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A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION: WORLD WAR II VETERANS
AS VETERANS OF WORLD WAR IT, YOU ARE ASKED TO PARTICIPATE BY SHARING YOUR EXPERIENCES IN TIlE ARMED SERVICES, AS AN INTEGRAL PART OF A STUDY, NOW UNDERWAY BY THE WILSON COUNTY mSTORICAL SOCIETY. YOUR RECOLLECTION AND STORIES OF YOUR EXPERIENCES ARE NEEDED AND mGHLY SOLICITED.
Please Provide Information As Follows:
Nam~hot' ) Y( JbtuLJIL,)lranchofService:r ~0 - Service Date(s):1! - U -¥Jl.
DiscbargeDate: 142-% pIaceAdll~, n,e.
Entered Service: M ~c< Date: //-.21' L£.L Wilson Etc. Do . Forelgn . SefV1ce:~r . flew d~ ~ mesnc SeIVlce . __ Countries States
Honorably Discharged: / - ()7-'-I~ Place: fhJ.-~) 'ICc.
Present Address: 703 ~d.4t)~
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Tel. # (.:lS'2) .{lL/3 - 3S70 Go To Page 2. OVER MLB17 120/06 Page 2. WWII Veterans
List Awards, Medals, Commendations: < tk4l<-d) ~~ t zt,LL t:l4«uui ~~d k«;.u~ ~ ~ - .../ fl . ~ A ~/l.. -d ./ -,/I zrK. - fht~6 4kaLtd/ ,41«"'0/- ~ ~ What do you remember most about your service in the armed forces: % Ol«nlkn !J.u < J4 ~M#~ %al ~ kkJ, - Where did you spend most of your time? Who were your role models, if any? What were your most memorable experience(s)? What organizations are you a member of? 1k'(U..G~au.;rL4U Are you familiar with the Wilson County Historical Society? Yes/ / No/v( . ~ "' ~udC!cI~~ r ~-/f~ /dQ -- -~ tre! 1~ ~ ~ - - ~ ~~ -r~~~/946 ~ /l .- ~~~- /:i2kfl ~~£--=----~ _ ~~ to< --- djtiv ~ -~ ~ 7f;2aJ~ _ ilM~~ c (Pc. ~cfM£~d }'~ -~- jJ~~~~(J~ dz _ /ii~-- ~~~ - - Vpt ~ ~ ~~ - I ywLv --> ~Mp ~ ~~~ - . ctrd/d-A~ ~ ~~ --- atrJ~ uJt _____ ------l4--Jd~ -,- cd---=- /~u-+ ~~~----I 1! -tV.v -tVAV ~d . ~--L:~~~~~-I - ~ ~ /tJ ~ T ~~f+---I ------H---+--- " ~ ~ ~~ ~~~~~ ~~--~~~~~~~~~~~~-~~~~~ ~~~~ -~--~~~----~- --~~~~--~-~-~~---~---~~-~~--~------~---- ~ ~-~- ~----;:'III . , " .bJ I ~~/~ " ~zMh~ ___ I ~ ~~~~~~ - .- AA/A ~¥~~ --- -- ~ti-~~~~dJ- ~- -- f-- ~ ~-d; ~cU:I ~ ~ -- ~ 0--~ ~M-oI~~/~ - ----.~ ~ ~ 7!(~~ _ ____ - ~ -fl)~~#~ Ti'd - - - -_.- - ~ ~ ft-~~ ~ #aJrJ /J(~ - ~ ~ p~'- --~---- ---H- j/fj;v- ~~ /:2 ~~~" / _.~ - - -~I ;:rt~~ dAf 61hu xL~ ~ p2aV ~/- ---H- ~~ ~~_ ~«J ~~ ___ ~ . USS RIDDLE, 185 DURING WORLD WAR II, AMERICAN SHIPYARDS BUILT AND LAUNCHED 563 DESTROYER ESCORTS IN LESS THAN 3 YEARS. 76 WERE TRANSFERRED TO THE ROYAL NA VY, 8 TO THE BRAZILIAN NAVY AND 6 TO THE FREE FRENCH NAVY. 94 OF THE DESTROYER ESCORTS WERE CONVERTED TO mGH SPEED TRANSPORTS. THAT LEFT 375 DE'S TO DO THE JOB THEY WERE ORIGINALLY INTENDED TO DO. THE USS RIDDLE, DE 185 WAS ONE OF THOSE. WHAT DISTINGUISHES THE RIDDLE FROM OTHER DESTROYER ESCORTS IS THAT DURING WORLD WAR II, SHE WAS AWARDED 12 BATTLE STARS,MOBEBATTLESTARS THAN ANY DESTROYER ESCORT IN THE UNITED STA TES NA VY HER ENTIRE COMBAT RECORD WAS EARNED IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC AREA STARTING WITH THE MARSHALL ISLAND OCCUPATION, ASIATIC-PACIFIC RAIDS (PALAU, YAP, ULITID, WOLEAI RAID AND TRUK SATAWAN, PONAPE RAID), ADMIRAL1YISLAND OCCUPATION (MANUS ISLAND, SEADLER HARBOR), NEW GUINEA (HOLLANDIA OPERATION), MARIANAS OPERATION (SAIPAN), SINKING OF A JAPANESE SUBMARINE ON INDEPENDENCE DAY 1944, TINIAN CAPTURE AND OCCUPATION, WESTERN CAROLINE ISLANDS OPERATION (CAPTURE AND OCCUPATION OF SOUTHERN PALAU ISLANDS), LEYTE OPERATION, NORTHERN LUZON AND FORMOSA ATTACKS, LUZON OPERATION - THIRD FLEET SIlPPORTING OPERATIONS, (FORMOSA ATTACKS AND CHINA COAST ATTACKS, IWO JIMA OPERATION, AND FINALY, THE ASSAULT AND OCUP ATION OF OKINAWA. THE RIDDLE WAS, IT SEEMED, CONSTANTLY AT SEA. DE'S ARE HUNTERS, ALWAYS SEEKING OUT THE ENEMY, ALWAYS ON ALERT. ONCE SHE PASSES THE HARBOR'S OUTER MARKING, SONAR BEGINS ITS ETERNAL SEARCH, ITS RADAR SWEEPS THE HORIZON, THE LOOKOUTS HAVE MANNED THEIR POSTS, AND OUR SEARCH FOR THE ENEMY BEGINS ONCE AGAIN. COUNTLESS DAYS OF PROTECTING CONVOYS, PATROLLING ENTRANCES TO ISLAND HARBORS, DESTROYING MINES AND OBSTRUCTIONS TO NAVIGATION. CONSTANT DAILY AND NIGHTI..YBATTI..E STATION DRILLS. THE BOREDOM OF WEEKS AT SEA INTERSPERSED WITH MOMENTS OF SHEER TERROR. TWO HUNDRED OFFICERS AND MEN LIVING FOR MONTHS IN CRAMPED QUARTERS IN A STEEL SHIP IN THE TROPICAL SOUTHWEST PACIFIC WITH TEMPERATURES CLOSE TO 100 DEGREES WITHOUT AIR CONDITIONING AND NO PORT HOLES WITH ONLY 3/8TH OF AN INCH OF STEEL PROTECTING ONE FROM ENCROACHMENT OF THE SEA OR ENEMY GUNFIRE. OFTEN RIDDLE SAILED ON TRANQUIL SEAS AND ALMOST AS OFTEN SHE SAILED THROUGH STORMY SEAS. ONCE SHE WAS CAUGHT IN A TYPHOON WHILE OPERATING WITH THE TmRD FLEET DURING A RAID ON FORMOSA. DE'S IN A NORMAL SEA WILL ROLL AND PLUNGE AND BUCK AND TWIST, IN THE AIR HALF THE TIME, UNDER THE WATER THE OTHER HALF. IT IS FAIRLY COMMON TO MEASURE SHIPS ROLLS OF OVER 50 TO 60 DEGREES. THE RIDDLE'S SEA WORTHINESS WAS PROVEN WHEN SHE SURVIVED THE TYPHOON WHILE, UNFORTUNATEL Y, SEVERAL OTHER DESTROYERS CAPSIZED WITH A HEA VY LOSS OF LIVES. RIDDLE AND IT'S CREW SURVIVED THROUGH THESE CONDITIONS. HER CREW WAS MADE UP OF YOUNG MEN FROM ALMOST EVERY STATE IN THE COUNTRY. MOST OF THEM IN THEIR TEENS, A FEW IN THEIR TWENTIES AND FEWER STILL WITH ANY COLLEGE EDUCATION. THEY WERE ALL VOLUNTEERS. ONLY A HANDFUL HAD EVER HAD SEA DUTY. INDEED, MANY HAD NEVER SEEN AN OCEAN BEFORE. YET THESE AMERICANS WHO LOVED THEIR COUNTRY SO DEEPLY THAT THEY VOLUNTEERED TO GO TO WAR QUICKLY LEARNED A SEAMAN'S WAYS. THE USS RIDDLE, DE 185 BECAME A FORMIDABLE UNIT OF THE UNITED STATES NAVY, WITH A CREW WELL DRILLED IN THE ART OF WARFARE, CONFIDENT OF THEIR SHIP'S ABILITY AND OF THEMSELVES .. THIS CONFIDENCE ENABLED THE RIDDLE TO DESTROY AN ENEMY SUBMARINE OFF THE COAST OF SAIP AN ON NO LESS A DATE THAN OUR COUNTRIES INDEPENDENCE DAY, 4 JUL Y, 1944 AND TO SURVIVE TWO KAMAKAZE ATIACKS, WITII MINIMUM DAMAGE AND LOSS OF LlFE, ON 12 APRIL, 1945, THE SAME DAY AS THE DEATII OF OUR PRESIDENT FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT. THERE WAS NEVER A DAY TIIAT TIIIS SHIP WAS NOT ABLE TO ANSWER A CALL FOR ACTION. NOW, 59 YEARS AFTER THE END OF WORLD WAR II, THE SURVIVING CREW MEl\1BERS OF TIllS SMALL BUT DEADLY SHIP WILL PAY HOMAGE TO OUR DECEASED SHIPMATES. A MEMORIAL SERVICE oN SEPTEMBER 15. 2004 AT 9:00AM WILL BE HELD ABOARD THE USS SLA TER, DE 766 NOW DOCKED IN ALBANY, NY. OUR DECEASED COMRADES WERE IN EVERY SENSE OF THE WORD, MEMBERS OF "THE GREATEST GENERATION", AND, HEROES IN THEIR OWN RIGHT. FOR TWO YEARS THE RIDDLE CREW, UNDER HARSH AND DEADLY CONDITIONS, SERVED OUR COUNTRY IN THE FAR REACHES OF THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATION. OUR EXPERIENCES CREATED A BOND THAT IS DIFFICULT FOR ANYONE, WHO HAS NOT HAD SIMILAR EXPERIENCES, TO UNDERSTAND. WE HAVE BECOME A "BAND OF BROTIIERS". THE DECEASED MEN WE HONOR ARE, IN EVERY SENSE OF THE WORD, " OUR BROTHERS". WE J\.ll"SS EACH AND EVERYONE OF THEM!!. THREE MEMBERS OF THE CREW OF THE USS RIDDLE ARE NATIVE SONS OF THE ALBANY AREA. THEY ARE: FREDERICK H. ANAMIER, S.C. 2/c OF ALBANY; ED MARKS, Mo. M. 21c OF ALBANY; AND ROBERT O'NEILL, G.M. 2/c OF SCHENECTADY. NovemberlDecember 2003 DESAOO~ 23 BATTLE STARS AWARDED TO DESTROYER-ESCORTS AND AP-...x...4IoIII'1i This list of battle stars awarded to 270 DEs and/or APDs has been compiled by Anne McCarthy from information found in the Dictio1UlTJ (lrAAri9IlfH~~Jl.Jli!fIrmn Ships. DESA News cannot indePendently verify the 'correctness of DANFS' information in all cases. If your ship is listed and you can ve' th IN . cr please send an E-Mail to [email protected] with the words "BATI1..E STARS" as the subject. Here's the list of how battle s Twelv ••/IIn: 0'" ship USS LERAY wn.sON DE 414 USS DARBY DE 218 USS GOSS DE'71O/APD 126 USS RIDOLE DE 185 USS MANNING DE 199 USS DAY DE 225 USS GUSTAFSON DE 182 USS McCOY REYNOLDS DE 440 USS DIACHENKO DE 690/APD 123 . USS HAINES DE 7921APD 84 Ek ••,. stars: Oll~_hip USS MELVINR. NAWMAN DE416 USS DUFFY DE 27 USS HAVERF1El..D DE 393 USS BANGUST DE 739 USS O'FLAHERTY DE 340 USS EISELE DE 34 USS IifSSEM DE 400 Nin. s/lln: four .hips USS PARKS DE 165 USS ENGLAND DE 635 USS HODGES DE 231 USS LAMONS DE 743 USS SANDERS DE 40 USS EVERSOLE DE 404 USS HOLDER DE 401 USS MITCHELL DE 43 USS STADTFELD DE 29 USS FESSENDEN DE 142 USS HOWS DE 794/APD 86 USS SWEARER DE 186 • USS TABBERER DE 418 USS FORMOE DE 509 USS HOPPING DE 155/APD 51 USS WEAVER DE 741 USS THOMAS DE 102 USS GEORGE DE 697 USS JACCARD DE 355 USS TISDALE DE 33 _ USS GREENWOOD DE 679 USS JACK C. ROBINSON DE 671/APD 72 Eight s/Qn: fi •• s/Ups USS WALTER C. WANN DE 412 USS HAROLD C. mOMAS DE 21 USS JANSSEN DE 396 USS COFER DE 2OS/APD 62 USS WILEMAN DE 22 USS HOLT DE 706 USS JESSE RU1'HERFORD DE 347 USS HILBERT DE 742 USS WILLIAM DE 441 USS HORACE A. BASS DE 691/APD 124 USS JOSEPH E. CAMPBELL DE 70/APD 49 USS REYNOLDS DE 42 USS Wll.LMARTH DE 638 USS HUBBARD DE 211/APD 53 USS JOSEPH E. CONNOLLY DE 450 USS SAMUEL S. MILES 'DE 183 • USS JACK MIU.ER DE 410 USS JOYCE DE 317 Thr" stars: 43 ship. USS WATERMAN DE 740 USS JENKS DE 665 USS KEITH DE 241 USS BARBER DE I 61/APD 57 USS BARON DE 166 USS KLINE DE 687/APD 120 USS KEY DE 348 5 ..." stars: six ships USS LAKE DE 301 USS KINZER DE 2321APD 91 USS BARR DE 675/APD 39 USS CABANA DE 260 USSLEHARDYDE20 USS KNUDSON DE 591/APD 101 USS DONALDSON DE 44 USS BATES DE 68/APD 47 US~ LOESER DE 680 USS LANING DE I 59/APD 55 OSS BLESSMAN DE 69/APD 48 USS FROST DE 144 USS McNULTY DE 581 USS LAPRADE DE 409 USSLAWRENCEC. TAYLORDE415 USS BOSTWICK DE \03 USS BRACKETT DE 41 USS MENGES DE 320 USS LELAND E. THOMAS DE 420 USS WESSON DE 184 • USS MOSLEY DE 321 USS LOY DE 160iAPD 56 USS WILLIAM C. MILLER DE 259 USS BUCKLEY DE 51 USS BULL DE 693/APD 78 USS RILEY DE 579 USS MALOY DE 791 Six stan: Stl/." ships USS CLOVES DE 265 USS RUDDEROW DE 224 USS MARSH DE 699 USS DEEDE DE 263 USS CONKLIN DE 439 USS SEID DE 256 USS MILLS DE 383 USS DIONNE DE 261 USS COOLBAUGH DE 217 USS SILVERSTEIN DE 534 USS NEALA. SCOTT DE 769 USS ELDEN DE 264 USS DEMPSEY DE 26 USS SPANGLER DE 696 USS NEUNZER DE 150 USS KYNE DE 744 USS FINNEGAN DE 307 USS STAFFORD DE 411 USS OSMUS DE 701 USS RICHARD M ROWELL DE 403 USS GRADY DE 445 USS STEELE DE 8 USS OTTER DE 210 USS .WHlTEHURST DE 634 USS GREINER DE 37 USS TATUM DE 789/APD 81 USS PAUL G. BAKER DE 642 USS WYMAN DE 38 USS GRISWOLD DE 7 USS TINSMAN: DE 589 USS PAVLIC DE 669/APD 70 USS HALLORAN DE 305 USS VARIAN DE 798 USS PEIFFER DE·588 Fi•• .itlzn: 19 smps USS HARMON DE 678 USS WfITER DE 636 USS PRICE DE 332 USS DE 167 ACREE USS HERBERT C. JONES DE 137 USS RAMSDEN DE 382 USS CHATELAIN DE 149 OIl'.S/Qr: 107 ships U5S RAYMON W. HERNDON DE 688/APD 121 USS J. DOUGLAS BLACKWOOD DE 219 USS AMESBURY DE 66/APD 46 USS CROWLEY DE 303 USS JOBB DE 707 USS REDNOUR DE 592/APD 102 USS EDMONDS DE 406 USS ATHERTON DE 169 USS REEVES DE 156/APD 52 USS LESLIE L. B. KNOX DE 580 USS BAKER DE 190 USS FOREMAN DE 633 USS LOUGH DE 586 . . USS REGISTER DE 233/APD 92 USS HUSE DE 145 USS BORUM DE 790 USS RHODES DE 384 USS LOVELACE DE 198 USS BREEMAN DE 104 USS JOHN C. BUTLER DE 339 USS LOVERING DE 39 USS RICH DE 695 USS KEPHART DE 207/APD 61 USS BRIGHT DE 747 USS RINGNESS DE 590/APD 100 USS McCLELLAND DE 750 USS BROCK DE 234/APD 93 USS LEVY DE 162 USS McCONNELL DE 163 USS ROBERT BRAZIER DE 345 USS LYMAN DE 302 USS BURKE DE 215/APD 65 USS ROBERT r. PAINE DE 578 USS METIVIER DE 582 USS CARTER DE 112 USS MANLOVE DE 36 USS NEUENDORP DE 200 USS ROBERTS DE 749 USS NEWMAN DE 205/APD 59 USS CHARLES E. BRANNON DE 446 USS RUNELS DE 793/APD 85 USS OBERRENDER DE 344 USS CHARLES J. KIMMEL DE 584 'USS OLIVER MITCHELL DE 417 USS OSTERHAUS DE 164 USS SAMUEL B. ROBERTS DE 413 USS CHARLES LAWRENCE DE 53/APD 37 USS PILLSBURY DE 133 USS POPE DE 134 USS SAVAGE DE 386 USS COFFMAN DE 191 USS RAYMOND DE 341 USS PRIDE DE 323 USS SCHMITT DE 676/APD 76 USS CROSLEY DE 226/APD 87 USS RICHARD S. BULL DE 402 USS RABY DE 698 USS SCRIBNER DE 689/APD 122 USS RICHARD W. SVESENS DE 342 USS CROSS DE 448 USS SELLSTROM DE 255 USS RALL DE 304 USS CROUTER DE II 'USS SEbERSTROM DE 31 USS SNOWDEN DE 246 USS SHELTON DE 407 USS DAMON M. CUMMINGS DE 643 USS ULVERT M. MOORE DE 442 USS STANTON DE 247 USS SIMS DE 154/APD 50 USS DANIEL T. GRIFFIN DE 54/APD 38 USS sMARTT DE 257 Four stan: 31 ships USS STERN DE 187 USS DECKER DE 47 USS STRAUS DE 408 USS SNYDER DE 745 USS ABERCROMBIE DE 343 USS DOBLER DE.48 USS STOCKDALE DE 399 USS BOWERS DE 637/APD4O USS THOMASON DE 203 USS WHITMAN DE 24 USS EDWIN A. HOWARD DE 346 USS STRICKLAND DE 333 USS BRONSTEIN DE 189 USS ENRIGHT DE 216/APD 66 USS WINTLE DE 25 USS SWASEY DE 248 USS BURDEN R. HASTINGS DE 19 USS EVARTS DE 5 USS THADDEUS PARKER DE 369 USS CANFIELD DE 262 Twu stars: 46 ships USS FALGOUT DE 324 USS THOMAS F. NICKEL DE 587 USS DENNIS DE 405 USS AHRENS DE 575 USS FARQUHAR DE 139 USS TOLLBERG DE 593/APD 103 USS EICHENBERGER DE 202 USS ALBERT T. HARRIS DE 447 USS FECHTELER DE 157 USS TOMICH DE 242 USS EMERY DE 28 USS BUNCH DE 694/APD 79 USS FlEBERLING DE 640 USS VAMMEN DE 644 USS EUGENE E. ELMORE DE 686 USS CARLSON DE 9 USS FISKE DE 143 USS WALTER S. BROWN DE 258 USS FLAHERTY DE 135 USS CHAFFEE DE 230 USS FORSTER DE 334 USS WANTUCK DE 6921APD 125 USS FLEMING DE 32 USS CHARLES R. GREER DE 23 USS FOWLER DE 222 USS WEBER DE 675/APD 75 USS FREDERICK C. DAVIS DE 136 USS CHASE DE 158/APD 54 USS FRAMENT DE 677/APD 77 USS WILHOITE DE 397 USS GOSS DE 444 USS CONNOLLY DE 306 USS FRANCIS M. ROBINSON DE 220 USS WILLIAM C. COLE DE 641 USS INCH DE 146 USS CORBESIER DE 438 U5S GANDY DE 764 USS WILLIS DE 395 USS JAMES E. CRAIG DE 201 USS CURRIER DE 700 USS GILLIGAN DE 508 USS WYFFELS DE 6 USS KENDALL C. CAMPBELL DE 443 USS DANIEL A. JOY DE 585 USS GILMORE DE 18 USS YOKES DE 668/APD 69 In'the body of the E-Mail/mail, please cite any OFFICIAL COMMUNICATION that you have that shows a different number. For example, "Your list shows FOUR (4) BATILE STARS for USS wmTMAN DE 24; Navy Dept. Bulletin 45-712, 30 June 1945 (as modified by NavPers 15,632 Operation and Engagement Stars for Ships and units) . . . states the total is TIIREE (3). If you must use regular postal mail to report what infoimation you have, please send to: Anne McCarthy, Battle Stars, 26 Vernon St., Tewksbury, MA 01876. But if you hBve a relative, friend, or anyone who will send a short E-Mail for you, that method is preferable smce it immediately opens a door to a fast two-way exchange of infonnation. This is important historical information and DESA News and the DESA web site (desausa.org) want to report it a~curately and for that we need the help of our members. So if you have official paperwork (don't send it, merely cite the source as we did above in the case of USS WlfiTMAN) and Mrs. McCarthy and DESA News will weigh the information and make changes (if necessary). :' ,' :- ... ------Destroyer Escort Photo Index DE- 185 USS RIDDLE Page 1 of2 Please Report Any Broken Links Or Trouble You Might Come Across To The Webmaster Please Take A Moment To Let Us Know So That We Can Correct Any Problems And Make Your Visit As Enjoyable And As Informative As P NavSource Online: Destroyer Esco Archive DE- 185 USS RIDDLE CLASS - Cannon Displacement 1,240 Tons, Dimensions, 306' (oa) x 36' 7" x 11' 8" (Max) Armament 3 x 3 "/50, 2x 40mmAA, lOx 20mm AA, 3 x 21" TT, 1 Hedgehog, 8 DCT's 2 DC racks. Machinery, 6,000 BHP; 4 GM Model 16-278A Diesel Engines with electric drive, 2 screws Speed, 21 Knots, Crew 186. Operational and Building Data Laid down by Federal Shipbuilding, Port Newark on July 29 1943. Launched October 17 1943. Commissioned November 17 1943. Decommissioned June 8 1946. Stricken September 26 1950. Fate To France August 12 1950. Renamed Kabyle, Stricken and broken up in 1959. Contributed Click On Image DI Image Description By And/Or For Full Size Image U Copyright 131 k Riddle appears to be passing a line to another Patrick Clancey, ship. Date/location unknown. HyperWar. USS RIDDLE DE- 185 History View This Vessels DANFS History_Entry (Located On The Hazegray & Underway Web Site, This Is The Main Archive For The DANFS Online Project.) Crew Contact And Reunion Information NONE LOCATED Contact Name: NONE Address: NONE http://www.navsource.org/archives/06/185.htm 5/13/2004 Destroyer Escort Photo Index DE- 185 USS RIDDLE Page 2 of2 Phone:NONE E-mail:NONE Note About Contacts. The contact listed, Was the contact at the time for this ship when located. If another person now is the contact, E-mail me and I will update this entry. These contacts are compiled from various sources over a long period of time and mayor may not be correct. Every effort has been made to list the newest contact if more than one contact was found. Additional Resources Destroyer Escort Sailors Association IBack To The Main Photo Index II Back To The Destroyer Escort Photo Index Pagel Comments and Suggestions or Image submissions, E-mail D~t1:!):y-~r E..KOrLlnfQxm3.ti.oll Problems and site related matters, E-mail Webmaster Webmaster This page was created by Paul R. Yarnall and is maintained by Mike Smolinski All Pa es Co rl ht © 1996 - 2004 Paul R. Yarnall © 2004 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved. http://www.navsource.org/archives/06/185.htm 5/13/2004 USS RIDDLE DE 185 Page lof2 USS RIDDLE DE 185 Showing damage following a kamikaze attack on 12 April 19~ Notice the crewmember in the hole Photo submitted by Donald R. Stegall http://www.desausa.org/images2/ussJiddle_de_185_2.htm 5/13/2004 USS RIDDLE DE 185 Page 1 of2 USS RIDDLE DE 185 Showing damage following a kamikaze attack on 12 April 1945 Photo 1 I Photo 2 I Photo 3 I Photo 4 I Photo 5 I Photo 6 I Photo 7 I Photo l Photo courtesy of AI Gregg Ship History Riddle (DE-185) was laid down by the Federal Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co., Newark, N.J., 29 July 1943, launchec 1943; sponsored by Mrs. Anna B. Riddle; and commissioned 17 November 1943, Lt. Comdr. Roland H. Cramer, U command. Following shakedown off Bermuda, Riddle sailed for Pearl Harbor via the Panama Canal, arriving 1 February 194' February she got underway as an escort vessel with Task Unit 16.11.6, bound for the Marshall Islands. Upon arriv conducted antisubmarine patrols in the Roi-Kwajalein-Majuro Atoll area until steaming for Pearl Harbor 15 March. After serving as an escort to Majuro Atoll and Manus Island and back, Riddle was active in the Marshall and Maria June 1944. On 4 July, while screening fueling operations with TG 50.17, with David W. Taylor (DD-551), she succ· attacked a submerged Japanese submarine, 1-10. Riddle continued screening operations in the Marshall-Marianas area until 1 September when she anchored at Me On4 October she got underway as part of an escort group to screen the sortie of TU 38.8.16, a carrier and fueling grou http://www.desausa.orglimages2/ussJiddle_de_185.htm. 5/13/2004 USS RIDDLE DE 185 Page 2 of2 Seeadler Harbor for the Philippine Invasion. Riddle returned to Manus after the task unit was on its way and opera Admiralty and western Caroline area until early January 1945. On the 14th of January she arrived at Leyte Gulf, P Islands, after which she returned to the Marianas and western Carolines on routine screening and patrol duties. Riddle operated in the Iwo Jima area in February 1945, acting as antiaircraft and antisubmarine patrol as well as e various fleet units in their operations in that bloody battle area. On the 5th of March, she anchored at Saipan and the follo\ sailed for Leyte Gulf in company with Hyman. After remaining in San Pedro Bay, Leyte Gulf, until the 18th of March, Ride underway as part of the escort group for TU 51 .7.1, en route to Kerama Retto, Okinawa. Upon arrival at Kerama Retto on 26 March 1945, Riddle operated with various screening units, patrol sections, ani groups in those waters. April 12th found the vessel off Okinawa on a patrolling station, with TF 51, under enemy a Japanese kamikazes attacked Riddle. The first was shot down, just clearing the ship, and the second crashed intc killing one man and causing considerable damage. After transfer of wounded and repair to her battle damage at Kerama got underway 16 April as an escort to Saipan. Riddle arrived at Okinawa once more 1 May 1945, and assumed patrol and escort duties there until 15 June when underway for Leyte Gulf. She arrived 18 June and anchored there in San Pedro Bay, until 1 July. From 2 to 4 July. participated in firing exercises with Salt Lake City and on the 5th got underway as escort for Shamrock flay (CVE-t Guam and Hawaii, arriving Pearl Harbor 19 July. Riddle proceeded on to San Pedro, Calif., for overhaul which lasted through the end of hostilities. On 13 Novembe underway for the Panama Canal and arrived Norfolk on the 29th. On 31 December 1945 she reported to Cornman Group, 16th Fleet, for inactivation, and decommissioned 8 June 1946. Riddle was transferred to France 12 Augus1 the Military Assistance Program and was struck from the Navy list 26 September 1950. Riddle earned 12 battle stars for World War II service. History courtesy of the .t!yperwar Website and transcribed and formatted for HTML by Patrick Clancey. 41 .. copyright @ 2000-2004 desausa.org P.O. Box 3448 Deland, Fl 32721 -3448 (386) 738-6900 fax: (386) 738-2299 http://www.desausa.org/images2/ussJiddle_de_185.htm 5/13/2004 ,------ USS RIDDLE DE 185 Page 1 of2 http://www.desausa.org/images2/uss_riddle_de_185_4.htm 5/1312004 USS RIDDLE DE 185 Page 1 of2 http://www.desausa.org/images2/uss_riddle_de_185_3.htm 5/1312004 Ii i 4 - (RIDDLE) .1 SUCCESSIVE LIST OF COMMANDING OFF1CERS Lieutenant Commander Roland H. Cramer, USNR. .Commissioning to 12 12 August 1944 . Lieutenant Commander Francis P. Steel, USNR. . . . 12 August 1944 to 1 January 1946. Lieutenant (j. g.) Robert T. Swengel, US-NR . .1 JanuaryJ946 to Decommissioning. * * * The USS RIDDLE (DE 185) earned twelye (12) battle stars on the Asiatic-Pacific Area Service Ribbon for partic1pating in the following operations: ONE STAR--~mrsha11 Islands Operation: Occupation of Eniwetok Atoll. . . . .17 February to 2 March 1944 ONE STAR--Asiatic~Pacific Raids: .....••..•1944 Palau, Yap, Ulithi, Wo1eai Raid .••.•30 March to 1 April 1944 Truk, Satawan, Ponape Raid •.•....• 29 April to 1 May 1944 ONE STAR--Hollandia Operation (Ai tape-Humboldt Bay-Tanahmerah BaJiI: ...... · .21 April to 1 June 1944 ONE STAR--.Marianas Operation: Capture and Occupation of Saipan: ....11 June to 10 August 1944 ONE STAR--Anti-Submarine Assessment:, .•...... 4 July 1944 ONE STAR--Tinian Capture and Occupatio~: .....•24 July to 4 August 1944 ONE STAR--Western Cal~Q1ine Is1~nd~_.Q.I)(:. ration: Capture arrc. Occupation Clf S 'j~ thern Palau I~lands . . . • . . . . • • · .6 September to 14 October 1944 Assaults on the Philippine Islands~ • · .9 to 24 Septemoer 1944 ONE STAR--Leyte Operation: Northern Luzon and Formosa Attacks ••..11 to 14 Octob~r 1944 Luzon Attacks ....• ' •.•.•....15, 17-19 Octooer 1944; 5-6,13-14, 19-25 November 1944; 14-16 J December 1944 " " '; ~ - 5 - (RIDDLE) ONE STAR--Luzon Operation -- THIRD Fleet Supporting Operations: Formosa Attacks ... ; . •••. . . . .3-4, 9, 15, 21 January 1945 China Coast Attacks. • • . . . .12, 16 January 1945 ONE STAR--Iwo Jima Operation: Assaul t and Occupa.tion of Ivo Jima . . ...• 15 February to 16 March 1945 ONE STAR--Okinawa Gunto Operation: Assault and Occupation of Okinawa Gunto. • • . . • . . • • ...• 24 March to 30 June 1945 * * * * - r S TAT 1ST I C S OVERALL LENGTH • ...... 306 feet BEAM • • • • • • ...... 36 feet, 7 inches DISPLACEMENT ...... • .1,240 tons SPEED. • ...... • 20 knots plus Compiled: April 1950 Stencilled: 25 April 1950 i i I . It- Office of Naval Records and History Ships' Histories Branch Navy Department HISTORY OF USS RIDDLE (DE 185) The USS RIDDLE (DE 185), a destroyer escort vessel of ~he CANNON class ~hich was to earn eleven battle stars in the Asiatic Paoific area during World War II, was bui1 t in the yards of the F'ederai Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company, Nel"ark, New Jersey. The , ship's keel was 'laid on July 29, 1943 and approximate,ly three months later, on O~tober 17th, she was launched. Mrs. Anna B. Riddle, mother of the namesake of the vessel, christened the ship in the Newark Yards. The DE 185 vlaS named in honor , of Ensign Joseph Rid~le, a Naval aviator with an escorting squadron, I- j ' . who was killed in action in the Pacific area Februar¥ 4, 1943. He was < awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (posthumously) "For heroism and extraordinary achievement as member of a flight of bombers during an attack upon ' twenty enemy Japanese destroyel~s nOl"'th of New Georgia Island, Solomon Islands. It Ignoring the withering blasts of anti-air craft fire, Ensign ,Riddle ' skillful1y maneuvered his plane within striking distance of the destroyers and by his outstanding courage and expert marksmanship scored a direct hit on one of the hostile ships. While retiring from the scene of action, he was attacked by seven enemy " ~ighters and after one hostile aircraft had been destroyed, his turret was put out of commission. With his plane rendered virtually helpless :, 1.n the face of overwhelming enemy forces, Ensign Riddle was finally ------. / - 2 - (RIDDLE ) The ship next acted as escort enroute to the Marshall Island~ -, j 11- . ~ leaving Ha\'laii on March 21st and arriving at Majuro atoll on the 3Qth-;-" ',I She thence departed for Manus Island of the Admiralty group as part of the escort of Task Group 50.17, composed of fueling units. With I / this voyage uneventfully completed, the RIDDLE returned to Pearl Harbor where she underwent availability at the repair .docks through the major part of May. I I 'L The RIDDLE was active in the Marshall and Marianas Islands r areas through June 1944 and on July 4th, while screening fueling . operations with Task Group 50.17, gained a contact with a submarine. A depth charge attack was immediately made after which the contact was lost. It was regained, however, within a short time and the RIDDLa with USS DAVID W. TAYLOR both dropped additional charges. Soon after • I the TAYLOR's last attack an underwatter explosion was felt and the latter ship subsequently reported an oil r:1ick and floating debris. After a through search of the attaclc area and no further contacts made with the undersea craft, it was assumed that it had been destroyed and each ship was given half credit for the kill. The RIDDLE continued screening operations in the' Marshal1- Marianas area until the 1st of September when she anchored at Manus Island, Admiral ty Islands. After sundr:r operations in those · waters ;.' through September, the "DE" got underway as part of an escort group -. on October 4, to screen the sortie of Task Unit 38.8.16, a carrier .' ,. and fueling group, from Seeadler Harbor, Manus. After the task unit was safely started on its way to the Philippine invaSion, the RIDDLE )~ ) returned to Manus. On October 10th, the escort task unit was dissolved and the " '. RIDDLE was assigned duties which leept her in the Admiral ty and Westerq Caroline area until early January 1945. On the 14th of January she · arrived at Leyte Gulf, Philippine Islands, after which she returned to her former haunts in the Marianas and Westel'n Carolines on routine screening and patrol duties. ,I The ship opera ted in the n10 Jima area in February 1945, 'j acting as anti-aircraft and anti-submarine patrol as well a·s escorting ,f. various fleet units in their operations in that bloOdy battle area. " " '..\ On the 5th of March she anchored at Saipan and the following day sailed for Leyte Gulf in company with the USS HYMAN. After re- maining in San Pedro Bay, Leyte Gulf, until the 18th of March, the RIDDLE got underway R~ part of the escort group for Task Unit 51.7.1 enroute to Kerama Rotto, Okinawa. Upon arrival at .Kerama Retto on March 26, 1945, ,the DE 185 "J; operated with various screening uQ..its, patrol sections, and ret'1rement groups in those waters. April 12th found the vessel off Okinawa on a patrolling station, with Task Force 51 under enemy air attack. ~ During the heavy air raid, Japanese planes brake through t~ .J-; protectirig screen of the task force, two of them heading for the RIDDLE. The Japs ro~red out of the sun and the fighting little des~ ~ troyer escort turned all guns, Which would bear, on the lead plane_ I hr'.Ss" " ·'h- " '." ' - 3 - (RIDDLE) r/ '~ It was hit repeatedly and caught fire but continued its Kamikaze dive; ; j passed over the ship, just clearing the 40 millimeter director by a few feet, and crashed into the water a few yards off the 'port beam. The RIDDLE was in a tight turn at about half speed during this attack and fire was immediately shifted to the second plane which was already in his dtve from. ahead. It too was hit many times and b~gan to burn but its dive continued. The RIDDLE was not so fortunate this time, for the Jap struck the 40 millimeter director, the 40 millimeter gun, then the after 3-inch gun, port depth charge rack, and then the main . , deck on the ~ort quarter. fart of the plane pierced the main deck, passed through the carpenter shop and out the side of the ship. The remainder of the plane crashed into the water a few yards' away, where the bomb ex)loded . . Besides sustaining considerable materiel damage in this attack, one man was found missing and six were seriously injured. The RIDDLE immediately left for the anchorage area west of· the Okinawa landing beach for medical assistance and, after taking a doctor and two pharmachist's mates aboard from USS PCE(R) 855, pro ceeded to Kerama Retto for transfer of wounded and repair to her battle damage. With her damage partially repaired, on April 16th. the DE 185 got underway as part of escort in Task Unit 51 .. 29.6 bound for Jaipan. She arrived there on the 20th where ,she spent three days in further damage repairs. , "') She arrived at Okinawa once more on, May 1, 1945, and assumed / patrql and escort duties there until the 15th of June when she got I underway for Leyte .Gu1f as commander of Task Unit 31.29.9. The RIDD~ .\ . arrived in San Pedro Bay, Leyte Gulf, on June 18th and there she I i' anchored until July 1st. From July 2-4 she partiCipated in firing . : with the USS SALT LAKE CITY and on the 5th got underway as escort for I the USS SHA~ffiOCK BAY (CVE 84) enroute Guam. The ships moored at Guam . ! on July 9th ai.1d the following day got underway for Pearl Harbor, T.H. i Arriving at the Hawaiian base on July 19th, the RIDDLE in company with I USS SWEARER (DE 186) weighed anchor for the United states the next day. . i \ . After her arrival at San Pedro, California, on JU1y· ;j-, 1'945, the RIDDLE transferred her ammunition and then went into the yards of the South Coast Company, Newport Beach, Qalifornia, for overhaul. She II was in the overhaul stage when news was received of the capitulation ' j of the Japanese and t'.1e end of hos'.:i1ities. :. On the 13th of November the RIDDLE Got underway for Panama, ; C. Z., s'teaming Singly, and after tl'ans'. t ing the Panama Canal on November 22, arrived at Norfolk, Virginia, on the 29th. She underwent pre-decommiss i oning December 4-17 and then ~ot underway for Green Cove Springs, Florida, with the USS O'~~ILL (DE 188) on the ·28th. Two days later she arrived at Commodore POint, Jacksonville, Florida, and the next. day reported to Commander Florida Group, 16th Fleet, for in activation . . The RIDDLE went to the Inactive Fleet Berthing Area at ) Green Cove Sr- r i ngs on January 25, 1946 and by Pirective d~ted March 1946 was to be di~posed of as surplus to Navy needs. ·,r;1 * * * * M • ' _ Untie_it . " J ':1\.' . '." " ~ ...... ". .... ,.:.: . ...::.;:!. ~ ... :. i.,~ ...~ -, . CRANnu:a made lOund contact with the target. mel of the Saipan Transport Area Screen. destroyer-acon , dropped an 8-dla.rge pattern. Up caine a pungent oil WlLl..LUI C. MIl.lB (Lieutenant Commander D. F. ·1 alick and a mesa of· debris. Spelling each other off. Francis, U.S.N.R.) and higb.speed transpon GILMQ NEWCOMB and CHANDLD. depth-charged the water arrived on the Scene at 0022 in the morning of the which was spewing this oily rubbish. At 1144. after 14th. a last attack. by CliANDm, there was a 6nal dee~ The two ships searched until well after sunrise be sea explosion. fore the target was located. Then at 0720 the MILJ.4 "Debris in area of attack included corl slabs; wood, made sonar contact at 1,700 yards. Her skip~ Diesel oil, and human entrails." conned the DE in for a run. and she laid 15 charges The end had come for Imperial Navy submarine in a neat pattern across the seascape. Lieutenant Com. 1-185. mander Francis opened the range; contact was re , She was the sixth submarine downed by American gained at 1.500 yards; another 15 410 . lubmarines met practically DO ~. DESTROYERS A.ND DESTROYER-ESCORTS But the destroyer forces on the "Iceberg" front AT OKINA.WA. in there fighting for days and weeks on end. The (lLUCH 26-JUNE 21, 1945) boys" got the man-size job at Okinawa. And put up a giant-size effort to accomplish that job. DestroyerI DD·s and Drs which were engaged in that effort AMMEN GREGORY PAUL HAMILTON listed on this page. ANTHONY Guur PICKING Most of the destroyers and destroyer-escorts on the Auua HALL PORTERFIE.LD front 'worked as radar pickets or patrol BACHE HAllRY E. HUBBARD PRESTON HART PRICHETT .\l~O;;'" in the area screen. Covering the approaches BEALE PIlINGU Okinawa, they mounted guard at radar picket BENN£1T HEJUllDON BENNION HEYWOOD L. EDWAIlDS PURDY anlY"-U'"'''' positioned in a ring encircling the island, or BoYD HOWORTH PUTNAM trolled the convoy approaches and served as A/S BllADFORD HUDSON RALPH TALBOT anti-aircraft guards on a perimeter which COl BUlNE HUGH W. HADLEY ROOD the transport area_ These picket and patrol BROWN HUTCHINS ROWE 14§f1ips constituted Task. Flotilla 5, under command BRYANT HYMAN RUSSELL a veteran destroyerman, Commodore Frederick BUSH INGEJUOLL SHUBRICK CAPERTON INGJlAH.AM SMALLEY CAsSIN YOUNG lIlWIN SPItOSTON CHARLES AUSBUllNE IsHERWOOD STACIt STANLY Moosbrugger, whose official summariza CHAIlLES J. BADGER KIMBERLY CLAXTON KNAPP STDtETT is quoted herewith: COCSWELL LAFFEY STODDARD (A) Radar Pickets and Supports. COLHOUN LANG STORMES CoMPTON LA.... SDOWNE THATCHER Distant radar pickets were stationed between 40 CONVERSE LAWS TWlGGS . I~ and 70 miles from the transport area in the direc COWEll L~ VAN VALKENBL'RGH lion of the approach of enemj' aircraft from the DALY LoWRY \VADSWORTH Japanese Island chain, China bases, and Formqsa. DOUGLAS H. Fox LucE \VALKE Close radar pickets were stationed 20 to 25 miles DREXLER MANNERT L. ABELE \VATl'S /rom the transport area. In addition, stations in DYSON MASSEY \VIens outer and inner anti-submarine screen were EVANS METCALF WIL~ Wn.LARD KEITH as radar picJr.et stations. Their special FARENHOLT ~OALE FULtA.", MORRIS WILSON , duty consisted of detecting.. tTacJr.ing, and reporting FOOTE MOJUl.lSON WM. D. PORTER. " on airCTafi in the vicinity 01 the transport area. GAINARD MULLANY WIlEN The function of the distant radar picltets was to ' MUSTIN .give early warning of memy air raids and surface . aaft, and to perform the duties of fighter direction. Destroyer-EscO'rtl Specially equipped fighter-director destroyers with ABERCROMBIE GL-.DREAU RIDDLE V Jighter-director teams embarked were used 41 BEBM GlLUGAM SAMUEL S. MILES fighter-director ships. These fighter-directO'r destru,. BowEltS GRADY SmEJtSTROM ers controlled such units of the CAP as were ·as BRIGHT GlUSWOtD SuD ngned them by the central fighter-director unil CAP.LSON HAIi.ollAN SNYDER. . embarked in the EwoR.ADO O'r other headquarterl CONNOLLY HEMMINGEa STZllN ~hip. Initially a radar picket group was composed C.OSS HENRY A. WIUY SWE:AJtEJl '. Of one FD (figliter-director) destroyer and tflJo LCS CaoUTEll LA PllADIt TIUS IUpportJ. Each LCS was stationed one third the D. M. CUMMINCS LERAy WILSON TISDALE distance to an adjacent radar picket station to in EDMONDS MANLOVE VAMMEN McCUt.L.AND WALTEJl C. WANN crease the probability of detection of low-flying EISELE Mrnvll!lt WESSON planes and barge or other surface movement along ENGl..ANI> FAD. OBDlRENDD. WHITEHURST the island chain. In case of cHad the supports FIEBDLDfG O'NEILL WIUMARTB closed the radar picket for mutual protection. Thil FINNEGAN PAUL G. B.uu Wnn:a formation ",as later changed, and the LC~s flier, FLEMING R.ALL WM. C. Cou . "ationed with the pidet as close supflO'rts. FOIlEKAH 1l.. W. SUESEHI Will. SElvD.LING 471 , _r. .1~ linea. CouIOUH was ltill afloat when the ship abe had desautel. were in the vortex of this Kamila. ... cried to save went under. . Dado. About five houn later CaLHoUN, henelf. went UD troyer-acon WHITDlUUT was hit. Destra,er der. Wilson fought to save her as he had fought to STANLY was hit by a demented "Ba/ut.'· Destroyer. save Ciu:vAUDl. But the battle proved hopeless. AfteT r;;escon !:mDLE was hit. Destroyer CAssIN YOUNQ was the fourth O'.uh, Wilson had decided to abandon ship .. hit. Destroyer~rt RAu. was hit. Destroyer Pl1'lDy eXcept for a skeleton aew. When CAssIN YOUNC a~ . was hjt. And one of the fint to be Itruck was de- proached. she was told that CoLHOUN could hold on .troyer MANNDlT L. ABElL. for a time, and she was urged to hunt for BUSH sur She was hit by two suiciders. The fint, a Kamilttlz~ vivors. LCS-S4 stood by CoLHOUN to remove some of came screaming at her about 1445. Plunging through the. crew. Theii YOUNG cried to tow, but the line fusillades of AA fire, the plane smashed into the de parted. Electrical fires broke out. By 2300 the sea was stroyer'. .tarboard side. The blast wiped out the sizzling over the . r~ot griddle of the main deck. after engine-room, hurling men and machinery Ik.y and the ship had listed heavily to starboard. Leaving ward. Sixty seconds later, what was believed to be OIl the charred and mangled bodies of slain shipmates to . "Balta.. Imashed into the ship's Itarboard side, (or• man her to the last, the CoLHOUN party finally went . ward, blowing up the forward fireroom. overside. . The double blasting broke the ship's back, and Rescue ves.5els were waiting. The darkness closed with her starboard side smashed in. she was IOc>n in around the abandoned desttoyer. CAssIN YOUNG swamped. MI:LE'S captain, Commander A. E. Parker. stood off to bury her with gunfire. About 2330 the had the satisraction of knowing that the destroyer', hull broke up. and COLHOUN went down. wrapped guns had shot down two of the attack.ing Kamikaus. in a shroud of steam. Down with her she took the But that was slim recompense for the loss of a new bodies of one officer and S4 men, Some 295 of the desttoyer. The vessel's main deck was awash almost crew, inclUding 21 wounded, survived the sinking. immediately after the Olta smash. Three minUln Endorsing Commander Wilson's Action Report, later she went under. Captain Moosbrugger wrote: "The entire peTform In those three minutes Lieutenant George L. \Va}' ance 0/ COLHOUN . during her last action, including packed enough action for a lifetime. Blown ovenide 'shooting,' damage control, and handling of personnel by the "Baka" bl.ut, Way caught a line and clambered to minimize losses, is an outstanding example 0/ fight back on board the sir,k.ing ship. One minute gone. ing spirit and combat efficien".- He spent the next sixty seconds rounding up all able hands forward. and setting them to work cutting Loss 0/ VoS.s. M.znnert L. Abele loose and launching life rafts. Two minutes gone. A , Death stalked desttoyer MANN'DlT L. ABELE in the fraction of the third minute he spent in opening the afternoon of April 12, 1945, while the ship stood hatch above the passageway to the plotting room-3n radar picket duty af her post off Okinawa. exit for the men in that cubicle. Then he flung him That was the day Franklin D. Roosevelt died, and seU at the pon hatch of the forward engine·room. A the enemy thought to make capital of the tragedy dog 'W2S jammed. Somewhere Way snatched a crow· which stunned the Allied world. .BanZl1:-i! A great blitz bar-a hammer-something. Pounding and wrench· by the Special A ttack Corps while the ~erian na ing, he succeeded in breaking off the dog. Time WaJ tion was in mourning~ A mo~ter suicide aSsault to ticking; the main deck 'W2S aw.uh. Way swung open celebrate the death of the Amman President. the hatch as wavelets lapped and splashed at the So the Kamilulzes c3me, about 200 strong. With combjng. Out of the prisoned darkness below, and them they brought the QIul-the madman', idiot little onto the current-swept deck came pale, grease brother. The noonday ·"'1 was blue. and sunshine smeared men-ten who had been trapped-ten who flecked the sea with gold. Then, all in a breath, the were released from death. Time was up. But three sky was spattered with shrapnel bursts and the sea minutes were enough for Lieutenant George L. Way. scape was gouged by explosions, smudged with smoke. A Jap plane dropped a bomb squarely in the center stteak.ed with oil. and cluttered with debril.. of a large group of swimming lurvivors, and those Seventeen times the luiciden lauck. Seventeen who lived through this blasting found themselves raids in which crazed Kamilulu:s and idiot Olta Itruggling in a sludge of oil and blood.. Lieutenant flung themselves upon the Ameri.can ship- off the (jg) John Eo Bermer. ship's Medical Officer, worked Okinawa &hore. In that fiery lCmpest battleship TDfo va1i.antly Over the wounded on the rafts and in the . NZSStt was .aud. So w.u battleship IDAHO. So were water. Seventy-three of the destroyer'. crew were 10lt smaller vesseh working near the beach. Aa usual. in the linking; the fatali,ties would have been coo- 476 .., ------.,. Ito .. bewildering free-for-all of aerial dogfights and cr~matorium. But her captain, Commander I. E. Mc ash-dive attacks. At 1759 NEWCOMB'S radar spotted . Millian, and his equally stout crew hung on. With nearing ~nemy. A moment later the destroyer's look. them hung Captain R. N. Smoot, ComOcsRon 56, IltS saw the aircraft skimming in across the water. bent on saving his shattered flagship. 'he AA guns roared; fragments of metal were flicked Destroyer LEUTZE (Lieutenant L. Grabowsk}) im 'om the plane; but the aircraft came on like a streak- mediately steamed to NEWCOMB'S aid. boldly going 19 shadow. and smashed into the destroyer's after alongside the burning wreck. Hoses were passed (or :ad. The ship slowed rapidly as steam whistled from ward, and preparations were being made to pass them Ilptured boilers. Fire broke out in the upper han aft when a fifth Kamikaze hurtled down (rom the sky. ling room of a 5-inch battery. An accurate VT projectile burst under the plane's As NE ..... COMB·S crew was fighting battle damage, a left wing and tilted it just enough to send it sk.idding ~cond Jap plane came in on the starboard bow. This across LEUTZ.E·S fantail, where it exploded with a Ben ace was shot down at a range of 6,000 yards. The~ huge detonation. The ship immediately lost steering third plane,' which had followed the first one in control, and her torn stern settled in the water. Able rom the ..... est. crashed the destroyer amidships near to make about five knots, she succeeded in getting be torpedo workshop. The explosion stopped the clear of NEWCOMB, and standing off to fight her own lestroyer dead in the sea. Both engine-rooms and the damage. Topside ..... eights were hastily jettisoned, but Jter fireroom were blown into scrap. The after stack., by 18~0 LEUTZE'S fantall was awash. "Am in serious )Oth torpedo mounts, all of the amidship super danger of sinking," she signalleci N:C:WCOMB, "am pull .trucrure, 40 mm. mounts, and magazines disinte ing away." Torpedoes went overside. Oepth charges p-ated in crimson eruption. And at that critical went overside. Fuel went o\·erside. And by 1900 the noment a fourth Kamika:e slammed into the for crew had won the battle for buoyancy. Minesweeper ward stlCk., showering the molten wreckage with OEFENSE towed Grabowsky's ship into Kerama Retto. ~soline. She was n(lt the first lifesaver to come \,·ithin an inch \Virhin 11 short minutes NEWCOMB had been re of losing her life while playing Good Samaritan. duced frem a warship to a furnace, a wallowing \Vhile LEUT2E was limping away, destroyer BEALE ------*------~------ DESTROYER AND DESTROYER-ESCORTS DAJ..fAGED AT OKINAWA Ship Commanding Officer Date Damage Casualties Killed Wounded KnIBERt. Y (DO) Comdr. J. D. Whitfield March 26 Major 57 PORTERFIELD (DO) Comdr. D. W. Wulzen March 27 Minor " 1 MURRAY (00) Comdr. P. L. de Vos March 27 Major 1 ., O'BRIEN (DO) Comdr. W. W. Outerbridge March 27 Major 10 76 FOR.E.MA.'1 (OE) Lt. Comdr. W. ). Carey. Jr. March 27 Minor 1 AprilJ Major FIANItS (DD) Comdr; D. R. Stephan April 2 Major 2 (Captain fatally wounded) ;.hICHEI"f (DD) Comdr. C. E. Bowley AJn'il J Major July 29 Minor - 2 1 ~EWCOMlJ (DD) Comdr. 1. E. McMillian April 6 Major 40 '1 '-" ....."" ,ri"4<.· ... ;~.· ~ L£l'TZE (DO) Lt. L. Grabowsky April 6 Major 8 30 ,MULLANY (00) Comdr. A. O. Momm AJn'i16 Major 30 36 ;' HOWORTH (00) Comdr. E. S. Bums April 6 Major 9 14 :HYMAN (00) Comdr. R. N. Norgaard April 6 Major 11 41 tMORRIS (DO) Lt. Comdr. R. 'P. Wheelt:f' April 6 Major 12 4' , . fHAJUtlSON (00) Comdr. W. V. Combs April 6 Minor ,. I j HAYNSWORTH (DD) Comdr. S. N. Tackney April 6 Major 12 27 i ~ FIEBEllING (DE) , Comdr. E. E. Lull AJn'i16 Minor I 487 0~t'1.I tP~v]I F./ ./),. .. ~ ~ AJ__ _ T/..~ Uh 1f!t ~ DESTROYERS JJND DESTROYER·ESCORTS DJJMJJGED .4T OKIN.4WJJ (Ctmtinwd) Shill Commanding Officer Dote DtJm4ge CtJSualties Killed Wounded WESSON (DE) Lt. Comdr. H. SeaTS, V.5.N.L .4Jwi11 Major 8 2, BENNE1T (DO) Comdr. J. N. McDonald .4pril·1 Major 3 11 GUCOllY (DD) Comdr. Bnu:e McCandless .4pril8 Major 2 CHAJU.E.S J. BADGD. (DD) Comdr. J. H. Cotten .4pri19 Major MANLOVE (DE) Lt. Comdr. E. P. Foster, Jr., V.5.N.L April 11 Minor 1 10 KmD (DO) Comdr. H. C. MOMe Allril11 Major 38 HANX (DD) Comdr. G. M. Chambers April 11 MinM J "1 HALE (DD) Comdr. D. W. Wilson April 11 MinM 2 " :,. ...: : .- WHITEHURST (DE) Lt. J. C. Horton, U.5.N.a. April 12 MajM 31 17 , ' BENNION (DD) Comdr~ R. H. Holmu April 12 MiflDf' 1 6 April 30 MinM STANLY (I)D) Lt. Comdr. R. S. HarIan Atrril12 Medium J VRIDDU: mEl Lt. Comdr. F. P. Steele. V.5.N.a. Allril 12 Medium 1 9 CASSIN YOUNG (DD) Comdr. J. W. Ailes, 111 April 12 Majo,. 1 59 R..u.L (DE) Lt. Comdr. C. B. TaylOf', U.S.N'" April 12 MajM 21 38 pUJU)Y (DO) Comdr. F. L. Johman April 12 MajOf' lJ .s8 SIGSBEE (DD) Comdr. G. P. Chunghoon April 14 Major J is McDEJlMUT (DD) Comdr. C. B. Jennings April 16 Major 2 3J LAFFEY (DD) Comdr. F. J. Becton April 16 Major 32 71 BOWERS (DE) Lt. Comdr. C. F. Highfield, V.s.N.R. April 16 MajOf' 48 59 (many fatally) BRYANT (DD) Comdr. C. C. Sea1 April 16 .MaiOf' 34 JJ . WADSWORTH (DD) Comdr. R. D. Fwseiman April 22 MinOf' 1 AMMEN (DD) Comdr. J. H. BrUflln April 21 MinOf' 8 IsHERWOOD (DD) Comdr. L. E. Schmidt April 27 Major 42 41 HUTaUNS (DD) Lt. Comdr. A. R. Olsen April 6 MinM 1 J April 27 Major 18 R.ALPR TALBOT (DD) Comdr. W. S. Bro7l1n, V.S.N.L April 27 MaiOf' 5 . 9 DALY (DO) Comdr. R. R. Bradley, Jr. April 28 MinM J JJ TWIGGS (DD) Comdr. G. Philip, Jr. . JJpr;1 28 MajOf' No data HAGGARD (DD)· Lt. Comdr. 1'. J. Soballe April 29 MajM 11 40 HAzLEWOOD (DD) Comdr. P. P. I!OWJI .4pri129 MajM 46 26 (Including Captain) HUDSON (DO) Comdr. R. R. Pratt Allril22 Minor 1 May 4 MajOf' . ENGLAND (DE) Lt. J. A. Williamson. V.5.N.L May 9 MaiOf' 34 30 EVANS (OD) Comdr. R. J. Archn May 11 MajOf' 31 29 HOOH W. HADLEY (DD} Comdr. B. J. Mullane'1 May 11 MajM 28 .67 BACHE (DD) Lt. Comdr. JJ. R. McFarland MaylJ MajOf' 41 J2 JOHN C. Bt1Tl.EIt (DE) Lt. Cmdr. J. E. Pace Ma,20 Medium J Dot1GLAS H. Fox (DD) Comdr. R. M. Pita May 17 MajOf' 9 CoWELL (DD) Comdr. C. L. Wertl May 21 Min Of' - "2 STORMES (DO) Comdr. W. N. W,lie May 2' Major 21 16 ANTHONY (DD) Comdr. C. J. Yandntlall. Jr. May 27 MinOf' June ., Minor , BIlAINE (DD) Comdr. W. W. Fitls Ma,27 Major '0 18 SHU.lUa (DD) Lt. Comdr. J. C. JoU, Ml1'1 29 Major 32 28 .fBB • Dll$TB.OrU JUT. nlU7' Dll$TltOrU IUTa nIUT acOB.T COIUUSSlONED COJlJl~DlNG IlSCOB.T COIIJI1SSlONED. COMMANDING OFF1CEll. O,.FICEB. fIamua Iw, I. IHJ U. Cdr. C. lL Si_-. TIIoKAJaIe Dee. 10. IHJ U. C4r. C. IJ. Hera",,,,,,, CIIAIa Iw, II. IHJ U. CfIr. Y. IJ. Slaecl«Ur. V.s.N.R. V.s..N.R. JCJeDAM Dee. 17. IHJ U. Cdr. "red C. BilUnr. Lucoc ....,. I. IHJ U. Cd,. E. C. WoocIwcrd V.s.N.R. LoT SeiJl. lZ,I90 Lt. Cdr. lama Y. Bnlid N&WXAIt NIIrI. 21, IHJ U. Cdr. W. C. Meyer. BAuD Oct. 10. IHJ U. E. T. IJ. Sulln- V.s.N.R. l.KYY M., IJ,IHJ Cdr.F,anA W. Schmidt l.mIu Dec. I.IHJ U. Cdr.lL M. HincAlry, Jr. MceoNiGu. M., 28, 194J Cdr. DmniJ D. Hu"'phrt:'}s. bPIwa la. 7,1944 U. Cdr. I. H. Cammam. V.s.N.R. U.s.N.R. 0InuwIa IUM 12. I~IJ Cdr. B.. H. Gr06. U.5.N.R. eon. la. 1',1944 U . ... P. Chain. U.s.N A. PAUl Jura. 22, IHJ U. Cdr. M. JI~tUlAi", 1.LDm 1'.6. 11, IH4 U. Cdr. P. N. Garurru1r",d. U.s.NR. U.s.N.R.. BAaoN lul, J.I94J U. Cdr. Dorual4 McYicUr, Orn:a '.6.2I,IH4 U. Cdr. D. M. Kerr. U.s.N.R. U.s.N.R.. Acu:a I,", I'. IHJ Lt.· Cdr. W. H. ~Uftd, HUDoUD Mar. I.IH4 U. Cdr. L. C. Mablt:'}, u.s.N.R. U.s.N.R.. AMICK. JU? .26. IHJ Lt. Cdr. ,. C. MeCUM JlAYIDL Mar. 16. IH4 Lt. Cdr. H. I. Theriault. A'I1IUION Au,. 29. IHJ Lt. Paul L. Ma",eU./r.. U.s.NR. U.s.N.R. Wru.u.M T. Mar. 28.IHI Lt. J. L. Davenport. Boors Sept. 19. IHJ Lt. Cdr. DonGld W. Todd PowD.l. U.s.NA. CAuou. ~ct. 24. 194J Lt. Cdr. Fredericlt. W. KUM ScotT I,", %O,IHJ U. CdT. C. S. Kirlcpatriclr. Coom:a Au,. 21. IHJ Lt. Cdr. J. M. StUlUt U.s.V.R. EuIaJJIC& Au,. 27. IHJ Lt. Charles R. Hamill_. Buau ..",. 20, IHJ Lt. Cdr. Ed";" K. Win"• U.s.N.R.. U.s.NA. ·M.un S~. J.IHJ Lt. C. M. Fellows, U.5.N.R. EI'WCHT Sept. 21. I!HJ Lt. Cdr. A. Wildnn ·PvfNr;wJU. Sept. H. IHJ Lt. 1. E. Allen. U.s.N.R.. CoouAUCH Oa.H,IHJ U. Cdr. L. S. Kintbnger MICKA Sept. 2J. IHJ Lt. John C. S~ncer DAUY Nov. H, IHJ C.dr. D. D. Humphrt"Js. ·RLYJIOU) Sept. 29.1HJ Lt. Cdr. A. B. BrlJ4ley, Jr., U.s.N.R. U.s.N.R. J. DoUCLAS Bua,. Jon. 11. IHJ Cdr. R. B. Rlmdolph. ·Hazoc oa. 6.194J Lt. Cdr. J. C. Toft, Jr.. WOOD u.s.V.R. U.5.N.R. hA,'IIC:U M. 11.08'1'1' Jan. H. 1'14 Lt. J. E. Johansen, ·McANN Oct. 11, 19/J Cdr. C. F. HooPer, U.s.lll.R. ION U.s.V.R. TaliM.ETU Oct. 16. IHJ Cdr. J. R. Lilchfield. Soua Feb. H, 1914 Lt. Cdr. H. A. Hull. U.s ..V.R. U.5_V.R. SnAva Od.2J.I9/J Lt. Cdr. J. T. Kilbnth, Jr•• FOWLD Mar. IS. IHI Lt. Cdr. G. S. I. Forde. U.s.N.R. u.s_v.n. GusrAnON HOP.I.IHJ Cdr, Herm.,. Reich. SPAHCVlBEIIG AItril11, 19# Lt. T. H. P. Whitnry, U.s~R. U.s ..VA. SAMt1D.S.Mn.a NOP.4.194J Lt. Cdr. G. B. Cool •• AWDDOW 14.., lS. IH1 Lt. Cdr. M. W. Gret!TIough, U..s.N.R. U.s.N.R. WUSON Hop. Il, 194J Lt. Cdr. C. F. HClnmeyer, DAY IUM 10. IH# Lt. Cdr. K. E. Read., U.5.NR. U.s.NA. V 1lUlIIu Nov. 17.194J Lt. Cdr. ROfI4ld H. Crllmn, CR.unz May 9.1944 Lt. Cdr. A. C. Jont!'!. U.s.N.R. ... U.s.N.R. HODCD M", n.IHl Lt. Cdr. Y. B. Stll4declcer, SWLUD. Nw. 24. JHJ Lt. K. N. Han_. U..s.N.R. U..s ..VA. Sn:u O«.I.I!HJ Lt. Cdr. J. R. HintOfl, Jr.. SnwBT 11.., Jl, IIIJ U. Cdr. IJ. C. ~"mer. u.s.N.R. U.s.N.R. O'NEILL Dec. 6, I!HJ Lt. D. S. BiU, Jr. 5T1lll"rDAHr I"ne 16. I!HJ U. Cdr. Fntleric W. Hawel BaoNnmc Du. 11. IHJ LL SheldMa" H. Ki"neJ Moou 1,",I,IIlJ Lt. Cdr. Hm" P. Michieu. BAua Dec. V. JHJ Lt. Cdr. L. IJ. LockIIIood. V.s.N.R. u.s.N.R. bIB lul,19.IHJ LL DrwJIoft Cochran. CoITllAM 0«. n. I!HJ Lt. Cdr. W. II. Pu'""", U.s.N.R. U.s.N.R. TOIOCII 1,",26.IHJ Lt. HIIdJ4i A. Hull. EIsNI:a I .... I.IHI Lt. Cdr. Oould JlcYicl&r, U.s.N.R. U.s.N.R. J. JlJaIAD WAD lu? " JIIJ u. D .... Smith. U.s.N.R. ~TimIl.U 1-. H.IH4 U. Cdr. B.. G. Wenter, Orramrrra Au,.I.· IHJ U. Cdr. W. B. Porler U.s.N.R. SLoAT A..,. 16. I!HJ U. Cdr. E. E.. GGrdo WINQDJ..» 1-. 28. IHI Lt. C•• 1I0f11H1f'd E. PtmIJ. SItoWllDf Au,. IJ, 191' 1L Cdr. A. J«/uon, Jr. V.s.N.R. U.s.NR. THO&.NRD.L ,.,It.I.I!H4 U. 1. IJ. ShU";"". V.s.N.R. ST.urroN "u,. 7, I!HJ Lt. Cdr. C. S. &rlt.er. Jr. Jt.JN1lIAU ".6.12.19# Lt. P. W. Cf'OUCIa. Ir. SWAlE1' "u,. JI, IHJ Lt. II. M. Godsey, U.s.N.R. lloc:::RK ,.,6. 21. IHI Lt. R. E.. Parler, U.s.N.R. MA '01 ",.. Sel't. I. I!HJ Lt. Cdr. C. I. LYftCh, l.oYa.AcK NfIIIII. 7. IHJ C4r. B.. D. DeK..,. V.s.N.R. U.s.C.G. MANNIHG Oct. I. I!HJ Lt. J. I. JiirtP7, U.s.N.R. BuaT ....,. H.IHJ U. Cdr. IJrd II. Brallier, NIlUbDOU Oct. I1.IHJ U. Cdr. J. N. IIcDould U.s.C.G. J.wa L CIwI: Nw. I. IHJ. U. Cdr. H. II. E.riasora CAMP Sef1l.II. IHJ CfIr. P. IJ. MIIIIIM. U.s.C.C. ~ NfIIIII. 17. IIIJ Lt. Celr. N. H~U BowAD D. QIDw SeiJl. n. IHJ LL Cdr. D. T. Adoml. u.s.C.C. '48