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Memorial Day, 2010

Discussion in 'Fred's House of Pancakes' started by jcgee88, May 29, 2010.

  1. jcgee88

    jcgee88 Member

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    Son of a President, he was a modest man and he became a soldier.
    He was only middle aged, but arthritis forced him to use a cane.
    Though once unfairly stripped of command, he rose to the rank of Brigadier General.
    As history's largest military invasion was about to begin, he was denied permission to go ashore because of his health and his famous name.
    He finally argued that accurate information directly from the scene was critical to the operation's success.
    His commander reluctantly approved his request, but the commander thought he would never see him alive again.
    He went in with the first wave on Utah Beach.
    He was the only General to land with the troops on D-Day.
    His landing craft delivered him a mile off course, so he said, "We'll start the war from right here!"
    Under fire from the enemy, he personally greeted each succeeding regiment and directed them to their objective.
    For his efforts that day, he was awarded the Medal of Honor.
    One month after D-Day, he collapsed and died of a heart attack.
    On this Memorial Day weekend, I salute Theodore Roosevelt Jr, and all the men and women like him who have served our country.
     
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  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    +1 and a heartfelt thank you to all who have served!:rockon:
     
  3. dogfriend

    dogfriend Human - Animal Hybrid

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    I ran across this letter, while looking up info on the USS Hugh W. Hadley (DD-774) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. There is a man who served on the Hadley that lives in the same senior apartments where my dad lives now. My dad and the other veterans were interviewed to get their recollections of the time they spent in the service. The interviews will eventually be available on the web as part of the Library of Congress.

    Anyway, the letter can be found at USS Hadley Memorial Webpage then click on James Smith's Letter

     
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  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    60 years later and still heartbreaking to read.
     
  5. Mark57

    Mark57 2021 Tesla Model 3 LR AWD

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    In 1937, my Uncle Willis served aboard the Aircraft Carrier, USS Saratoga at Long Beach, California and in 1940 transferred to the USS Pinola AT33 for a short while when on Nov 22, 1941 he was shipped out to China to the USS Peary, DD-226, (destroyer class). He was a Machinist's Mate, First Class.

    Uncle Willis died on board ship February 19, 1942 repelling the first Japanese attack on Australia.

    The USS Peary is an interesting story.

    Peary (DD-226) was laid down by William Cramp and Sons Philadelphia, Penn., 9 September 1919, Launched 6 April 1920; sponsored by Mrs. Edward Stafford daughter of Adm. Peary; commissioned 22 October 1920.

    Peary served in the Far East from 1922 onward. With the Yangtze Patrol Force from 1923 to 1931, she made annual deployments in Chinese waters protecting American interests from 1931 to the outbreak of World War II.

    At this time, my Uncle was on the Peary which was moored at Cavite, P.I., when news of the Pearl Harbor raid reached her and was caught in the raid on the Cavite Navy Yard, Philippines, two days later. On the early afternoon of 10 December more than 50 two-engined high level bombers appeared over Cavite and, cruising leisurely above the range of anti-aircraft fire, destroyed practically the entire base.

    Peary, tied up at a small pier, took one bomb forward which riddled the superstructure and stack and killed 8 of her crew. She found herself in a very precarious position, as fires began to set off torpedo warheads in a torpedo overhaul shop on the wharf next to her. Fortunately, minesweeper Whippoorwill towed her out. Whippoorwill and Pillsbury (DD-227) came alongside and their fire hoses extinguished the fire in five minutes. Her commanding officer, Comdr. H. H Keith was wounded in this engagement and was relieved by Comdr. J. M. Bermingham.

    On 26 December 1941, Peary was underway when the Japanese came over again and dropped several bombs near the ship.

    By the morning of the 27th, Peary was in Campomanes Bay, Negros Island, where she decided to put in for the day. Her crew camouflaged her with green paint and palm fronds, hoping to elude Japanese patrol bombers. Five passed overhead without spotting the ship that morning and when darkness fell she set out through the Celebes Sea for Makassar Strait.

    A four-engined Japanese bomber spotted Peary the next morning, and shadowed her until early afternoon when three other bombers joined her in a two-hour attack. The planes dropped 500 pound bombs and then launched two torpedoes only 500 yards from the ship. Peary quickly backed on one engine and both torpedoes narrowly missed the bow. Seconds later, two more missed the stern by ten yards. The bombers then withdrew.

    The New Year found Peary at Darwin, Australia. During January and a part of February, she operated out of Darwin principally on anti-submarine patrol. At about 10:45 a.m. on 19 February Peary was attacked by single-motored Japanese dive bombers and suffered 80 men killed and 13 wounded. The first bomb exploded on the fantail, the second, an incendiary on the galley deck house; the third did not explode; the fourth hit forward and set off the forward ammunition magazines; the fifth, another incendiary, exploded in the after engine room. A .30 caliber machine gun on the after deck house and a .50 caliber machine gun on the galley deck house fired until the last enemy plane flew away. Peary sank stern first at about 1 00 p.m. She was struck from the Navy List 8 May 1942.

    Peary received one battle star for World War II service.

    I regret having never met or known my Uncle but I'm proud of his service and sacrifice to our country.

    PS, while on route from the Philippines to Australia, the Peary was bombed 3 times by the British assuming it was an enemy ship.
     
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