October 6, 2012
I met Mr. Roberts at the Williston Peanut Festival. He had been with the Seabees (the builders of lots of bridges, etc.). He had been in the service 1952-1955. He was mostly stateside during the Korean "Police Action." I got the idea, that in addition to being the builders, they are kind of the Radar O'Reilly of the Navy. Barter seems to be their middle name. They are adept at getting almost anything, any time, any where (ice cream in the desert, maybe). Their bartering services extended to all branches of service. My guess that Uncle Sam might never find some of its property, because of the trading amongst and between.
Mr. Roberts, a Daytona native, said that he had been stationed at Davisville, Quonset Point. I knew exactly where that is as part of our trip this summer brought us through Davisville, RI. My friends Lynne and John, now married almost forty years met at Quonset Point. Mr. Roberts wanted to know about the area now. He would never recognize it. He remembered it as having lots of Quonset huts (thus, the name). Did not see a Quonset hut anywhere. A large part of the base is a shopping center. Quonset Point has been decommissioned as a Naval base some time ago, but the local Air National Guard still uses the airstrip.
It is kind of fun to talk to someone who knows a place that you also know, but it is too remote for others to figure out.
Saturday, October 6, 2012
GREENE. LAMAR
October 6, 2012
I met Mr. Greene at the Annual Peanut Festival in Williston today. I had been chatting with another veteran of that time period. If one wants to hear the real stories, stand by and listen to a conversation of two vets. Mr. Greene had been in the USAF. I don't know any of the details of his life in the service except for the one story I heard, but I felt it was humorous and needed to be shared.
He talked about how different beers were in different locals and barter between units and other US service personnel (particularly the Navy) was a large part of doing more than surviving. At times, it was part of the good life, it seems.
Mr. Greene mentioned that in the belly of a plane going to a place where supplies might be different, cases of beer might be included. The tail number(s) would be communicated to the destination of the plane. Soon, another plane or two would be coming back from the destination with "Korean" beer. Again, the tail numbers would be communicated. So, beer barter was active. The appropriate men in the ground crew were always in the know.
He had been stationed in Okinawa.
I met Mr. Greene at the Annual Peanut Festival in Williston today. I had been chatting with another veteran of that time period. If one wants to hear the real stories, stand by and listen to a conversation of two vets. Mr. Greene had been in the USAF. I don't know any of the details of his life in the service except for the one story I heard, but I felt it was humorous and needed to be shared.
He talked about how different beers were in different locals and barter between units and other US service personnel (particularly the Navy) was a large part of doing more than surviving. At times, it was part of the good life, it seems.
Mr. Greene mentioned that in the belly of a plane going to a place where supplies might be different, cases of beer might be included. The tail number(s) would be communicated to the destination of the plane. Soon, another plane or two would be coming back from the destination with "Korean" beer. Again, the tail numbers would be communicated. So, beer barter was active. The appropriate men in the ground crew were always in the know.
He had been stationed in Okinawa.
Saturday, June 16, 2012
MY FAVORITE MARINE
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| Check the "Marine" haircut |
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| The hat says USMC with the emblem of THE Corps |
My
Favorite Marine
September,
1921 -- Present
This posting was started June 12, 2012 and will be updated on an ongoing basis.
I first met Glen (Bud) Shipbaugh at Archer Chapter
OES. I had arrived as a guest, and he
was on the “welcoming” commit-tee. In his
opinion, my current dues card was sufficient to allow me to be able to attend the
meeting. In his opinion, who would show
up at this kind of meeting just for the hahas.
Within a few minutes, I was asked if I would pro temp in the North. Since I am always willing to jump in where
needed, I said that I would.
Our acquaintance has blossomed into a neat
friendship. Our last degree work in
Archer before the Chapter consolidated found him in the East and me as
Conductress. Since he is the best
ritualist I have ever encountered, I can say we did a good job together. He did the AP’s lecture (long form) to
perfection.
His wife Katie was frail and often ill, but she knew
her stuff as well. When she passed away,
I was up north. I always felt sad that I
missed the opportunity to pay my respects.
But, over the next several years, our friendship
(including Steve) increased in intensity.
The local Masonic Lodge has a breakfast twice a month. The three of us rarely miss one of these
social gatherings.
Recently at an OES meeting, I did a program on the
history of the American flag. One part
of that history included the original Gladsden flag (the rattlesnake and Don’t
Tread on Me). It was the first flag used
on a ship with “sea-faring soldiers” which later became known as the “Marines.” Glen was sitting in the audience and as the
MC, I made reference to his being My
Favorite Marine. He was slightly embarrassed,
but lived through it.
Since we dine together often, we have many
conversations. Early on I learned he was
a Marine. As they say, “Once a Marine; always a Marine.” But Glen has/had been shy about his
experiences as he was in the Pacific in World War II, in part because of some
of the horrendous situations in which he was thrown. Like many people in many wars, the men and women have a difficult time sharing details of their service.
Little by little, I have been able to coax a few
details from him. As I get more, I will
add to this post.
He enlisted in 1942, while he was only twenty
(almost twenty-one)—as he says, "a plain, ordinary guy from Ohio." After his basic training, he shipped out with
the (as he proudly states) the "ORIGINAL" Third Marine Division.
The Third Marine Division during World War II was best known
for its courageous endeavors at Iwo Jima.
The web-site below produces an excellent,
albeit somewhat graphic and, perhaps, gruesome, history of the battle at Iwo
Jima which is most remembered by the iconic flag raising. The Third Marine
Division (and Glenn), on the other hand, remembers it for the thirty-six long,
hard days of fighting the Battle on the island of Iwo Jima. It was a nasty place for anyone to be.
The quote is from the web-site below: Military
geniuses predicted a three day battle, an "easy time." Some of the
nicest boys America would ever produce slogged on for thirty six days in what
would be the worst battle in the history of the US Marine Corps. Generals
conferred over maps while tanks, airplanes, naval bombs and artillery pounded
the island. But it was the individual Marine on the ground with a gun that won
the battle. Marines without gladiator's armor who would advance into withering
fire. Marines who would not give up simply because they were Marines. A mint in
Washington would cast more medals for these Iwo Jima heroes than for any group
of fighters in America's history. Twenty
seven Medals of Honor were awarded to Marines and sailors (most Navy
corpsmen). Many of these were awarded
posthumously. This made this battle the
one with more such awards over any other given single World War II
operation. Silver Stars. Bronze Stars, Purple
Hearts, etc.
The bits and pieces I have gleaned from Glenn are
oft sad.
I asked him if he had seen our flag planted on top
of Mount Saribachi. He said he did not
see either (there were two--one before the iconic picture we know) of them as he was in the front lines at the opposite end of the
island. Read about it in a magazine
later like most of the US population.
The battle lasted thirty six days before
surrender. Glen was in the fray most of
that time.
One--kind of humorous accounting (also a bit sad…kind
of bitter sweet). After the capture of
the Iwo Jima, he was sent with the Third Division to Guam. After Guam, he and seventeen other Marines were taken off the island and sent
to Hawaii by a naval ship for an R&R.
When they reached Hawaii, all the Navy guys got a shore leave, but they
would not allow the Marines such a privilege.
They were told that they did not have good enough clothes or proper
manners (and would not know how to act).
Why, for heaven’s name, could they not be supplied with new clothes! This is way beyond my understanding. I'm sure the "manners" would have worked themselves out quite nicely.
There were a lot of Japanese cave dwellers. Glen was oft chosen to be part of the group
that had to infiltrate those caves.
Patrol, fight on the front lines, patrol, fight. He thinks he fought eighteen straight days
from his shell hole.
By this time, he was a Corporal. He says when someone higher up the ladder
said, “grab you rifle!” he did just that.
After doing three patrols almost back to back, someone told him to grab
his rifle. When he balked slightly, I am
sure due to sheer exhaustion and weariness, the higher up asked him if he were “yellow.” Not hardly, he did the fourth patrol without
further ado.
Added 10/6/2012 [ ]
[Portions of the Third Marine Division were sent to Bogainville throughout the end of 1943 and into 1944. Bogainville was and an ongoing set of battles from two distinct phases, which began on 1 November 1943 and ended on 21 August 1945, with the surrender of the Japanese. At Bogainville, he spent three and nights in a cramped rifle pit.
Bogainville is an island in the Solomon Islands group. The number of allied casualties was relatively low compared to other Marine advances. The Japanese casualties, on the other hand, were very high.
Added 10/6/2012 [ ]
[Portions of the Third Marine Division were sent to Bogainville throughout the end of 1943 and into 1944. Bogainville was and an ongoing set of battles from two distinct phases, which began on 1 November 1943 and ended on 21 August 1945, with the surrender of the Japanese. At Bogainville, he spent three and nights in a cramped rifle pit.
Bogainville is an island in the Solomon Islands group. The number of allied casualties was relatively low compared to other Marine advances. The Japanese casualties, on the other hand, were very high.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bougainville_Campaign]
Glen says he always knew he would make it through. Today with a sparkle/twinkle in his eye, he walks with friends several times a
week, drives his blue truck with GeeGee at his side (a pug mix canine), is
active in the Masonic Fraternity and OES--still an excellent ritualist--and is too busy to read. Although slim and trim, he is concerned with
his weight. When he enlisted, he weighed
about 140 pounds; today around 160 and still standing tall—not anything to sneeze at or that could be considered too
heavy by anyone’s measurement. Now approaching ninety-one, I guess he was
correct. He certainly did “make it
through.”
August 4, 2012--I saw Glen for breakfast this morning. I told him that I missed him for the last one. He told me where he went. A friend of his had been a native on Guam when the Allies landed. Guam (the largest of the Marianna Islands) was recaptured by the Allies against the Japanese with a long hard fought battle that began on July 21, 1944 and lasted to August 10. Guam was an American territory that the Japanese invaded and captured in 1941.
He said he missed breakfast the last time as he had gone to a reunion in celebration of that day in Titusville, Florida. He also said he was the only member of American liberation forces of Guam to be at this Reunion. So, I know that he was treated like royalty. All others at the reunion were people who had lived on the island at the time (along with their spouses and families).
I also managed to squeeze a few more details from him. At the battle to reclaim Guam, he was "fourth" wave coming off his Higgins boat. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LCVP
Due to the coral reefs surrounding the island, the Higgins could not land the men on the beaches as they normally did. He had to climb down the rope netting off the side of the boat and had to get to the beach through waist-deep water (somewhere between 50 and 100 yards). Once on the beach, he said "we had to get to where we had to go"--being a bit vague...once again. In addition, to everything else he carried on his back, he had 240 rounds (ten clips) for his B.A.R. (Browning Automatic Rifle, his gun). He told me that he was extremely fast with firing and reloading.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M1918_Browning_Automatic_RifleI
August 4, 2012--I saw Glen for breakfast this morning. I told him that I missed him for the last one. He told me where he went. A friend of his had been a native on Guam when the Allies landed. Guam (the largest of the Marianna Islands) was recaptured by the Allies against the Japanese with a long hard fought battle that began on July 21, 1944 and lasted to August 10. Guam was an American territory that the Japanese invaded and captured in 1941.
He said he missed breakfast the last time as he had gone to a reunion in celebration of that day in Titusville, Florida. He also said he was the only member of American liberation forces of Guam to be at this Reunion. So, I know that he was treated like royalty. All others at the reunion were people who had lived on the island at the time (along with their spouses and families).
I also managed to squeeze a few more details from him. At the battle to reclaim Guam, he was "fourth" wave coming off his Higgins boat. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LCVP
Due to the coral reefs surrounding the island, the Higgins could not land the men on the beaches as they normally did. He had to climb down the rope netting off the side of the boat and had to get to the beach through waist-deep water (somewhere between 50 and 100 yards). Once on the beach, he said "we had to get to where we had to go"--being a bit vague...once again. In addition, to everything else he carried on his back, he had 240 rounds (ten clips) for his B.A.R. (Browning Automatic Rifle, his gun). He told me that he was extremely fast with firing and reloading.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M1918_Browning_Automatic_RifleI
I asked if this landing was done "under fire." He said, "No, artillery!" In my book that is under fire, but I think he translated it in his mind as smaller gun fire--rifle or machine gun. Glen, my friend, landing under an artillery barrage sounds like "under heavy fire" to me. (pun intended).
I will continue to add to this posting as more details are gleaned from Glen. Love you!
I will continue to add to this posting as more details are gleaned from Glen. Love you!
October 6, 2012
I had breakfast with Glen this morning at the semi weekly Masonic breakfast. Another Marine (Hildon Simmons--I will start a blog about him later) sat at the same table. There is nothing like a couple of jar heads seating near each other to start hearing stories. Both are WWII Vets.
Today, they chatted about what they did "after" [combat time] but while they were still active duty. Glen came back to California where he was stationed "nine miles from the main gate of Pendleton...out in the middle of no where." He was asked at some point if he preferred the East or West Coast. He says that since he was a country boy from Ohio, he preferred the East. So, he was shipped to Parris Island, South Carolina where he was "volunteered" by his sergeant to be a drill instructor. His lieutenant promised him sergeant stripes if he re-upped. That was not enough incentive for Bud.
I also learned that he did his basic at Camp LeJeune, North Carolina.
And then there was the "nine shots." Glen, what do you mean nine shots...liquor, bullets, what. He said that every time they moved to a new island, they got nine shots. Well, it turns out that it is nine vaccines with nine separate needles. The one for the bubonic plaque was the worse. It was injected under the skin at an angle. It was swell up and hurt for a couple of days. Then, everything would be okay again. (The swelling had gone down.)
The tents often lost their ability to be waterproof due to the fact that it rained so much. In one area, they could set their watches by the nine a.m. and three p.m. rainfall. I asked what they did about their tents. "Well, you put your ponchos over the mosquito netting, of course." Well, of course! How could I be so dumb. My thought would have been to use some sort of magic potion to make it water-proofed once again.
May 19, 2013
I talked to Glen this afternoon. We did not see him at the Saturday morning breakfast. I talked to his walking companion who told me he had been in the hospital. It seems that he had two aneurysms, which was corrected with one stint. The procedure was done on Thursday. He came home Friday.
We chatted a little more about his service. The Third Division was part of the Guam invasion in April 1945. The idea was to get to the beach as fast as possible as the shelling from the Japanese was directly into the water and at the Higgins boats.
After Guam, he was supposed to get a furlough. We again told me about his ship stopping in Hawaii and the jar heads could not get off the ship because of their tattered, torn and--I am sure-- somewhat smelly clothes and potential lack of manners. He continued the story by saying their future destination was San Francisco. My aside: Why couldn't the US Government give them new clothes??? As they were approaching San Francisco, they were given a breakfast of steak and eggs. This worried him and his friends, as steak and eggs was the meal of choice of the government when they were about to go into battle. "Are we sure this is the United States?" "We aren't going into battle, are we?"
In San Francisco they were put on trains to San Diego and then another one to Chicago. They had not received their furlough papers...did not get them until Chicago. There was a stop in St. Louis. They were told that the stop would be about three hours. Glen was tired so he stayed in his bunk on the train. Several others disembarked. Within a fairly short period of time (he did not remember how long), he felt movement...the train had started. Several of his friends were left behind in St. Louis without papers. He did not remember what happened to them, but he was happy that he had stayed on the train.
He recently read a book about Iwo Jima, written by the son of the Navy Corpsman who was one of six who raised THE flag. Bud said he wished he had not read it. Says it brought back too many bad memories that he had somewhat repressed.
I guess the most information I get from him will be little snippets outside of battle. But these memories are too good not to be shared.
He never buys a "Marine" cap. People keep giving them to him.
May 19, 2013
I talked to Glen this afternoon. We did not see him at the Saturday morning breakfast. I talked to his walking companion who told me he had been in the hospital. It seems that he had two aneurysms, which was corrected with one stint. The procedure was done on Thursday. He came home Friday.
We chatted a little more about his service. The Third Division was part of the Guam invasion in April 1945. The idea was to get to the beach as fast as possible as the shelling from the Japanese was directly into the water and at the Higgins boats.
After Guam, he was supposed to get a furlough. We again told me about his ship stopping in Hawaii and the jar heads could not get off the ship because of their tattered, torn and--I am sure-- somewhat smelly clothes and potential lack of manners. He continued the story by saying their future destination was San Francisco. My aside: Why couldn't the US Government give them new clothes??? As they were approaching San Francisco, they were given a breakfast of steak and eggs. This worried him and his friends, as steak and eggs was the meal of choice of the government when they were about to go into battle. "Are we sure this is the United States?" "We aren't going into battle, are we?"
In San Francisco they were put on trains to San Diego and then another one to Chicago. They had not received their furlough papers...did not get them until Chicago. There was a stop in St. Louis. They were told that the stop would be about three hours. Glen was tired so he stayed in his bunk on the train. Several others disembarked. Within a fairly short period of time (he did not remember how long), he felt movement...the train had started. Several of his friends were left behind in St. Louis without papers. He did not remember what happened to them, but he was happy that he had stayed on the train.
He recently read a book about Iwo Jima, written by the son of the Navy Corpsman who was one of six who raised THE flag. Bud said he wished he had not read it. Says it brought back too many bad memories that he had somewhat repressed.
I guess the most information I get from him will be little snippets outside of battle. But these memories are too good not to be shared.
He never buys a "Marine" cap. People keep giving them to him.
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Martha Raye--comedienne known for her large sized mouth
Martha Raye
August 27, 1916 – October 19, 1994
August 27, 1916 – October 19, 1994
This is a great story about a great
woman.
The following is from an Army
Aviator who takes a trip down memory lane:
It was just before Thanksgiving '67,
and we were ferrying dead and wounded from a large GRF (Ground Relief Forces) west of Pleiku. We had run out of body
bags by noon, so the Hook (CH-47 CHINOOK) was pretty rough
In the back. All of a sudden, we
heard a 'take-charge' woman's voice in the rear. There was the singer and actress, Martha Raye, with a SF
(Special Forces) beret and jungle fatigues, with subdued markings, helping the wounded into the
Chinook, and carrying the dead aboard. 'Maggie' had been visiting her SF 'heroes' out 'west'.
We took off, short of fuel, and
headed to the USAF hospital pad at Pleiku.* As we all started unloading our sad pax's, a 'Smart Ass' USAF
Captain said to Martha.... "Ms Ray, with all these dead and wounded to process, there would not be time
for your show!"
To all of our surprise, she pulled on her right
collar and said....Captain, see this eagle? I am a full 'Bird' in the US Army
Reserve,** and on this is a 'Caduceus'
which means I am a Nurse, with a
surgical specialty.... Now, take me to your wounded." He said, 'yes mam.... Follow me.' Several times at the
Army Field Hospital in Pleiku, she would 'cover' a surgical shift, giving a nurse a well-deserved break.
During that time, another serviceman flying a "Huey Slick" helicopter carrying troops recalls that his ship received combat damage to the extent that he had to return to base at Soc Trang:
I was the pilot of that "slick" which had received major damage to the tail-rotor drive shaft from a lucky enemy rifle shot. The maintenance team at the staging area inspected and determined that a one-time flight back to base camp would be okay but grounded the aircraft after that. Upon arriving back at Soc Trang, I informed Martha (she came right up to us and asked how things were going) that we had a gunship down in the combat area and additional efforts were being made to extract the crew. I don't recall if we had received word of the death of the pilot at that time. Martha stated that she and her troupe would remain until everyone returned from the mission. As there were no replacements, the servicemen could not return to the mission. While the servicemen waited, Raye played poker with them and helped to keep everyone's spirits up. I enjoyed playing cards with Martha but regretted it somewhat. It appears that she had plenty of practice playing poker with GIs during her USO service in multiple wars. But I still love her for who she was and what she did.
When the mission was completed, which had resulted in the loss of a helicopter, gunship and a Viking pilot, there was also an officer, the Major who was in command of the Vikings who had been wounded when the ship went down. He was flying pilot position but was not in control of the ship when the command pilot, a Warrant Officer, was shot. When he and the two remaining crewmen were returned to Soc Trang, Raye volunteered to assist the doctor in treating the wounded flyer.
When all had been completed, Raye waited until everybody was available and then put on her show. Everyone involved appreciated her as an outstanding trouper and a caring person. During the Vietnam War, she was made an honorary Green Beret because she visited United States Army Special Forces in Vietnam without fanfare, and she helped out when things got bad in Special Forces A-Camps. As a result, she came to be known affectionately by the Green Berets as "Colonel Maggie."
Martha is the only woman buried in the SF (Special Forces) cemetery at Ft Bragg.
**Her title, albeit "honorary," can help one to do so much good, if used properly. My vote would be to use it.
*Pleiku was strategically important during the Vietnam War because it was the primary terminus of the military supply logistics corridor extending westwards along Highway 19 from the coastal population center and port facilities of Qui Nhon. Additionally, its central location on the plateau, between Kontum in the north, Buon Ma Thuot to the south, and the North Vietnamese Army's base areas inside Cambodia to the west made Pleiku the main center of defense of the entire highland region of the Republic of Vietnam.
This was strategically obvious to both sides; the U.S. established an armed presence very early in the conflict at Camp Holloway, and the Việt Cộng attack on this base in early 1965 was one of the key escalating events that brought U.S. troops into the conflict.
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Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Warren, Francis (Sonny)
Francis W. Warren 1917-1974
USN
His Story as Told By His Sister Priscilla W. Pyatt
September 2, 2011
Dateline: December 7, 1941 and following
Recently, on our adventure to Connecticut, Lynne and I stopped to visit my mother at her apartment. She has many family pictures in one of her rooms. Lynne (whose husband is retired Navy) asked, "Who is that handsome sailor?" At this point, my mother launched into the story of her brother, Sonny. Most of the "story" is the way I heard it most of my life, but there is at least one inaccurate detail (see below).
My uncle Francis "Sonny" Warren, son of Riverious B. and Josephine Strup Warren, was born in Farmington, Connecticut in 1917. His parents met in October 1916 and after a whirlwind romance on a motorcycle, they married in January 1917. Sonny was born in October. Upon her pregnancy and birth of her first born, my grandfather bought a side car. Two other siblings joined the family Raymond W. (1919) and Priscilla (1920). Raymond died in his teens. Priscilla is now almost ninety-one!
In 1939 Sonny joined the Navy. Between being teased by the Navy's motto of "Join the Navy, See the World" and being caught in the throes of the Great Depression, it seemed like a good thing to do. After boot camp, he was assigned to the light cruiser Helena. The ship was part of the Pacific fleet stationed at Pearl Harbor.
This particular Sunday morning, Sonny and many of his ship mates were on deck getting ready to go to church. Sonny had a need to use the head. This probably saved his life. While there, he started to hear explosions and thought there were some crazy guys working off Saturday night by messing in the ammunition dump. He went topside asked what was going on. "The Japs are attacking!" His response was that was impossible as we were not at war with Japan
In the meantime, General Quarters were being sounded. "Man Your Stations!" "This is not a drill!" "Man your stations!" As a gunner's mate, his station was topside. He could see the faces of the Japanese pilots as straffed his fellow sailors. With big smiles and laughter (this statement has been repeated by many who were there).. The ship was damaged. Sonny received a thirty day "survivor leave." The ship was sent back to San Francisco for repairs.
After recuperation for both the sailors and the ship, they rejoined the Pacific fleet. Thirteen major sea battles!
Helena and St. Louis in action at Kula Gulf, seen from Honolulu
Then one dark night one more battle--the Battle of Coral Sea (she thought)--the Helena was stuck and started sinking. (Actually it was sunk at the Battle of Kula Gulf. Her brother struck his head against the bulkhead, but was not knocked unconscious. Many of the guys jumped overboard into the heavy slick of oil that covered the sea. An alternative was to climb down the overboard netting, which Sonny chose to do. He had his life jacket on which had to be blown up. He did this and entered the water where he held onto a life raft until he was rescued by a troop transport, the President Polk. (In telling this tale, my mother mentioned that she never knew that there was a Presient named Polk before. She is incorrect in this fact as the President Polk was not commissioned until October 1943. Kula Gulf Battle took place in July, 1943. It may have been the next ship to which Francis was assigned.) September 25, 2913 Correction by Mother. The USS Radford rescued him. The USS President Polk was the next ship on which he served
Many men saw lights on a near by island. Friend or foe? Sonny was not going to take the chance. Several men in life rafts rowed to the island. They were never seen or heard from again.
My mother did not say whether he got another "survivor's leave" or not.
A few years after his discharge, he developed seizures. The family believed that these came from that day of his ship going down. He had not reported it. With all the commotion, I guess he did not feel that it was important. With water, oil slick, fire, one would hardly run to ones commanding officer with a bump on ones head. So, with that said, Sonny was not covered for a war related injury. He paid for all his doctors and medication from his own pocket until he died in 1974 from a brain tumor. My mother felt that brain tumor was a residual reaction from that fateful day. Truly one of America's unsung heroes.
http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-usn/usnsh-h/cl50.htm
USS Helena, a 10,000-ton Saint Louis class light cruiser built at the New York Navy Yard, was commissioned in September 1939. After serving in the Atlantic in 1939-40, she was transferred to the Pacific, where she spent the rest of a short, eventful career. While tied up alongside 1010 dock at the Pearl Harbor Navy Yard, Helena was hit by a single torpedo during the Japanese raid, flooding an engine room and boiler room. Repair and modification work at the Pearl Harbor and Mare Island Navy Yards lasted through June 1942.
In the summer of 1942, Helena was sent to the South Pacific, where she participated actively in the Guadalcanal campaign. She rescued survivors of USS Wasp (CV-7) when that carrier was sunk by an enemy submarine on 15 September. Twice, in the 11-12 October Battle of Cape Esperance and the 13 November 1942 Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, Helena engaged in night surface combat, making important contributions to thwarting Japanese bombardments of vital Henderson Field. In January 1943, late in the Guadalcanal campaign, she twice shelled Japanese bases on New Georgia and Kolombangara islands.
Following a quick overhaul at Sydney, Australia, Helena returned to the combat zone in March 1943. She again bombarded enemy positions before and during the invasion of New Georgia and Rendova. In the early morning of 6 July 1943, Helena was part of a task force that fought Japanese destroyers in the Battle of Kula Gulf. Hit by three torpedoes in that action, the cruiser was broken into three parts and sunk, with the loss of nearly 170 of her crewmen.
Dateline: July5, 1943:
USN (TG 36.1)—commanded by Rear Admiral W.L. Ainsworth. The Task Group consisted of the light cruisers (light cruisers were named for cities) USS Honolulu (CL-48), USS St. Louis (CL-49), and USS Helena (CL-50), and four destroyers, had received word of another "Tokyo Express"* mission down "the Slot"** in the Solomon Islands, and the task group proceeded northwest past New Georgia Island.
The Allies were in the process of launching their next offensive in the Solomon Islands, having just landed troops on the island of Rendova as a preliminary step to seizing the major Japanese airstrip at "Munda" on New Georgia Island. In support of this landing, which was to set up an initial beachhead for moving U.S. troops across Blanche Channel to New Georgia, Admiral Ainsworth had the night before conducted a cruiser bombardment of Vila on Kolombangara Island and Bairoko on New Georgia and, short of fuel and ammunition, was in the process of retiring to the Coral Sea to replenish. The US Marines had a scheduled landing on the northern shore of New Georgia on 10 July, that would require further naval support.
Ahoetly after one A.M. off Kolombangara, the task group came into contact with a Japanese reinforcement group commanded by Admiral Teruo Akiyama which consisted of ten destroyers loaded with 2,600 combat troops that were bound for Vila, which they used as a staging point for moving into Munda. The Japanese were divided into two forces, a formation of three escorts trailing the main column first came under attack.
The U.S. ships opened fire close to 2:00 A.M., firing 612 shells in 21 minutes and six seconds. The destroyer Niizuki was sunk and Admiral Akiyama killed. The Helena, however, had expended all of her flashless powder (used primarily for night time shooting) the previous night. Using her smokelss (used for daytime warfare) powder,she was illuminated to Japanese ships with every discharge of her guns.. Two of the Japanese destroyers launched their Long Lance torpedoes/ The Helena was fatally damaged. The main Japanese force, which had countermarched away from Vila with the first contact, then broke away, having landed only 850 of the 2,600 troops. One Japanese destroyer--Nagatsuki--ran aground and another==Hatsuyuki--was damaged.
Both forces began to withdraw from the area, but one Japanese and two American destroyers remained to rescue survivors. At about 05:00, the destroyers Amagiri and USS Nicholas exchanged torpedoes and gunfire. Amagiri was hit and retired. The beached Nagatsuki was abandoned by her crew in the morning, she was bombed and sunk by American aircraft.
The destroyers USS Radford and Nicholas both stayed behind to rescue survivors from Helena. While rescuing over 750 men, Radford and Nicholas had to reengage the enemy three times, they were awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for their rescue. Amagiri escaped.
*The Tokyo Express was the name given by Allied forces to the use of Imperial Japanese Navy ships at night to deliver personnel, supplies, and equipment to Japanese forces operating in and around New Guinea and the Solomon Islands during the Pacific campaign of World War II. The tactic involved loading personnel or supplies onto submarines and fast warships (e.g., destroyers), and using the warships' speed capability to deliver the personnel or supplies to the desired location and return to the originating base all within one night so Allied aircraft could not intercept them by day.
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Helena and St. Louis in action at Kula Gulf, seen from Honolulu
Then one dark night one more battle--the Battle of Coral Sea (she thought)--the Helena was stuck and started sinking. (Actually it was sunk at the Battle of Kula Gulf. Her brother struck his head against the bulkhead, but was not knocked unconscious. Many of the guys jumped overboard into the heavy slick of oil that covered the sea. An alternative was to climb down the overboard netting, which Sonny chose to do. He had his life jacket on which had to be blown up. He did this and entered the water where he held onto a life raft until he was rescued by a troop transport, the President Polk. (In telling this tale, my mother mentioned that she never knew that there was a Presient named Polk before. She is incorrect in this fact as the President Polk was not commissioned until October 1943. Kula Gulf Battle took place in July, 1943. It may have been the next ship to which Francis was assigned.) September 25, 2913 Correction by Mother. The USS Radford rescued him. The USS President Polk was the next ship on which he served
Many men saw lights on a near by island. Friend or foe? Sonny was not going to take the chance. Several men in life rafts rowed to the island. They were never seen or heard from again.
My mother did not say whether he got another "survivor's leave" or not.
A few years after his discharge, he developed seizures. The family believed that these came from that day of his ship going down. He had not reported it. With all the commotion, I guess he did not feel that it was important. With water, oil slick, fire, one would hardly run to ones commanding officer with a bump on ones head. So, with that said, Sonny was not covered for a war related injury. He paid for all his doctors and medication from his own pocket until he died in 1974 from a brain tumor. My mother felt that brain tumor was a residual reaction from that fateful day. Truly one of America's unsung heroes.
http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-usn/usnsh-h/cl50.htm
USS Helena (CL-50)
1939-1943
BATTLE of KULA GULF
Dateline: July5, 1943:
USN (TG 36.1)—commanded by Rear Admiral W.L. Ainsworth. The Task Group consisted of the light cruisers (light cruisers were named for cities) USS Honolulu (CL-48), USS St. Louis (CL-49), and USS Helena (CL-50), and four destroyers, had received word of another "Tokyo Express"* mission down "the Slot"** in the Solomon Islands, and the task group proceeded northwest past New Georgia Island.
Ahoetly after one A.M. off Kolombangara, the task group came into contact with a Japanese reinforcement group commanded by Admiral Teruo Akiyama which consisted of ten destroyers loaded with 2,600 combat troops that were bound for Vila, which they used as a staging point for moving into Munda. The Japanese were divided into two forces, a formation of three escorts trailing the main column first came under attack.
The U.S. ships opened fire close to 2:00 A.M., firing 612 shells in 21 minutes and six seconds. The destroyer Niizuki was sunk and Admiral Akiyama killed. The Helena, however, had expended all of her flashless powder (used primarily for night time shooting) the previous night. Using her smokelss (used for daytime warfare) powder,she was illuminated to Japanese ships with every discharge of her guns.. Two of the Japanese destroyers launched their Long Lance torpedoes/ The Helena was fatally damaged. The main Japanese force, which had countermarched away from Vila with the first contact, then broke away, having landed only 850 of the 2,600 troops. One Japanese destroyer--Nagatsuki--ran aground and another==Hatsuyuki--was damaged.
Both forces began to withdraw from the area, but one Japanese and two American destroyers remained to rescue survivors. At about 05:00, the destroyers Amagiri and USS Nicholas exchanged torpedoes and gunfire. Amagiri was hit and retired. The beached Nagatsuki was abandoned by her crew in the morning, she was bombed and sunk by American aircraft.
The destroyers USS Radford and Nicholas both stayed behind to rescue survivors from Helena. While rescuing over 750 men, Radford and Nicholas had to reengage the enemy three times, they were awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for their rescue. Amagiri escaped.
The original name of the resupply missions was "The Cactus Express" as coined by Allied forces on Guadalcanal, using the codename for the Guadalcanal operation. After the U.S. press began referring to it as the "Tokyo Express," apparently in order to preserve operational security for the codeword "Cactus," Allied forces also began to use that phrase in place of "Cactus Express." The Japanese called the night resupply missions Rat Transportation, because they took place at night.
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US Navy light cruiser of the St. Louis (CL50) class. Built in NY Navy Yard; laid December 8, 1936; launched August 27, 1939; sunk (lost) July 5, 1943 at 07.46S, 157.11E.
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Another sources comments:
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| The USS Helena under the command of Captain Charles Purcell Cecil was participating
the Battle of Kula Gulf. She was struck by three topedoes from Japanese warships. The ship
was blown in two and sank killing 193 of the 888 crew. Officially, 446 surviors (including the
wounded Captain Cecil) were picked up by the destroyer USS Radford.
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Commands listed for USS Helena (i) (CL 50)
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Gladding, Timothy
16th CT monument at Antietam
From the east side of the monument:
16th Connecticut
Vol. Infantry
2nd Brigade
3rd Division
9th Army Corps
16th Connecticut
Vol. Infantry
2nd Brigade
3rd Division
9th Army Corps
From the south side:
Number engaged - 779
Casualties
Killed 43
Wounded 161
Total 204
Casualties
Killed 43
Wounded 161
Total 204
From the west side:
Position of
the 16th Conn.
Vol. Infantry
5 P.M. - Sept. 17, 1862
the 16th Conn.
Vol. Infantry
5 P.M. - Sept. 17, 1862
From the north side:
Erected
by the
State of
Connecticut
1894
by the
State of
Connecticut
1894
Timothy Gladding
Sixteenth Connecticut Volunteer Infantry
1832-1862
Dateline: September 17, 1862
Timothy Gladding was like many of the other young men in the towns of Farmington and New Britain, Connecticut in the spring of 1862. They heard President Lincoln's call for 300,000 more men to save the Union.
Farmington and New Britain had very close ties. Farmington was the mother town for thirteen other towns (later a fourteenth joined these ranks). As population increased and moved to the outskirts, new church parishes started from the mother church in Farmington. New Britain bordered the southwest corner of Farmington. Families moved back and forth. Portions of the family may have lived in Farmington; others in New Britain.
Connecticut would have sent more than half of its male population from ages 18-45 (plus and minus these ages) off to the sounds of martial strains. Of Connecticut's 169 towns, Farmington sent more men proportionately than any other town. Farmington, now a bedroom town for Hartford, was a small farming community with a population of about 900 made up of three parts--Farmington, Unionville and White Oak (later Plainville--which had as yet not made the move that the other thirteen towns had in becoming autonomous from their mother). Despite the small size of the town, however, one hundred and fifteen men were moved to the patriotic call to serve their country during this long, arduous, and bloody war.
Most of the men enlisting from Farmington and New Britain and most of Connecticut were farmers. Others were mechanics (physical or skilled laborers). Timothy's father was a carriage maker. Timothy had moved to New Britain, probably near the town line. It is likely that he worked with his father.
As any history buff knows, the North and South called almost any given battle by at least two names--the North usually for a physical landmark...a brook, mountain, ridge--the South, the closest town. Thus, we see the words Antietam and Sharpsburg. It is the same battle. However, these names were not yet carved in stone (so to speak). In October, Candace C. Pyatt, wrote to her husband Sam (13th CT, Co A) about the battle of Sharpsburg.
Timothy stood with his Regiment--The Connecticut 16th, Company G near the town of Sharpsburg ready to go into action. He was thirty years old. His thoughts may have been on his brother Agariah (or Azariah) who had mustered in earlier that same year and had gone to New Orleans to be part of the garrison under General Benjamin Butler with the Thirteenth Connecticut Volunteer Infantry. His brother had been discharged for disability (later he reenlisted in and served again in the southern Louisiana are with the Twenty-fifth Connecticut).
Little did he know that this would be his last day on earth. In Candace's letter, she told Samuel "Timothy Gladding (Gladden) brother of Agariah was killed at the battle of Sharpsburg." He appears to be the only "boy" killed in the battle, although many others may have died from wounds, as it was noted in history books of "many wounded." Not the best way to become unique, but unique nonetheless.
He had enlisted in Sixteenth, organized with the first seventy-six men of Company G and went into camp July 24, 1862. The command of the Regiment was given to Colonel Francis (Frank) Beach of Hartford, an officer in the regular Army on August 14. Frank W. Cheney, also of Hartford, was appointed Lt. Colonel.
Many regiments gave themselves nicknames (or others may have so given them). The Sixteenth was the "Plymounth Pilgrims."
A booklet entitled History of Battle-Flag Day (published 1879) described the departure of the Sixteenth from Hartford, "On Friday August 29, 1862 the regiment broke camp and slowly marching up Main street through the surging throng of people gathered to see them off, Governor Buckingham and his staff riding at the head of the column, went on board the steamers City of Hartford and George C. Collins for New York." (sic capitalization and punctuation).
Many regiments gave themselves nicknames (or others may have so given them). The Sixteenth was the "Plymounth Pilgrims."
A booklet entitled History of Battle-Flag Day (published 1879) described the departure of the Sixteenth from Hartford, "On Friday August 29, 1862 the regiment broke camp and slowly marching up Main street through the surging throng of people gathered to see them off, Governor Buckingham and his staff riding at the head of the column, went on board the steamers City of Hartford and George C. Collins for New York." (sic capitalization and punctuation).
The Regiment had been moved rapidly from New York via Harrisburg to a camp at Arlington Heights, outside of Washington City. The next portion of their journey was accomplished hurriedly through forced marches reaching the Army of the Potomac. Although the Regiment had already been exposed to the horrors of war as they had witnessed the wagon trains of ambulances returning from Second Bull Run to Washington, they had not yet had the "opportunity" to join the fight.
The first battle for most regiments were quite some time after mustering. But the Sixteenth was about to see the elephant as the morning of September 17, 1862 dawned, only twenty days after having left Hartford in a parade led by the Governor as raw recruits. They were exhausted from forced marches. The Regiment had very little drilling...and never a battalion drill. On the eve of the battle, many had not yet fired their muskets.
Upon arrival in Maryland, the Sixteenth was brigaded on the battlefield with the Eighth and Eleventh Connecticut, Fourth Rhode Island. The Eleventh had been held in reserve to protect an artillery battery.
At Antietam Willcox, Sturgis, and Rodman were the commanding generals for this Corps. Cox's Division had been teporarily transferred into this Corps. Part of the Second Corps was the Fourteenth Connecticut, the only other Connecticut Infantry to participate in this battle
At the end of the day, locations in and around the tiny Town of Sharpsburg, near Antietam Creek, would go down in the annals of history as America's bloodies day. Previously benign and peaceful names such as East Woods, North Woods, West Woods, Dunker Church,THE cornfield (Miller's Farm), Mumma Farm, Roulette Farm, Piper Farm, and Sunken Road (which immediately acquired the not-so-peaceful name of Bloody Lane) would become known around the world for the horrific day.
Home, churches, stores were filled with the wounded and dying. Every available piece of land held its own gruesome tale.
Probably the most famous landmark is Rohrbach Bridge (named after a local farmer) or Lower Bridge which crossed the Antietam Creek. It is today known as Burnside Bridge. In the vicinity of this bridge is the place where the Sixteenth was baptized by fire.
Burnside's IX Corps made several tries to cross the Antietam and take that bridge. The Yankees--through a series of blunders (the least of which was that the creek could have been crossed without the bridge...the water level was less than waist deep), miscommunication, bad judgment calls on the part of the Union, total confusion on the part of many of the troops (for the most part due to lack of training)--were easily held at bay. In addition, Georgian General Toombs held a better, higher position on a ridge above the creek. A few hundred Georgians was all that was needed to keep Burnside's Corps away most of the day.
And, then, more trouble came for the IX Corps. Relief! Not for the Union troops, but for the Georgians in the form of A. P. Hill's Division of exhausted North Carolinian troops (part of Jackson's army) arriving from Harper's Ferry. Union General Miles had surrendered. At this time Confederate General Hill's Division marched seventeen miles and swung into battle immediately. Three brigades filed in with Toombs at his right (southern). Hill's timing and chosen position was perfect. The southern most Union brigade was the most vulnerable. This was the brigade led by Colonel Harland. The Eleventh Connecticut had been used earlier as skirmishers. This left only three regiments. not part of this bridgade, Fairchild's Zouaves, who were also on the field--advancing against Toombs, moved so quickly that Harland and his Regiment could not keep up with them.
Nevertheless, Harland gave the order to advance. Only one of his brigades heard the order (Eighth Conn.); the Fourth Rhode Island and the Sixteenth lagged behind causing a breech in the line that the veteran Hill exploited. Rodman, who saw what was about to happen, galloped forward to warn the raw troops, only to be mortally wounded (the ninth Union General to fall at Antietam). The men fell by the score.
The timing of Hill's Division joining the battle was such that The Confederate General Maxcy Gregg's brigade was still marching in columns of four. Gregg's order was "Commence firing, men, and form the line as you fight."
Although the Sixteenth tried to return the fire, the fire power from the Confederates had been overpowering. They were in a cornfield owned by John Otto. The corn was so high, one could not tell friend from foe. Total confusion reigned! Raw recruits, unheard orders, inability to see over the corn. Confusion!!! More confusion was added by A. P. Hill's troops who had appropriated--and were wearing--many blue uniforms at the Harper's Ferry victory. The men of the Sixteenth dropped by the dozens.
The Sixteenth broke and ran, taking the Rhode Islanders with them--leaving the men of the Connecticut Eighth out in front almost by themselves. Cox sent relief in the form of Ohioans, which were portions of Kanawha's Division. This was to no avail, as they too fell back. Hill had broken the Union's far left.
The Zouaves, who wanted to continue the fight, were now alone at the far left of the field. They had to be ordered off the field. Unlike the other units, who were untested in battle and broke and ran, the Zouaves retired in order.
History of Battle-Flag Day describes the above scene of the Sixteenth's initiation to battle as being "thrust to the fore-front of battle..., and in the fatal cornfield was confronted by the veteran troops of Stonewall Jackson, fresh from Harper's Ferry and flushed with their victory over Colonel Miles. Posted upon higher ground, partially protected by a stone wall and concealed from view by the waving corn, the rebels poured a destructive fire into the regiment, which in endeavoring to charge front, had been thrown into some confusion. A portion of the regimental line engaged the enemy in a hand to hand conflict, while the remainder, owing the conformation of the field and the breaking of their line, were unable in the thick corn, which waved higher than their heads to even see the rebels who were pouring such a devastating fire into their midst. The could only stand and take it. The regiment finally retired from the cornfield, its place being filled by the gallant Eighth Connecticut."
Such was the day. Casualties were high and statistics were created. The Sixteenth had lost four captains, one lieutenant and fifty-one enlisted men to death. With the wounded and captured, the Regiment had over four hundred casualties. But Farmington/New Britain mourned--not for the statistics--but for losing another one of their own beloved men. A well-known and well-liked local man had given his all. He died in a battle that became America's worst day.
This same loss was repeated throughout countless of other small towns...North and South. How much like home this cornfield in a little town in Maryland must have seem to may of the "boys" and yet...
As is oft the case, statistics can differ from resources. I got mine from two different sources producing slightly different numbers.
Statistics for Maryland Campaign
Initial Strength: 779
Killed in Action (KIA): 43
Wounded (WIA): 161
Losses, % of Initial Strength: 26.2%
Chain of Command:
Army - Army of the Potomac
Second Brigade, Third Division, Ninth (IX) Army Corps
Timothy is one of nineteen men whose name is listed on the Civil War monument in Riverside Cemetery. This monument was placed in the late 1800's These names are the men who died during the late unpleasantness. A"new" monument. dedicated in 1992, stands in front of the Town Hall. This monument lists all "casualties" from all of our America Wars. Timothy is one of sixty-five names on that monument for Farmington men in the Civil War.
In a small church on Main Street in the middle of the town of Sharpsburg is a beautiful "Connecticut" stained glass window. Many of those wounded and transported to that church were Connecticut men. After the war, they collected money to honor the church that had done so much for so many of them.
Reference Sources: Letters from private collection, Regimental History, Official Records, Gladding personnel record from archives and personal observation.
Reference Sources: Letters from private collection, Regimental History, Official Records, Gladding personnel record from archives and personal observation.
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