearl Harbor Survivor Milton Mapou, USS DETROIT (CL-8). 0 e mission of the organization is to: REMEMBER the fallen; HONOR those who serve; TEACH our children the value of freedom.
“In Memory/Honor of” ads: Include survivor’s name & duty station on Dec. 7, 1941 & name/ relationship to survivor of person placing ad.
Your “In Support of” ads: Include SDPHS supporter, your name, title (if an officer), Chapter, City & State. Ad Here Up to 4 lines: Send ad information and check to National Treasurer, 1 issue - $ 8.00 Lois Heineken. Check should be clearly marked - Offspring Ad. 4 issues - $25.00 4 Issue 4, 2015 Offspring Issue 4, 2015 FINANCIAL REPORT Our Fathers, Our Heroes... Lois Heineken, National Treasurer may they rest in peace.
BEGINNING BALANCE, 1/01/15 NAME DUTY STATION DATE OF DEATH GENERAL FUND ...... 10.466.94 MEMORIAL FUND ...... 430.00 John D. Anderson (NM) USS Arizona 11/13/2015 SCHOLARSHIP FUND ...... 514.34 Edward F Borucki (MA) USS Helena 10/17/2015 Jack O. Carson (KS) HickamField, 11/23/2015 CONVENTION FUND ...... 5,418.75 Tow Target Detach TOTAL ...... $16,830.03 Edward N. Crews (SC) Scho1 eld Barraks 11/22/2015 Income 1341 Engineers Annual Dues $ 4,195.00 Franklin J. Green (CA) USS Maryland 12/04/2015 Donations to General Fund 1,232.00 Victor Hergett (MT ) USS Maryland 07/08/2015 Chester Jankowski (IL) USS Oklahoma 10/22/2015 Donations to Memorial Fund 105.00 Leland U. Lester (IA) USS Pennsylvania 11/15/2015 Donations to Scholarship Fund 340.00 Donald A. Merritt Ford Island NAS 05/30/2014 Donations Convention Fund 646.00 Merl Resler (CA) USS Maryland 12/04/2015 New Member Fees 1,115.00 Frank Seiveno (SC) Camp Malakole 06/06/2007 New Chapter Fees 0 Ed Silveira (CA ) USS San Francisco 11/04/2015 Bruce W. Wright (SC) USS Selfridge 09/26/2015 Small Stores 1,619.65 Edward E. Vezey (CO) USS Oklahoma 01/03/2016 O2 spring Ads 216.00 Miscellaneous 0 Special condolences to Edean Saito (Special Projects Manager) E-Board Meetings 0 with Paci1 c Historic Parks in Hawaii on the passing of her mother who passed away very suddenly mid December. Bank Fees 73.00 TOTAL INCOME...... 9,541.65 Expenses THE 2014 SDPHS ANNUAL AUDIT has been completed. 0 e 1 gures Florida Dept. of State 70.00 listed for the general funds balance perfectly each quarter. 0 ere are also Indiana Sec of State 0 funds in the Memorial, Scholarship and Convention accounts. Ohio Sec. of State 0 Eileen Farley, Don Pavlic E-Board Meetings 5,172.38 National Trustees National President 0 National Secretary 0 We thank our donors for their National Treasurer 0 National Registrar 43.80 Kindness and Generosity! National Historian 0 Donations made for the period of Memorial wreaths 116.00 7/1/2015 - 9/30/2015 O2 spring: Printing/postage 1,586.90 Small Stores Inventory 983.06 GENERAL FUND New Chapter Start-up 0 David Coleman Chapter Membership Awards 150.00 Michael Faber Stamp, Postage, O^ ce Supplies 628.53 Elaine French Bank Fees 105.00 Brenda Langlinais Website Support 0 CONVENTION FUND Miscellaneous 116.39 Mary Reid Memorial Fund 0 MEMORIAL FUND Scholarship Fund 0 Convention Fund 24.00 Kerry Sawick Trademark Expense 0 SCHOLARSHIP FUND National O^ ce Transfer 0 Margaret Unger TOTAL EXPENSE...... $8,996.06 ENDING BALANCE, 09/30/2015...... $17,375.62 Dues are the only means of receiving funds for our Operating Expenses. Without your donation we would Book Ending Balance, 09/30/2015...... $17,309.11 not be able to accomplish all that we do. We want you Outstanding checks 2284 $48.00 to know that your donations are greatly appreciated!! 2285 $18.51 Bank Statement Ending Balance...... $17,375.62
5 Offspring Issue 4, 2015 Chapter, State & District Reports
FLORIDA submitted by Carmen Harding , Editor Courtesy of the Pensacola News Journal: P#%&' H%&()& D%* +#'#(&%-#: ')+%' WWII ;#-#&%<: %<= ><+'?=#: %< %QQ#%&%<+# (* F&%
Local Pearl Harbor survivors and other World War II veterans had the chance to relive history Monday when a Franklin D. Roosevelt reenactor showed up in a vintage vehicle with his Secret Service detail. Delmas Wood, posing as FDR, attended Trident Home Loans’ 1 rst Gulf Coast Pearl Harbor Day event at the Pensacola Aviation Center and delivered the president’s post-Pearl Harbor speech in an airplane hangar as 200-plus community members looked on. “No war in history has ever equaled WWII,” Delmas said. “If you see a person who has a veteran’s hat on and you know they’re a veteran, you go up and thank them for keeping this ag still ying because if it were not for them, we’d be speaking German and Japanese.” Gulf Coast Pearl Harbor Day featured a plethora of 1940s memorabilia including vintage vehicles and aircra3 , a canteen tent with snacks, musical performances by Lipscomb Elementary School’s “Just Sing,” and a performance and victory dance celebration featuring Fred Radke and the Harry James Orchestra. In addition to the events at the Pensacola Aviation Center, a WWII remembrance program also took place at Pensacola Naval Air Station’s National Museum of Naval Aviation, in which approximately 350 people attended to show their respect and appreciation. “I particularly think we need to do something every Dec. 7 because the WWII generation did things that had never been done before in history and may never be done again,” said Bob Pisz, a Navy veteran, Aviation Museum volunteer, and organizer for the WWII remembrance program. “And we need to remember that and learn from them because they paid dearly from learning those lessons and we certainly don’t want to lose that.”
Delmas Wood, a Franklin D. Roosevelt reenactor, right, Pearl Harbor survivors and Doolittle Raider Richard departs with his Secret Service detail at Trident Home http://www.pnj.com/story/ Cole speak at Trident Home Loans’ 1 rst Gulf Coast Pearl Loans’ 1 rst Gulf Coast Pearl Harbor Day remembrance news/military/2015/12/07/ Harbor Day remembrance ceremony at the Pensacola ceremony at the Pensacola Aviation Center. (Photo: Aviation Center. From le3 to right: Cass Phillips, Frank Marketta Davis) pensacola-honors-pearl-harbor- Emond, Richard Cole, Jay Carraway, Bill Braddock. day/76719868/ (Photo: Marketta Davis)
Note: Delmas Wood is a personal friend of Editor, Carmen Harding and lives in Maryland with his wife Jody. PH survivor Robert Van Dru" (Carmen’s dad) has spoken many times at Mr. Woods WW11 museum in Sandy Spring, MD about the attack on Pearl Harbor along with another WW2 Marine, Merritt (Mo) Chance who # ew 53 combat missions in his F4U Vought Corsair. For more information on this article please visit the website above. To read more about Merritt Chance just Google “Merritt Chance WW2”
IN LOVING MEMORY In Loving Memory of our Father, Leonide (Lee) Soucy, USS Utah, Pharmacist Mate 2/C Ben V. Bossi, Hickam Field Mary McCormick and Margaret Soucy
IN LOVING MEMORY of my dad, Walter I. Carson, 98 th IN MEMORY of Lewis Emil LaGesse, USS West Virginia, Coast Artillery, AR Headquarters Battery, Schofi eld Barraks. who passed away 10/23/2014 Wayne Carson Your Loving Family 6 Issue 4, 2015 Offspring Issue 4, 2015 Chapter, State & District Reports
NEW YORK by Kathryn Schwarz 8th District Director My husband and I, along with our daughter, granddaughter, and grandson attended the Annual Veterans Parade. 0 is year one of the PHS survivors was named Grand Marshall. On November 7, 2015 Edward W. Stone PHS Chapter 7 Central New York was Grand Marshal of the CNY Veterans Parade & Expo at the New York State Fair Grounds in Syracuse, New York. For this honor he was given a quilt, gold watch for his participation. He and three other WWII veterans were recognizied for their service. Ed wrote this about himself: Ed Stone, Kathryn Schwarz , David Stone I was born on Sept. 4, 1923 and enlisted in the US Navy in December, 1941 and became a Morse Radio Operator. I was on 0 e USS Pyro AE-1 on December 7, 1941. Shortly a3 er taking the 8 a.m. watch, Japanese torpedo planes were headed for Battleship Row. I took my gun station, but was sent to the radio room. Armor piercing bombs missed the ship by 12 feet and exploded through concert dock. 0 e ship’s power was lost. I was ordered to the boat deck to get the emergency radio generator. 0 at a3 ernoon, a 1 rst lieutenant showed me bullet marks in the boat dock. An enemy plane had me in their sight as I ran to the emergency radio generator. I had no idea that I out ran the bullets that day! My ship le3 Pearl Harbor on December 12, 1941 and came under submarine attack. Two torpedoes missed the ship. I was transferred to New Construction Ship in August 1942, went to submarine school and commissioned the submarine USS Bumper SS33 in Dec. 1944. I made three submarine war patrols in South China Sea, Gulf of Siam and Java Sea.
OHIO LAKE ERIE CHAPTER 2 by Carol Gladys, Chapter President Members of Lake Erie Chapter 2 were onboard the WWII submarine USS Cod on the shore of Lake Erie in Cleveland, Ohio for the Dec. 7 th Remembrance Ceremony. It was a beautiful day of 49 degrees, unheard of weather for Cleveland! Pearl Harbor Survivor, Jack Fickel was with us to cast the Memorial Wreath with Carol Gladys . Members attending were Mary McPherson, Rachel Jones, Caleb Jones, and Jake Case (three generations of the PHS Ed Kaczor family). Also attending were Jack Fickel’s daughter Joyce Ruminski and husband Larry, Mary Ruminski and her father, Jan Pavlic , and our Color Guard members, Don Pavlic , Fred Reimer , and Anne Shambaugh . PHS Jack Fickel and Carol Gladys Following the ceremony we joined the crew of the USS Cod for a luncheon at Burke Lakefront Air- casting the wreath port. 0 ere was a group of 8 th grade students from Orange in attendance also. Carol had brought some memorabilia from when her Dad was stationed aboard the USS Arizona and she was asked to speak with the students about it. In the evening we were invited to a Prayer and Remembrance dinner at the American Legion Post 703. 0 ere, Jack along with four WWII Veterans were honored.
IN MEMORY of our Father and Grandfather, Bronsil L. Metz, IN MEMORY of James C. Sherrell, Husband and Father, who passed September 13, 2014, Schofi eld Barracks, 90 th F.A., 25 th I.D., US Army 1920-2010, USS San Francisco Bronson & Brenda Metz, Kim & Steve Blackwell Irene, Linda, Michael, Judy, Kristie
IN MEMORY OF BILL ECKEL IN MEMORY of my My Dad, Frank Zwolinski, USS Raleigh. Howard Snell With love from your daughter, Donna Madeira
IN MEMORY of our father, Gordon D. Hines, EMC/SS, IN LOVING MEMORY of Thomas J. McCann who died 9/14/1975 Schofi eld Barracks From Kathleen Haines Dailey, Janet Haines Ricco and Gordon Scott Haines Your Loving Family
IN MEMORY of our dad, Billy E. Smith, Navy IN LOVING MEMORY of my dad, Lt. Joy W. Beezley; Commissary, USS California, BB44 USN Retired, USS Medusa (AR1) From his sons, David and Jeff Smith Carol L. Gladys and Family 7 Offspring Issue 4, 2015 Chapter, State & District Reports
MARYLAND Chapter 1 by Regina Schuch In Baltimore aboard the USGC Taney, SDPHS member Paul Travers spoke to those gathered about his father, PHS Herman J. Travers. SDPHS was also represented by Florence Strawser and Regina Schuch, Pauls sister. A wreath was placed in the harbor by Pearl Harbor survivor, 0 omas Talbott, assisted by members of the Coast Guard. 0 e keynote speaker was RADM Brian LaRoche. 0 e US Coast Guard Cutter Taney itself is a Pearl Harbor survivor! Note: See “0 ey Remember, We Won’t Forget ~ Herman J. Travers” on page 12 for excerpts from Pauls talk about his father. given aboard the USCG Taney on December 7th.
MARYLAND CHAPTER 1 Elaine McCann , Secretary MARINE CORPS MARATHON, 10/25/2015 TEAM SDPHS 2015 We were chosen to man Water Station #3 at Mile 7 on Rock Creek Parkway, Washington, DC. 0 anks to my good friend, Muriel Alexan- der, a Marine Corp. Mother, SDPHS members: Elaine McCann , Luke French, Bob Wagner , Amy Millikan-French. 0 anks immensely to the generous service of the Marine Corp. ANNAPOLIS 0 ank you so much to all who were able to attend our Wreath-laying Ceremony in Annapolis. We heard a moving speech by Secretary Owing, MD VA; the VFW members and the Marine Corps Color Guard were in attendance. We were highly honored to have Pearl Harbor Survivor, Charles Smith, USS Gamble in attendance.
I hope each of you will have very Happy Holidays and an especially happy and peaceful New Year. I continue to look for public outreach and educational opportunities for SDPHS. Please call me if you have any thoughts. I will be in touch around March as we start to plan for the National Memorial Day Parade. I have asked my son to look into arranging to have our next meeting at Fort Meade. I expect to hear soon about the plans for the 75 th Anniversary Remembrance in Pearl Harbor next year; I will pass on information as soon as I receive it.
PENNSYLVANIA Elaine McCann, 7th District Director
0 e City of Philadelphia had a Veteran’s Day Parade for the 1 rst time on Sunday, November 8. I was able to attend with my sister, Kate, who lives near Phila. My brother Tom, who was a Marine, was also there. 0 ere was one of the Phila. Pearl Harbor Survivors, Alex Horanzey, who was honored in the parade.
CPL Gerald E. Wiggins, USMC, Marine Barracks, Sgt. Charles B. Shindel, 481st Ordnance Group, Pearl Harbor Hickam Field The Rapacz Family
IN LOVING MEMORY of my Father, Alfred James Donald Lyle Jensen, USS Pennsylvania, Admiral Kimmel’s Greenwood, MOMM1, USS Pelias orderly, PFC, USMC From Don, Ruth & J.P. Jensen, Sha- Daughter, Carol Joy Greenwood Gorman ron, Kimberly & Darryl Jensen, Oliver & Wyatt Jensen 8 Issue 4, 2015 Offspring Issue 4, 2015 Chapter,Chapter, StateState && DistrictDistrict ReportsReports
MONTANA by Tom Fultz, State Chair Photo at Le3 : December 7 th Pearl Harbor Day in Montana was observed with a lunch and reminiscing with the lone ambulatory PHS Hal Conrad of Lewistown, Montana. Also attending were SDPHS State Chair Tom Fultz, _ eresa Teague , and past State Chair Sue Gillespie . Photo on the right is of a Montana state PHS bench located at the Yellowstone National Veteran’s Cemetery in Laurel, Montana.
INDIANA by Kyle Wehr, 5th District Director Services were held at Noblesville City Hall 11:00 Sat. Dec, 5, 2015 graciously sponsored by the Navy Club. Paul Kennedy gave a very heartfelt speech on the day of the attack in ‘41, then John Haessig read the names of those survivors we have lost in the last couple years while Paul rang the bell. 0 e mayor read his Proclamation for Pearl Harbor Day in the City of Noblesville, then presented a copy to the survivors. As the Naval chaplain gave the parting prayer, the 21 gun salute was given and Taps was played. Among those attending were (front row) Lester Hartley of the USS Jarvis & Paul Kennedy of the USS Sacramento. (Back row) John Haessig , President of SDPHS Indiana Pearl of Indy, Chapter 1; Kyle Wehr , 5 th District Director; Steve Phelps , Trustee. (Not pictured is John Berlier , son of the founder of the 1 st Indiana chapter of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Assoc.)
WASHINGTON article by Tom Vogt sent by Pat Smith , District Director C_." +| V+}!{ $ {# $+}! +| $.{$ -_{ _+ . .} $ ! }| +$ A bell chimed nine times Monday morning during a solemn point in the local Pearl Harbor observance. It was a lot more chaotic in 1941 for Paul Johnson, Gordon Sage and Ralph Laedtke. Seventy-four years ago, the signi1 cance of Dec. 7 was signaled by shouts, explosions and gun1 re. 0 e three World War II veterans were there when the Japanese attacked. And they were the three Pearl Harbor survivors able to participate in the annual observance Monday at the American Legion Smith-Reynolds Post 14 hall. Johnson was a crewman on the USS Castor, a transport ship carrying 10,000 tons of ammunition. Sage was a U.S. Marine stationed aboard the battleship USS Maryland, where he was an admiral’s orderly. Laedtke was a pharmacist’s mate and medical records technician on the USS Solace, a hospital ship. 0 e Washougal resident said that he was at the 74th anniversary observance “to remember this day that changed my life. “We had a job to do on the hospital ship, and we did it well,” Laedtke said. He helped get the 480-bed hospital ship ready for combat casualties, and fatalities. About 150 patients were brought aboard the Solace, he said, many with serious burns. 0 ose who died aboard the ship were among the 2,400 soldiers, sailors and Marines killed in the attack. Johnson and his shipmates tried to 1 ght back, but ammunition for the USS Castor’s guns was locked up. Pearl Harbor Survivors Paul Johnson, Johnson, a gunner’s mate second class, had to unlock the armory so the gun crews could load Ralph Laedtke and Gordon Sage their weapons. Aboard the USS Maryland, Sage also helped 1 ght back. He joined a line of sailors and Marines passing ammunition to one of the battleships’s guns. He then joined a 1 re1 ghting crew before responding to the call of the admiral: “Where’s my orderly?” And then Sage had to change into a pressed uniform. Sage said he wanted to be at the event Monday to represent the military personnel who survived the attack, and who then took the 1 ght to the enemy. “0 ose people are getting so few and far between,” Sage said of his fellow Pearl Harbor veterans. 0 at was the message of the tolling bell during the memorial service. Each of the nine chimes saluted a local Pearl Harbor survivor who has died within the last couple of years. “We’re getting kind of scarce,” noted Paul Johnson, who was one of six charter members when the local Pearl Harbor Survivors Association was formed. Decades ago, when the group’s members were active enough to go to Hawaii for the annual Dec. 7 observance, “We all ew to Pearl Harbor Pearl Harbor Survivor Paul Johnson on a charter,” Johnson said. Now, he said, they could get around “on a motorcycle.” with wife Margaret 9 Offspring Issue 4, 2015
SDPHS SMALL STORE ITEMS
HATS (Overseas Style) $31.50 SWEATSHIRT, Red $25.00 POSTAGE RATES Includes cloth emblem and embroidered “Sons and Silk-screened White Emblem, Blended (on ALL orders) Daughters of Pearl Harbor Survivors” Material (S-3X) Men: Hat size or head measurement $ .50 - $ 5.00 $2.00 Women: XS, S, M, L, XL or head measurement PATCH, Small SDPHS $4.00 $ 5.25 - $10.00 $2.55 Embroidered Clothe Emblem (2 ½” diameter) $10.25 - $20.00 $3.75 OVERSEAS HAT STORAGE BAG $3.25 PATCH, Large SDPHS Jacket Back) $16.00 $20.25 - $35.00 $4.50 Zippered Clear Plastic Pouch Embroidered Cloth Emblem (8” diameter) $35.25 - $50.00 $5.25 DECAL, Round Cling Sticker $4.00 $50.01 - $75.00 $8.75 Plastic Emblem (4” diameter) $75.01 + $10.50 BASEBALL CAP $16.00 Navy blue with Embroidered Emblem PHSA BRONZE MEDALLION $25.00 ORDERS RECEIVED WITHOUT POSTAGE POLO SHIRT, Red with pocket PINS WILL BE RETURNED Embroidered Lettering, Blended Material SDPHS 67th Anniversary $1.50 (S-XL) $21.50 SDPHS 71st Anniversary $3.50 (2 XL) $22.50 ENAMEL GOLD $3.25 The Store is a service (3 XL) $23.75 (SDPHS Emblem in 4 colors 7/8”) for our members. BUTTON PIN $2.00 INSIGNIA ITEMS POLO SHIRT, Red (w/o pocket) (With SDPHS Emblem 2 ½”) can only be worn by Embroidered Emblem, Blended Material SASH, SDPHS Red $10.00 SDPHS members. (S-XL) $25.00 Silk-screened white letters & emblem (2 XL) $26.00 BUMPER STICKER $1.00 (3 XL) $27.25 LICENSE PLATE FRAME $2.00 Red plastic with white lettering: T-SHIRT, Red “Sons and Daughters Pearl Harbor Survivors” Note: When shipping orders that include multiple items that include Silk-screened White emblem, Blended Material SDPHS COOKBOOK $15.00 cookbooks, the cook books will be (Youth, Large same as 14-16 $10.00 mailed separately to reduce cost (S, M, L) $10.00 OFFICIAL SDPHS PARADE FLAG since books are mailed at “Media (XL-3XL) $11.00 Double face with 4 color emblem on white Rate” (about half the normal mail- T-SHIRT, White $ 8.00 nylon. Gold fringe (3’ x 5”) $155.00 ing cost) and will usually arrive a Silk-sscreened Red Emblem (M) few days after the other items.
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A major Washington DC conference - 0 e 2016 CONFERENCE ON HISTORICAL AND UNDERWATER ARCHAEOLOGY will feature a presentation titled:
0 e Ongoing Battle of Ewa Plain, Hawaii: Resurrection of a Lost Battle1 eld on Jan. 7, 2016 at the Shoreham Hotel, presented by Lori Frye, Edward Salo, and Benjamin Resnick, of GAI Consultants, who did the ground survey and nomination of the Ewa Plain Battle1 eld.
Currently the Ewa Battle1 eld 1 nal nomination, which was approved in Hawaii on November 13, 2015, was sent to the Navy in Washington DC on Monday, January 4, 2016. 0 e Navy is then expected to send the 1 nal approved nomination to the NPS Keeper of the Register o^ ce in Washington, DC.
0 e Ewa Plain Battle1 eld nomination, which has taken many years of reviews and delays, is part of a Society for Historical Archaeology (SHA) conference Symposium: Digging With the National Park Service American Battle1 eld Protection Program - New Battle1 eld Research To Start 0 e Next 100 Years, Chair: Kristen L. McMasters and Elizabeth S. Vehmeyer, National Park Service.
11 Offspring Issue 4, 2015
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THEY REMEMBER, WE WON’T FORGET ~ HERMAN J. TRAVERS (as told by his son Paul Travers on the USCG Taney, Dec. 7, 2015) If there was ever a poster boy for the Greatest Generation, it would be my dad, Herman J. Travers. Born in the Canton area of Baltimore, my father le3 high school in the ninth grade at the height of the Great Depression to support his family by working at the packing-houses along the waterfront. A few years later when the next eldest sibling found work, my father was free to follow his dream. Rejected by the navy and marines for bad feet, he joined the army, ironically as an infantryman. He readily admitted that he was an easy mark for the recruiter. Just one look at soldiers in dress uniforms, parading against a background of palm trees and sandy beaches, was enough to seal the deal. Racing home, my father packed a small du e and headed out the door for an adventure of a lifetime in Hawaii. In January 1941, the outstanding recruit in basic training found himself proudly posing for pictures against the backdrop of Scho1 eld Barracks. He had 1 nally found his calling with the 27 th Infantry Regiment. 0 e Wol ounds, renown for their bravery in battle and gentleness in peace, would exemplify my father’s life. On Sunday morning, December 7, 1941, a few minutes before 8 a.m., my father was sitting down to breakfast in the mess hall when the food trays started rattling as the building shuddered. Running to the window, he stared in disbelief as low- ying Japanese dive-bombers strafed the quadrangle on their way to Pearl Harbor. It was the only time in his military service that he saw and heard “0 e Call to Arms” being played by a bugler. Later that day, he was assigned to jeep patrol, searching for martial law violators and possible saboteurs, while enforcing blackout orders. 0 at night, his patrol responded to calls from residents who reported that Japanese paratroopers had landed in the hills and were hiding in their attics. During his 1 rst house call, he served as point man for the search party. With a submachine gun cradled under his arm, he slowly climbed a narrow ight of stairs to the attic. In the darkness, with sweat dripping from his face and his hands shaking, he ung open the trap door, shined his ashlight, and instantly breathed a sigh of relief. 0 e attic was empty. In late 1942, my father was commissioned a second lieutenant a3 er attending O^ cer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia. He eventually returned to the Paci1 c Campaign with the 323 rd Regimental Combat Team of the 81 st Infantry Division in time for the Battle of Peleliu. 0 ere on a remote coral island, o3 en referred to as the Antietam of the Paci1 c for its bloody skirmishes, his service and sacri1 ces were put to the ultimate test. On October 17 th , 1944, he successfully lead a team of four volunteers to rescue wounded men from the battle1 eld while enduring deadly enemy mortar 1 re that killed one of his men and wounded another. Two weeks later on October 30 th , while on patrol near Bloody Nose Ridge, he was seriously wounded while directing a counter-attack a3 er being ambushed by enemy machine-gun 1 re. For his actions during that time period, he received two medals for heroism in combat. Sent back to the States, my father spent the next three years in and out of military hospitals while doctors attempted to reconstruct his foot. Discharged from Valley Forge Army Hospital in 1947, he retuned home to begin a new life with his wartime sweetheart whom he married in 1945 An outdoorsman, his dream of a career as a state trooper, park policemen, or even a mailman was scuttled by his war injuries. Seeking job security, he worked for 32 years as a window clerk for the U.S. Post O^ ce. As fate would have it, while working at the Hamilton station, he befriended fellow Pearl Harbor survivor Myrtle Watson, Baltimore’s own heroic angel of mercy, who brought him into the fold of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association.