Clyde Moore's remains were never fully identified and he is buried with other shipmates in the St. Louis National Cemetery in k49.
The first local man from Wilmington to die in the attack was Signalman First Class Harvey Howard Horrell on the USS Arizona who was stationed on the bridge when the ship was hit. He died in the explosion at 8:10 AM. His remains either vaporized, scattered or settled on the muddy bottom.
Bert Melton is reported to have died at his post, probably topside. His remains were never recovered. A total of 428 died on the Oklahoma that day.
Clyde Moore, 23, was a graduate of New Hanover High School and one of three brothers serving in the Navy at the time. Altogether, his parents, Mr. and Mrs J.R. Moore of Castle Hayne, had six sons in the Navy, considered the highest number of siblings to serve from one family in North Carolina.
Harvey Horrell was 30 and unmarried. He had enlisted at age 18.
Bill Melton turned 25 on December 7th and was a New Hanover High School graduate who had enlisted in the Navy in 1926.
The Moore Family Sure Gave to Their Country. --GreGen
The USS North Carolina (BB-55) My all-time favorite warship. As an elementary school student in North Carolina, I donated nickels and dimes to save this ship back in the early sixties.
Monday, March 11, 2013
Wilmington, NC's Ties to Pearl Harbor-- Part 1
From the December 7, 2011, Wilmington (NC) Star-News "Wilmington historian explores ties during anniversary" by Wilbur D. Jones Jr.
At least 21 men and 5 women from the Wilmington area were there that day when the Japanese attacked. Three died: one each on the USS Arizona, USS Oklahoma and USS Shaw. These were the first of over 400,000 Americans to die in the war.
Only one of the three who died did so instantly. Radioman 2nd Class Clyde Carson Moore was on the destroyer USS Shaw which was in the US Naval Shipyard's floating dry dock No. 2. Three bombs set off the forward magazine, demolishing the ship's bow and killing 23. This is probably the famous photo of the Shaw exploding.
Wilbur Jones' wife, Carroll Robbins Jones was seven at the time and at Pearl Harbor. Her father, Lt. Berton A. Robbins Jr was the Shaw's Executive Officer and had departed from his residence ashore and was just starting to board his ship when the explosion occurred., but suffered no injury. He eventually was able to retrieve the ship's ensign and turned it over to the US Naval Academy Museum.
A Close Call for Lt. Robbins. --GreGen
At least 21 men and 5 women from the Wilmington area were there that day when the Japanese attacked. Three died: one each on the USS Arizona, USS Oklahoma and USS Shaw. These were the first of over 400,000 Americans to die in the war.
Only one of the three who died did so instantly. Radioman 2nd Class Clyde Carson Moore was on the destroyer USS Shaw which was in the US Naval Shipyard's floating dry dock No. 2. Three bombs set off the forward magazine, demolishing the ship's bow and killing 23. This is probably the famous photo of the Shaw exploding.
Wilbur Jones' wife, Carroll Robbins Jones was seven at the time and at Pearl Harbor. Her father, Lt. Berton A. Robbins Jr was the Shaw's Executive Officer and had departed from his residence ashore and was just starting to board his ship when the explosion occurred., but suffered no injury. He eventually was able to retrieve the ship's ensign and turned it over to the US Naval Academy Museum.
A Close Call for Lt. Robbins. --GreGen
Saturday, March 9, 2013
Pearl Harbor Veterans 70th Anniversary-- Part 5
December 7th Carolina (NC) News 14.
LESLIE HOLLENBACK was on the USS Pennsylvania: "I do not recall being scared, not scared, just angry that we were caught [off guard]. He described a "lucky" bomb hit near his ship: "If the bomb had hit just one or two feet from where it did we probably would have had the same fate as the Arizona."
December 6, 2011, Wassau (Wis) Daily Herald.
From the December 8, 1941 headlines: "Native son DONALD PLANT, 22, killed at Pearl Harbor." Plant had been a popular sports hero at the town's high school.
"US Declares War on Japan, American casualties heavy."
GreGen
LESLIE HOLLENBACK was on the USS Pennsylvania: "I do not recall being scared, not scared, just angry that we were caught [off guard]. He described a "lucky" bomb hit near his ship: "If the bomb had hit just one or two feet from where it did we probably would have had the same fate as the Arizona."
December 6, 2011, Wassau (Wis) Daily Herald.
From the December 8, 1941 headlines: "Native son DONALD PLANT, 22, killed at Pearl Harbor." Plant had been a popular sports hero at the town's high school.
"US Declares War on Japan, American casualties heavy."
GreGen
Pearl Harbor Survivors 70th Anniversary-- Part 4
From the December 8, 2011, Florida Today.
FLORENCE NEENER was there as a civilian working for the military in Hawaii.
JIM MITCHELL, 89, of West Melbourne in the Army's 251st Coast Artillery at the base hospital with tonsillitis. He was sitting outside with other patients when the attack began, "We were out sunning ourselves." They grabbed weapons and began firing.
December 8, 2011, New York Post.
DAN FRUTCHER, 92 "I had just completed breakfast and was waiting to be picked up by friends for a luau."
ROBERT EAKIN, 92, of Bayonne, NJ, there as well.
GreGen
FLORENCE NEENER was there as a civilian working for the military in Hawaii.
JIM MITCHELL, 89, of West Melbourne in the Army's 251st Coast Artillery at the base hospital with tonsillitis. He was sitting outside with other patients when the attack began, "We were out sunning ourselves." They grabbed weapons and began firing.
December 8, 2011, New York Post.
DAN FRUTCHER, 92 "I had just completed breakfast and was waiting to be picked up by friends for a luau."
ROBERT EAKIN, 92, of Bayonne, NJ, there as well.
GreGen
Pearl Harbor Veterans 70th Anniversary-- Part 3
From the Dec. 8, 2011, Booneville, Arkansas, Democrat.
BILL CHASE, 87.-- Apprentice seaman. Had just completed boot camp and was recovering from the German measles and saw the attack from the base hospital. "I had a ringside seat."
WALTER SMITH, 93. US Army private was driving a truck near Pearl Harbor when the attack took place.
Fifty-one Arkansans died that day and 21 are still on the Arizona
A ceremony was held and the names of five Pearl Harbor Survivors Association members who had died in the previous year was read. It is believed that there are still 9 Pearl Harbor survivors living in Arkansas.
GreGen
BILL CHASE, 87.-- Apprentice seaman. Had just completed boot camp and was recovering from the German measles and saw the attack from the base hospital. "I had a ringside seat."
WALTER SMITH, 93. US Army private was driving a truck near Pearl Harbor when the attack took place.
Fifty-one Arkansans died that day and 21 are still on the Arizona
A ceremony was held and the names of five Pearl Harbor Survivors Association members who had died in the previous year was read. It is believed that there are still 9 Pearl Harbor survivors living in Arkansas.
GreGen
Friday, March 8, 2013
Pearl Harbor Veterans 70th Anniversary-- Part 2
Dec. 8th Dothan (Al) Eagle
Each year Enterprise High School students write thank you letters to local Pearl Harbor survivors. Sadly, this year, there was only one to write to.
CHESTER FAULKNER, 93, joined the Army to get off the farm and out of the Great Depression. He was asleep at Schofield Barracks and was awakened by a dull sound that got louder. The sound of bombs was rattling the barracks' windows, "I was wondering what it was all about when I saw the big red balls on the planes." He said the next several days he had real hard work digging fortifications for an anticipated attack.
Dec. 7th KCRG TV 9, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Robert Urich, then 18, was a Navy fireman, "There was a terrific explosion and the ship lurched and it takes quite a bit to make a battleship lurch." He survived, his brother did not. He checked hospitals looking for him.
Signalman Francis Riley, 89.
Each year Enterprise High School students write thank you letters to local Pearl Harbor survivors. Sadly, this year, there was only one to write to.
CHESTER FAULKNER, 93, joined the Army to get off the farm and out of the Great Depression. He was asleep at Schofield Barracks and was awakened by a dull sound that got louder. The sound of bombs was rattling the barracks' windows, "I was wondering what it was all about when I saw the big red balls on the planes." He said the next several days he had real hard work digging fortifications for an anticipated attack.
Dec. 7th KCRG TV 9, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Robert Urich, then 18, was a Navy fireman, "There was a terrific explosion and the ship lurched and it takes quite a bit to make a battleship lurch." He survived, his brother did not. He checked hospitals looking for him.
Signalman Francis Riley, 89.
Pearl Harbor Veterans 70th Anniversary-- Part 1
From Dec. 7 Nick News
J.C. Alston on USS California
Konrad O'Hearn on USS Maryland.
Both speak at local schools.
Dec. 8th Florida Times-Union
Duane Reyetts, 89, was asleep in his bunk on the USS Oklahoma when the first torpedo hit. He was 20 and in top shape and made the 600 foot dash from that bunk to his battle station in the stern in a few minutes despite all the confusion. When the ship capsized, he did a chin-up to climb out a porthole to safety.
This is also the first I read that the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association was disbanding after 53 years of operation.
Dec. 7th Orange County Register.
Robert D. West on the USS Oklahoma which was struck by seven torpedoes and sank in just 18 minutes.
Charles K. Kohnow was a Marine and used fire axe to break into a weapons locker to get guns to shoot back.
GreGen
J.C. Alston on USS California
Konrad O'Hearn on USS Maryland.
Both speak at local schools.
Dec. 8th Florida Times-Union
Duane Reyetts, 89, was asleep in his bunk on the USS Oklahoma when the first torpedo hit. He was 20 and in top shape and made the 600 foot dash from that bunk to his battle station in the stern in a few minutes despite all the confusion. When the ship capsized, he did a chin-up to climb out a porthole to safety.
This is also the first I read that the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association was disbanding after 53 years of operation.
Dec. 7th Orange County Register.
Robert D. West on the USS Oklahoma which was struck by seven torpedoes and sank in just 18 minutes.
Charles K. Kohnow was a Marine and used fire axe to break into a weapons locker to get guns to shoot back.
GreGen
Some Kids at Pearl Harbor
From the Dec. 7, 2011, Nashville Tennesseean.
You always hear about the military personnel at Pearl Harbor, but this is a story from a kids' view.
TOM McCREARY pulled his father's revolver out and shot at Japanese planes flying over his house.
His sister BEE BEE LEWIS remembers donning a gas mask.
These two visited the Clement Railroad Hotel Museum's World War II exhibit on Wednesday.
Their father, Thomas McCreary, was raised in middle Tennessee and ran away from home at age 14. He joined the Army and later served in the Navy and ended up in Hawaii where he married their mother and had three children. They lived on Honolulu Street near Diamond Head Crater Park, about 20 miles from Pearl Harbor.
Thomas McCreary was a boiler master and had recently received orders to report to the USS Arizona on December 8th. Had the attack come the following day, he would have been aboard. At the time of the attack, Bee Bee was three and a half and Tom 15. He remembers the Japanese strafing his neighborhood.
The Story From Another Angle. --GreGen
You always hear about the military personnel at Pearl Harbor, but this is a story from a kids' view.
TOM McCREARY pulled his father's revolver out and shot at Japanese planes flying over his house.
His sister BEE BEE LEWIS remembers donning a gas mask.
These two visited the Clement Railroad Hotel Museum's World War II exhibit on Wednesday.
Their father, Thomas McCreary, was raised in middle Tennessee and ran away from home at age 14. He joined the Army and later served in the Navy and ended up in Hawaii where he married their mother and had three children. They lived on Honolulu Street near Diamond Head Crater Park, about 20 miles from Pearl Harbor.
Thomas McCreary was a boiler master and had recently received orders to report to the USS Arizona on December 8th. Had the attack come the following day, he would have been aboard. At the time of the attack, Bee Bee was three and a half and Tom 15. He remembers the Japanese strafing his neighborhood.
The Story From Another Angle. --GreGen
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Patty Andrews Dies
From the January 31, 2013, Chicago Tribune. The first part of the obituary appeared in yesterday's Down Da Road I Go Blog.
As I mentioned yesterday, they were a huge group during the war.
They began singing professionally in 1932 when Patty was just 14. They had their first major success in 1938 with an English version of "Bei Mir Bist Du Shoen" which went to #1.
From 1938 to 1951, they had 19 gold records, dozens of top ten records and nearly 100 million in record sales. They appeared as themselves in dozens of movies including Abbott and Costello's "Buck Privates" and "In the Navy." Also, Bob Hope and Big Crosby's "Road to Rio" in 1947.
Patty was born in Minneapolis in 1918 and dropped out of junior high school to go on the road.
GreGen
As I mentioned yesterday, they were a huge group during the war.
They began singing professionally in 1932 when Patty was just 14. They had their first major success in 1938 with an English version of "Bei Mir Bist Du Shoen" which went to #1.
From 1938 to 1951, they had 19 gold records, dozens of top ten records and nearly 100 million in record sales. They appeared as themselves in dozens of movies including Abbott and Costello's "Buck Privates" and "In the Navy." Also, Bob Hope and Big Crosby's "Road to Rio" in 1947.
Patty was born in Minneapolis in 1918 and dropped out of junior high school to go on the road.
GreGen
Memories of the Pearl Harbor Attack-- Part 2
On the 70th anniversary of the attack in 2011.
LESTER SILVA, 88 of Virginia Beach, Va..
He was on the quarterdeck of the USS Detroit, chatting with the ship's bugler and saw enemy planes. Seconds later they were under attack. Unable to get to his battle station at the forward machine guns, he donned a pair of headphones to help gunners fire at their targets. Ships all around the Detroit were sinking.
"Sailors were flying through the air. People are jumping into the water. It was complete helter-skelter.
One plane came so close, if I'd had a monkey wrench I could have thrown it and hit it. The pilot was wearing a red scarf. I'll never forget it. he waved at us! So I waved back."
he was hit by pieces of shrapnel in his leg and carried to the sick bay. By the time he got back, the attack was over and the Detroit underway. It nearly collided with another ship getting out of the harbor.
Getting These Stories While I Can. --GreGen
LESTER SILVA, 88 of Virginia Beach, Va..
He was on the quarterdeck of the USS Detroit, chatting with the ship's bugler and saw enemy planes. Seconds later they were under attack. Unable to get to his battle station at the forward machine guns, he donned a pair of headphones to help gunners fire at their targets. Ships all around the Detroit were sinking.
"Sailors were flying through the air. People are jumping into the water. It was complete helter-skelter.
One plane came so close, if I'd had a monkey wrench I could have thrown it and hit it. The pilot was wearing a red scarf. I'll never forget it. he waved at us! So I waved back."
he was hit by pieces of shrapnel in his leg and carried to the sick bay. By the time he got back, the attack was over and the Detroit underway. It nearly collided with another ship getting out of the harbor.
Getting These Stories While I Can. --GreGen
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Deaths: Patty Andrews
PATTY ANDREWS (1918-2013)
If there was a voice to World War II on the American side, it would have to be Patty Andrews and her siblings who made up the group Andrews Sisters.
I usually put music deaths in my Down Da Road I Go Blog or possibly my Cooter's History Thing Blog. But this one really belongs in the World War II one. I typed it all up and entered it, only to find it was in my Cooter's History Thing Blog of today's date. www.cootershistorything.blogspot.com
I have some more to say so hopefully that will be here tomorrow.
GreGen
If there was a voice to World War II on the American side, it would have to be Patty Andrews and her siblings who made up the group Andrews Sisters.
I usually put music deaths in my Down Da Road I Go Blog or possibly my Cooter's History Thing Blog. But this one really belongs in the World War II one. I typed it all up and entered it, only to find it was in my Cooter's History Thing Blog of today's date. www.cootershistorything.blogspot.com
I have some more to say so hopefully that will be here tomorrow.
GreGen
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Doolittle Raider Tom Griffin Dies-- Part 3
At the ceremony for Raiders who have passed on, there will be a roll call. When Griffin's name is called, Lt. Col. Richard Cole, 97, and oldest survivor, will give a report on Griffin. At the end of the names, white-gloved cadets will pour cognac into the four remaining survivors' goblets and the toast, "To those who have gone" will be given.
The four remaining Raiders:
Lt. Col. Richard Cole of Comfort, Texas
Lt. Col. Robert Hite
Lt. Col. Edward Saylor of Puyallup, Washington
Master Sgt. David Thatcher of Missoula, Montana
Originally, the plan was to have the last two survivors toast, but with advancing age, it was decided to have it this reunion.
There will be another gathering later this year and a bottle of 1896 cognac will be opened. That is the year in which Lt. Col. Jimmy Doolittle was born.
Tom Griffin was a native of Green Bay, Wisconsin and settled in Cincinnati after the war and opened an accounting business. He was preceded in death by his wife and is survived by two sons. Service will be March 9th at Green Township Veterans Park and there will be a B-25 flyover.
So Sad to be Losing Doolittle's Raiders. --GreGen
The four remaining Raiders:
Lt. Col. Richard Cole of Comfort, Texas
Lt. Col. Robert Hite
Lt. Col. Edward Saylor of Puyallup, Washington
Master Sgt. David Thatcher of Missoula, Montana
Originally, the plan was to have the last two survivors toast, but with advancing age, it was decided to have it this reunion.
There will be another gathering later this year and a bottle of 1896 cognac will be opened. That is the year in which Lt. Col. Jimmy Doolittle was born.
Tom Griffin was a native of Green Bay, Wisconsin and settled in Cincinnati after the war and opened an accounting business. He was preceded in death by his wife and is survived by two sons. Service will be March 9th at Green Township Veterans Park and there will be a B-25 flyover.
So Sad to be Losing Doolittle's Raiders. --GreGen
Wilmington At War: Cigarette Advertising-- Newest Liberty Ship
From the Feb. 27, 2013, Wilmington (NC) Star-News Back Then.
Looking back at stories printed in the Wilmington, North Carolina papers back during World War II.
FEBRUARY 20, 1943
Many of the cigarette ads were linked to the war. One in this paper featured a mother and a father sitting at a table with a soldier's portrait behind them. The Mother says "I'd walk many a mile just to hand him these Camels." The ad continues, "It's the most welcome gift you can give him...a carton of Camels- the soldier's favorite."
FEBRUARY 24, 1943
The latest Liberty Ship launched by the North Carolina Shipbuilding Company in Wilmington, the SS Woodrow Wilson, was named for President Woodrow Wilson, who lived in Wilmington as a boy while his father was pastor of the First Presbyterian Church. His widow came to Wilmington to christen the ship.
GreGen
Looking back at stories printed in the Wilmington, North Carolina papers back during World War II.
FEBRUARY 20, 1943
Many of the cigarette ads were linked to the war. One in this paper featured a mother and a father sitting at a table with a soldier's portrait behind them. The Mother says "I'd walk many a mile just to hand him these Camels." The ad continues, "It's the most welcome gift you can give him...a carton of Camels- the soldier's favorite."
FEBRUARY 24, 1943
The latest Liberty Ship launched by the North Carolina Shipbuilding Company in Wilmington, the SS Woodrow Wilson, was named for President Woodrow Wilson, who lived in Wilmington as a boy while his father was pastor of the First Presbyterian Church. His widow came to Wilmington to christen the ship.
GreGen
Monday, March 4, 2013
Memories of the Pearl Harbor Attack-- Part 1
From the Dec. 4, 2011, Virginia Pilot.
Eugen Gorman, 90 of Virginia Beach saw a plane flying by while getting dressed and recognized it as Japanese. Still unalarmed, he walked to the mess hall for breakfast when it struck him what was afoot and he shouted, "The Japs are here!"
He went to his battle station, an obsolete gun with no anti-aircraft capability and quickly realized it was useless.
He never joined the local Pearl Harbor Survivors Association, saying it was not the most important thing that happened in his life.
GreGen
Eugen Gorman, 90 of Virginia Beach saw a plane flying by while getting dressed and recognized it as Japanese. Still unalarmed, he walked to the mess hall for breakfast when it struck him what was afoot and he shouted, "The Japs are here!"
He went to his battle station, an obsolete gun with no anti-aircraft capability and quickly realized it was useless.
He never joined the local Pearl Harbor Survivors Association, saying it was not the most important thing that happened in his life.
GreGen
Saturday, March 2, 2013
Doolittle Raider Tom Griffin Dies, 98-- Part 2
Of the Raiders, eight were captured and three executed. A fourth died in captivity.
After rescue, he returned to planes and saw action in North Africa where he was shot down and spent nearly two years in a German prison camp.
His death comes less than two months before the final Doolittle Reunion in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, April 17-21. He took part in last year's 70th Anniversary Reunion at the National Museum of the Air Force in Dayton, Ohio.
A goblet with his name on it will be turned upside-down this April at a private ceremony at the reunion.
What a Life Mr. Griffin Led. --GreGen
After rescue, he returned to planes and saw action in North Africa where he was shot down and spent nearly two years in a German prison camp.
His death comes less than two months before the final Doolittle Reunion in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, April 17-21. He took part in last year's 70th Anniversary Reunion at the National Museum of the Air Force in Dayton, Ohio.
A goblet with his name on it will be turned upside-down this April at a private ceremony at the reunion.
What a Life Mr. Griffin Led. --GreGen
Toledo's Pearl Harbor Survivors-- Part 3: John Fox and Tom Child
SEAMAN FIRST CLASS JOHN FOX, 99
He was not at Pearl Harbor during the attack, but arrived in time to see a badly damaged ship sinking. Heavy equipment operator and helped clean up and rebuild the base. He had wanted to follow his two brothers and join the Army, but wasn't allowed as the Army did not want three brothers from the same family together, so joined the Navy.
TOM CHILD, 92
Was torpedo officer on the USS Cassin, a destroyer. he abandoned ship when it was bombed.
Fox and Gilbert (yesterday's entry) returned to Pearl Harbor on vacation, but Kessinger never did.
Kessinger was on the USS Pennsylvania for five years and fought in 13 operations. He got out of the service when his enlistment was up in 1946.
The Stories We Are Now Fast Losing. --GreGen
He was not at Pearl Harbor during the attack, but arrived in time to see a badly damaged ship sinking. Heavy equipment operator and helped clean up and rebuild the base. He had wanted to follow his two brothers and join the Army, but wasn't allowed as the Army did not want three brothers from the same family together, so joined the Navy.
TOM CHILD, 92
Was torpedo officer on the USS Cassin, a destroyer. he abandoned ship when it was bombed.
Fox and Gilbert (yesterday's entry) returned to Pearl Harbor on vacation, but Kessinger never did.
Kessinger was on the USS Pennsylvania for five years and fought in 13 operations. He got out of the service when his enlistment was up in 1946.
The Stories We Are Now Fast Losing. --GreGen
Jim Landis' Pearl Harbor Plane-- Part 4
Continued from February 22nd.
After Midway, the shot up SBD-2 was sent back stateside, repaired and assigned to Carrier Qualification Training Unit at Glenview NAS in Illinois. A lot of obsolete or heavily damaged planes were assigned to this site, which, along with pilot error (after all, they were learners) led to a large number of crashes into lake Michigan while attempting to land on the converted carriers.
On the morning of June 11, 1943, with Marine 2nd Lt Donald A. Douglas piloting, it too crashed into the lake during an errant approach to training carrier Sable (IX-81).
It was recovered from the lake in 1994.
This plane has a lot of history as a survivor of Pearl Harbor, two other air actions and the Battle of Midway and then training. Without qualified pilots, the aircraft carriers were not of much use.
Its armament consisted of two forward-firing .50 inch machine guns and a rear-firing .30-inch machine gun. Its crew consisted of a pilot and a gunner. This would make sense of Jim Landis saying at Pearl Harbor that he had gotten a machine gun from the plane and used it to fire at the Japanese planes.
The plane can be seen at the Naval Air Museum at Pensacola NAS in Florida.
The Story of a Plane. --GreGen
After Midway, the shot up SBD-2 was sent back stateside, repaired and assigned to Carrier Qualification Training Unit at Glenview NAS in Illinois. A lot of obsolete or heavily damaged planes were assigned to this site, which, along with pilot error (after all, they were learners) led to a large number of crashes into lake Michigan while attempting to land on the converted carriers.
On the morning of June 11, 1943, with Marine 2nd Lt Donald A. Douglas piloting, it too crashed into the lake during an errant approach to training carrier Sable (IX-81).
It was recovered from the lake in 1994.
This plane has a lot of history as a survivor of Pearl Harbor, two other air actions and the Battle of Midway and then training. Without qualified pilots, the aircraft carriers were not of much use.
Its armament consisted of two forward-firing .50 inch machine guns and a rear-firing .30-inch machine gun. Its crew consisted of a pilot and a gunner. This would make sense of Jim Landis saying at Pearl Harbor that he had gotten a machine gun from the plane and used it to fire at the Japanese planes.
The plane can be seen at the Naval Air Museum at Pensacola NAS in Florida.
The Story of a Plane. --GreGen
Friday, March 1, 2013
Doolittle Raider Tom Griffin, 96, Dies-- Part 1
From Yahoo! News, AP. Always sad when I have to report that any World War II veteran died, but this man was a very special one. He was one of the only five remaining Raiders still alive. Now there are just four.
Mr. Griffin died February 26, 2013. According to the news report, he was a B-25 navigator on the "audacious Doolittle Raid on the mainland of Japan." This raid, although doing insignificant damage to Japan and losing every plane, was huge for American morale in those hard days after Pearl Harbor.
He was one of the original 80 volunteers for the April 18, 1942, mission reasoning "We needed to hit back." Sixteen bombers took off from the aircraft carrier USS Hornet. Before that, it was believed that B-25 bombers could not take off from such a ship. They did and mission accomplished.
Running out of fuel, the Griffin's crew were forced to parachute out over occupied China. With the help of locals, they managed to evade Japanese patrols and eventually got back to the United States.
A Hero Among Heroes. --GreGen
Mr. Griffin died February 26, 2013. According to the news report, he was a B-25 navigator on the "audacious Doolittle Raid on the mainland of Japan." This raid, although doing insignificant damage to Japan and losing every plane, was huge for American morale in those hard days after Pearl Harbor.
He was one of the original 80 volunteers for the April 18, 1942, mission reasoning "We needed to hit back." Sixteen bombers took off from the aircraft carrier USS Hornet. Before that, it was believed that B-25 bombers could not take off from such a ship. They did and mission accomplished.
Running out of fuel, the Griffin's crew were forced to parachute out over occupied China. With the help of locals, they managed to evade Japanese patrols and eventually got back to the United States.
A Hero Among Heroes. --GreGen
Toledo's Pearl Harbor Survivors-- Part 2: Jim Gilbert
Jim Gilbert, 91, enjoyed the Toledo Chapter of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association, but it disbanded in 2004 when it got down to six members.
He had enlisted in the US Navy in 1940, after not getting into the Naval Academy. In April 1941, he was stationed at Pearl Harbor on the USS MacDonough, a destroyer. During the attack "our ship was torn down for overhaul, so a lot of us were ashore. I was at the executive officer's house."
He heard gunfire from a nearby anti-aircraft battery and ran back to the base and was strafed by a plane, but didn't get hit. Once back at his ship, he put on his uniform and took his position at an anti-aircraft gun. There was no power so he was forced to fire as accurately and safely as he could.
He especially had to be careful of firing at civilian areas or other ships.
His comment on the attack was that he "was too busy to be scared."
Two More to Come. --GreGen
He had enlisted in the US Navy in 1940, after not getting into the Naval Academy. In April 1941, he was stationed at Pearl Harbor on the USS MacDonough, a destroyer. During the attack "our ship was torn down for overhaul, so a lot of us were ashore. I was at the executive officer's house."
He heard gunfire from a nearby anti-aircraft battery and ran back to the base and was strafed by a plane, but didn't get hit. Once back at his ship, he put on his uniform and took his position at an anti-aircraft gun. There was no power so he was forced to fire as accurately and safely as he could.
He especially had to be careful of firing at civilian areas or other ships.
His comment on the attack was that he "was too busy to be scared."
Two More to Come. --GreGen
Toldeo's Pearl Harbor Survivors: The Baseball Game That Never Happened
From the December 4, 2011, Toledo (Ohio) Blade "Day of Infamy vivid for those at Pearl Harbor" by Jennifer Feehan.
Charles Kessinger, 93, of West Toledo, was on the battleship USS Pennsylvania in Pearl Harbor that morning and thinking of nothing except the baseball championship game to be played later on December 7, 1941. He was the team's centerfielder and they were slated to play the team from the USS Oklahoma.
Of course, that game was never played.
He is one of northwest Ohio's last Pearl Harbor survivors.
A 500 pound Japanese bomb hit the Oklahoma, in dry dock, killing 25. However, he said he was on the other side of the ship and didn't feel or hear it. Ordered to report to battle stations, he continued, "On my way to my battle station, I stepped over a dead sailor. That's something I'll never forget in my life." It is kind of hard to believe he didn't hear or feel the explosion, probably because of all the other explosions going on all over the harbor I suppose.
He married Ruth, who he met on shore leave in 1943.
Four Navy veterans and Pearl Harbor survivors will be honored Dec. 7th: Jim Gilbert of Toledo, John Fox of Sylvania, Tom Child of Findlay and Kessinger. Only John Fox and Kessinger attended the event as the other two were not up to it, healthwise.
The national Pearl Harbor Survivors Association will be disbanding after this year. Founded in 1958, it once had 29,000 members, but as of September, the number was down to just 2,708.
Sad to See the Greatest Generation Passing Away. --GreGen
Charles Kessinger, 93, of West Toledo, was on the battleship USS Pennsylvania in Pearl Harbor that morning and thinking of nothing except the baseball championship game to be played later on December 7, 1941. He was the team's centerfielder and they were slated to play the team from the USS Oklahoma.
Of course, that game was never played.
He is one of northwest Ohio's last Pearl Harbor survivors.
A 500 pound Japanese bomb hit the Oklahoma, in dry dock, killing 25. However, he said he was on the other side of the ship and didn't feel or hear it. Ordered to report to battle stations, he continued, "On my way to my battle station, I stepped over a dead sailor. That's something I'll never forget in my life." It is kind of hard to believe he didn't hear or feel the explosion, probably because of all the other explosions going on all over the harbor I suppose.
He married Ruth, who he met on shore leave in 1943.
Four Navy veterans and Pearl Harbor survivors will be honored Dec. 7th: Jim Gilbert of Toledo, John Fox of Sylvania, Tom Child of Findlay and Kessinger. Only John Fox and Kessinger attended the event as the other two were not up to it, healthwise.
The national Pearl Harbor Survivors Association will be disbanding after this year. Founded in 1958, it once had 29,000 members, but as of September, the number was down to just 2,708.
Sad to See the Greatest Generation Passing Away. --GreGen
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