The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors
Page 52
Chapter 51
“On that raft we were just forty-nine very wretched human beings …,” Copeland, Spirit, 61. “Too far away to make it in by night,” Copeland, 62. Requested “permission to go below,” Everett Roberts, autobiographical narrative, 2. “Object ho! … What is it, Cantrell? … I see a big white cottage …,” Copeland, 63. “Fucking captain’s no good …,” William Katsur interview; Katsur narrative, 9; Copeland refers to this incident obliquely (59).
Chapter 52
“I’ll buy you a beer,” Charles Landreth, in Johnston, 123. Other incidents of madness among the Johnston’s crew are from the accounts of Clyde Burnett, Jesse Cochran, John Mostowy, and Don Starks in Johnston. “Skau, take a good look at that ship,” Copeland, Spirit, 63. “Who won the World Series? … St. Louis, God damn it!” Wukovits, Devotion, 186; Levy, “USS PC 623 Crewman,” Yusen interview. “Men, it looks as if we’re going to be picked up by the Japs …,” Moore, 10. “Hilarious happiness,” Moore, 10.
Chapter 53
Rescue mission of PC-623: Levy, “USS PC 623 Crewman,” PC 623 War Diary and Deck Log; Morison, History, vol. 12, 313-16. “I informed the skipper and the helmsman that I had not been properly relieved of the deck and that I would not accept Captain Baxter’s order …,” Levy. “What are you looking for?” “Just a place to lay down,” George Bray interview. “I took about three swipes and fainted,” Copeland, Spirit, 67. “Get the hell out of the way,” Copeland, 67-68. “The place was like the Black Hole of Calcutta” and “My God, that dog has drank a lot of water …,” Copeland, 68.
Chapter 54
This account of Neil Dethlefs swimming ashore is from Dethlefs’s own account in Johnston, 73-82. The ordeal of Bill Shaw and Orin Vadnais is recounted in Vadnais, Johnston, 178-80, and in “Bronx Youth and 3 Rescued After Epic Escape off Samar,” New York World Telegram, Nov. 17, 1944.
Part IV
I want you to know I think you wrote the most glorious page …,” Halsey’s words are from Sprague’s letter to his wife, May 1945, quoted in Reneau, Remembered, 171. In that letter Sprague referred to Halsey as “The gentleman who failed to keep his appointment last October.” He continued: “He [Halsey] then went on and was so flattering it was embarrassing. All I could mumble was ‘I hope your praise is deserved.’” Reneau, 171.
Chapter 55
“This was Trafalgar; it was Tsushima …” Pratt, Fleet Against Japan, 242. “Our defeat at Leyte was tantamount…,” Morison, History, vol. 12, 338. “The vision of Sprague’s three destroyers …,” Wouk, War and Remembrance, 1285. “The history of the United States Navy records …,” Cox, Battle off Samar, 165. “This desperate expedient…,” CTU 77.4.3 action report, Enclosure C, 3. “This was a disgrace, and I blame Kinkaid …,” Sprague, marginalia in his copy of Woodward, Battle for Leyte Gulf, 216. “The kind of man I would have been proud to call my father,” Copeland, Spirit, 69. “I had to admit that I didn’t know the answer …,” Julius Steinberg, Heermann, n.p. “In summation, the failure of the enemy main body …” CTU 77.4.3 action report, Enclosure B, 2. “You are a wonderful crew …,” Hath-away as quoted in Harold Whitney, Jan. 7, 2003 narrative, 3. “I knew there were some big battles going on …,” “It was a sort of homecoming …,” Harriet Copeland interview. “I know things were different when he came home …,” Suzanne Hartley interview. “I said forget it. I can make a living. I don’t need your disability,” Earl Archer interview. “He really rung it out…,” Leonard Moser, letter to Harold Kight, Apr. 25, 1986, 13-16.
Chapter 56
“He had two black eyes …,” Patricia Sprague Reneau interview in “Taffy 3 Remembered” videotape. “The Navy years were over for the Sprague daughters …,” Reneau, Remembered, 221. Most of the escort carriers were decommissioned … and sold as scrap: ships’ histories are from Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, www.hazegray.org/danfs. “I hold no hope that he is alive …,” J. M. Reid, letter to Mrs. LeClercq, Jan. 16, 1945. “Your successful fight against great odds …,” Nimitz’s letter to the survivors is quoted in Ciolek, “What Did You Do.” For distinguishing himself by extraordinary heroism, Reneau, 237. “It never occurred to me that Halsey …” and “What are you trying to do … ?” Wukovits, Devotion, 190. “It can be announced with assurance that the Japanese Navy has been beaten …” and “Though he participated in only portions …,” Wukovits, 189. “I wondered how Kinkaid had let ‘Ziggy’ Sprague get caught like this,” Halsey and Bryan, Admiral, 219. “Our Navy, for reasons that are clear to me …,” Sprague, letter to Fitch, Sept. 26, 1947, quoted in Reneau, 185. “You’ve done well. But don’t dwell on it,” Bud Comet interview. Taffy 3 reunions began in 1946: Thanks to Myles Barrett for a copy of these early “Taffy Three Reunion Notes.” Gambier Bay veterans’ 1977 Philippines pilgrimage, videotape courtesy of Hank Pyzdrowski. “They’re telling us that they know we’re here,” quoted in Old Shipmates, newsletter of the USS Gambier Bay/VC-10 Survivors Association. (First Quarter 1978), 35. “We now commit this capsule to the deep,” Old Shipmates (First Quarter 1978), 36. “Kurita’s role at Leyte …,” Wouk, War and Remembrance, 1280. A “gigantic enemy task force …,” Field, Japanese, 100. I have the honor to write the Men of the Gambier Bay …, Haruo Mayuzumi, letter to Henry A. Pyzdrowski, 10, 11, 14. “Dad, wait till you see what I’ve got…,” Jack Yusen interview. “I think the more of us that get together …,” Gene Saunders, letter to Harold Kight, 1. “Oh man, I like that guy,” Joe Downs interview. “At this time in my life, one of my greatest pleasures …,” Van Brunt, “A Bird’s-Eye View,” Paul Rinn told of FFG-58’s ordeal in a speech at the 2001 joint reunion of the Samuel B. Roberts and Johnston/Hoel survivors associations in Albuquerque. Rinn, now retired from the Navy, is a vice president at Whitney, Bradley and Brown. “I’m still trying to impress my dad…. the way I’ve conducted myself,” Bud Comet interview.
Photo and Art Credits
TITLE PAGE
Wildcats from VC-5 scramble on the Kitkun Bay (National Archives)
ENDPAPERS
The destroyer Heermann (foreground) and the destroyer escort John C. Butler making smoke
(National Archives)
PART OPENERS
Part I: National Archives
Part II: National Archives
Part III: © John Downs
Part IV: collection of David C. Wright
PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHS OF HOEL AND JOHNSTON CREW MEMBERS APPEARING THROUGHOUT
© Bill Mercer, The Fighting and Sinking of the USS Johnston DD-557 As Told by Her Crew, Johnston/Hoel Association, Sept. 1991; and Keith McKay, At Rest 4,000 Fathoms Under the Waves, USS Hoel DD-553: The Story of a Valiant Ship’s Last Hours and the Survivors Who Manned Her to the End, Johnston/Hoel Association, 1990.
PHOTO AND ART INSERT I
Page One
Background poster of Fleet Adm. William F. Halsey (Naval Historical Center)
Inset photograph of Fleet Adm. William F. Halsey (National Archives)
Inset photograph of Gen. Douglas MacArthur and Vice Adm. Thomas C. Kinkaid (National Archives)
Pages Two and Three
Background photograph of the Center Force battleship Kongo (Naval Historical Center) Background photograph of the Center Force flagship Yamato (Naval Historical Center) Inset photograph of Vice Adm. Takeo Kurita (Naval Historical Center)
Pages Four and Five
Background photograph of escort carrier riding heavy seas (U.S. Navy)
Inset photograph of escort carrier riding heavy seas (U.S. Navy)
Inset photograph of Rear Adm. Clifton A. F. (“Ziggy”) Sprague (National Archives)
Photograph of Ens. John S. LeClercq (courtesy of Robert LeClercq)
Pages Six and Seven
Annapolis portrait photograph of Cdr. Ernest E. Evans (U.S. Naval Academy)
Background photograph of the Johnston’s commissioning ceremony (Naval Historical Center)
Inset photographs of Cmdr. Ernest E. Evans (Naval Historical Center)
/> Inset photograph of the USS Johnston (Naval Historical Center)
Pages Eight and Nine
Background photograph of the USS Hoel (National Archives)
Inset photographs of Cdr. Leon Kintberger (courtesy of Mrs. Dora Kintberger Schleider)
Inset photographs of Paul Henry Carr (courtesy of Peggy Carr Dodd)
Pages Ten and Eleven
Background photograph of the USS Samuel B. Roberts (Naval Historical Center) Inset photograph of Lt. Cmdr. Robert W. Copeland (Naval Historical Center) Inset photograph of sailors on the Fanshaw Bay (collection of Harold Kight)
Pages Twelve and Thirteen
Background art of FM-2 Wildcat strafing the battleship Yamato (watercolor by John Downs)
Inset photograph of Ens. William C. Brooks (courtesy of Bill Brooks)
Inset photograph of Jack Yusen (courtesy of Jack Yusen)
Inset photograph of Dick Rohde (courtesy of Dick Rohde)
Pages Fourteen and Fifteen
Background photograph of the USS Heermann (National Archives)
Inset photographs of Cdr. Amos T. Hathaway (U.S. Navy and U.S. Naval Academy)
Inset photograph of Gun Captain Clint Carter aboard the USS Johnston (collection of Will Carter)
Inset photograph of Lt. Tom Stevenson (courtesy of Tom Stevenson)
Inset photograph of Lt. Robert C. Hagen (courtesy of Bob Hagen)
Page Sixteen
Background photograph of the Gambier Bay under fire (National Archives)
PHOTO AND ART INSERT II
Page One
Photograph of Wildcats on the Kitkun Bay (National Archives)
Photograph of the destroyer Heermann and destroyer escort John C. Butler making smoke (National Archives)
Photograph of the Gambier Bay fleeing eastward (National Archives)
Photograph of Taffy 3 jeep carrier (collection of David C. Wright)
Pages Two and Three
Inset photograph of TBM Avenger pilot Lt. Earl “Blue” Archer (courtesy of Blue Archer)
Background photograph of Wildcat pilot Lt. Richard Roby (National Archives)
Inset photograph of Cdr. Edward J. Huxtable with his crew (National Archives)
Photograph of FM-2 Wildcat fighters from the White Plains (National Archives)
Background photograph of an Avenger torpedo bomber taking off from the Marcus Island
(U.S. Navy)
Pilot’s-eye sketch of the Japanese pursuit (National Archives)
Pages Four and Five
Background photograph of an Avenger torpedo bomber flying over the Marcus Island (U.S. Navy)
Inset photograph of gun camera photos (National Archives)
Inset photograph of Lt. Ken Hippe (National Archives)
Inset artist’s rendering of St. Lo Wildcats strafing the Yamato (watercolor © John Downs)
Inset photograph of Lt. Burt Bassett amd Cdr. Edward Huxtable (National Archives)
Inset photograph of a St. Lo Wildcat at the Tacloban airdrome on Leyte Island (National Archives)
Pages Six and Seven
Background photograph of the Nagato withdrawing following Kurita’s order (U.S. Navy)
Inset photograph of a Kongo-class battleship taken by a Kadashan Bay flier (National Archives)
Inset photograph of the Yamato narrowly avoiding a torpedo (collection of David C. Wright)
Bottom left photograph of Japanese cruiser fishtailing (National Archives)
Pages Eight and Nine
Background photograph of the Gambier Bay listing to port (National Archives)
Inset photograph of the battleships Nagato and Yamato taken by Kadashan Bay airman (National Archives)
Inset photograph of the Chikuma as photographed by a Petrof Bay pilot (National Archives)
Inset photograph of the flight deck crew of the White Plains (National Archives)
Photograph of explosions aboard the St. Lo (bottom left) (National Archives)
Inset of official declassified action report for the Battle off Samar (National Archives)
Photograph of the Chikuma as photographed by a Natoma Bay flier (National Archives)
Pages Ten and Eleven
Background photograph of a wounded sailor (National Archives)
Inset photograph of Admiral Sprague awarding a medal to a sailor (National Archives)
Photograph of Lt. Larry Budnick (U.S. Navy, collection of Larry Budnick)
Photograph of a burial at sea on the Kalinin Bay (National Archives)
Pages Twelve and Thirteen
Present day photographs of Tom Stevenson, Dudley Moylan, Bill Brooks, Joe Downs, Allen Johnson, Larry Budnick, Bill Mercer, Paul Miranda and Dick Santos (the author) Photograph of Fanshaw Bay veterans (Sharon Hornfischer)
Pages Fourteen and Fifteen
Background photograph of the Hoel/Roberts/Johnston monument at Ft. Rosecrans National
Cemetery (courtesy of the USS St. Lo CVE-63/VC-65 Survivors Association)
Inset photograph of Hank Pyzdrowski (courtesy of Hank Pyzdrowski)
Inset photograph of Jack Yusen with Capt. Paul X. Rinn (collection of Jack Yusen)
Photograph of FFG-58 © Jeff Cameron
Page Sixteen
Photograph of the Taffy 3 memorial at Ft. Rosecrans National Cemetery (courtesy of the USS
St. Lo CVE-63/VC-65 Survivors Association)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
JAMES D. HORNFISCHER is a writer, literary agent, and former book editor. A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Colgate University, he has graduate business and law degrees from the University of Texas at Austin. He lives in Austin, Texas, with his wife and their three children.
Contact the author at jim@hornfischerlit.com and visit the author’s website at www.tincansailorsbook.com.
Watch for James D. Hornfischer’s
latest book on World War II in the Pacific
NEPTUNE’S INFERNO
The U.S. Navy at Guadalcanal
Coming Spring 2011
Read a special preview below.
PROLOGUE
______
Eighty-two Ships
ON FRIDAY, AUGUST 7, 1942, EIGHTY-TWO U.S. NAVY SHIPS MANNED by forty thousand sailors, shepherding a force of sixteen thousand U.S. Marines, reached their destination in a remote southern ocean and spent the next hundred days immersed in a curriculum of cruel and timeless lessons. No fighting Navy had ever been so speedily and explosively educated. In the conflict that rolled through the end of that trembling year, they and the thousands more who followed them learned that technology was important, but that guts and guile mattered more. That swiftness was more deadly than strength, and that well-packaged surprise usually beat them both. That if it looked like the enemy was coming, the enemy probably was coming and you ought to tell somebody, maybe even everybody. That the experience of battle forever divides those who talk of nothing else but its prospect from those who talk of everything else but its memory.
Sailors in the war zone learned the arcane lore of bad luck and its many manifestations, from the sight of rats leaving a ship in port (a sign that she will be sunk) to the act of whistling while at sea (inviting violent winds) to the follies of opening fire first on a Sunday or beginning a voyage on a Friday (the consequences of which were certain but nonspecific, and thus all the more frightful).
They learned to tell the red-orange blossoms of shells hitting targets from the faster flashes of muzzles firing the other way. That hard steel burns. That any ship can look shipshape, but if you really want to take her measure, check her turret alignments. That torpedoes, and sometimes radios, keep their own fickle counsel about when they will work. That a war to secure liberty could be waged passionately by men who had none themselves, and that in death all sailors have an unmistakable dignity.
Some of these were the lessons of any war, truisms relearned for the hundredth time by the latest generation to face its trials. Victory always tended to fly with the first effective salvo. Others were novel, the produ
ct of untested technologies and tactics, unique to the circumstances of America’s first offensive in the Pacific: that you could win a campaign on the backs of stevedores expert in the lethal craft of combat-loading cargo ships; that the little image of an enemy ship on a radar scope will flinch visibly when heavily struck; that rapid partial salvo fire from a director-controlled main battery reduces the salvo interval period but complicates the correction of ranges and spots.
In the far South Pacific, you were lucky if your sighting report ever reached its recipient. Even then, the plainest statement of fact might be subject to two or more interpretations of meaning. You learned that warships smashed and left dead in the night could resurrect themselves by the rise of morning, that circumstances could conspire to make your enemy seem much shrewder than he ever really could be, and that as bad as things might seem in the midst of combat, they might well be far worse for him. That you could learn from your opponent’s success if your pride permitted it, and that the best course of action often ran straight into the barriers of your worst biases and fears. That some of the worst thrashings you took could look like victories tomorrow. That good was never good enough, and if you wanted Neptune to laugh, all you had to do was show him your operations plan.