Requiem For Torpedo Eight-- Part 1: Getting Ready for the Battle of Midway

From the Paralyzed Veterans of America 2018 Calendar.  Artwork by Gil Cohen.

Shows planes on the deck of the aircraft carrier USS Hornet getting ready to take off.

It is 0700 hours on the fourth day of June, 1942.  The place is the deck of the carrier Hornet (CV-8), made famous less than two months prior when B-25s led by Jimmy Doolittle were launched from her deck in the first surprise bombing raid on japan.

The atmosphere is tense, as the Douglas TBD Devastator torpedo bombers of Torpedo Squadron Eight are poised for takeoff.

--GreGen

LST-325 Visits Dubuque-- Part 5: War's Going to Be Over

Roger Klauer says the trip to the LST-325 on Monday was emotional for the whole family:  "This is where Dad was figuring out who he was going to be.  He was just 22 years old and not yet married."

Klauer's LST was at sea when he learned the war was ending.

"Our captain announced: 'Now hear this:  We've just had an announcement that a bomb was dropped on enemy territory that is equivalent to what 2,000 bombers could carry, and we expect the war to be over soon."

We went into the bay at Manila and we counted 42 enemy ships that had been sunk," Klauer said.

He was discharged on June 6, 1946, and attended dental school on the G.I. Bill and practiced dentistry in Dubuque for 45 years, retiring in 1998.

--GreGen

LST-325 Visits Dubuque-- Part 4: LST-806 At Sea in the Pacific

In New Orleans, the LST-806's weapons were mounted.  Then the ship went through the Panama Canal on its way to the South Pacific Ocean.

"Along the equator, there were times the ocean looked like glass -- it was absolutely calm," he recalled.  "The sunrises and sunsets were gorgeous."

His job on board was to assist in the ship's office and he also served as a "conn talker," an individual who relays the captain's orders to the rest of the crew.

After sailing along the equator alone, the 808 joined a large number of ships upon arrival in the South Pacific.  After that, the ship embarked on a series of island invasions.

--GreGen

LST-325 Visits Dubuque-- Part 3: Training and His Ship

As he walked through the LST-325, he recalled his days on the identical LST-806.

"We slid down those stairs," he said of a steep set of stairs leading down to the ship's living quarters,.  "Sometimes the seas were so rough the deck with ripple."

Roger Klauer entered Navy service on May 11, 1944.  His LST crew was assembled  shortly after that in Libertyville, Illinois.  "from there, we trained at Navy Pier (Chicago), then we were sent to Evansville, Indiana."

The Navy launched Klauer's LST-806 from the shipyards in Evansville (which is the LST-325's home port).  With him and the rest of the crew of 123 on board,  the USS LST-806 traveled down the Ohio River to Cairo, Illinois, where it went into the Mississippi River and eventually to New Orleans.

--GreGen

LST-325 Visits Dubuque-- Part 2: LST-806 Operations

Roger Klauer said that one of the invasions his LST-806 was involved in was the one of  Palawan in the Philippines in early 1945.  "Palawan was of extreme importance because the enemy was holding out prisoners there."

His LST also made landings at Brunei Bay on Borneo and on the tip of the Philippines.

"We would hit the shores at low tides.  We would open the doors, and equipment, tents, food and everything would come out."

He toured the LST-325 on Monday, August 27, the same day I was on the ship.  He had his family with him who lived all over the country.

--GreGen

LST-325 Visits Dubuque, Iowa-- Part 1: LST Veteran Visits

From the August 28, 2018, Dubuque (Iowa) Telegraph-Herald  "Veteran revisits tour of duty aboard restored WW II ship" by Eric Hogstrom.

Roger F. Klaure, 94, toured the restored LST-325 in Dubuque, 74 years after he first stepped aboard  a LST (Landing Ship Tank), the USS LST-806, in the Pacific Theater of action during World War II.

His own LST transported troops and equipment during invasions around Borneo and the Philippines in 1945.

"We did make three landings, after the shores had been bombarded by cruisers, destroyers, rockets, planes and everything," he said.

--GreGen

Three More USS Oklahoma Unknowns Identified

These are from June 2018.

ROBERT HOLMES

USMC  His recovered remains consist of a jawbone, a piece of his shoulder and a shinbone.

He will be buried in Utah.

JOHN SCHOONOVER

Of Port Edwards, Wisconsin.  Navy Pharmacist's Mate 1st Class, age 39.

His funeral will be at Naval Air Station Pensacola later this month.

WALLACE EAKES

He was 22 when he died on the USS Oklahoma on December 7, 1941.  He will be buried June 21 at Fort Logan National Cemetery  in Colorado.

Born and raised in Caney, Kansas and was a Storekeeper 3rd Class.

So far, 135 of the USS Oklahoma's Unknowns have been identified and 70 reburied.

--GreGen

Pearl Harbor

1.  May 8, 2018 CNY Central.com  "CNY native Pearl Harbor survivor passes away at 97-years-old"

Larry Parry.  Was playing football when he saw the Japanese planes.  He spoke of his Pearl Harbor experiences at many schools and went back there for the 73rd anniversary.

2.  Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise  "Christensen served on the Tennessee at Peal Harbor."

Alvin H. Christensen.

--GreGen

Railroad Repairs in DeKalb in 1943

From the May 16, 2018, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1943, 75 Years Ago.

"The Chicago and North Western Railroad will start the repair work on its crossings in this city within a short time it was announced.  Some of the crossings are badly in need of repair, especially the one at Fourth Street and the Lincoln Highway.

"The railroad, like most others is short of help at present and it also difficult to secure the necessary materials.  The city has received many complaints on the condition of the crossings and has been doing everything possible to have the necessary repairs made as soon as possible."

More Wartime Shortages.  --GreGen

USS Cumberland Sound: Seaplane Tender and Operation Crossroads

From Wikipedia.

In the last post, I mentioned that Pearl Harbor survivor Ludwig "Lou" Radil was on this ship during the nuclear testing at Bikini Atoll.

Was a Kenneth Whiting-class seaplane tender  launched 23 February 1944 and commissioned 21 August 1944, Captain E. Grant in command.492 feet long, 69.6 beam, crew 1,077.

In October it sailed to Pearl Harbor and then to Enitowek and Ulithi where she tended the seaplanes of the  Patrol Bomber Squadron 22.  Then, the Cumberland Sound rendezvoused with the 3rd Fleet at Okinawa and sailed to Tokyo Bay, arriving 28 August 1945.  returned to the United States in November and was converted to carry returning U.S. military home.

She departed Seattle 28 December 1945 and embarked returning servicemen at San Pedro, California,  12 January 1946.

The Cumberland Sound was then assigned to "Operation Crossroads" nuclear testing. and on 19 January entered Long beach  Naval Shipyard for conversion to a laboratory ship.  She served during the atomic tests until 12 September 1946 when she returned too San Diego.

Placed out of commission in naval reserve 27 May 1947.

--GreGen

Pearl Harbor Survivor Ludwig Radil Dies in Nebraska

From the May 8, 2018, Omaha (Neb) World-Herald  "Navy veteran among last of Pearl Harbor survivors in Nebraska, dies at 98"

Ludwig "Lou" Radil was in the Navy for six years.  He was a yeoman on the USS California when the Japanese attacked and later he witnesses the nuclear testing after the war.

Joining the Navy in 1941, he arrived in Pearl Harbor in August and was the ship's librarian on the California. At the time of the attack he was setting up deck chairs for church services and remembered, "We got a torpedo hit, then another, and then a bomb hit.

"We started listing to one side.  We got word that the ship was sinking and might capsize.  So, the captain ordered a call to abandon ship.."

He jumped into the water and swam 200 yards to Ford Island, soaked with oil but uninjured.  The next day he helped remove bodies of the nearly 100 who died on his ship.

After the war he was assigned to the USS Cumberland Sound, a seaplane tender and was at Bikini Atoll in the spring of 1946 and observed the first of two post-war tests of nuclear weapons.

He was buried at Graceland Park Cemetery in South Omaha.

--GreGen

The USS North Carolina Rides Out Hurricane Florence, It's Visitor Center Not So Well

From the September 19, 2018, Wilmington (NC) Star-News.

The battleship USS North Carolina, anchored at Wilmington, North Carolina, weathered Hurricane Florence as it came ashore last week.

But two-thirds of the roof of the visitors center is gone and some of the administrative offices were flooded.

Captain Terry Bragg, the battleship director said that repairs were already underway, but the ship will be closed to the public until further notice.

Let's hope the cofferdam and ship are able to handle the flooding Caper Fear River as well.

--GreGen

Some More Oklahoma Unknowns Identified:

JOE JOHNSON

Age 22.  Radioman from Rushford, North Dakota.  Enlisted in Navy April 23, 1940 at a salary of $54 a month.  The first torpedo hit the Oklahoma near the radio room so it is likely he was killed immediately.

A service held for him on July 7, 2018.

There are still 79,000 service personnel unaccounted for from World War II.

LEON ARICKX

Age 23.  Seaman 1st Class.  Born December 28, 1918, in New London, Minnesota.  Joined Navy May 7, 1940, for a four year tour of duty.  Basic training at Great Lakes  Naval Base assigned to USS Oklahoma as a cook, specifically as a baker.

The day before the attack, he had been on shore leave and had purchased and sent Christmas presents home..  The presents arrived the same day as the telegram saying he was missing in action.  The family received official notification of his death in February 1942.

It Is A Great Thing Our Government Is Doing.    --GreGen

Kids Getting Into the War Effort in DeKalb, Illinois, in 1943

From the August 15, 2018, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1943, 75 Years Ago.

"Five DeKalb youngsters have been putting part of their summer vacation to good use by helping with war work.  For the past several weeks they have been collecting much needed waste kitchen fats from homes  about DeKalb, these valuable fats  being needed in making explosives.

"In this period of time they have collected nearly 60 pounds, a record of which they will be proud.  The waste kitchen grease has been sold to the meat markets and the money derived from the sales was turned over to the Red Cross."

Even the Kids.  --GreGen

A Practice Blackout in Kirkland, Illinois

From the August 15, 2018, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1943, 75 Years Ago.

"A practice blackout will be staged in Kirkland and vicinity Friday night between 9:30 and 10:00 o'clock.

"One long blast of the whistle will be given for the alert signal and another long blast for all clear."

Just In Case.  --GreGen

Joe Gaspar, Pearl Harbor Survivor Honored on 100th Birthday

From the May 8, 2018 GoErie.com  "Ellwood City helps Pearl Harbor survivor celebrate 100th birthday

Joe Gaspar was on maneuvers on a hill above Pearl harbor when the attack came.  He remembered:  "At first we didn't know what was going on, but the planes came over so low we could see the faces of the Japanese.

"There were three waves of planes.  Bombs were dropping everywhere.  My command car was hit, and I was thrown down a 70-foot cliff.

Mr. Gaspar was in the 21st Infantry and served from August 1839 to August 1945.  During that time he received three Bronze Stars.

--GreGen

Wakako Yamauchi, Japanese-American Writer Imprisoned During WW II

From the September 14, 2018, Chicago Tribune by Emily Langer, Washington Post.

(1924-2018)

Wakako Yamauchi was living behind barbed wire, poring over books in a tar paper-covered barrack that doubled as a library when she discovered the depth of her love of literature.

She was at the time a 17-year-old Nisei, or first generation Japanese-American confined with her family to the Poston Internment camp in Arizona.  They were among the 120,000 Japanese and Japanese-Americans imprisoned by the U.S. government in such centers during World War II.

Her most famous work was "And the Soul Shall Dance" which grew from her youth as the daughter of itinerant migrant  farmers in California.  The work is sometimes described as a Japanese "Grapes of Wrath."

--GreGen

Ideal Commutator Dresser Co.-- Part 2: Moved to Sycamore in 1924

Ideal Industries was founded in 1916 by J. Walter Becker as the Ideal Commutator Dresser Company in Chicago, Illinois, manufacturing commutator dresser stones.  In 1924, he relocated the company to where it is now in Sycamore, Illinois.

By 1949, it had become  the leading producer of wire nuts in the United States.

The Merriam-Webster dictionary says a commutator is a series of bars or segments connected to the armature coils  of a generator or motor so that the rotation of the arm will in conjunction with a set of fixed brushes convert alternating current to direct current.

I still don't know what this is.

--GreGen

Ideal Commutator Dresser Company-- Part 1: What They Make

In the last post I mentioned the name of this company.  I had no idea what they made or did, so had to look it up and I found an article about it in good ol' Wikipedia.

From Wikipedia  Ideal Industries

An American company that today produces connectors, hand tools, testers and meters for electrical and telecommunications industries.

The company makes many of its products in the United States.  It also owns Western Forge and Pratt-Read, the largest and second-largest  American-made producers of screwdrivers at the time of their acquisitions.  Its tools are sold at Lowe's and Ace  Hardware stores as well as many independent distributors.

Oh, They Make Those.  --GreGen

The Ideal Commutator Dresser Company Doing Its Part

From the July 11, 2018, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1943, 75 Years Ago.

"Manufactured articles of the Ideal Commutator Dresser Company pertaining to the war effort, have been placed on display at the offices of the Chamber of Commerce, and attracting considerable attention.

"The Ideal is one of the industries in this city working night and day for the war effort and the many articles shown at the Chamber  office depict in a small way, what is being done at the west side plant."

Working Day and Night for the War Effort.  --GreGen