As I said at the conclusion of the last post, the transfer of the USS Juneau's medical crew to the USS San Francisco at this time was very fortunate for them.
By 1100, the Juneau had taken a torpedo in her port side from the Japanese submarine I-26, striking in the vicinity of the bridge. "The entire ship seemed to explode in one mighty column of brown and white smoke and flame which rose easily a thousand feet into the air. The Juneau literally disintegrated."
The San Francisco was hit by several large fragments from the Juneau. One man was hit, both his legs were broken.
Nothing of the Juneau was seen in the water after the smoke lifted. The surviving ships were ordered to keep going and not to look for survivors. Unfortunately, some 100 Juneau survivors (out of 697 aboard) were forced to wait eight days for rescue while floating on the ocean, undergoing intense shark attacks. Only ten survived.
This was also the ship on which the five Sullivan brothers served. All five died.
The San Francisco then sailed to temporary repairs and then to San Francisco for a major repair and overhaul.
She went on to fight in the rest of the war in the Pacific Theater.
--GreGen
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