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.
Thursday, July 9, 2015
NIU's Albert Riippi, Football and the War--Part 1
From the November 9, 2013, DeKalb (Ill.) Chronicle "Olson: Honoring captain's career in football, firefighting."
Albert Riippi, 87, will be the honorary football team captain in the Northern Illinois Huskies vs. Ball State University game and near the end of the 2nd quarter will present a new pickup truck to a veteran wounded in Afghanistan on behalf of the DeKalb Firefighters Union.
Mr. Riippi is a lifelong DeKalb resident.
He graduated from DeKalb High School at age 17 in the spring of 1944 and enlisted in the Navy. Two older brothers were already serving in the military.
He stood 6 foot and weighed 220 pounds, a big Finnish kid who had played offensive tackle for the DeKalb Barbs.
At Northern Illinois Teachers College (as NIU was called back then), football coach Chick Evans needed players with so many young men at war. His squad was mostly made up of men who were 4-F or had already served. He asked Riippi to play. Riippi said to him, "I'm in the Navy. I'm just waiting to be called." But he agreed to play until then.
Just Waiting for the Call. --GreGen
Wednesday, July 8, 2015
"Tamale King", WWII Vet Killed in Botched Robbery
From the Oct. 28, 2013, U.K. Mail Online "'Tamale King' World War II veteran, 87, who was 'killed in botched robbery by four teens' is buried with Navy honors."
Lawrence E. Thornton, 87, a white man, was brutally murdered. He was considered a "Pillar of His Community" and was beloved by all who knew him. During World War II he served as a Fireman First Class on board the minesweeper USS Herald in the Pacific.
Mr, Thornton died October 20th, two days after he was attacked in his driveway in Greenville, Mississippi.
Four black teenagers were arrested.
Mr. Thornton was known far and wide in the Delta Region for his award-winning Maria's Famous Hot Tamales.
--GreGen
Lawrence E. Thornton, 87, a white man, was brutally murdered. He was considered a "Pillar of His Community" and was beloved by all who knew him. During World War II he served as a Fireman First Class on board the minesweeper USS Herald in the Pacific.
Mr, Thornton died October 20th, two days after he was attacked in his driveway in Greenville, Mississippi.
Four black teenagers were arrested.
Mr. Thornton was known far and wide in the Delta Region for his award-winning Maria's Famous Hot Tamales.
--GreGen
Daylight Saving Time Comes From World War II
Daylight Saving Time was an effort to save resources during World War II when the government made it mandatory for the whole country.
Indiana is a mess when it comes to it.
--GreGen
Indiana is a mess when it comes to it.
--GreGen
Tuesday, July 7, 2015
Wilmington on Track to Become the First World War II City-- Part 2
In addition, there were three German POW camps in Wilmington and the headquarters of the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad was located in the city. This line was a major mover of goods and soldiers.
The North Carolina Shipbuilding Company, at the time the state's largest employer, built 243 cargo vessels, mostly Liberty Ships.
The war brought many workers and military personnel to the city, causing severe housing shortages.
Wilbur Jones was seven and remembers listening to the announcement of the Pearl Harbor attack on te radio when it broke into the broadcast of the Philadelphia Eagle-Washington Redskin game and said that there was an emergency and all officials needed to report immediately to their offices.
Wilmington lost three men in the attack.He recently was appointed to the USS North Carolina Battleship Commission and started the effort for city recognition in 2008.
There is no one who knows more about Wilmington's role during World War II than Mr. Jones.
--GreGen
The North Carolina Shipbuilding Company, at the time the state's largest employer, built 243 cargo vessels, mostly Liberty Ships.
The war brought many workers and military personnel to the city, causing severe housing shortages.
Wilbur Jones was seven and remembers listening to the announcement of the Pearl Harbor attack on te radio when it broke into the broadcast of the Philadelphia Eagle-Washington Redskin game and said that there was an emergency and all officials needed to report immediately to their offices.
Wilmington lost three men in the attack.He recently was appointed to the USS North Carolina Battleship Commission and started the effort for city recognition in 2008.
There is no one who knows more about Wilmington's role during World War II than Mr. Jones.
--GreGen
Wilmington on Track to Become the First World War II City-- Part 1
From the Oct. 29, 2013, Wilmington (NC) Star-News by Julian March.
The hard part is over. On Monday a bill to designate at least one U.S. city a year, with Wilmington as the first one, passed the U.S. House of Representatives. Now, it just needs passage in the Senate and a presidential signature.
The two-year effort to proclaim Wilmington as an American World War II City is the brainchild of Wilbur Jones of Wilmington, a military historian.
Wilmington lost 248 men in the war out of thousands who served. The Air Force trained at the city's airport, the Army at Fort Fisher, the Navy at Fort Caswell and Coast Guard Wrightsville Beach.
Definitely a Deserved Honor. --GreGen
The hard part is over. On Monday a bill to designate at least one U.S. city a year, with Wilmington as the first one, passed the U.S. House of Representatives. Now, it just needs passage in the Senate and a presidential signature.
The two-year effort to proclaim Wilmington as an American World War II City is the brainchild of Wilbur Jones of Wilmington, a military historian.
Wilmington lost 248 men in the war out of thousands who served. The Air Force trained at the city's airport, the Army at Fort Fisher, the Navy at Fort Caswell and Coast Guard Wrightsville Beach.
Definitely a Deserved Honor. --GreGen
Monday, July 6, 2015
Two Oldest Pearl Harbor Survivors Meet
FromJuly 3, 2015, NBC 7, San Diego "2 of the Oldest Known Pearl Harbor Survivors Reunite 74 Years Later" by Matt Rascon.
Ray Chavez, 103, and Jim Downey, 102, got together in San Diego on July 3, 2015. They were both there that day, but this is the first time they've met.
Jim Downing lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado and had believed he was the oldest survivor until he recently read about Mr. Chavez. He, however, says he'll take Chavez's word and won't be checking any birth certificates. That day he was 28 and stationed aboard the battleship USS West Virginia and says he remembers "most of what happened just as clear as if it were last week." He was not on the ship during the attack, but believes that if he had been, he'd have been killed.
Ray Chavez was aboard a ship sweeping restricted waters when they spotted a Japanese submarine and alerted other ships, one of which sank the submarine. He then went home (before the attack) and his wife awoke him with news of the attack.
Great That They Finally Met. -0-GreGen
Ray Chavez, 103, and Jim Downey, 102, got together in San Diego on July 3, 2015. They were both there that day, but this is the first time they've met.
Jim Downing lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado and had believed he was the oldest survivor until he recently read about Mr. Chavez. He, however, says he'll take Chavez's word and won't be checking any birth certificates. That day he was 28 and stationed aboard the battleship USS West Virginia and says he remembers "most of what happened just as clear as if it were last week." He was not on the ship during the attack, but believes that if he had been, he'd have been killed.
Ray Chavez was aboard a ship sweeping restricted waters when they spotted a Japanese submarine and alerted other ships, one of which sank the submarine. He then went home (before the attack) and his wife awoke him with news of the attack.
Great That They Finally Met. -0-GreGen
Jewish Population Back to Near Pre-World War II Level
From the June 28, 2015, Trib Live, SAP.
The Jewish People Policy Institute said there are 14.2 million Jews in the world today. When factoring in individuals with one Jewish parent and others identifying themselves as part-Jewish the number rises to 16.5 million.
That was the Jewish population of the world before the beginning of World War II.
That Many Died. --GreGen
The Jewish People Policy Institute said there are 14.2 million Jews in the world today. When factoring in individuals with one Jewish parent and others identifying themselves as part-Jewish the number rises to 16.5 million.
That was the Jewish population of the world before the beginning of World War II.
That Many Died. --GreGen
Saturday, July 4, 2015
There Are Only 77 American Aces Still Alive
From the June 2015 Veterans Site Blog. "There Are Only 77 Left? We Need to Honor These Vets Before It's Too Late" by Brian Doyle.
Recently two American Aces from Washington State went to meet up with more than three dozen other Aces in Washington, D.C. to receive the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest U.S. civilian award.
To reach Ace status, the pilot has to have shot down five or more enemy planes in aerial combat, otherwise known as Dogfights.Only 77 remain from the past. Air Force Brigadier general Steve Ritchie of Bellevue, Washington, became an Ace during the Vietnam War by flying 800 hours of combat on 339 missions. He shot down five MIG-21s.
Navy Commander Clarence Borley, of Olympia, Washington, was actually shot down himself in the South Pacific where he floated for five days before being spotted and picked up by an American submarine. While on that sub, he also experienced submarine combat when it was attacked twice by Japanese vessels.
On a day like today, July 4th, it is good to remember these men who risked their lives for us.
--GreGen
Recently two American Aces from Washington State went to meet up with more than three dozen other Aces in Washington, D.C. to receive the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest U.S. civilian award.
To reach Ace status, the pilot has to have shot down five or more enemy planes in aerial combat, otherwise known as Dogfights.Only 77 remain from the past. Air Force Brigadier general Steve Ritchie of Bellevue, Washington, became an Ace during the Vietnam War by flying 800 hours of combat on 339 missions. He shot down five MIG-21s.
Navy Commander Clarence Borley, of Olympia, Washington, was actually shot down himself in the South Pacific where he floated for five days before being spotted and picked up by an American submarine. While on that sub, he also experienced submarine combat when it was attacked twice by Japanese vessels.
On a day like today, July 4th, it is good to remember these men who risked their lives for us.
--GreGen
Friday, July 3, 2015
Donald Allen, WWII "Nose Art" Artists Died in 2013-- Part 2
Donald Allen, a Cleveland native, graduated from the Cleveland Institute of Art in 1941. His job in the air force was to ready planes for sorties. he avoided painting nude women, unlike many others doing "Nose Art."
He painted more than fifty designs on P-47 Thunderbirds and P-51 Mustangs. Reproductions of his "Nose Art" are on display at Seymour Johnson AFB in Goldsboro, N.C., where a street is named for him.
He volunteered as a waist gunner on a B-17 shuttle of bombers from England to Italy to Russia in 1944 to service aircraft on each stop and was awarded the Air Medal for his role.
--GreGen
He painted more than fifty designs on P-47 Thunderbirds and P-51 Mustangs. Reproductions of his "Nose Art" are on display at Seymour Johnson AFB in Goldsboro, N.C., where a street is named for him.
He volunteered as a waist gunner on a B-17 shuttle of bombers from England to Italy to Russia in 1944 to service aircraft on each stop and was awarded the Air Medal for his role.
--GreGen
Donald Allen, World War II "Nose Art" Artist Died in 2013-- Part 1
From the September 21, 2013, Cleveland.com "Donald Allen, 'nose art' artist of World War II, dies at 93" by Brian Albrecht.
Died August 15 in Rocky River, crew chief with the 4th Fighter Group, 334th Fighter Squadron, based in England. he was commissioned by pilots to paint depictions of their wives, girlfriends, favorite cartoon characters and other subjects on the noses of their planes.
A Golden Gloves champ from Missouri got a boxing mule. A pilot from Idaho flew the "Bosie Bee. The practice of painting the noses of airplanes was common in the Army Air Force and came known as "Nose Art" for its location on the planes.
--GreGen
Died August 15 in Rocky River, crew chief with the 4th Fighter Group, 334th Fighter Squadron, based in England. he was commissioned by pilots to paint depictions of their wives, girlfriends, favorite cartoon characters and other subjects on the noses of their planes.
A Golden Gloves champ from Missouri got a boxing mule. A pilot from Idaho flew the "Bosie Bee. The practice of painting the noses of airplanes was common in the Army Air Force and came known as "Nose Art" for its location on the planes.
--GreGen
Thursday, July 2, 2015
Port Chicago Explosion-- Part 2
Two hundred and fifty-eight surviving black sailors from the stevedore teams refused orders to go back and continue loading and offloading ships, demanding improved safety procedures.
A mutiny was declared and most were arrested and 208 court martialed.
--GreGen
A mutiny was declared and most were arrested and 208 court martialed.
--GreGen
Local Men from Wilmington Casualties in Port Chicago Explosion in 1943-- Part 1
From the July 16, 2013, Wilmington (NC) Star-News "Local men among casualties of epic World War II disaster" by Wilbur D. Jones Jr.
On July 17, 1943, the Port Chicago Naval Magazine in California exploded, obliterating ships and killing 320 naval, maritime and civilian personnel. Almost 400 were wounded. Damage from the blast extended out to 50 miles.
Two hundred and two blacks were among the dead. The deaths from this one event accounted for 15% of all black military personnel killed in the war. Two of them were from Wilmington. Seaman First Class James Henry Nixon and Seaman second Class James Jackson.
The explosion had a lot to do with the military's racial policies of the time. Most of the laborers were black sailors who received little training and they had to work under very unsafe conditions.
--GreGen
On July 17, 1943, the Port Chicago Naval Magazine in California exploded, obliterating ships and killing 320 naval, maritime and civilian personnel. Almost 400 were wounded. Damage from the blast extended out to 50 miles.
Two hundred and two blacks were among the dead. The deaths from this one event accounted for 15% of all black military personnel killed in the war. Two of them were from Wilmington. Seaman First Class James Henry Nixon and Seaman second Class James Jackson.
The explosion had a lot to do with the military's racial policies of the time. Most of the laborers were black sailors who received little training and they had to work under very unsafe conditions.
--GreGen
Wednesday, July 1, 2015
Okinawans Still Haunted by Horrors of War-- Part 2
Over 100,000 Okinawans died along with 80,000 Japanese troops. Almost every family suffered at least one casualty during the U.S. bombardment by air, sea and on land.
The island's lush green landscape was turned into a scorched wasteland.
More than 12,000 Americans also died, the worst bloodshed suffered by them during the War in the Pacific.
Many felt this slaughter and bloodshed foretold of what would happen should the U.S. be forced to invade Japan itself.
Yoshiko Shimabukure lost two older siblings and was told that should she be captured by the Americans that she would be raped and burned alive.
--GreGen
The island's lush green landscape was turned into a scorched wasteland.
More than 12,000 Americans also died, the worst bloodshed suffered by them during the War in the Pacific.
Many felt this slaughter and bloodshed foretold of what would happen should the U.S. be forced to invade Japan itself.
Yoshiko Shimabukure lost two older siblings and was told that should she be captured by the Americans that she would be raped and burned alive.
--GreGen
Okinawans Still Haunted By the Horror of War-- Part 1
From the June 22, 2015, Yahoo! News/ARP by Alastair Hummer.
Yoshiko Shimabukure still has nightmares of watching friends and Japanese soldiers die as they hid in caves to escape the American shelling. She was one of 222 female students mobilized as a battlefield nursing unit for the Imperial Army in March 1945.
They had only basic training putting on bandages, but the Japanese soldiers they tended "has legs ripped off, their intestines were falling out, faces missing." She was just 17 at the time.
many of her friends died when they were ordered by Japanese soldiers to leave the caves under fire. Others jumped off the cliffs as Americans approached. Others blew themselves up with grenades.
--GreGen
Yoshiko Shimabukure still has nightmares of watching friends and Japanese soldiers die as they hid in caves to escape the American shelling. She was one of 222 female students mobilized as a battlefield nursing unit for the Imperial Army in March 1945.
They had only basic training putting on bandages, but the Japanese soldiers they tended "has legs ripped off, their intestines were falling out, faces missing." She was just 17 at the time.
many of her friends died when they were ordered by Japanese soldiers to leave the caves under fire. Others jumped off the cliffs as Americans approached. Others blew themselves up with grenades.
--GreGen
Tuesday, June 30, 2015
Eastern Defense Command
On Saturday, I mentioned the Eastern Defense Command prohibiting photography along the North Carolina coast as a war measure. This was an organization I had never heard of before.
From Wikipedia.
The Eastern Defense Command (EDC) was established as the Northeast Defense Command on 17 March 1941, one of four U.S. Army continental defense commands to plan, prepare and execute defense against enemy attack (if needed) along the Atlantic coast before the U.S. entered the war.
Its main job was to coordinate Army forces and installations. It replaced the New England Defense Section.
With the U.S. entry into the war on December 8, 1941, the Northeast Defense Command was placed in the Eastern Theater of operations. Its first commander was Lt. Gen. Hugh A. Drum, commander of the First Army with headquarters at Fort Jay on Governor's Island, New York City. Its operational area included every state along the eastern coast.
As prospects of enemy attack all but diminished, the EDC merged into the Central Defense Command on 15 January 1944.
Other Defense Commands during the war:
Western Defense Command
Central Defense Command
Southern defense Command
Alaska Defense Command
Caribbean Defense Command
--GreGen
From Wikipedia.
The Eastern Defense Command (EDC) was established as the Northeast Defense Command on 17 March 1941, one of four U.S. Army continental defense commands to plan, prepare and execute defense against enemy attack (if needed) along the Atlantic coast before the U.S. entered the war.
Its main job was to coordinate Army forces and installations. It replaced the New England Defense Section.
With the U.S. entry into the war on December 8, 1941, the Northeast Defense Command was placed in the Eastern Theater of operations. Its first commander was Lt. Gen. Hugh A. Drum, commander of the First Army with headquarters at Fort Jay on Governor's Island, New York City. Its operational area included every state along the eastern coast.
As prospects of enemy attack all but diminished, the EDC merged into the Central Defense Command on 15 January 1944.
Other Defense Commands during the war:
Western Defense Command
Central Defense Command
Southern defense Command
Alaska Defense Command
Caribbean Defense Command
--GreGen
Monday, June 29, 2015
Pearl Harbor USS Arizona Survivor Sails On
From the Sept. 19, 2013 Times.
Edward L. Wentzlaff went to the USS Arizona Memorial in 2011 for the 9th time. He died at age 95 on September 10, 2013, His ashes will join 35 others on December 7, 2013, on the USS Arizona.
In 1941, he was a 24-year-old on the deck of the USS Arizona waiting for church service to begin. he had joined the Navy in 1939.
--GreGen
Edward L. Wentzlaff went to the USS Arizona Memorial in 2011 for the 9th time. He died at age 95 on September 10, 2013, His ashes will join 35 others on December 7, 2013, on the USS Arizona.
In 1941, he was a 24-year-old on the deck of the USS Arizona waiting for church service to begin. he had joined the Navy in 1939.
--GreGen
Saturday, June 27, 2015
German U-boats Off East Coast of U.S.: Photography Limitations
From the August 28, 2013, Wilmington (NC) Star-News "Back Then."
AUGUST 10, 1943: German U-boats were off the East Coast. The Eastern Defense Command banned civilian photography along much of the beaches in North Carolina. Only the southeastern portion of the N.C. shore was allowed.
Also, it was illegal to take photographs from planes and illegal to make paintings or drawings of beach landmarks.
Although by now, most U-boat activity had ceased after hitting its peak the previous summer.
--GreGen
AUGUST 10, 1943: German U-boats were off the East Coast. The Eastern Defense Command banned civilian photography along much of the beaches in North Carolina. Only the southeastern portion of the N.C. shore was allowed.
Also, it was illegal to take photographs from planes and illegal to make paintings or drawings of beach landmarks.
Although by now, most U-boat activity had ceased after hitting its peak the previous summer.
--GreGen
Friday, June 26, 2015
The Office of War Information
From the Sept. 28, 2013, "Amazing Colir Photos of the U.S, Home Front During World War II."
FDR issued an executive order creating the Office of War Information (OWI). They were tasked with taking photographs releasing war news, promoting patriotic activities and providing news outlets audio, film and photos of the government's activities during the war.
Thousands of photographs were taken and approximately 1600 were in color.
The Shorpy site sure has a lot of OWI photos, especially of trains. I wonder if anyone has written a book about this organization?
Smile for the Camera. --GreGen
FDR issued an executive order creating the Office of War Information (OWI). They were tasked with taking photographs releasing war news, promoting patriotic activities and providing news outlets audio, film and photos of the government's activities during the war.
Thousands of photographs were taken and approximately 1600 were in color.
The Shorpy site sure has a lot of OWI photos, especially of trains. I wonder if anyone has written a book about this organization?
Smile for the Camera. --GreGen
Thursday, June 25, 2015
Oldest Pearl Harbor Survivor Honored
From the May 25, 2015, CBS 8 News.
Monday, Ray Chavez, 103, was honored. He was serving on the minesweeper USS Condor that day. he was one of four Pearl Harbor survivors to speak at the memorial Day event at National City.
In the early morning hours of Dec. 7, 1941, his ship spotted the periscope of a Japanese mini submarine which was attacked and blown up by the destroyer USS Ward. He served on transports for the remainder of the war.
--GreGen
Monday, Ray Chavez, 103, was honored. He was serving on the minesweeper USS Condor that day. he was one of four Pearl Harbor survivors to speak at the memorial Day event at National City.
In the early morning hours of Dec. 7, 1941, his ship spotted the periscope of a Japanese mini submarine which was attacked and blown up by the destroyer USS Ward. He served on transports for the remainder of the war.
--GreGen
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