Tlvo Years and Four Escorts By W. Donald Hanlon

W. Donald Hanlon (1922-2016) was bom in Syracuse, Jones and Al Baum) and somehow or other. we must have NY. After graduating from Syracuse University in 1943, gotten real patriotic and decided that we should look into Don enrolled in the Navy and served on four destroyer joining the U.S. Navy. It was only a few days later when escort USS JOHNNIE HUTCHINS (DE-360). we were headed fbr Rochester where there was a Naval USS WYFFELS (DE-6), USS OLIVER MITCHELL (DE- Reserve office. We went through all of the necessary 417), and USS KEITH (DE-241)-from 1944 to 1946, forms and physical examination necessary for joining the earning the rank of Lieutenant. With encouragement from Naval Reserve. It was only a short while later that we were his children, he wrote the following autobiographical notified that we would be sent to officer training facilities account of his experience in the Navy. with Ace Jones going to Columbia University and Al Baum and I being assigned to Annapolis for 4 months of mid- shipman training in preparation for becoming naval offi- Because of the Big War (a name used for the war at that cers. My parents thought that this was a very imponant time), our program at Syracuse University was accelerated and patriotic program. by scheduling classes during the summer of 1943 and mov- ing graduation up to the end of 1943. Our group at Annapolis was assigned to a wing in Bancroft Hall and the regular navy midshipman didn't Harold Smith and I had accepted job offers from an oil have much use for us. The f'eeling was somewhat mutual company in Texas, name unknown after all these years, and slnce our groups were comprised of college graduates I to were making plans accordingly. Harold's plans were 4 years older than the regulars. We all ate in the main din- somewhat diff'erent than mine because he had recently ing hall with our group having its own section. It was manied his childhood sweetheart. interesting to see that some of the first year regulars lagged behind when headrng for the dining hall so that rheir own It was only a few days later when I found myself in the section would already be filled and they would then spill SU campus Orange Grill having a beer and talking with over into our section, where we would feed them royally. ,.Ace" two non-chemical engineering colleagues (Bob Furthermore, as plebes in our section, these fellows did not

Don's first destroyer escorl, IJSS DE-360. have to participate in the usual hazing where they might, of the rest rooms. Fortunately, about 4 hours later, the con for example, have to change places by going under the ductor was on the ball and transferred me to a warm bunl table and taking their chairs with them. sleeper where the occupant had reached his goal. I was ir New Orleans overnight and had an excellent dinner in i The regulars at the Academy had periodic night duty very nice setting at the Court of the Three Sister responsibilities and would on occasion unknowingly come Restaurant. over into our area and call us to attention for a room inspection. The response was somewhat negative and we The next moming, I was on a train again headed fo suggested in various forms of English that they go away Orange, Texas. I arrived in Orange on schedule and imme and not bother us. diately headed to the Naval Base only to find that JOHN NIE HUTCHINS was already underway and backing dowr I will never forget the day when our detail went in sec- about 15 feet from the dock. DE-360 was headed fo tions to the indoor swimming pool where we had to pass a Galveston, Texas. The staff at Orange came to my rescu( test, which required swimming across the pool underwater. immediately and arranged for one of their station wagonr For some reason or other, one of the many ensigns assigned to take me immediately about 90 miles along the coas to our group had led us to the pool for the test and then toward Galveston to a landing where DE-360 could picl decided to have one of us lead the group back. Well, the me up. fellow who had been assigned the responsibility was doing a great job right up until we approached our building, After I boarded, we proceeded to Galveston for a shor which was Bancroft Hall. As we arrived at Bancroft Hall, stay and enjoyment of the city. Recalling that Harold Smitl our fearless leader yelled out "Squad...", which was the and I had accepted engineering positions with an oil com prep command for stopping. It tumed out that according to pany in this area of Texas before I had decided to join thr the ensign, this was not a squad and therefore not the cor- Navy, I began a search with the hope of finding the Smiths rect command. We kept marching while our leader tried The search was successful and we had an enjoyable ge other prep commands, which also failed. When we started together at their home for an interesting review of ou going through the bushes and on to the roadway, our frus- respective experiences during the past year. trated leader turned to the ensign and shouted, "Ah shit, sir, I can't stop them. You had better take over." Well, the After a short stay at Galveston, DE-360 departed for i effect was beyond description, and even the ensign had shakedown assignment at . This was quite ar trouble maintaining his professional appearance. interesting experience and especially so when considerinl that it was about the time that acoustic torpedoes werr Our class graduated from Annapolis on August 23, introduced into . These torpedoes werr 1944. Dad, and Mom came down from Syracuse for the attracted to noise and as a result would head for the pro ceremony with Aunt Mae. It was an emotional day for all pellers, or screws, of any targeted vessels. Another ensigr the families, with the big parade and the Navy Band play- and I were very sensitive to the potential with acoustic tor ing. There was not a dry eye anywhere.

After graduation, I left Annapolis and returned to Syracuse while awaiting my next orders. My first active assignment following Annapolis was to the new (DE) U.S.S. JOHNNIE HUTCHINS (DE-360), which was built in Orange, Texas. I left Syracuse by train and upon arriving in found that the New York Central had lost my entire luggage. I was immediate- ly taken to one of the largest warehouses I had ever seen and to the internal area where my luggage might be. Fortunately after about 2 hours, I sighted my luggage on top of one of the hundreds of piles and immediately rushed, with luggage, to the next train headed for New Orleans.

The next run was also quite interesting in that the sleep- er reservation was already occupied and I ended up in one Don Hanlon in 1914 and 2016. page 4 {-'.- \- -,t

Don's second , tne eraisias" 0W. pedoes since our stateroom was located right in the stem had seen for transportation to . There was some of the ship, directly over the screws. concem about the take-off on that flight.

During this shakedown cruise, a land based officer I reported on board WYFFELS in the Boston harbor who had requested some short-term sea duty for the extra where preparation had started for the next p-ay potential had assign_ been assigned to our ship for this project. ment. was I assigned to the Engineering staff, bui also had He was also bunked in our stateroom and as a result we deck duty assignments as a Junior Officer the didn't see much of him unless of Deck we were in the wardroom up (JOOD) for the convoy forward run to the Mediterranean. Convoy where he spent all of his time day and night. runs can be exciting and this one was, at times until we passed Gibraltar. We did, however, have a sub contact in Bermuda was an interesting place and we had a great the Mediterranean and depth charges time there when port were dropped all visits were necessary. Upon comple_ over the area, tion but without a confirmation. The htmeport of our shakedown assignment, we headed for the for the convoy screen was Oran, Algeria. The big event States and the tail end of a hurricane, in which was quite Oran was a two-handed touch severe and football game bet-ween the responsible for the sinking of a destroyer. We officers and crew. The game was somewhat of a toss_up brought about 40-50 survivors who had been picked up by was occasionally, for some reason an into Norfoh. lndJhere or other, some hard hitting at the line of scrimmage. We left Norfolk york and headed for New City where Somehow four of received us were able to borrow a jeep and I orders transferring me to the U.S. Naval drive inland to the town of Sidi-bel_Abbes (Algeria) where Training Center in Miami, Florida. For the last day at the we had lunch at a Oranian military club. Florida training center, I was scheduled for an atandon ship exercise, which required a jump into the ocean from a Our retum convoy trip to the United States was some_ platform 35 ft above the water levei. However, at 10 D.m. what normal with occasional contacts on the day that had to be inves_ before the exercise, I received orders to pro;eed tlgated enroute. The convoy speed was set by the speed immediately to the airport for transportation of to assignment the slowest ships and these declarations on the USS at time; were WYFFELS (DE-6). which had BostJn as a somewhat questionable in emergency situations. As we homepon. Just prior to take-off from Miami on a naval air approached the sea buoys on the transport, everything return trip to the United stopped and we leamed that this States and there flight were reports of a sub in the area, it was had to take one of the largest diesel engines that I page 5 amazing to see convoy ships exceeding their declared Pacific region with an ultimate assignment to the USI speeds by l0-157o. OLIVER MITCHELL (DE-417).

At this point in time, I think rhat it would be worth- Our first stop was in Hawaii on l0 June where I spen while to try and describe the rolling and pitching action of a couple ofdays before heading on to Ulirhi in the Carolinr a destroyer escort in anything other than calm seawater. In Islands. While in Hawaii, I met another navy man and wr windy rough weather with high waves, a DE is very much decided to hitch hike around Oahu. We finally picked up i like a bucking bronco. One of the best illustrations of the ride with a military vehicle and after a short distance real potential for this activity occurred during the evening meal ized that the two fellows in the front of the vehicle werr when the captain was sitting at the end of the table in a talking in German. Subsequently, we found out that theJ strapped-in chair when we took a real roll and the soup were German prisoners of war. bowl in the middle pocket of the table flew into the air on a line with the captain and into his lap where he was har- On l8 June, I reported aboard the USS BEGOR (APD nessed to the chair. 121) for further transportation toward the OLIVEtr MITCHELL. On 3 Juty we arrived at to await mon Boston and New York City were great homeports for transportation. Things were rather dull in Ulithi and liberty. At the time we were in Boston, Perry Como was learned how to play chess in my spare time. there and the entertainment was great. In New York City we had no problem with reservations for dining and enter- On 9 July, I reported to the USS CALIENTE (AO-53 tainment areas at the best hotels. I can recall one night in for transportation toward OLIVER MITCHELL. I war New York City when we were at the end of a long waiting transferred again to the destroyer USS TAYLOR on 2j line for one of the dining and dancing rooms at a large July. If anyone should be interested in an exciting transfe: hotel and the manager took our group from the WYFFELS from ship to ship while at sea, I can highly recommend tht past the entire line to ringside tables at the dance floor. use of a breeches buoy.

On l0 May1945,I received orders to proceed by train Finally, on 30 July, I was transferred again to my ulti to and report to the Commander of mate assignment with rhe uss OLIVER MITCHELL (DI Destroyer's Pacific Fleet while awaiting further assign- 417), which was one of the screening DE's operating witl ment on another Destroyer Escort (DE). This trip was an aircraft carrier (Hunter Killer groups) in the 5tn fleet of quite interesting right from the beginning in Syracuse. To the coast of Japan. start out, an arrny private and a navy wave were assigned to the same sleeping bunk. It took a few miles ofjoking The first atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima and laughter to sraighten that problem out. Japan on August 6,1945 and the second atomic bomb war dropped on Nagasaki on August 9. I can well remembet It wasn't long after that problem when I met an army the day when our communications officer came down fron sergeant who had to make this San Francisco run quite fre- the bridge and into the wardroom with a puzzled look or quently. Over a period of time, he had become quite famil- his face and a question: "What the hell is an A-bomb?" iar with the stops on this trip and the location of the nearest bar at each station. It turned out to be quite an interesting In the fall of 1945 our ship was sent to . . Thir and enjoyable trip. sounded like the opportune time to find out if the 53ro CB! might be in this area since my brother, Ray, was in thir Upon arrival in San Francisco and while waiting fur- group. Subsequently I discovered that they were and locat ther orders for the Pacific, I reported in and was assigned ed not too far from our port. to a BOQ (Bachelor Officers Quarters) in an existing hotel managed by the U.S. Navy. The stay in San Francisco was I hitchhiked a ride with a fighter pilot who was drivinl very enjoyable with plenty of sightseeing and entertain- some sort of vehicle fabricated from plane parts. This fel. ment. San Francisco is a great city and there were many low.knew the area and dropped me off very close to thr lounges with the best at the "Top of the Mark" at the Mark 53ro's location. It took me only a few minutes to find ou Hopkins Hotel. where the Cook & Baker's Detail was located. And fortu. nately, when I arrived, Ray was inside the tent. As yor I received orders on 4 June 1945 to proceed to the USS might expect, we had a great reunion and I was 'shocked Saugus (LSV-4) in San Francisco for transportation to the to find a still in the tent. We had a great time reviewing our page 6 respecrrve expenences befbre I left fbr the hishwav and Shanghi and we visited as many as we could when on shore hirehhiked brck ro OLTVER MITCHELL. leave. We also had riot squad duty in Shanghi and this can be a well-remembered experience. Traveling in a riot van On 26 December 1945 I was transf'er.red from USS at 20 - 30 miles per hour in narrow alleyways with I _2 foot OLIVER MITCHELL (DE 4I7) to the USS KEITH (DE clearzrnce on each side can make a lasting impression. It 241). Our filst assi,enntent was to head for the East was not uncommon to have sorne of out. cl-ew retum to the Sea ofT the Yangtze River effluent wher.e there was a siz_ ship after Iiber.ty by arran_eing rickshaw races. I can well remember the day when one of our crew who was loosing his lace jumped out of the r.ickshaw. put the Chinese runnei into the rickshaw and took over the runner assignment. When runnin,e down the ramp at the river with th" i...u._ ing rickshaw runner still in the rickshaw, the cr.ew member oul ambitious rifle squads. dropped the tines which hit the cross bars on the ramp and sent the scleamin,g rickshaw ruuner up into the air and out I also well remember the day when I was the Officer of into the Hwangpoo River. the Deck and we were cruising through a supposedly swept area only to have one of our lookouts spot a floating n.rine dead Lrhcad ol us. With a vely minor tnanerrver lnd a prayer I Llg. we missed the mine by about 3 feer. We turned immediately and desh.oyed that problem with great plea_ sure.

On one of our natval cruises up the coast of China, we had anchored over.night off shore. During that evening two of our seaman who had bought souvenir swords in

would expect, thel.e were many excellent restaurants in

Don's third ship, the Bu er ctass IJSS OLTVER MTTCHELL DE_4j7. pugc 7 he forced the weaponless sailor to jump over the side into In the spring of 1946, we received orders to retum to the fairly rough sea. There wasn't much hope for this fel- the United States where our home base was the Charleston low, but somehow or other he was saved by the whale boat Navy Yard in South Carolina. On August 1 , 1946, I crew and returned to the ship. received my detachment orders and was directed to pro- ceed to the U.S. Naval Separation Center in New York City On another cruise, we visited and anchored in for my release to inactive duty and the use of accumulated the port of Inchon, which has one of the highest tides in the leave until September 21 , 1946. world (about 27 ft). A train ride from Inchon took us to the very interesting interior city of Seoul. Ghairman's Report - cont'd Know of our gratitude for your unwavering loyalty and At this time I was the Chief Engineering Officer with support! You have enabled us to have our ship overhauled, the responsibility for the power, mechanical, and electrical and, in 2020, return to the shipyard for additional work. systems. In addition, however, I was also a deck officer with the qualifications for handling the ship underway and We have the best-preserved histolic ship in America, this was also very interesting and challenging. I will never due to your financial support, careful leadership by our forget the day when the captain assigned me the responsi- Executive Director, Tim Rizzuto, and the many volunteers bility for taking KEITH up the Yangtze and the Hwangpoo who maintain our ship daily! Rivers and alongside another D.E. at the anchorage site. Fortunately, he had the confidence that he could handle any Please do not hesitate to contact us should you have emergency if necessary, but everything went according to any questions about this important and exciting develop- the book. ment.

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Don's last shiD. the Edsall class USS KEITH DE-241 . page 8