Patricia's Timeless Connections

Researching:

ABBOTT... AIRD... AQUART... BARTH... BENNETT... BODENSTEIN... CAMPBELL... DANIEL... DEMINE/DAMINE/DAMIAN... DONALDSON... DUNCAN... FRASER... GOULD... LANE... MARTIN... O'REILLY... O'SULLIVAN... OTWAY... PREUDHOMME... ROCHE... ROMNEY... SPORMAN / SPORMANN... STEPHENSON... STEVENSON... STEWART... WALLBRINK... and many more

My father served on several ships during his 24 years of service before and during WW II.  They included the USS ARGONNE,  USS CHICAGO,  USS IDAHO, USS INDIANAPOLIS "Indy", USS JARVIS, USS KILTY, USS LEXINGTON "Lexy", USS MISSOURI "Mighty Mo", Hospital Ship RELIEF (served twice: first in 1924-25 and again in the 1940's).

It was considered quite a feat if one was able to cross the equator on a ship.  My father crossed twice.  The first time was July 6, 1925 onboard the USS Relief in Latitude 00000 and Longitude 165º-36'. The second time was May 20, 1936 onboard the USS Iowa in Latitude 00000 and Longitude 81º West.  To see some pictures of one of the celebrations click on "Neptune Party" above..

Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships http://www.hazegray.org/danfs/

AS-10 USS Argonne (Tender)

Below is an excellent page about the history of the Argonne including pictures:

http://www.mississippi.net/~comcents/tendertale.com/tenders/110/110.html

CA-136 Chicago (Cruiser)

See pictures from my father's album.

From:  Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, Vol. II, 1963, p.103.

The second CHICAGO (CA-29) was launched 10 April 1930 by Mare Island Navy Yard; sponsored by Miss. E. Britten; and commissioned 9 March 1931, Captain M. H. Simons in command. 

After a shakedown cruise to Honolulu, Tahiti, and American Samoa, CHICAGO departed Mare Island 27 July 1931 and sailed to the east coast, arriving at Fort Pond Bay, N.Y., 16 August. There, she became flagship of Commander, Cruisers, Scouting Force, and operated with that force until 1940. In February 1932, CHICAGO, in company with other ships of the Scouting Force, conducted gunnery exercises preliminary to the annual fleet problem off the California coast. 

The Fleet was based on the west coast thereafter and, until 1934, operated in the Pacific, from Alaska to the Canal Zone and the Hawaiian Islands. In 1934, the annual fleet exercises were held in the Caribbean, followed in May 1934 by the Presidential Fleet Review in New York Harbor. The Scouting Force operated along the east coast and in the Caribbean until October 1934 and then returned to base at San Pedro, Calif. CHICAGO continued to operate out of San Pedro until 29 September 1940 when she sailed to Pearl Harbor. 

During the next 14 months, the heavy cruiser operated out of Pearl Harbor, exercising with various task forces to develop tactics and cruising formations, and cruising to Australia and to the west coast. When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, 7 December 1941, CHICAGO was at sea with TF 12 and the Force immediately began a 5-day sweep in the Oahu-Johnston-Palmyra triangle in an effort to intercept the enemy. The Force returned to Pearl Harbor 12 December; between 14 and 27 December, CHICAGO operated with TF 11 on patrol and search missions. 

On 2 February 1942, CHICAGO departed Pearl Harbor for Suva Bay where she joined the newly formed Allied naval force. During March and April, the heavy cruiser operated off the Louisiade Archipelago, covering the attacks on Lae and Salamaua, New Guinea. In a position to intercept enemy surface units which attempted to attack Port Moresby, CHICAGO also provided cover for the arrival of American troops on New Caledonia. 

On 1 May 1942, CHICAGO was ordered from Noumea to join Commander, Southwest Pacific, and on the 4th she supported YORKTOWN (CV-5) in her strike against the Japanese on Tulagi, Solomon Islands. On 7 May, she proceeded, with the Support Group, to intercept and attack the Japanese Port Moresby invasion group. The following day, the group underwent several Japanese air attacks, during which CHICAGO suffered several casualties from strafing, but drove off the planes and proceeded ahead until it was clear that the Japanese force had been turned back. 

During June and July 1942, CHICAGO continued to operate in the Southwest Pacific. Between 7 and 9 August, she supported the initial landings on Guadalcanal and others of the Solomon Islands, beginning America's powerful counter-offensive from the sea that was to crush Japan. On 9 August, she engaged in the Battle of Savo Island. Hit by a Japanese destroyer torpedo, CHICAGO fought damage while continuing to engage until contact with the enemy was lost. 

CHICAGO was repaired at Noumea, Sydney, and San Francisco, where she arrived 13 October. Early in January 1943, CHICAGO departed San Francisco, action-bound once more. On 27 January, she sailed from Noumea to escort a Guadalcanal convoy. On the night of the 29th, as the ships approached to that bitterly contested island, Japanese aircraft attacked the force and the Battle of Rennell Island was underway. During the attacks, two burning Japanese planes silhouetted CHICAGO, providing light for torpedo attacks; two hits caused severe flooding and loss of power. By the time the attack ended, fine work on board had checked CHICAGO's list. 

LOUISVILLE (CA-28) took the disabled ship in tow and was relieved by a tug the following morning. During the afternoon, the Japanese attacked again and, despite heavy losses, managed to hit the disabled cruiser with four more torpedoes which sank her at 11d 25m S., 160d 56m E. 

CHICAGO (CA-29) received three battle stars for World War II service.

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AD-3 Dobbin (Auxiliary)

From: Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, Vol. II, pp. 282-83.

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BB- 24 Idaho (Battleship)

Below is an excellent page about the history of the IDAHO including pictures:

http://www.chinfo.navy.mil/navpalib/ships/battleships/idaho/bb24-idaho.html

CA-35 Indianapolis ("Indy") (Cruiser)

From:  Dictionary of American Fighting Ships, Vol. III, 1968, Navy Department, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Naval History Division, Washington, D.C.

INDIANAPOLIS was laid down 31 March 1930 by the New York Shipbuilding Corp., Camden, N.J.; launched 7 November 1931; sponsored by Miss Lucy Taggert, daughter of the late Senator Thomas Taggert, a former mayor of Indianapolis; and commissioned at the Philadelphia Navy Yard 15 November 1932, Captain John M. Smeallie in command.

Following shakedown in the Atlantic and Guantanamo Bay until 23 February 1932, INDIANAPOLIS trained in the Canal Zone and in Pacific off the Chilean coast. After overhaul at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, the heavy cruiser Page 434 sailed to Maine to embark President Roosevelt at Campobello Island 1 July 1933. Getting underway the same day, INDIANAPOLIS arrived Annapolis 2 days later where she entertained six members of the cabinet. After disembarking the President, she departed Annapolis 4 July, and returned to the Philadelphia Navy Yard.

On 6 September, Secretary of the Navy Claude A. Swanson broke his flag in INDIANAPOLIS for an inspection tour of the Pacific, visiting the Canal Zone, Hawaii, and the fleet in the San Pedro-San Diego area. He debarked at San Diego 27 October, and INDIANAPOLIS became flagship of the Scouting Force 1 November 1933.

Following maneuvers off the West Coast, she departed Long Beach, Calif., 9 April 1934 and arrived New York City 29 May. There she again embarked the President and his party for a review of the Fleet. She arrived Long Beach 9 November 1934 for tactical war problem with the Scouting Fleet.

INDIANAPOLIS acted as flagship for the remainder of her peacetime career, and again welcomed President Roosevelt at Charleston, S.C., 18 November 1936 for a "Good-Neighbor" cruise to South America. After carrying President Roosevelt to Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, and Montevideo for state visits, she returned to Charleston 15 December where the presidential party left the ship.

As international tension built up during ensuing years and the United States girded to meet aggression, the heavy cruiser's intensified training program fused ship and crew into a fighting machine of high efficiency ready to defend the Nation from any enemy who might attack. When Japanese bombs struck Pearl Harbor, INDIANAPOLIS, then making a simulated bombardment of Johnston Island, immediately joined Task Force 12 and searched for Japanese carriers reportedly still in the vicinity. She arrived Pearl Harbor 13 December and entered Task Force 11 for operations against the enemy. Her first action came in the South Pacific deep in enemy-dominated waters about 350 miles south of Rabaul, New Britain. Late in the afternoon of 20 February 1942, the American ships were attacked by 18 twin-engine bombers, flying in 2 waves. In the battle that followed, 16 of the planes were shot down by accurate antiaircraft fire of the ships and fighter planes from LEXINGTON. All ships escaped damage and they splashed two trailing Japanese seaplanes.

On 10 March the Task Force, reinforced by carrier YORKTOWN, attacked enemy ports at Lae and Salamaua, New Guinea, where the enemy was marshalling amphibious forces. Carrier-based planes achieved complete surprise by flying in from the south, crossing the high Owen Stanley mountain range, and swooping in to strike Japanese harbor shipping. As they inflicted heavy damage on Japanese warships and transports, the American flyers knocked down many of the enemy planes which rose to protect the ports. American losses were exceptionally light.

INDIANAPOLIS then returned to the United States for overhaul and alterations in the Mare Island Navy Yard. Reinvigorated, INDIANAPOLIS escorted a convoy to Australia, then headed for the North Pacific where Japanese landings in the Aleutians had created a precarious situation. The weather along this barren chain of islands is noted for continuous coldness; persistent and unpredictable fogs; constant rain, snow, and sleet; and sudden storms with violent winds and heavy seas.

By 7 August, the task force to which INDIANAPOLIS was attached finally found an opening in the thick fog which hid the Japanese stronghold at Kiska Island, and imperiled ships in the treacherous and partially uncharted nearby coasts. INDIANAPOLIS' 8-inch guns opened up along with those of the other ships. Although fog hindered observation, scout planes flown from the cruisers reported seeing ships sinking in the harbor and fires burning among shore installations. So complete was the tactical surprise that it was 15 minutes before shore batteries began to answer; and some of them fired into the air, believing they were being bombed. Most of them were silenced by accurate gunnery from the ships. Japanese submarines then appeared but were promptly depth-charged by American destroyers. Japanese seaplanes also made an ineffective bombing attack.

The operation was considered a success despite the scanty information on its results. It also demonstrated the necessity of obtaining bases nearer the Japanese-held islands. Consequently, U.S. forces occupied the island of Adak later in the month, providing a base suitable for surface craft and planes further along the island chain from Dutch Harbor. In January 1943, INDIANAPOLIS supported the U.S. occupation of Amchitka, which gave us another base in the Aleutians.

On the night of 19 February 1943, while INDIANAPOLIS and two destroyers patrolled southwest of Attu, hoping to intercept enemy ships running reinforcements and supplies into Kiska and Attu, she contacted a Japanese cargo ship, AKAGANE MARU. When challenged, the enemy tried to feign a reply but was shelled by INDIANAPOLIS' 8-inch guns. Since the maru exploded with great force and left no survivors, she was presumably laden with ammunition.

Throughout the spring and summer of 193, INDIANAPOLIS operated in Aleutian waters escorting American convoys and covering amphibious assaults. In May the Navy took Attu, the first territory stolen by the Japanese to be reconquered by the United States. After Attu was proclaimed secure, the U.S. forces focused their attention on Kiska, the last enemy stronghold in the Aleutians However, the Japanese managed to evacuate their entire garrison under cover of persistent, thick fog before our landings there 15 August.

After refitting at Mare Island, the ship next moved to Hawaii where she became flagship of Vice Admiral Spruance commanding the 5th Fleet. She sortied from Pearl Harbor 10 November with the main body of the Southern Attack Force of the Assault Force for Operation "Galvanic," the invasion of the Gilbert Islands.

On 19 November 1943, INDIANAPOLIS, in a force of cruisers bombarded Tarawa and next day pounded Makin. The ship then returned to Tarawa and acted as a fire-support ship for the landings. That day her guns splashed an enemy plane and shelled enemy strong points as valiant landing parties struggled against fanatical Japanese defenders in an extremely bloody and costly battle. She continued this role until the leveled island was declared secure 3 days later.

The conquest of the Marshall Islands followed hard on victory in the Gilberts. INDIANAPOLIS was again 5th Fleet Flagship. She rendezvoused with other ships of her task force at Tarawa, and on D-Day minus 1, 31 January 1944, she was a unit of the cruiser group which bombarded the islands of Kwajalein Atoll. The shelling continued on D-Day with INDIANAPOLIS silencing two enemy shore batteries. Next day she obliterated a block-house and other shore installations and supported advancing troops with a creeping barrage. The ship entered Kwajalein Lagoon 4 February and remained until all resistance disappeared.

During March and April of 194, INDIANAPOLIS, still flagship of the 5th Fleet, attacked the Western Carolines Carrier planes struck at the Palau Islands 30-31 March with shipping as their primary target. They sank 3 destroyers, 17 freighters, 5 oilers and damaged 17 other ships. In addition, airfields were bombed and surrounding waters mined to immobilize enemy ships. Yap and Ulithi were struck on the 31st and Woleai on 1 April. During these 3 days, enemy planes attacked the U.S. fleet but ere driven off without damaging the American ships. INDIANAPOLIS shot down her second plane, a torpedo bomber, and the enemy lost 160 planes in all, including 46 destroyed on the ground. These attacks successfully prevented enemy forces from the Carolines from interfering with the U.S. landings on New Guinea. During June, the 5th Fleet was busy with the Marianas assault, raids on Saipan which began with carrier-based planes on the 11th followed by surface bombardment, in which INDIANAPOLIS had a major role, from 13 June.

On D-Day 15 June. Admiral Spruance received reports that a large fleet of battleships, carriers, cruisers, and destroyers was headed south to relieve their threatened garrisons in the Marianas. Since amphibious operations at Saipan had to be protected at all costs, Admiral Spruance could not draw his powerful surface units too far from the scene. Consequently, a fast carrier force was sent to meet this threat while another force attacked Japanese air bases on Iwo Jima and Chichi Jima in the Bonin and Volcano Islands-bases for dangerous potential enemy air attacks.

A combined fleet met the enemy on 19 June in the Battle of the Philippine Sea. Enemy carrier planes, which hoped to use the airfields of Guam and Tinian to refuel and rearm and attack our off-shore shipping, were met by carrier planes and the guns of the escorting ships. That day the Navy destroyed 402 enemy planes while losing only 17 of her own. INDIANAPOLIS, which had operated with the force which struck Iwo Jima and Chichi Jima, shot down one torpedo plane This famous day's work became known throughout the fleet as the "Marianas Turkey Shoot." With enemy air opposition wiped out, the U.S. carrier planes pursued and sank two enemy carriers, two destroyers, and one tanker and inflicted severe damage on other ships.

INDIANAPOLIS returned to Saipan on 23 June to resume fire support there and 6 days later moved to Tinian to smash shore installations. Meanwhile, Guam had been taken, and INDIANAPOLIS was the first ship to enter Apra Harbor since that American base had fallen early in the war. The ship operated in the Marianas area for the net few weeks, then moved to the Western Carolines where further landings were planned. From 12 to 29 September she bombarded the Island of Peleliu in the Palau Group, both before and after the landings.

She then sailed to Manus in the Admiralty Islands where she operated for 10 days before returning to the Mare Island Navy Yard. Overhauled, INDIANAPOLIS joined Vice Adm. Marc A. Mitscher's fast carrier task force on 14 February 1945 2 days before it made the first attack on Tokyo since General Doolittle's famous raid in April 1942. The operation covered American landings on Iwo Jima, scheduled for 19 February 1945 by destroying Japanese air facilities and other installations in the "Home Islands".

Complete tactical surprise was achieved by approaching the Japanese coast under cover of bad weather, and attacks were pressed home for 2 days. On 16 and 17 February, the American Navy lost 49 carrier planes while shooting down or destroying on the ground 499 enemy planes. Besides this 10-to-1 edge in aircraft victories, Mitscher's Force sank a carrier, 9 coastal ships, a destroyer, 2 destroyer escorts, and a cargo ship. Moreover, they wrecked hangers, shops, aircraft installations, factories, and other industrial targets. Throughout the action, INDIANAPOLIS played her vital role of support ship. Immediately after the strikes, the Task Force raced to the Bonins to support the landings on Iwo Jima. The ship remained there until 1 March, aiding in the bloody struggle for that little island by protecting the invasion ships and training her guns on any targets spotted on the beach.

The ship returned to Admiral Mitscher's Task Force in time to strike Tokyo again on 25 February and Hachijo off the southern coast of Honshu the following day. Although weather was extremely bad, the Americans destroyed 158 planes and sank 5 small ships while pounding ground installations and demolishing trains. A large base close to the home islands was needed to press the attack, and Okinawa in the Ryukyus seemed ideal for the part. To capture it with minimum losses, airfields in southern Japan had to be pounded until they were incapable of launching effective airborne opposition to the impending invasion. INDIANAPOLIS, with the fast carrier force, departed Ulithi 14 March 1945, and proceeded toward the Japanese coast.

On 18 March, from a position 100 miles southeast of Kyushu, the flat-tops launched strikes against airfields on the island, ships of the Japanese fleet in the harbors of Kobe and Kure on southern Honshu. After locating the American Task Force 21 March. Japan sent 48 planes to attack the ships, but 24 planes from the carriers intercepted the enemy aircraft some 60 miles away. At the end of the battle, every one of the enemy planes was in the sea. Pre-invasion bombardment of Okinawa began 4 March and for 7 days INDIANAPOLIS poured 8-inch shells into the beach defenses. Meanwhile, enemy aircraft repeatedly attacked the ships; and INDIANAPOLIS shot down six planes and assisted in splashing two others.

On 31 March, the day before the invasion, the ship's sky lookouts spotted a Japanese single-engine fighter plane as it emerged from the morning twilight and roared at the bridge in a vertical dive. The ship's 20-millimeter guns opened fire, but less than 15 seconds after it was potted the plane was over the ship. Tracer shells crashed into the plane, causing it to swerve; but the enemy pilot managed to release his bomb from a height of 25 feet and crash his plane on the port side of the after main deck. The plane toppled into the sea, causing little damage; but the bomb plummeted through the deck armor, the crew's mess hall, the berthing compartment below, and the fuel tanks still lower before crashing through the bottom of the ship and exploding in the water under the ship. The concussion blew two gaping holes in the ship bottom and flooded compartments in the area, killing nine crewmen. Although INDIANAPOLIS settled slightly by the stern and listed to port, there was no progressive flooding; and the plucky cruiser steamed to a salvage ship for emergency repairs. Here, inspection revealed that her propeller shafts were damaged, her fuel tanks ruptured, her water-distilling equipment ruined; nevertheless, the battle-proud cruiser made the long trip across the Pacific to the Mare Island Navy Yard under her own power.

After repairs and overhaul, INDIANAPOLIS received orders to proceed at high speed to Tinian, carrying parts and nuclear material to be used in the atomic bombs which were soon to be dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Due to the urgency of her mission, INDIANAPOLIS departed San Francisco on 16 July, foregoing her post-repair shake-down period. Touching at Pearl Harbor 1 July, she raced on unescorted and arrived Tinian 26 July, having set a record in covering some 5,000 miles from San Francisco in only 10 days.

After delivering her top-secret cargo at Tinian, INDIANAPOLIS was dispatched to Guam where she disembarked men and reported for onward routine to Leyte From there she was to report to Vice Adm. Jesse B. Oldendorf for further duty off Okinawa. Departing Guam 28 July, INDIANAPOLIS proceeded by a direct route unescorted. Early in the morning, 12:15 a.m., 30 July i945, 2 heavy explosions occurred against her starboard side forward, and she capsized and sank in 12 minutes, at 12 degrees 02 minutes N., 134 degrees 48 minutes E.

INDIANAPOLIS had been hit by two torpedoes from Japanese submarine I-58, Commander Machitsura Hashimoto in command. The seas had been moderate; the visibility, good, INDIANAPOLIS had been steaming at 17 knots. When the ship did not reach Leyte on the 31st, as scheduled, no report was made that she was overdue. This omission was due to a misunderstanding of the Movement Report System. Thus it was not until 1025 on 2 August that the survivors were sighted, mostly held afloat by life jackets, although there were a few rafts which had been cut loose before the ship went down. They were sighted by a plane on routine patrol; the pilot immediately dropped a life raft and a radio transmitter. All air and surface units capable of rescue operations were dispatched to the scene at once, and the surrounding waters were thoroughly searched for survivors. Upon completion of rescue operations, 8 August, a radius of 100 miles had been combed by day and by night, saving 316 of the crew of 1,199 men.

Captain Charles B. McVay, III, UN, commanding officer of INDIANAPOLIS at the time of her sinking, was vindicated from any blame concerned with the loss of his ship. All personnel involved in the failure to report the ship's absence from Leyte were also exonerated, after all the evidence had been carefully weighed.  (According to my father, Captain McVay cared greatly for his men and was one of the most honorable and decent men he had ever served under.)

Traditionally the flagship of the powerful 5th Fleet, she had served with honor from Pearl Harbor through the last campaign of the war and had gone down in action a scant two weeks before the war's end.

 INDIANAPOLIS earned 10 battle stars for World War II service.

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DD- 393 USS Jarvis

The second JARVIS (DD-393) was laid down by Puget Sound Navy Yard, Bremerton, Wash., 21 August 1935; launched 6 May 1937; sponsored by Mrs. Thomas T. Craven, wife of Vice Admiral Craven; and commissioned 27 October 1937, Lt. Comdr. R. R. Ferguson in command.

Clearing Puget Sound 4 January 1938, JARVIS operated along the California coast and in the Caribbean until 1 April 1940 when she departed San Diego for fleet exercises off the Hawaiian Islands. She arrived Pearl Harbor 26 April, cruised the Pacific to Midway and Johnston Islands and steamed to San Francisco 8 February 1941 for overhaul. Returning to Pearl Harbor 17 April to commence more than seven months of intensive maneuvers, she put into Pearl Harbor 4 December following exercises off Maui Island.

Three days later the Japanese executed the carefully planned, devastating attack on Pearl Harbor. As the first wave of enemy bombers raked Battleship Row with torpedoes and bombs, Ens. W. F. Greene laconically appraised the situation with the following entry in JARVIS Deck Log: "0758 Hostilities with Japan commenced with air raid on Pearl Harbor. Went to General Quarters." Moored next to Mugford (DD-389) at the Navy Yard, JARVIS opened fire with 5-inch guns and machine guns and made preparations to get underway within minutes of the initial attack. Her 5-inch guns were among the first to challenge the enemy raiders, and her gunners proudly claimed four planes.

Emerging from the attack with no loss of crew and only superficial damage, JARVIS sortied that morning with several cruisers and destroyers to conduct surveillance and ASW patrols. On the 16th she cleared Pearl Harbor with Saratoga (CV-3) and joined Task Force 14, steaming to relieve the beleaguered defenders on Wake Atoll. Recalled to Pearl Harbor 23 December, after the rescue mission aborted, JARVIS returned the 29th to resume ASW patrols. While operating with Lexington (CV-2) and her screening cruisers, JARVIS rescued 182 survivors of the stricken fleet oiler Neches (AO-5) 6 hours after she was torpedoed during mid-watch 23 January 1942

JARVIS departed Pearl Harbor 5 February to escort a convoy to Brisbane, Australia. Following her return 27 March, she sailed 8 April for San Francisco to undergo alterations. She returned to Pearl 18 May escorting 13 ships and proceeded 5 days later via Fiji to Sidney Australia. Arriving 18 June, she commenced convoy escort and ASW patrols from Australia to New Caledonia, continuing this duty until called to participate in the invasion of Guadalcanal.

Steaming from Sidney 14 July, JARVIS arrived Wellington, New Zealand, the 19th to join Task Force 62, which sailed 22 July for the Solomons. After conducting rehearsal landings in the Fiji Islands 28 30 July, the invasion force of 84 ships and 20,000 marines steamed for Guadalcanal 31 July. Protected from Japanese search planes by rain and heavy mists, the force arrived off the landing beaches at dawn 7 August.

Following naval and air bombardment of enemy defenses, the first amphibious operation of the war commenced at 0650. JARVIS patrolled watchfully as part of the protective screen while Marines established a beachhead. As landing operations progressed, Americans expected the Japanese to strike vigorously at the transports with land-based planes. However, during two attacks which occurred that afternoon the Americans sustained only minor damage on Mugford (DD-389) while splashing 14 enemy planes.

Following night patrol off the southern end of Savo Island, JARVIS returned to Lunga Point to screen the unloading transports. Warning of an impending air attack suspended these operations; and the transports and their protective screen of destroyers and cruisers deployed in the body of water between Guadalcanal and Florida Island, soon to be called "Ironbottom Sound." When enemy torpedo bombers appeared about noon 8 August. they met a lethal stream of antiaircraft fire. Only 9 of the 26 planes breached the deadly defense of flaming lead but they set George F. Elliot (AP-13) ablaze and torpedoed JARVIS.

With 5-inch shells and machine gun fire pouring out at the attackers, JARVIS maneuvered between Vincennes (CA-64) and one of the planes during the thick of the fight. As antiaircraft fire consumed the plane, its torpedo exploded against JARVIS' starboard side near the forward fire room, stopping her dead in the water. Her valiant crew jettisoned the port torpedoes and quickly brought under control the fires that followed the explosion. Dewey (DD-349) towed her to shallow anchorage off Lunga Point; and, after the attack, she crossed "Ironbottom Sound" to Tulagi, where she transferred her wounded and commenced emergency repairs.

Despite a 50-foot gash in her side, she was considered seaworthy and ordered to proceed under cover of darkness to Efate, New Hebrides. Apparently unaware of the order, her capable skipper, Lt. Comdr. W. W. Graham decided to steam to Sidney, Australia, for immediate repairs from DOBBIN (AD-3). Unnoticed by her own ships, JARVIS departed Tulagi at midnight 9 August and moved slowly westward through "Ironbottom Sound" and between Savo Island and Cape Esperance. At 0134 she passed 3,000 yards northward of Rear Admiral Mikawa's cruisers, steaming to meet the Americans at the costly Battle of Savo Island. Mistaking her for a cruiser of the New Zealand Achilles-class, they fired torpedoes, and destroyer Yunagi later engaged her briefly, all without effect.

The gallant destroyer, continuing to retire westward, had little speed, no radio communications, and few operative guns; but she refused aid from Blue (DD-378) upon being sighted at 0325. After daybreak, a Saratoga scout plane sighted her 40 miles off Guadalcanal, trailing fuel oil and down by the bow. That was the last time Americans saw her.

The Japanese, however, still mistaking JARVIS for an escaping cruiser, dispatched 31 planes from Rabaul to search out and destroy her. Once discovered, the determined, but badly damaged, destroyer was no match for bombers raking the ship with bullets and torpedoes. According to Japanese records, JARVIS "split and sank" at 1300 on 9 August.

Although she went down with all hands, her sacrifice served a noble purpose. Had not the enemy planes located her, no doubt they would have maintained course for Guadalcanal and pounded the battle-weary American ships as they prepared to depart for Noumea, New Caledonia.

JARVIS received three battle stars for World War II service.

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KILTY ( DD-137) was launched 25 April 1918 by the Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, Calif.; sponsored by Miss Elizabeth Harrison Shapley; and commissioned 17 December 1918, Lt. Comdr. Timothy Jerome Keleher in command.

After a Caribbean shakedown and a European cruise during the summer of 1919, KILTY returned to San Diego and operated there until she decommissioned 5 June 1922.

KILTY recommissioned 18 December 1930- and in April 1940 sailed on Neutrality Patrol out of San Diego. During the summer she conducted reserve training cruises and resumed her patrols early in September. The destroyer continued these operations until the United States entered World War. II. Then KILTY intensified ASW patrols trained armed-guard crews for merchantmen, and escorted coastal convoys throughout 1942.

Reclassified APD-15 on 2 January 1943, KILTY cleared Mare Island 2 March for the South Pacific. After arriving Noumea 8 April with a Marine Raider battalion, the transport steamed toward Guadalcanal as an ASW screen 28 April. She made similar cruises until June when she reported for patrol and escort duty in the Solomons. KILTY played a vital role in the conquest of the Solomons, landing troops of the 37th Division on New Georgia Island 30 June and 4 July. Continuing operations in the area, she made three reinforcement runs up the "Slot" during July and landed troops on Vella Lavella Island 15 August.

As Allied operations built up momentum, KILTY moved on to the Treasury Islands Campaign. She successfully landed New Zealand troops on Stirling Island 27 October and a Marine force on Bougainville 9 days later, enabling Allied Forces to take Rabau,l. KILTY effectively aided this campaign in three more landings before sailing for Brisbane 21 November.

Returning Milne Bay in mid-December, the transport began preparing for the assault on the Bismark Archipelago. KILTY landed units of the 7th Marine Regiment for the initial attack on Cape Gloucester, New Britain 26 December. Following two more landings there, she sent troops ashore at Saidor 2 January 1944 to take an air strip which would help the Air Force patrol and support Cape Gloucester. KILTY's next objective was Green Island, where she landed troops on 15 and 20 February before returning to Port Purvis.

Following an unopposed assault on Emirau Island 20 March, the transport prepared for the Hollandia campaign. Completing landings at Aitape 22 April, KILTY then participated in New Guinea landings, including Wakde 17 May and Biak 10 days later before putting into Humboldt Bay 28 May.

After a minor overhaul at Milne Bay, she landed troops on Cape Sansopor 30 July before sailing to Sydney. Returning to Humboldt Bay 30 August, KILTY landed troops on Morotai 15 September to complete her operations in New Guinea area. KILTY departed Hollandia 12 October as part of the spearhead for the giant Leyte assault that bore down on the enemy like a typhoon. In the advance assault force she landed rangers on Dinagat in the entrance to Leyte Gulf 17 October to pave the way for the main Philippine invasion. While KILTY was returning to Hollandia 23 October, the U.S. Fleet was crushing the Japanese Navy in the famous battle for Leyte Gulf.

During another cruise to Leyte in mid-November, the transport splashed two "Vale" before they could crash into American LST's. Continuing operations in the strategic Philippines, KILTY landed troops 15 December in the invasion of Mindoro, and on 11 January 1945 supported the Luzon landings. She made additional landings at Nasubu 31 January and at Corregidor in mid-February before sailing for Ulithi 26 February for overhaul.

Battle-proven KILTY cleared Ulithi 2 April as escort to four escort carriers ferrying planes to the Okinawa beachhead. During May she made another escort cruise from Saipan to Okinawa, and on the 4th rescued survivors from Luce (DD-522) sunk during a kamikaze attack. With the Okinawa campaign well under way, KILTY departed Guam 17 May and arrived San Diego 18 June for overhaul. Redesignated DD-137 on 20 July 1945, KILTY was still in the yard as the war came to an end. The veteran destroyer decommissioned 2 November 1945, and was sold 26 August 1946 to the National Metal & Steel Corp. for scrapping.

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CC-1 - CV-2 Lexington ("Lexy") (Battlecruiser)

Picture of the USS Lexington in Dry Dock at Hunter's Point in San Francisco (click on picture to enlarge)

From:  Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, Vol. IV, 1969, pp. 104-105.

Class: Sometimes identified as the Constellation class, apparently because Constellation (CC 2) was the first to be laid down. These were the only US Navy ships to which the battlecruiser classification was applied. The designation "CC", which was not formally applied until the 17 July 1920 fleet redesignation, is thought to have been derived from "Cruiser, Capital", indicating their status as capital ships.

The fourth LEXINGTON (CV-2) was originally designated CC-1; laid down as a battle cruiser 8 January 1921 by Fore River Shipbuilding Co., Quincy, Mass.; authorized to be completed as an aircraft carrier 1 July 1922; launched 3 October 1925; sponsored by Mrs. Theodore Douglas Robinson, wife of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy; and commissioned 14 December 1927, Capt. Albert W. Marshall in command.

After fitting out and shakedown, LEXINGTON joined the battle fleet at San Pedro, Calif., 7 April 1928. Based there, she operated on the west coast with Aircraft Squadrons, Battle Fleet, in flight training, tactical exercises, and battle problems . Each year she participated in fleet maneuvers in the Hawaiians, in the Caribbean, off the Panama Canal Zone, and in the eastern Pacific. In the fall of 1941 she sailed with the battle force to the Hawaiians for tactical exercises.

On 7 December 1941 LEXINGTON was at sea with TF 12 carrying marine aircraft from Pearl Harbor to reinforce Midway when word of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor was received. She immediately launched search planes to hunt for the Japanese fleet , and at mid-morning headed south to rendezvous with Indianapolis and Enterprise task forces to conduct a search southwest of Oahu until returning Pearl Harbor 18 December.

Her offensive patrols in the Coral Sea continued until 6 March, when she rendezvoused with YORKTOWN's TF 17 for a thoroughly successful surprise attack flown over the Owen Stanley mountains of New Guinea to inflict heavy damage on shipping and i nstallations at Salamaua and Lae 10 March. She now returned to Pearl Harbor, arriving 26 March.

On 7 May search planes reported contact with an enemy carrier task force, and LEXINGTON's air group flew an eminently successful mission against it, sinking light carrier Shoho. Later that day, 12 bombers and 15 torpedo planes from still-unlocated heavy carriers Shokaku and Zuikaku were intercepted by fighter groups from LEXINGTON and YORKTOWN, who splashed nine enemy aircraft.

On the morning of the 8th, a LEXINGTON plane located Shokaku group; a strike was immediately launched from the American carriers, and the Japanese ship heavily damaged.

The enemy penetrated to the American carriers at 1100, and 20 minutes later LEXINGTON was struck by a torpedo to port. Seconds later, a second torpedo hit to port directly abreast the bridge. At the same time, she took three bomb hits from enemy dive bombers, producing a 7 degree list to port and several raging fires. By 1300 her skilled damage control parties had brought the fires under control and returned the ship to even keel; making 25 knots, she was ready to recover her air group. Then suddenly LEXINGTON was shaken by a tremendous explosion, caused by the ignition of gasoline vapors below, and again fire raged out of control. 

At 1558 Capt. Frederick C. Sherman, fearing for the safety of men working below, secured salvage operations, and ordered all hands to the flight deck. At 1707, he ordered, "abandon ship!", and the orderly disembarkation began, men going over the side into the warm water, almost immediately to be picked up by nearby cruisers and destroyers. Admiral Fitch and his staff transferred to cruiser Minneapolis; Captain Sherman and his executive officer, Comdr. M. T. Seligman insured all their men were safe, then were the last to leave their ship.

LEXINGTON received two battle stars for World War II service.

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BB-63 Missouri ("Mighty Mo") (Battleship)

From: Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, Vol. IV, 1969, pp. 393-95.

	MISSOURI (BB-63
	Displacement.:  45,000
	Length: 887'3"
	Beam: 108'2"
	Draft: 28'11"
	Speed: 33 k
	Complement: 1921
	Armament: 9 16", 20 5"
	Class:  Iowa

	Hospital Ship: AH-1
	Displacement: 9,800 tons (full load)
	Length: 483'10"
	Beam: 61'1"
	Draft: 19'7"
	Speed: 16 knots
	Armament: None (Hague and Geneva Conventions)
	Complement: 44 officers, 331 enlisted corpsmen; 500 patients
	Twin screws: 5,250 HP
	Commissioned: 28 December 1920
	Decommissioned:  11 June 1946