USS Omaha (CL-4)-- Part 1

The light cruiser USS Omaha (CL-4) and destroyer USS Jouett teamed up to sink the German blockade runner SS Rio Grande.

USS OMAHA (CL-4)

From Wikipedia.

The USS Omaha was the lead ship  of the Omaha-class of light cruisers.   She was originally classified as a scout cruiser and the second U.S. Navy ship to be named after Omaha, Nebraska.  The first one  was screw sloop launched in 1869.

Commissioned in 1923, she spent most of her career in the Pacific Ocean.

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS

Length:  555.6 feet

Beam:  55 feet

Speed:  38.5 mph

Crew:  29 officers, 429 enlisted

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Armament:

four 6-inch guns in two turrets

eight single 6-inch guns

two 3-inch anti-aircraft guns

two triple 21-inch torpedo tubes

two twin 21-inch torpedo tubes

224 mines

--GreGen

A Hero's Return Home-- Part 4: Francis Wiemerslage

It wasn't until 2019 when the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) assisted by archaeology students from Western Carolina University did another search of the area and fund more material which was sent to the DPAA laboratory at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska for scientific analysis.

On August 24, 2021, 76 years after being shot down over Germany, Wiemerslage's remains were positively identified using DNA analysis.

Since Wiemerslage has now been identified, a rosette will be placed next to his name on the Tablet of the Missing at the cemetery in Belgium to indicate that he has been accounted for.

On Friday, Wiemerslage's remains arrived on a Southwest Airlines flight.  At the airport, Midway Airport Fire and Rescue created an arc of water cannons that the plane passed under once it landed.  Then, befo any passengers exited the plane, members of the U.S. Army Honor Guard received Wiemerslage's remains.

--GreGen

Two More USS Oklahoma Unknowns: Floyd Dee Helton and Louis James Tushla

From the July 28, 2021, Commonwealth Journal (Somerset, Ky.) Services set for local seaman killed at Pearl Harbor" by Janie Slavin.

Navy Seaman 2nd Class Floyd Dee Helton of Somerset was serving aboard the battleship USS Oklahoma on December 7, 1941, when he met his death.  The Oklahoma lost 429 men, including Helton who was just 18 at the time.

He was one of the ship's Unknowns.  The country finally identified his remains on April 23, 2020.

He will be buried this Saturday at Sloans Valley Cemetery with full military honors.

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Fireman 1st Class Louis James Tushla of Nebraska died December 7, 1941, aboard the USS Oklahoma and was one of the many Unknowns of that ship when it was finally uprighted years after capsizing.  The bodies were, by then, unidentifiable with technology that existed.  But now, using DNA, identification has been taking place.

He was identified on March 27, 2020.  He was buried July 17, 2021, in his hometown of Atkinson, Nebraska.

--GreGen

Italian POW Art Discovered in Nebraska

From the Feb. 19, 2021, Norfolk (Nebraska) Daily News "Minatare man  discovers art dating from World War II behind restaurant wall" by Justin Garcia.

Minatare is a town of 816 on  the western border of Nebraska.

Dennis Wecker began remodeling one of the rooms of  his bar, Broken Spoke Bar and Grill in Minatare when he discovered something he hadn't expected at all.  There was a painting of three horseman galloping across the Great Plains.  It is now out front in the room for everyone to see.

How did it get there?

He has owned the business for about four years now and said that the building was once part of a World War II prisoner-of-war camp in Scottsbluff, Nebraska.  German and Italian POWs were imprisoned across the entire state during the war.  One of those prisoners was an Italian artist.

He has heard that the artist covered the entire building with art and that at the end of the war, the building was moved to Minatare.

--GreGen

 

An Oklahoma Sailor Returns Home 80 Years Later: Charles Alan Jones

From the January 4, 2021, Lincoln (Nebraska) Journal Star "A sailor returns to Clay County, nearly 80 years later" by Peter Salter.

He never made it back to Clay County.  The 21-year-old died December 7, 1941, when the attack on Pearl Harbor took place.  He was aboard the battleship USS Oklahoma and among the 429 crewmen killed that day.

His nephew Robert Alan Stett was born 165 years later and had Charles's middle name.  He knew about his uncle from stories and pictures around the house.

Using DNA, the identification was made in September and the family hopes to have Charles's remains  home by Memorial Day.

--GreGen

Pearl Harbor in My Other Blogs This Past Monday-- Part 1: The USS Oklahoma Unknowns

This past Monday was the 79th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor and yo commemorate it, I posted about the event in all eight of my blogs.  You can go over to the My Blogs column to the right of this and click on the blogs and go to that date to find out what I wrote.

But, here is a short synapsis of what I wrote:

NOT SO FORGOTTEN: WAR OF 1812:  Walter Ray Pentico on the USS Oklahoma.  Still unidentified.

COOTER'S HISTORY THING:  USS Oklahoma Unknown Grant Cook Jr. of Cozard, Nebraska identified.  Also two brothers from Nebraska William and Howard Trapp.  A total of 22 Nebraskans were killed aboard the USS Oklahoma that day.

DOWN DA ROAD I GO:  Identifying the Unknowns of the USS Oklahoma.

--GreGen

USS Oklahoma's Unknowns: Gerald "Gerry" Clayton and Grant C. Cook, Jr.

From November 22, 2019.

As the government continues the process of identifying those among the 429 who died on the USS Oklahoma at Pearl Harbor.

**  GERALD "GERRY" CLAYTON:

Storekeeper 2nd Class.  His parents, Lee and Grace Clayton were first contacted by the U.S. government on December  20, 1941, saying that their son was missing in action.  Then, on Jan. 3, 1942, they received another telegram saying that he had survived with apologies for the first notification.  They received nothing after that.  It wasn't until March  12, 1942 that they received a letter saying their son had perished.

This past July family members held a ceremony  at the Central City Cemetery where he was buried with full military honors.

**  GRANT C. COOK, JR.

Fireman 1st Class.  His remains were identified earlier this year and buried in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific on Oahu.  Cook was from Cozad, Nebraska.  A book on his life has been given to the Cozad Library.

-GreGen

Funeral Procession for Donald Stratton Yesterday

From the Feb. 9, 2020,  9 News.

The body of WW II USS Arizona survivor Donald Stratton was transported in a funeral procession from Colorado Springs, Colorado, to Red Cloud, Nebraska, on February 29, 2020.  He was 97 and passed away in his sleep on February 15 according to his family.

The procession departed from Rocky Mountain Calvary Church at about 11:30 am and was expected to arrive at the funeral home about 8:20 pm.

Mr. Stratton was one of the last three known USS Arizona survivors, along with Ken Potts and Lou Conter.  The fourth one, Lauren Bruner, died last year.

--GreGen

Oklahoma Unknowns: Three More Identified-- Calvin and Wilfred Porter and Grant Cook Jr.and

MAY 14, 2019--  Minot (ND) Daily News.  The remains of two bothers from Minot have been identified.

Calvin H. Palmer, 23, Seaman 2nd Class
Wilfred D. Palmer, 21, Seaman 2nd Class  (Wilferd)

They were buried August 9, 2019 in Port Orchard, Washington.

When I think of the agony of not knowing for this poor family and then their sadness to find that they had lost not just one, but both of the brothers is unfathomable.

MAY 14, 2019--  NTV ABC

Grant Cook Jr.,  Fireman 1st Class from Cozad, Nebraska.  One of 429 who died on the ship.  He will be buried at the Punch Bowl in Hawaii.

--GreGen

USS Oklahoma Unknowns: Seaton and Glenn

Recently identified crew members of the battleship USS Oklahoma who died at Pearl Harbor on december 7, 1941.

CHESTER SEATON--  Would have been 97 on August 8, 2019.  Will be buried next to his parents.  Navy Petty Officer 1st Class.  He is the 149th of the USS Oklahoma's Unknowns to be identified and one of fifteen native Nebraskans identified from the ship.

Five western Iowa sailors also died that day.  Two of them were Eli Olsen of Exira and George Ford of Carroll County who have been identified.

In 1941, Seaton, age 20, served on the USS Oklahoma with Petty Officer Lorentz Hultgren, 23, who married Seaton's sister. Hultgren also died on the Oklahoma in the attack and was unknown but recently identified.

The loss of two family members on the Oklahoma like that had to have been hard on that family.

ARTHUR GLENN--  Machnist Mate 1st Class from Fort Wayne, Indiana.  He had also served during World War I  Military records have him stealing an officer's car and driving it to Tijuana where he got into a fight.  Matt  Glenn, a great, great nephew said, "He was kind of a wild dog.  he was a very colorful character."

Enlisted in the Navy April 12, 1917, six days after the U.S. entered World War I.  December 7, 1941, was his birthday and he was 43.

--GreGen

One of Nebraska's Last Pearl Harbor Survivors Dies, Robert Winslow

From the March 4, 2019, Omaha (Neb.) World Record by Steve Liewer.

Robert Winslow, 97, served on the destroyer USS Helm (DD-388) before and during World War II.  He died February 21.  Born November 10, 1921, in Blue Springs, Nebraska and enlisted in the Navy three weeks after turning age 18.

The USS Helm was at Pearl Harbor when the Japanese attacked and was the only ship already underway steaming toward dry dock.  It reversed course and headed back to open ocean.  The crew believed it shot down at least one enemy plane during the attack.  They also encountered a mini submarine and attacked it, forcing it aground.

A month later the Helm was on a secret mission to rescue personnel on Howland and Baker islands in the Pacific.

Mr. Winslow was discharged from the Navy in 1946.

Now, there are just two known Pearl Harbor survivors living in Nebraska:  Ed Guthrie, 100, of Omaha and Melvin Kennedy, 95, of Grand Island.

Losing That Greatest Generation.  --GreGen

Unknowns From USS West Virginia Next To Be Identified-- Part 1

From the December 7, 2016, Omaha (Nebraska) World-Herald  "Unknowns from USS West Virginia will be next to finally be identified" by Steve Liewen.

The Department of Defense POW-MIA Accounting Agency is now in the process of identifying the USS Oklahoma's unknowns.  It now also has the approval and plans to open 35 graves assigned to the USS West Virginia's unknowns.  These graves contain the remains of an estimated 38 men.  Most of the graves will contain skulls and jawbones with teeth which will be easier to identify than those of the Oklahoma whose remains were extremely co-mingled.

At least four of the sailors of the 106 who died on the West Virginia were from Nebraska.  They were all identified, though:

Frank J. Bartok of Wahoo is buried in Colon, Nebraska
Myron Goodwin of Sidney is buried in Gering
Edward Dunkee of Arlington is buried at the military cemetery in Honolulu
Clement Durr of Nebraska City is also interred in the above cemetery.

--GreGen

Unknowns From the USS West Virginia Next to Be Identified-- Part 2

There were at least four-known sailors who died of the 106 deaths from the West Virginia.  All were identified, however.

Frank J. Bartek, of Wahoo, Nebraska was buried after the war in Colon, Nebraska.

Myron Goodwin, of Sidney, was buried in Gering.

Edward Durkee, of Arlington, and Clement Durr, of Nebraska City, are interred at a military cemetery in Honolulu.

--GreGen

Three of Nebraska's Last Living Pearl Harbor Survivors Gather-- Part 3

Earl Brandes, 95, was a Marine and had just arrived at Pearl Harbor just the month before the attack.  He was in an engineering unit building in a camp near Honolulu and reading a newspaper across the channel from Battleship Row.

After the attack, he went back to the states and came back later where he participated in Guadalcanal, Guam and Iwo Jima.

It Is Always Nice to Write About Living Pearl Harbor Survivirs.  --GreGen

Three of Nebraska's Last Living Pearl Harbor Survivors Gather-- Part 2

Lawrence Osterbuhr, 96,  was in the Coast Guard during the attack on the Coast Guard Cutter Kukui, a buoy tender anchored in Honolulu Harbor.  He was sunning himself when he saw smoke from Pearl Harbor, about six miles away and then he heard air raid sirens.

He began loading .30 caliber machine guns.  A high level Japanese bomber flew overhead and a bomb fell nearby.

"We could hear the sound of a bomb dropping before it hit."

The Kukui left the harbor before noon and worked all night putting out buoy lights around Maui and Molaka because of the enforced blackout.  Afterwards, he spent two more years in Honolulu before transferring to St. Louis.

--GreGen

Three of Nebraska's Last Living Pearl Harbor Survivors Gather-- Part 1

From the June 23, 2016, Omaha (Neb) World Herald "Three of Nebraska's living Peral Harbor survivors gather at new Central City veterans memorial" by Steve Liewer.

Earl Brandes, 95, of Central City, Ed Guthrie, 97, of Omaha and Lawrence Osterbuhr of Hildreth gathered in Central City.  They were all long-time members of the Nebraska Chapter of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association which once had fifty members.  These three are believed to be the last survivors in the state of the long-ago battle.

Mr. Guthrie was a Navy electrician's mate on the destroyer tender USS Whitney, and remembers the planes "flying so low you could see smiles on faces and their scarves."  Also, "You could feel the explosion of the Arizona all over the harbor."  He later served on the USS Banner, a transport ship and witnessed nuclear tests at Bikini Atoll in 1946.

--GreGen

Nebraskan Sailor Haunted By Burned Sailors at Pearl Harbor-- Part 2

Melvin "Bud" Kennedy was at the Battles of Midway, Coral Sea and took supplies to embattled Marines on Guadalcanal.

In 1944, his ship, the USS Clark, escorted a convoy of ships from New York to Londonderry, Northern Ireland.  Mr. Kennedy said there were 800 ships in it and that "There were ships as far as the eye could see."

Soon after that, he was in a convoy to Cherbourg, France after the Allies had captured.  He said "there was nothing left of the harbor but piles of rubble."

At the end of the war, the Clark was 100 miles north of Australia and he and his friends celebrated its conclusion in Sydney.

--GreGen

Nebraskan Sailor Helped Rescue Pearl Harbor Men in the Water-- Part 1

From the December 9, 2015, Omaha.com "Nebraskan, 92, who helped rescue Pearl harbor survivors is haunted by memory of sailors drowning in oil" by Jeff Bahr.

Melvin "Bud" Kennedy found himself on a forty-foot launch that fateful day along with three others.  It became their mission all day and into the night when it was too dark to continue to rescue as many from the burning and oily water as possible.  He remembered that by then "we were just black as tar."

Veteran of six years in the Navy, Mr. Kennedy enlisted in Omaha in 1940 and was discharged in Philadelphia in November 1946.  He served on the repair ship USS Regal and the destroyer USS Clark during the war.

Actually, the actual name of his first ship is the USS Rigel and it was a destroyer tender.The ship was at Pearl Harbor that day but without armament as it was being converted to a destroyer tender.  It received slight damage.  The Clark wasn't.

Much of his duty was with lifeboats, but his battle station was one of a four-man crew on a four-barrel 37 mm anti-aircraft gun in front of the Clark;s bridge.  His station consisted of a trainer (who aimed the gun) , two loaders and he was the pointer.

--GreGen

Nebraska Soldier Was a World War II Sergeant York

From the June 4, 2012, Lincoln (Neb.) Journal Star by Tim Gay.

Donol McKay of Grand Island joined the Army in 1942.  On the outskirts of Rennes, France, in early August 1944, over a period of 48 hours, Private McKay killed six German soldiers, captured 28 and volunteered twice to be led blindfolded into a German command post to plead for its officer to surrender.

He returned with the message, "They still want to make a fight of it.  His commander, Lt.Col. William Bailey replied' "They can have a fight then.  We will blow some sense into them."

--GreGen

Two Lincolnites Flew With Doolittle

From the April 18, 2012, Council Bluffs, Iowa, Daily Nonparell.

Two men from Lincoln, Nebraska, flew with Col. Doolittle on that famous mission in 1942.

1ST. LT. RICHARD O. JOYCE, pilot  Joyce died in 1983 and first met James H. Doolittle when he was seeking a B-25 crewmen for his raid while Joyce was flying anti-submarine patrols on the East Coast of the United States.

Joyce;s target on the raid was the Japanese Special Steel Company in South Tokyo.  he dropped his bombs and headed southwest, twice flying under Japanese fighters but found a cloud and lost them.

He couldn't reach China and had to bail out over water.  After his rescue, he returned to service, but recalled to the U.S. after his father died.


SGT. DONALD FITZMAURICE, gunner, believed to have drowned.

--GreGen