His Pearl Harbor Death Was Highly Exaggerated-- Part 11: His Old "Prune Barge" At Saipan With Him

In June 1944, James Hamlin and his ship, the USS La Salle landed troops on Saipan.

His old ship, the battleship USS California, now repaired, was also there bombarding the island.  It was the first time he had seen his old ship since Pearl Harbor.  Hamlin hollered through his tears, "Go get 'em Prune Barge!"

During his time in the Pacific, James Hamlin won five battle stars in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and then was shipped stateside in 1944 and was master-at-arms at the Navy Shore Patrol in Chicago when the war in the Pacific ended September 2, 1945.

He left the Navy in 1946 and lived with Almyra until her death in 1997.  They'll be together eventually again at Paducah's Mount Kenton Cemetery.

According to Hamlin he doesn't have a grudge against the Japanese even though they sank two ships from under him.  "They were just following orders like we were.  I don't hate them, and I hope they don't hate me either."

Quite a Story.  --GreGen