by James Scott
“Heard tremendous”: Dace Report of Fifth War Patrol, Nov. 6, 1944.
“We better get”: Ibid.
Darter’s contact reports: Darter Report of Fourth War Patrol, Nov. 5, 1944; Dace Report of Fifth War Patrol, Nov. 6, 1944; Morison, The Two-Ocean War, pp. 439–40.
The 70,000-ton: Thomas J. Cutler, The Battle of Leyte Gulf, 23–26 October 1944 (New York: HarperCollins, 1994), p. 64.
Wave after wave: Morison, History of the United States Naval Operations in World War II, vol. 12, Leyte, June 1944–January 1945, p. 186; Ugaki, Fading Victory, p. 523; Kennedy, ed., The Library of Congress World War II Companion, p. 596.
The aerial attack: Hastings, Retribution, p. 141.
Carrier planes had spotted: Morison, The Two-Ocean War, pp. 441–42; USSBS, The Campaigns of the Pacific War, p. 285.
The United States built: Morison, The Two-Ocean War, p. 442; Craig L. Symonds, The Naval Institute Historical Atlas of the U.S. Navy (Annapolis, Md.: Naval Institute Press, 1995), p. 180.
The lopsided numbers: USSBS, The Campaigns of the Pacific War, p. 285.
“Most beautiful sight”: Morison, The Two-Ocean War, p. 447.
The mission of Vice Admiral: Interrogation of Vice Admiral Jisaburo Ozawa, Oct. 30, 1945, in USSBS, Interrogations of Japanese Officials, vol. 1, pp. 219–27.
The Japanese admiral: Ibid.; Morison, The Two-Ocean War, pp. 463–70.
The Chitose vanished: Cutler, The Battle of Leyte Gulf, pp. 235–36; Morison, History of the United States Naval Operations in World War II, vol. 12, Leyte, June 1944–January 1945, pp. 325–28.
Kurita’s central force: Morison, The Two-Ocean War, pp. 451–54.
Gone was the threat: Hastings, Retribution, p. 160.
Despite the earlier bruising: E. B. Potter, ed., Sea Power: A Naval History (Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice Hall, 1960), pp. 790–92.
The tall masts: Morison, The Two-Ocean War, pp. 451–55.
“baby flattops”: Ibid., p. 455.
Often converted tankers: Ibid.; Cutler, The Battle of Leyte Gulf, pp. 57–58; Hastings, Retribution, p. 150.
Rear Admiral Clifton Sprague: Morison, The Two-Ocean War, pp. 451–57.
“The enemy was closing”: C. A. F. Sprague to Commander in Chief, United States Fleet, Oct. 29, 1944, Special Report of Action Against the Main Body off Samar Island, 25 October 1944.
The skipper of Hoel: Leon Kintberger to the Secretary of the Navy, Nov. 15, 1944, Combined Action Report and Report of Loss of U.S.S. Hoel (DD-533) on 25 October, 1944.
The destroyer escort Samuel B. Roberts: Roscoe, United States Destroyer Operations in World War II, p. 429.
“avalanche of shells”: R. C. Hagen to Commander in Chief, United States Fleet, Nov. 14, 1944, Action Report—Surface Engagement off Samar, P.I., 25 October 1944.
Survivors reported: Cutler, The Battle of Leyte Gulf, p. 248.
American planes: Morison, The Two-Ocean War, pp. 459–60.
The skipper of Gambier Bay: USS Gambier Bay (CVE-73), Action Report, Narrative by Captain W. V. R. Vieweg, USN, Commanding Officer.
Gambier Bay capsized: Morison, The Two-Ocean War, p. 460.
American torpedo bombers: Ibid.; Dull, A Battle History of the Imperial Japanese Navy (1941–1945), p. 326.
Just as his warships: Morison, The Two-Ocean War, p. 461–62
“Goddammit, boys”: Ibid., p. 461.
The war’s first kamikaze attacks: Ibid., pp. 462–63.
The battle of Leyte Gulf had robbed: Hastings, Retribution, p. 163.
Not until Kurita’s forces: Morison, The Two-Ocean War, pp. 454, 466–67.
Despite Ozawa’s postwar admission: Interrogation of Vice Admiral Jisaburo Ozawa, Oct. 30, 1945, in USSBS, Interrogations of Japanese Officials, vol. 1, pp. 219–27.
“My decision”: William F. Halsey, Jr., “The Battle for Leyte Gulf,” Proceedings, vol. 78, no. 5, May 1952, p. 490.
“I didn’t know”: John F. Wukovits, Devotion to Duty: A Biography of Admiral Clifton A. F. Sprague (Annapolis, Md.: Naval Institute Press, 1995), p. 206.
“the gentleman”: Ibid.
“Why Admiral Bill”: Ibid.
Coye had listened: Unless otherwise noted, details of the patrol are drawn from: Silversides Report of Eleventh War Patrol, Nov. 23, 1944; Trigger Report of Tenth War Patrol, Nov. 3, 1944; Salmon Report of Eleventh War Patrol, Nov. 29, 1944; Coordinated Patrol Report, 24 September–3 November 1944.
10,021-ton Takane Maru: JANAC, p. 74; Roscoe, United States Submarine Operations in World War II, p. 564; Alden and McDonald, p. 226.
Nauman had seen: Navy Department, Bureau of Ships, Submarine Report: Depth Charge, Bomb, Mine, Torpedo and Gunfire Damage Including Losses in Action 7 December, 1941 to 15 August, 1945, vol. 1, 1 January 1949, pp. 61–81; H. K. Nauman to Stephen Towne, Information on damage to U.S.S. Salmon (SS-182), March 21, 1947, Box 76, RG 19, War Damage Reports and Related Records, 1942–1949, NARA.
“The conning tower”: H. K. Nauman to Stephen Towne, March 21, 1947.
“Our only”: Salmon Report of Eleventh War Patrol, Nov. 29, 1944.
“It was a relief”: Coordinated Patrol Report, 24 September–3 November 1944.
He relinquished command: Silversides Report of Twelfth War Patrol, Feb. 12, 1945.
The Silver Lady would make: Mooney et al., eds., Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, vol. 6, pp. 508–9.
But the lack of enemy targets: JANAC, p. 43 of the appendix.
Commissioned just eight days: Statistics are drawn from a review of Silversides’ fourteen war patrol reports.
Coye had earned: John Starr Coye, Jr., Navy Bio, Aug. 30, 1968.
The Navy reassigned Coye: Ibid.; The Reminiscences of Rear Admiral John S. Coye, Jr., pp. 118–19.
He now departed: JANAC, p. 43 of the appendix; Blair, Silent Victory, p. 984.
“That was really”: The Reminiscences of Rear Admiral John S. Coye, Jr., p. 118.
Chapter 18. Tang
“We knew”: Bill Nichols and Andrea Stone, “ ‘You Never Lose Hope,’ Sub Survivor Recalls,” USA Today, Aug. 16, 2000, p. 16A.
The skipper estimated: O’Kane, Clear the Bridge!, p. 456; Tang Report of Fifth War Patrol, Sept. 10, 1945, including Report of the Loss of the U.S.S. Tang (SS-306); William Leibold interview with author, July 10, 2009.
The torpedo ripped: O’Kane, p. 456; Tang Report of Fifth War Patrol; Navy Department, Bureau of Ships, Submarine Report: Depth Charge, Bomb, Mine, Torpedo and Gunfire Damage Including Losses in Action 7 December, 1941 to 15 August, 1945, vol. 1, 1 January 1949, pp. 112–13; Duff, Medical Study of the Experiences of Submariners as Recorded in 1,471 Submarine Patrol Reports in World War II, pp. 252, 255–56.
Up on the bridge: William Leibold interview with author, July 10, 2009.
“Do we have propulsion?”: “Five War Patrols,” Floyd Caverly’s story as told to David A. Jones; Floyd Caverly interviews with author, July 16, 2009, and July 30, 2009.
Leibold didn’t fare as well: William Leibold interview with author, July 10, 2009.
Larry Savadkin operated: Details of Lawrence Savadkin’s escape from the conning tower are drawn from the following sources: Lawrence Savadkin oral history interview with the Navy, Jan. 30, 1946; Shilling and Kohl, History of Submarine Medicine in World War II, pp. 203–4; Duff, Medical Study of the Experiences of Submariners as Recorded in 1,471 Submarine Patrol Reports in World War II, pp. 251–52.
Petty Officer 3rd Class Pete Narowanski: Details on Pete Narowanski and the men in the forward torpedo room are drawn from the following sources: Cindy Adams, “Tang Survivors Recall World War II Ordeal,” Patrol, Sept. 5, 1980, pp. 4–6; Johnson et al., eds., Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, vol. 3, p. 386; Rick Atkinson, An Army at Dawn: The War in North Africa, 1942–1943 (New York: Henry Holt, 2002), pp. 152–56; Shilling and Kohl, History of Submarine Medicine in World War II, pp. 203–4; Duff, Medical Study of the Experiences of Submariners as Recorded in 1,471 Submarine Patr
ol Reports in World War II, pp. 252, 255.
“Since it was quite possible”: Duff, Medical Study of the Experiences of Submariners as Recorded in 1,471 Submarine Patrol Reports in World War II, p. 252.
The torpedo’s ferocious detonation: Details on Clay Decker and the men in the control room, unless otherwise noted, are drawn from the following sources: Clay Decker video oral history interview with Dan Clayton, March 2002, Center for the Study of War Experience, Regis University, Denver, Colorado; Clay Decker undated video oral history interview with Clark M. Brandt, Fitzsimons Army Medical Center, Aurora, Colorado; Clay Decker video oral history interview with the Rocky Mountain Base, United States Submarine Veterans, Inc., 2003.
The injured Ballinger: Flint Whitlock and Ron Smith, The Depths of Courage: American Submariners at War with Japan, 1941–1945 (New York: Berkley Caliber, 2007), pp. 320–21.
“Mr. Enos, you can’t do that”: Ibid., p. 322.
“There was such”: Duff, Medical Study of the Experiences of Submariners as Recorded in 1,471 Submarine Patrol Reports in World War II, pp. 252–53.
Petty Officer 2nd Class Jesse DaSilva: Details on Jesse DaSilva and the men in the crew’s mess, unless otherwise noted, are drawn from the following sources: Jesse DaSilva oral history interview with Douglas E. Clanin, Sept. 4, 1992, Indiana Historical Society, Indianapolis, Indiana; Jesse B. DaSilva, “Survivor of the Mighty Tang,” American Submariner, July–September 2001, pp. 16–18; Cindy Adams, “Tang Survivors Recall World War II Ordeal,” Patrol, Sept. 5, 1980, pp. 4–6.
“like a giant fish”: Cindy Adams, “Tang Survivors Recall World War II Ordeal,” Patrol, Sept. 5, 1980, p. 4.
“My, God”: Jesse DaSilva oral history interview with Douglas E. Clanin, Sept. 4, 1992.
Just beneath: The Fleet Type Submarine, NavPers 16160, June 1946, Standards and Curriculum Division, Training, Bureau of Naval Personnel, p. 71; Norman Friedman, U.S. Submarines Through 1945: An Illustrated Design History (Annapolis, Md.: Naval Institute Press, 1995), pp. 263–64.
The poisonous gas: R. Everett Langford, Introduction to Weapons of Mass Destruction: Radiological, Chemical, and Biological (Hoboken, N.J.: Wiley-Interscience, 2004) pp. 214–15; Eric A. Croddy, James J. Wirtz, and Jeffrey A. Larsen, eds., Weapons of Mass Destruction: An Encyclopedia of Worldwide Policy, Technology, and History (Santa Barbara, Calif.: ABC-CLIO, 2005), pp. 327–58.
“We knew we couldn’t stay here”: Jesse B. DaSilva, “Survivor of the Mighty Tang,” American Submariner, July–September 2001, p. 16.
DaSilva decided: DeRose, Unrestricted Warfare, p. 219; “Trapped at Thirty Fathoms,” Jesse DaSilva’s story as told to Bill Hagendorn, Indiana Historical Society.
smashing the radar: Lawrence Savadkin oral history interview with the Navy, Jan. 30, 1946.
With the voice communication: DeRose, Unrestricted Warfare, p. 219.
“It struck the negro”: Duff, Medical Study of the Experiences of Submariners as Recorded in 1,471 Submarine Patrol Reports in World War II, p. 253.
O’Kane grabbed hold: Tang Report of Fifth War Patrol, Sept. 10, 1945, including Report of the Loss of the U.S.S. Tang (SS-306); O’Kane, Clear the Bridge!, p. 456; William Leibold interview with author, July 10, 2009.
In just nine months: JANAC, pp. 48–49 of the appendix; Blair, Silent Victory, p. 984.
Larry Savadkin bobbed: Lawrence Savadkin oral history interview with the Navy, Jan. 30, 1946; Duff, Medical Study of the Experiences of Submariners as Recorded in 1,471 Submarine Patrol Reports in World War II, pp. 251–52.
Bill Leibold broke: William Leibold interview with author, July 10, 2009.
Radarman Floyd Caverly: Floyd Caverly interview with author, July 16, 2009; “Five War Patrols,” Floyd Caverly’s story as told to David A. Jones.
About forty-five sailors: Navy Department, Bureau of Ships, Submarine Report: Depth Charge, Bomb, Mine, Torpedo and Gunfire Damage Including Losses in Action 7 December, 1941 to 15 August, 1945, vol. 1, 1 January 1949, p. 115; Duff, Medical Study of the Experiences of Submariners as Recorded in 1,471 Submarine Patrol Reports in World War II, p. 253.
Momsen lungs: NBMS, Submarine Medicine Practice (Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1956), pp. 317–20.
The Japanese escorts: Navy Department, Bureau of Ships, Submarine Report: Depth Charge, Bomb, Mine, Torpedo and Gunfire Damage Including Losses in Action 7 December, 1941 to 15 August, 1945, vol. 1, 1 January 1949, pp. 115–16; Duff, Medical Study of the Experiences of Submariners as Recorded in 1,471 Submarine Patrol Reports in World War II, pp. 253–55.
Clay Decker knew: Clay Decker video oral history interview with Dan Clayton, March 2002; Clay Decker undated video oral history interview with Clark M. Brandt.
George Zofcin: Barbara Siegfried e-mail to author, Dec. 12, 2010.
“You go ahead”: Clay Decker video oral history interview with Dan Clayton, March 2002.
“I could hear him screaming”: Ibid.
Inside the torpedo room: Navy Department, Bureau of Ships, Submarine Report: Depth Charge, Bomb, Mine, Torpedo and Gunfire Damage Including Losses in Action 7 December, 1941 to 15 August, 1945, vol. 1, 1 January 1949, pp. 116–17; Duff, Medical Study of the Experiences of Submariners as Recorded in 1,471 Submarine Patrol Reports in World War II, pp. 254–55.
Depth charges: Ibid.
“Many of the men”: Duff, Medical Study of the Experiences of Submariners as Recorded in 1,471 Submarine Patrol Reports in World War II, p. 255.
Hayes Trukke refused: Navy Department, Bureau of Ships, Submarine Report: Depth Charge, Bomb, Mine, Torpedo and Gunfire Damage Including Losses in Action 7 December, 1941 to 15 August, 1945, vol. 1, 1 January 1949, pp. 117–18; Duff, Medical Study of the Experiences of Submariners as Recorded in 1,471 Submarine Patrol Reports in World War II, pp. 254–56.
Yamaoka Maru: O’Kane, Clear the Bridge!, p. 459.
“I felt very exhausted”: Duff, Medical Study of the Experiences of Submariners as Recorded in 1,471 Submarine Patrol Reports in World War II, p. 254.
The three men: Navy Department, Bureau of Ships, Submarine Report: Depth Charge, Bomb, Mine, Torpedo and Gunfire Damage Including Losses in Action 7 December, 1941 to 15 August, 1945, vol. 1, 1 January 1949, pp. 118–19; Duff, Medical Study of the Experiences of Submariners as Recorded in 1,471 Submarine Patrol Reports in World War II, pp. 254–56; Tang Report of Fifth War Patrol, Sept. 10, 1945, including Report of the Loss of the U.S.S. Tang (SS-306).
DaSilva urged: Jesse DaSilva oral history interview with Douglas E. Clanin, Sept. 4, 1992; Alex Kershaw, Escape from the Deep: The Epic Story of a Legendary Submarine and Her Courageous Crew (New York: Da Capo, 2008), pp. 124–25.
“He had everything”: Jesse DaSilva oral history interview with Douglas E. Clanin, Sept. 4, 1992.
“We need somebody else”: Ibid.
“Hell”: Ibid.
The motor machinist’s mate scrambled: Ibid.; Jesse B. DaSilva, “Survivor of the Mighty Tang,” American Submariner, July–September 2001, p. 16.
DaSilva broke the surface: Jesse DaSilva oral history interview with Douglas E. Clanin; Duff, Medical Study of the Experiences of Submariners as Recorded in 1,471 Submarine Patrol Reports in World War II, pp. 254–57.
“He drowned”: Duff, Medical Study of the Experiences of Submariners as Recorded in 1,471 Submarine Patrol Reports in World War II, p. 257.
Leibold and Caverly: William Leibold interview with author, July 10, 2009; Floyd Caverly interview with author, July 30, 2009.
The six Tang sailors: Clay Decker video oral history interview with Dan Clayton, March 2002; Clay Decker undated video oral history interview with Clark M. Brandt; Jesse DaSilva oral history interview with Douglas E. Clanin, Sept. 4, 1992; Jesse B. DaSilva, “Survivor of the Mighty Tang,” American Submariner, July–September 2001, p. 16
“Well, this is it”: Jesse B. DaSilva, “Survivor of the Mighty Tang,” American Submariner, July–September 2001, p. 16.
The Japanese instead: Depos
ition of Henry James Flanagan, March 22, 1946, Box 1454, RG 153, Records of the Office of the Judge Advocate General (Army), War Crimes Branch, Case Files, 1944–1949, NARA; Clay Decker video oral history interview with Dan Clayton, March 2002; Clay Decker undated video oral history interview with Clark M. Brandt; Duff, Medical Study of the Experiences of Submariners as Recorded in 1,471 Submarine Patrol Reports in World War II, pp. 256–58.
He lay in the bottom: Details on the death of Paul Larson are drawn from the depositions of William Rudolph Leibold (Oct. 26, 1945), J. N. DaSilva (April 26, 1946) C. O. Decker (April 24, 1946), and Henry James Flanagan (March 22, 1946), Box 1454, RG 153, Records of the Office of the Judge Advocate General (Army), War Crimes Branch, Case Files, 1944–1949, NARA.
Nine men: Navy Department, Bureau of Ships, Submarine Report: Depth Charge, Bomb, Mine, Torpedo and Gunfire Damage Including Losses in Action 7 December, 1941 to 15 August, 1945, vol. 1, 1 January 1949, p. 118–119.
The captors tied: William Leibold interview with author, July 10, 2009.
“We were trussed up”: Lawrence Savadkin oral history interview with the Navy, Jan. 30, 1946.
The Japanese offered: William Leibold interview with author, July 10, 2009; Deposition of Lawrence Savadkin, June 13, 1946, Box 1454, RG 153, Records of the Office of the Judge Advocate General (Army), War Crimes Branch, Case Files, 1944–1949, NARA.
Guards made DaSilva: Deposition of William Rudolph Leibold, Oct. 26, 1945.
The executive officer struck: Deposition of Floyd Murel Caverly, May 22, 1946, Box 1454, RG 153, Records of the Office of the Judge Advocate General (Army), War Crimes Branch, Case Files, 1944–1949, NARA.
the crew kicked Flanagan: Deposition of Henry James Flanagan, March 22, 1946.
O’Kane’s refusal to reveal: Deposition of William Rudolph Leibold, Oct. 26, 1945.
“O’Kane received”: Deposition of Floyd Murel Caverly, May 22, 1946.
Burned Japanese sailors: Deposition of William Rudolph Leibold, Oct. 26, 1945; Deposition of C. O. Decker, April 24, 1946; William Leibold interview with author, July 10, 2009; Clay Decker video oral history interview with Dan Clayton, March 2002; Lawrence Savadkin oral history interview with the Navy, Jan. 30, 1946.