Email Call

Search the WEB or This SITE using "Google"
"Try it, you will like it"

Log Book

These are a few KeyWords
Larry Alexander	Clifford Holley	Jim Bolar	Mitchell Raffanelli	Richard (dick) Gray
Charles/Carol Serr	William King	Dick Mingus	Tom Murtagh	Clarence J. Leifeld
T.R. Froemming	Gerald G. Miller	Torpedo Plane	An enlisted man named Sy	Dale Bruce
San Francisco Fire 1936?	Jones from Tuscaloosa, Alabama	Royal Navy Observer	Arthur A. McCann (Flips)	David Aiken
Martin from Texas	British officer Crying	Kenneth Chestnut	Sam Walden Jr	Howard Perry
Go get em' Marine	Del Pitzer	Howard H. Branyon	Barbara (Burchell) McCord	Charles David Burchell
A Sister's Fury	Charles Williams	Pennsy Flag	Valleon Sylvester	Marvin Reece
Donald Wallace Bowman	J Nick Balcerski	Floyd V. Wood	non-crew member killed in action	Roy C. Vaught
Pennsy History	Chuck Ellis	Bridges @ Toko-ri	David O. Cutler

Below is a few E-Mails that I have received and more will be added in the future. I want to thank all those who have sent me their thoughts and ideas. Without the participation of YOU the readers, this site would not be possible.

E-mail

From: NoSpam_Hrenforth@aol.com
Sent: Saturday, December 07, 2002 9:58 AM
To: NoSpam_ken@usspennsylvania.org
Subject: Here is an item from our local newspaper on Dec 7, 2002 about a Pennsylvania shipmate Chuck Ellis

Thought you may want to use it in someway. Just for info

The Florida Times Union
(Jacksonville FL Daily Newspaper)
(Shorelines Section)
Devoted to the Beaches Communities
Adjacent to Jacksonville FL which includes Ponte Vedra Beach FL.
Saturday December 7th 2002

RECALLING A DAY OF INFAMY

Pearl harbor still vivid to these veterans from the Beaches and throughout Jacksonville get together frequently through the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association to reminisce and keep in touch. They have a motto that they find especially relevant for post 9-11 America: Remember Pearl Harbor - Keep America Alert.

Included are the Pearl harbor stories of three Beaches men. (It includes PO3 John Rutter who was serving on the USS RALEIGH on December 7th, 1941, and an Army Officer. This letter is to provide you with the information on the third member of the item, Chuck Ellis, now a resident of Ponte Vedra Beach, FL who was a Seaman on the USS PENNSYLVANIA (BB-38).

He was an instant Pearl Harbor veteran. He reminisced this week about his adventures six decades ago. He was a Seaman aboard the PENNSYLVANIA, the flagship of the eight-battleship fleet in the harbor that day. His ship was in dry dock nest to land, near the others that formed battleship row.

Ellis had just finished breakfast and was heading to his work station when he heard alarms go off. He headed to his battle station instead-an enclosed turret that housed guns designed for targeting ships. "There was nothing we could do," said Ellis, since all the action was in the air.
A 500 pound bomb landed on the ship, about 75 feet from Ellis' turret. He heard more explosions and peeked through the gun sights to see what was happening. The battleship USS Oklahoma was nearby and he watched it sink. "She was turning over at a 45 degree angle," Ellis said. "that was the most awesome sight I ever saw-- a battleship that size turning over"

Between raids, Ellis led a work party outside to flood the dry docks so the ship could set sail if the need arose. As they opened the water valves, they saw the two ships ahead of them on fire. Off in the distance, they could see a Japanese plane. Ellis said he doesn't remember being scared. "I don't think I really thought about it," he said, "We had it to do and that's what we did."

After two hours, the bombing stopped. Ellis spent all afternoon loading anti-aircraft ammunition. That evening, the ship's crew was issued rifles and ammunition after being told the Japanese might have landed nearby. "that would have been a scene," Ellis said. "We had not been trained for that." The rumors about the Japanese landing on the island were false and they did not have to go ashore. Instead, they spent several weeks cleaning and repairing the ship then headed back to the U.S. mainland for further repairs.

As the war raged, Ellis volunteered for flight training and became a flier. He served aboard the USS Wilkes-Barre in the western pacific for two years and was in Tokyo Bay at the end of the war when the Japanese surrendered during a ceremony aboard a nearby ship.
"I was at both end," Ellis said. "the beginning (of the war) and the end. Not many can say that.?

From: Steven Sybert (NoSpam_heavyweight01@hotmail.com)
Sent: Sunday, November 10, 2002 6:24 PM
To: NoSpam_ken@usspennsylvania.org

Thanks, Ken, thanks for everything you have done to keep the memory of the Pennsy alive. Dad told me stories of the Pennsy that took place while he was aboard, and that's how I found out about it. The Pennsylvania was not mentioned but very little in history and reference books and that is a shame, after playing such a heavy role in the victory in the Pacific. The first time the Pennsylvania went to the Westpac after Pearl Harbor, it was a Japanese lake. It took real guts to go where she went, so early in the war. And that was just the beginning. So, now, the Pennsy is not mentioned much in the history books, but your site truly has put her on the map. Someone needed to make the story of the Pennsy known to the public, and you have in a big way. I'd like to see 'em make a movie about the old girl someday, and they'll have to go to you to make it authentic. Again, thanks for doing what you do, and thanks a million for putting the Pennsylvania on the map, and finally getting her and her crew the recognition they deserve.

P.S. they tell me the Pennsy Reunion will take place in Branson, MO in 2003. Is there any way I can go? I'd like to meet some of the people who served on the Pennsy around the time my Dad was aboard. I'd like to meet these guys while they are still around.

From: Patricia Arie [NoSpam_patarie@cox.net]
Sent: Friday, May 31, 2002 3:57 PM
To: NoSpam_ken@usspennsylvania.org
Subject: Memorial Addition

I had a pleasant evening surfing the USS Pennsylvania site last night after our email conversations. I read the log book and recognized some of the places my Dad told me about. Today I looked and looked for the pictures I mentioned but I can't find them. I will continue to look and forward when I find them.

My Father's name was David O. Cutler (nickname "DOC"); he was in the "CR" Division. He died on August 2, 1986. He entered the US Navy on May 10, 1939 and was discharged on October 28, 1945.

Dad served as Chief Radio Man on the USS Pennsylvania and was on board in Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. I remember him telling me about that morning. He had just finished breakfast and had gone topside for a smoke when the general quarters was sounded. He returned to the radio room to tune in and find out what was going on and learned of the attack. I remember him telling me he thought at least the ship wouldn't sink because it was in dry dock. Then he told me he could hear and feel the shocks from the bombs. He told me two bombs hit the ship and one of the bombs killed an entire crew of Marines who were loading ammunition into machine gun belts. He said there was no panic after the attack, just stunned sailors. He told me other stories, one about Australia and something about drinking hot beer cause they didn't serve it cold. But I can't remember them as well as the Pearl Harbor account. I believe I remember him telling me that he was on ship for 21 months ? without stepping foot on the soil, but that memory is less vivid.
My father was one of the lucky ones to live through Pearl Harbor and return home.

I am so happy I found the web site for the USS Pennsylvania and thank you for adding Dad's name to the memory list. He was proud to have served his country.

Thank you again.
Please include my email address incase someone happens to recognize Dad's name.

Sent in By Sharon Pryor 9/1/01

Subject: The Bridges at Toko-ri:
The Real Story by CAPT Paul N. Gray, USN, Ret, USNA '41, former CO of VF-54.

Recently, some friends saw the movie "The Bridges at Toko-ri" on late night TV. After seeing it, they said, "You planned and led the raid. Why don't you tell us what really happened?" Here goes.

I hope Mr. Michener will forgive the actual version of the raid. His fictionalized account certainly makes more exciting reading.

On 12 December 1951 when the raid took place, Air Group 5 was attached to Essex, the flag ship for Task Force 77. We were flying daily strikes against the North Koreans and Chinese. God! It was cold. The main job was to interdict the flow of supplies coming south from Russia and China. The rules of engagement imposed by political forces in Washington would not allow us to bomb the bridges across the Yalu River where the supplies could easily have been stopped. We had to wait until they were dispersed and hidden in North Korea and then try to stop them.

The Air Group consisted of two jet fighter squadrons flying Banshees and Grumman Panthers plus two prop attack squadrons flying Corsairs and Skyraiders. To provide a base for the squadrons, Essex was stationed 100 miles off the East Coast of Korea during that bitter Winter of 1951 and 1952.

I was CO of VF-54, the Skyraider squadron. VF-54 started with 24 pilots. Seven were killed during the cruise. The reason 30 percent of our pilots were shot down and lost was due to our mission. The targets were usually heavily defended railroad bridges. In addition, we were frequently called in to make low-level runs with rockets and napalm to provide close support for the troops.

Due to the nature of the targets assigned, the attack squadrons seldom flew above 2000 or 3000 feet; and it was a rare flight when a plane did not come back without some damage from AA or ground fire.

The single-engine plane we flew could carry the same bomb load that a B-17 carried in WWII; and after flying the 100 miles from the carrier, we could stay on station for 4 hours and strafe, drop napalm, fire rockets or drop bombs. The Skyraider was the right plane for this war.

On a gray December morning, I was called to the flag bridge. Admiral "Black Jack" Perry, the Carrier Division Commander, told me they had a classified request from UN headquarter to bomb some critical bridges in the central area of the North Korean peninsula. The bridges were a dispersion point for many
of the supplies coming down from the North and were vital to the flow of most of the essential supplies. The Admiral asked me to take a look at the targets and see what we could do about taking them out. As I left, the staff intelligence officer handed me the pre-strike photos, the coordinates of the target and said to get on with it. He didn't mention that the bridges were defended by 56 radar-controlled anti-aircraft guns.

That same evening, the Admiral invited the four squadron commanders to his cabin for dinner. James Michener was there. After dinner, the Admiral asked each squadron commander to describe his experiences in flying over North Korea. By this time, all of us were hardened veterans of the war and had some hairy stories to tell about life in the fast lane over North Korea.

When it came my time, I described how we bombed the railways and strafed anything else that moved. I described how we had planned for the next day's strike against some vital railway bridges near a village named Toko-ri (The actual village was named Majonne). That the preparations had been done with extra care because the pre-strike pictures showed the bridges were surrounded by 56 anti-aircraft guns and we knew this strike was not going to be a walk in the park.

All of the pilots scheduled for the raid participated in the planning. A close study of the aerial photos confirmed the 56 guns. Eleven radar sites controlled the guns. They were mainly 37 MM with some five inch heavies. All were positioned to concentrate on the path we would have to fly to hit the bridges. This was a World War II air defense system but still very dangerous.

How were we going to silence those batteries long enough to destroy the bridges? The bridges supported railway tracks about three feet wide. To achieve the needed accuracy, we would have to use glide bombing runs. A glide bombing run is longer and slower than a dive bombing run, and we would be sitting ducks for the AA batteries. We had to get the guns before we bombed the bridges.

There were four strategies discussed to take out the radar sites. One was to fly in on the deck and strafe the guns and radars. This was discarded because the area was too mountainous. The second was to fly in on the deck and fire rockets into the gun sites. Discarded because the rockets didn't have enough killing power. The third was to come in at a high altitude and drop conventional bombs on the targets. This is what we would normally do, but it was discarded in favor of an insidious modification. The one we thought would work the best was to come in high and drop bombs fused to explode over the gun and radar sites. To do this, we decided to take 12 planes; 8 Skyraiders and 4 Corsairs. Each plane would carry a 2000 pound bomb with a proximity fuse set to detonate about 50 to 100 feet in the air. We hoped the shrapnel from these huge, ugly bombs going off in mid air would be devastating to the exposed gunners and radar operators.

The flight plan was to fly in at 15,000 feet until over the target area and make a vertical dive bombing run dropping the proximity-fused bombs on the guns and radars. Each pilot had a specific complex to hit. As we approached the target we started to pick up some flak, but it was high and behind us. At the initial point, we separated and rolled into the dive. Now the flak really became heavy. I rolled in first; and after I released my bomb, I pulled out south of the target area and waited for the rest to join up. One of the Corsairs reported that he had been hit on the way down and had to pull out before dropping his bomb. Three other planes suffered minor flak damage but nothing serious.

After the join up, I detached from the group and flew over the area to see if there was anything still firing. Sure enough there was heavy 37 MM fire from one site, I got out of there in a hurry and called in the reserve Skyraider still circling at 15,000 to hit the remaining gun site. His 2000 pound bomb exploded right over the target and suddenly things became very quiet. The shrapnel from those 2000 lbs. bombs must have been deadly for the crews serving the guns and radars. We never saw another 37 MM burst from any of the 56 guns.

From that moment on, it was just another day at the office. Only sporadic machine gun and small arms fire was encountered. We made repeated glide bombing runs and completely destroyed all the bridges. We even brought gun camera pictures back to prove the bridges were destroyed.

After a final check of the target area, we joined up, inspected our wingmen for damage and headed home. Mr. Michener plus most of the ship's crew watched from Vulture's Row as Dog Fannin, the landing signal officer, brought us back aboard. With all the pilots returning to the ship safe and on time, the Admiral was seen to be dancing with joy on the flag Bridge.

From that moment on, the Admiral had a soft spot in his heart for the attack pilots. I think his fatherly regard for us had a bearing on what happened in port after the raid on Toko-ri. The raid on Toko-ri was exciting; but in our minds, it was dwarfed by the incident that occurred at the end of this tour on the line. The operation was officially named OPERATION PINWHEEL. The pilots called it OPERATION PINHEAD.

The third tour had been particularly savage for VF-54. Five of our pilots had been shot down. Three not recovered. I had been shot down for the third time. The mechanics and ordnancemen had worked back-breaking hours under medieval conditions to keep the planes flying, and finally we were headed for Yokosuka for ten days of desperately needed R & R.

As we steamed up the coast of Japan, the Air Group Commander, CDR Marsh Beebe, called CDR Trum, the CO of the Corsair squadron, and me to his office. He told us that the prop squadrons would participate in an exercise dreamed up by the commanding officer of the ship. It had been named OPERATION PINWHEEL.

The Corsairs and Skyraiders were to be tied down on the port side of the flight deck; and upon signal from the bridge, all engines were to be turned up to full power to assist the tugs in pulling the ship along side the dock.

CDR Trum and I both said to Beebe, "You realize that those engines are vital to the survival of all the attack pilots. We fly those single engine planes 300 to 400 miles from the ship over freezing water and over very hostile land. Overstressing these engines is not going to make any of us very happy." Marsh knew the danger; but he said, "The captain of the ship, CAPT. Wheelock, wants this done, so do it!"

As soon as the news of this brilliant scheme hit the ready rooms, the operation was quickly named OPERATION PIN HEAD; and CAPT. Wheelock became known as CAPT. Wheelchock.

On the evening before arriving in port, I talked with CDR Trum and told him, "I don't know what you are going to do, but I am telling my pilots that our lives depend on those engines and do not give them more than half power; and if that engine temperature even begins to rise, cut back to idle." That is what they did.

About an hour after the ship had been secured to the dock, the Air Group Commander screamed over the ships intercom for Gray and Trum to report to his office. When we walked in and saw the pale look on Beebe's face, it was apparent that CAPT. Wheelock, in conjunction with the ship's proctologist, had cut a new aperture in poor old Marsh. The ship's CO had gone ballistic when he didn't get the full power from the lashed down Corsairs and Skyraiders, and he informed CDR Beebe that his fitness report would reflect this miserable performance of duty.

The Air Group Commander had flown his share of strikes, and it was a shame that he became the focus of the wrath of CAPT. Wheelock for something he had not done. However, tensions were high; and in the heat of the moment, he informed CDR Trum and me that he was placing both of us and all our pilots in hack until further notice. A very severe sentence after 30 days on the line.

The Carrier Division Commander, Rear Admiral "Black Jack" Perry a personally soft and considerate man, but his official character would strike terror into the heart of the most hardened criminal. He loved to talk to the pilots; and in deference to his drinking days, Admiral Perry would reserve a table in the bar of the Fujia Hotel and would sit there drinking Coca cola while buying drinks for any pilot enjoying R & R in the hotel.

Even though we were not comfortable with this gruff older man, he was a good listener and everyone enjoyed telling the Admiral about his latest escape from death. I realize now he was keeping his finger on the morale of the pilots and how they were standing up to the terror of daily flights over a very hostile land.

The Admiral had been in the hotel about three days; and one night, he said to some of the fighter pilots sitting at his table, "Where are the attack pilots? I have not seen any of them since we arrived." One of them said, "Admiral, I thought you knew. They were all put in hack by the Air Group Commander and restricted to the ship." In a voice that could be heard all over the hotel, the Admiral bellowed to his aide, "Get that idiot Beebe on the phone in 5 minutes; and I don't care if you have to use the Shore Patrol, the Army Military Police or the Japanese Police to find him. I want him on the telephone NOW!"

The next morning, after three days in hack, the attack pilots had just finished marching lockstep into the wardroom for breakfast, singing the prisoners song when the word came over the loud speaker for Gray and Trum to report to the Air Group Commander's stateroom immediately, When we walked in, there sat Marsh looking like he had had a near death experience. He was obviously in far worse condition than when the ships CO got through with him. It was apparent that he had been worked over by a real pro.

In a trembling voice, his only words were, "The hack is lifted. All of you are free to go ashore. There will not be any note of this in your fitness reports. Now get out of here and leave me alone."

Posters saying, "Thank you Black Jack" went up in the ready rooms. The long delayed liberty was at hand.

When writing about this cruise, I must pay homage to the talent we had in the squadrons. LTJG Tom Hayward was a fighter pilot who went on to become the CNO. LTJG Neil Armstrong another fighter pilot became the astronaut who took the first step on the moon. My wingman, Ken Shugart, was an all-American basketball player and later an admiral. Al Masson, another wingman, became the owner of one of New Orleans' most famous French restaurants. All of the squadrons were manned with the best and brightest young men the U.S. could produce. The mechanics and ordnance crews who kept the planes armed and flying deserve as much praise as the pilots for without the effort they expended, working day and night under cold and brutal conditions, no flight would have been flown.

It was a dangerous cruise. I will always consider it an honor to have associated with those young men who served with such bravery and dignity. The officers and men of this air group once again demonstrated what makes America the most outstanding country in the world today. To those whose spirits were taken from them during those grim days and didn't come back, I will always remember you."

Paul N. Gray, USN, Ret, USNA '41

From: Jill
Sent: Sunday, May 20, 2001 8:55 PM
To: NoSpam_ken@usspennsylvania.org
Subject: Re: Roy C. Vaught R division

Hello,
What do you mean by 3 in seniority? Dad has told me very few war stories. He signed on later in the war. He had a deferment because he worked in the Boston Ship yards during most of the war. He was a welder, a relatively new occupation at that time. His mother saved all his letters home, and it tells an interesting side to the war. At first he worked with men. Eventually he became a trainer. Then he worked with old men, eventually women and minorities. He was a very small guy and usually got jobs welding in places too small for other people. He signed up for the navy one day and then told his boss in the shipyard. His boss told him he couldn't quit and sign up, but dad said "I already did" and walked off. He signed up in 44 I think.

Dad used to make jewelry in his free time. He would then trade the jewelry to the kitchen staff for fresh eggs. He was not restricted to one area, during general quarters. He was almost washed overboard once. He hated the sleeping quarters and usually slept on deck somewhere. A big wave came along and almost put him to sleep permanently.

After the torpedo, one of his jobs was checking to see if the ship was any lower in the water. at one point, he could reach over and touch the water. He also tells the story that the officers booze was in a part of the ship that was flooded. A number of guys took swam down and stole the officers booze and got drunk. (not him of course)

Another story was about a guy that was trapped in a sealed compartment after the torpedo hit. Special permission was needed to open the water tight compartments to let him out. This process took time, but finally the fella was allowed out. Dad said the guy was so crazy from the experience that he would take off running until he ran into something and it would knock him down. They also claim that being trapped turned his hair white overnight. Once the ship was ready for repairs, dad was one of the men that had to go
into the area (where the men had died) to do repairs.

From: James L. Hicks
Sent: Friday, June 08, 2001 10:25 PM
To: NoSpam_ken@usspennsylvania
Subject: Re: Memorial Addition, Floyd V. Wood

Floyd Wood is my grandfather. I looked through the little bit of written family history we have here, but didn't come up with too much. I don't know what division he was in or what his duties were. The few military records I could find listed his rating as BM 2/c, and I remember him telling me that he was "in the crow's nest" during the attack on Pearl Harbor.

From: James L. Hicks
Sent: Saturday, June 09, 2001 11:50 PM
To: NoSpam_ken@usspennsylvania.org
Subject: Re: Floyd V. Wood

You bet. I'll let you know when I get the rest of the info (thanks for the links!). The Pennsy has a special place in our family, since it's pretty much where my family got started.... my grandfather met a fellow shipmate who was breaking up with his girlfriend back home, and it turns out that he was from my grandpa's boyhood hometown and he knew the girl.... he wrote her a few letters and it went on from there.... they got married later during the war. The girl was my grandmother.

Great site, BTW. I think I spent about two hours soaking up each and every page, which is saying quite a bit since I usually don't spend more than 20 minutes at a site when I'm surfing the web. =)

I've been looking for things to contribute, but so far there's nothing that has to do with the Pennsy other than an old postcard (I think you have the image already). I remember seeing the Christmas menu for 1941 (similar to the one you have for 1945), but I can't find it. It might have gone to another relative.... but I'll keep looking. Found a scrapbook of old pics of Hawaii in 1941 (and one with two carriers at sea). There's also a few pics of officers and crewman which I assume were taken aboard her (not labeled, so their identities are unknown to me) Once I get my scanner working again I'll go ahead and scan them and let you pick and choose which ones you want to use, if any.

From: James L. Hicks
Sent: Tuesday, June 12, 2001 1:51 PM
To: NoSpam_ken@usspennsylvania.org
Subject: Re: Floyd Wood

Ken,
My grandmother saved all those old letters. I tried reading them once, but I felt like I was invading their privacy. This time around I didn't feel that way, probably because they've both been gone for over ten years. It was pretty interesting, and I saw the old man in a whole different light -- at that time he was still very much an Iowa farm boy, and the letter read like "Aw, shucks.... will you be my girl?" It was a side I'd never seen.

James

From: James Lee [NoSpam_jameslee@bucknell.edu]
Sent: Monday, July 02, 2001 11:41 AM
To: NoSpam_ken@usspennsylvania.org
Subject: non-crew member killed in action

My mother (now deceased) was at Pearl Harbor with her first husband, GM1c
Andrew Marze, a crew member of the USS DOBBIN. Marze was killed aboard the
PENNSYLVANIA during the Japanese attack. They lived at the time in Navy
housing in the Navy Yard. Do any of the survivors know of non-crew members
coming aboard during the attack? Was this unusual?

From: James Lee [NoSpam_jameslee@bucknell.edu]
Sent: Tuesday, July 03, 2001 12:09 PM
To: NoSpam_ken@usspennsylvania.org
Subject: RE: non-crew member killed in action

Thanks for your speedy reply. The information you have included with the other emails most likely has answered my immediate question. Apparently, at least a half a dozen men from other ships were killed aboard the PENNSYLVANIA. My guess is that they were living in the nearby Navy housing and made it to the closest ship possible. In the case of Andrew Marze, the DOBBIN was located north of Fords Island, a considerable distance away from the Navy Yard and drydock area - the PENNSYLVANIA was just down the street.

I do appreciate if you pass my request for information on to surviving PENNSYLVANIA crew members. While I don't expect they would remember an individual sailor from another ship, some might remember that non-crew members came aboard during that chaotic day.

Also, can you suggest a way to contact DOBBIN Pearl Harbor survivors, so that I can try to get more information on Andrew Marze?

From: NoSpam_Rswdl65jim@aol.com
Sent: Friday, June 29, 2001 4:51 PM
To: NoSpam_ken@usspennsylvania.org
Subject: Fwd: Reply to search for J. Nick Balcerski

Hello Ken,

I'm tickled pink (get it with the pink color). I am forwarding you two E-mails I received. Remember Arnold Strang looking for Nick Balcerski???? Well Look what YOUR web site accomplished.

Thank You,

Jim Harriott

NEXT

From: Karen Peters
Sent: Thursday, June 28, 2001 6:54 AM
To: NoSpam_rswdl65jim@aol.com
Subject: Reply to search for J. Nick Balcerski

Hello,
My brother and I found your site after taking my father to see the movie "Pearl Harbor" on father's day. This had sparked a lot of family history stories about WWII. My father, J. Nick Balcer is mentioned in your search and I would love to get him in touch with Arnold Strang. That was a very interesting story to us as Dad is not one to boast about his war efforts as he was one of so many wonderful and brave people that fought for our country.

Please e-mail me information that I may forward to my father. Many thanks and we applaud what you are accomplishing via your Web site.

From: NoSpam_Rswdl65jim@aol.com
Sent: Friday, June 29, 2001 4:56 PM
To: NoSpam_ken@usspennsylvania.org
Subject: Fwd: Reply to search for J. Nick Balcerski

Here is the second E-mail. Would you believe that of all times Arnie and Ruth are out having fun and we cannot give them the great news. Well, we will just keep calling them. As this E-mail says, Karen Peters will contact me and we can get these two Heroes together. Maybe you can get more great stories for your site !

Jim Harriott

From: NoSpam_Rswdl65jim@aol.com
To: Karen Peters
Sent: Thursday, June 28, 2001 8:07 PM
Subject: Re: Reply to search for J. Nick Balcerski

Hello,
This is Jim Harriott, son-in-law of Arnold Strang. In your e-mail you mentioned your father, J. Nick Balcer. Did you miss some letters or is that your name? Is that your father who is mentioned in Arnold Strangs letter.

Please let me know. Please call me in Cape Coral, Flordia at (941) ***-****. I have some questions please.
Thanks,

From: Karen Peters
Sent: Friday, June 29, 2001 7:00 AM
To: NoSpam_Rswdl65jim@aol.com
Subject: Re: Reply to search for J. Nick Balcerski

Dear Jim,
Thank you for responding so quickly. Arnold Strang's story touched an important cord in our family.
When my parents got married they shortened their last name to Balcer. (So that is probably one of the reasons that it was difficult to locate my Dad.)

My brother e-mailed me recently to tell me about the USS Pennsylvania site in the Web. He thought my Dad would get a kick out of looking at it since we recently saw the movie "Pearl Harbor" together during a Fathers' Day family reunion. This sparked some WWII discussions at a family barbeque, as well as a look at some of my father's memorabilia from his time on the ship. A recent move for my parents from CT to relocate them near my husband and I in PA ( how ironic) had all the items neatly packed in a box and readily available.

While looking through the USS Pennsylvania site on the Web, I did a site search using my father's name, I only expected to locate his name on a roster or the same photo we had seen so many times before as kids when Dad showed us the Ship Yearbook or talked about his division participating in the Tyrone Powers movie "Crash Dive." But to my surprise, I came across your father-in-law's story and a request for locate J. Nick Balcerski. I immediately forwarded the discovered pages to my brother and also made a copy to give to my parents.

We were all extremely touched by the story since we heard Dad talk about some of the incidents on the ship in generalities but had not heard the details. It was an honor to read the story written by Arnold Strang. It is a miracle and we are grateful that both young men survived the incident and carried on long lives into their senior years.

As I am writing this response to you I am so thrilled and would love to call you right now but I think it would be nice to give your information to my Dad, when I stop by to see him later today, as a follow-up to yesterday's whirlwind discovery. Then he could give you a call to answer your questions directly.

From: NoSpam_Rswdl65jim@aol.com
Sent: Tuesday, July 03, 2001 6:28 PM
To: NoSpam_ken@usspennsylvania.org
Subject: Thank You

I just wanted to let you know that Dad Strang and Nick Balcer(ski) finally got together on the phone (I think Dad had some phone problems). He sounded very excited about talking with an old friend.

He wanted me to pass on his warmest THANK YOU for your efforts in making this
reunion possible. Now they have to meet in person. I really didn't realize they haven't had contact in over 50 years. That is hard to comprehend.

One more thing, Dad gave me more names he would love to find. I'll get back with you when he sends them to me.

Thank You again,
Jim and Kay Harriott

From: NoSpam_Anicetouch@aol.com
Sent: Saturday, June 30, 2001 11:11 AM
To: NoSpam_ken@usspennsylvania.org
Subject: USS Pennsylvania Memorial - Marvin Reece

Follow Up Flag: Memorial addition & Email Call

My father , Marvin Reece, served on the Pennsy from 1943 - 1945. He served
in the 10th division, I believe as a gunner. He died of lung cancer
(possibly caused by asbestos from the ship) in October 1985. My birthday is
Pearl Harbor Day, and my oldest sister's is Veteran's Day - Go USA!

A memory that always brings a smile is remembering when I would ask my dad
"What boat were you on?" He would answer, "It's a not a boat, it's a ship."
As a child, I didn't see much difference!! But even my daughters know the
saying and the love with which I remember his response. He was so proud of
his participation in the U.S. Navy.

From: NoSpam_CTHOM1174@aol.com
Sent: Sunday, June 10, 2001 7:21 AM
To: NoSpam_ken@usspennsylvania.org
Cc: RFB1952(the@sign)aol.com
Subject: Info on former USS Penn Aviator Lt. JG Donald Wallace Bowman

What is the best way to try and find out any information about my Dad who was
at Pearl Harbor? The navy has not supplied any information that explains
what we believe he did on Pearl Harbor Day.

My Dad was Lt. JG Donald Wallace Bowman, assigned to the USS Pennsylvania and
was an aviator. He was not assigned to fly that day as my Mom, Elizabeth
(Betty) Bowman had just arrived the day before and they were moving into a
small home Dad had rented. Mom spent most of the night of the 6th scrubbing
walls and floors and was exhausted. When she woke there was smoke everywhere
and Dad had driven frantically to the base to see what he could do. Our
understanding is that Dad got a hold of some plane (not sure if it was one
assigned to him or not) and got up in the air only to be forced down pretty
quick. He was awarded the Navy Flying Cross. He would never talk about that
day to any of us children. He always made a joke about why he got any of his
medals. What info would be helpful? His service number? He was born in
North Dakota and Mom was from Chicago. I know she was assigned to operate
the switchboard when she went down to the base to find out what was
happening. Is there any pearl harbor group specific to the Pennsylvania? I
think Dad had just been assigned to the ship and was assigned to another
since it was in repair after the bombing. We have his flight diary (which is
blank for the 7th) which lists the kind of plane he was flying then. Dad
died in 1996 and retired from the Navy as a Captain in 1965 while living in
Arlington, VA where he was last stationed. Appreciate any advice or help you
can provide.

From: NoSpam_UGRRinfo@aol.com
Sent: Sunday, May 20, 2001 8:55 PM
To: NoSpam_ken@usspennsylvania.org
Subject: Re: Roy C. Vaught R division

Hello,

Dad has told me very few war stories. He signed on later in the war. He had a
deferment because he worked in the Boston Ship yards during most of the war.
He was a welder, a relatively new occupation at that time. His mother saved
all his letters home, and it tells an interesting side to the war. At first
he worked with men. Eventually he became a trainer. Then he worked with old
men, eventually women and minorities. He was a very small guy and usually got
jobs welding in places too small for other people. He signed up for the navy
one day and then told his boss in the shipyard. His boss told him he couldn't
quit and sign up, but dad said "I already did" and walked off.

Dad used to make jewelry in his free time. He would then trade the jewelry to
the kitchen staff for fresh eggs.

He was almost washed overboard once. He hated the sleeping quarters and
usually slept on deck somewhere. A big wave came along and almost put him to
sleep permanently.

After the torpedo, one of his jobs was checking to see if the ship was any
lower in the water, at one point he could reach over and touch the water.

He also tells the story that the officers booze was in a part of the ship
that was flooded. A number of guys swam down and stole the officers
booze and got drunk. (not him of course)

Another story was about a guy that was trapped in a sealed compartment after
the torpedo hit. Special permission was needed to open the water tight
compartments to let him out. This process took time, but finally the fella
was allowed out. Dad said the guy was so crazy from the experience that he
would take off running until he ran into something and it would knock him
down. They also claim that being trapped turned his hair white overnight.

Once the ship was ready for repairs, dad was one of the men that had to go
into the area (where the men had died) to do repairs.

From: Maxine Stanley [NoSpam_mvacstanley@mindspring.com]
Sent: Sunday, March 25, 2001 10:57 PM
To: NoSpam_ken@usspennsylvania.org
Subject: 11-16-34 Before WWII

Follow Up Flag: memorial
Flag Status: Flagged

My father, Valleon Sylvester, was on the USS Pennsylvania 11-16-34 to 6-11-35. His last ship was USS Finch, sunk in 1942. He was POW after Corregidor and died on the hell-ship Arisan Maru. I am his daughter and searching for links to him. Thank you.

Maxine Stanley

I responded asking for more details about her father and I wanted to know if she wanted me to add him to the memorial...

From: Maxine Stanley [NoSpam_mvacstanley@mindspring.com]
Sent: Monday, March 26, 2001 3:59 PM
To: Pennsy Web
Subject: RE: 11-16-34 Before WWII

Follow Up Flag: web
Flag Status: Flagged

Ken, Thank you for responding. I would love to say "yes, please add his name" but he is memorialized on the Wall of the Missing in the Philippines. I have received a picture of his memorial and have been able to arrange for flowers to be placed there this last year. That was quite a thrill. I've never known much about my father, when or where he died, until 1998 when I was fortunate to be in touch with a group called American War Orphans Network (AWON) whose founder, Ann Mix, began the search for her father in 1990. Her efforts grew into a wondrous compilation of ways to obtain information otherwise not known by the children/family of the war casualty. My information is growing and I am always grateful for the responses, such as yours, because it gives me great comfort. My father's life has been a mystery to me...I have yet to find out personal information such as parents, sibling, schooling, but I will keep trying. Thank you again, Ken.

I again responded telling Maxine that should and could be added to the Pennsy Memorial, here is her reply:

From: Maxine Stanley [NoSpam_mvacstanley@mindspring.com]
Sent: Thursday, March 29, 2001 12:00 AM
To: Pennsy Web
Subject: RE: 11-16-34 Before WWII

Follow Up Flag: Web
Flag Status: Flagged

Ken, thank you for your continuing interest. Yes, I would like my father's name everywhere. My mother, his wife, never spoke of him after his death, she is still living, never remarried, and will not speak of him yet. I was born 8-10-31 in Long Beach, CA, lived in San Diego, CA and remember seeing him several times So all this information I've obtained is helping to heal a long-time buried grief that I couldn't share. If you do indeed put him on the web, I can add a few details from which you can pick and choose. He was born 5-4-03 Philadelphia, PA. ( I have no information between these dates) Enlisted USN 9-12-27 at San Francisco, CA. Assigned USS Maryland 1-9-28, S1c, and was member of USS Maryland Signal Force which won Signal trophy for visual communication among battleships during year 1928-1929. 6-12-31 qualified as expert rifleman.

On 9-10-31 he Reenlisted for 4 years. 12-11-31 assigned to the USS West Virginia "Served on board 1931-1932 when the ship won a battle efficiency pennant, gunnery trophy and engineering red E. Officers and crew collectively commended by President and Secretary of Navy". He was on USS California, USS New Mexico, and 11-16-34 USS Pennsylvania. 6-11-35 to USS Melville, USS Dorsey, reenlisted again for 4 years 9-12-38 to again USS West Virginia, USS Henderson , USS Finch where in 7-6-39 the USS Finch wins 1st place in a rifle shoot between USS Finch, USS Augusta, and USS Tulsa. V. Sylvester wins first place. 3-1-42 appointed CQM (Chief Quarter Master) (AA). My mother received two postcards one month apart 3-17-42, censored to read "I am well. Letter follows at first opportunity. I have received no letters from you for a long time". The last postcard, undated, is from Philippine Military Prison Camp No.# 3 (Imperial Japanese Army) "I hope this ends soon. &nbs! p; I am impatient to be home. All is well, give my regards to everyone. Love, Val."

One other very large scrap of paper came somehow (undated) attached to it is a note "I am Valleon Sylvester CQM USN Anyone hearing this please notify (wife). Received box and letters. Am doing well. Love to all. He writes on this large scrap "V. Sylvester, CQM, USN. We were sweeping the approach to the mind fields on a clear sunny day at the entrance of Manila looking for stray mines. Off in the distance could be seen several enemy planes circling around. At any moment we expected to be attacked by plane or submarine. Suddenly we heard the whine of a plane in a power dive. No one had spotted this plane so we assumed the plane was coming out of the sun. All guns were trained and fired blindly into the sun and in a second or so the plane was seen. One bomb was dropped which missed us by about 200 yards. The plane turned away and disappeared into the distance. No hits, no runs, no errors."
The USS Finch was sunk 4-11-42. On 10-24-44 Valleon Sylvester died on the Japanese hell-ship Arisan Maru along with almost 1,800 men. There were only 5 survivors. He is memorialized at World War II Tablets of the Missing, Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Manila, Republic of the Philippines.

This old man is 68 and retired Pediatrician 14 years active duty then retired with near total 24 in the Reserves. One of my partners asked me how to destroy a flag and by luck I received the flag. I would bet it came from BB38. There is no proof but I feel it might be chased down. It was the property of a sea scout or sea scout like group in Reading, Pa. The partner who gave it to me is Cathy Hoshouer MD, I will send along her email address as soon as I find in my desk treasures. She is anxious to hear from you. I will box up the flag this weekend and it will be on its way next week. Maybe we could become honorary crew members :-)

Best,

I responded to Mr. Price and told him that I would love to receive it and that I would send it along to the reunion committee for use at all reunions. I received the flag several weeks later and was absolutely stunned, I immediately wrote to Wade Cunningham (Secretary of the Reunion Committee) and informed him of this historic item, here is that email:

From: Pennsy Web NoSpam_ken@usspennsylvania.org]
Sent: Saturday, January 13, 2001 12:23 PM
To: (P) Wade Cunningham
Cc: (P) Al Price; (P) Cathy Hoshouer
Subject: Pennsy Ensign

Since beginning this web site three years ago I have been constantly amazed at what my relationship to these crew members and their families has brought to all of us. This has been an amazing journey.

Today I received in the mail the US Flag from the Pennsy, I could hardly believe my eyes when I opened the box. This is truly an historical item and it needs to be with the crew of the Pennsy. Please see the attached email (see above) of the original communication with Mr. Price.

I followed up telling Mr. Price that I would see to it that this flag was turned over to the reunion committee and maybe it could be displayed at all the upcoming and future reunions. Wade, this is special, please send along your thoughts about this to me, Al and Cathy. I will take some pictures of it and post it on the web site when I get my camera back from the shop. I will then forward it to your designee...

You do not know how much this means to so many of these great Americans. I have showed several people this Flag and it has invoked tears is some cases. This flag may have flown over one of the greatest warships of WWII. Under her colors, American Heroes who changed the world, fought and gave their lives so that we could live the lives we live today. Your attention to the importance of this historic item has saved it for future generations and we are forever in your debt. God bless you and thanks for being there......

I apologize for the delay. I can confirm that my Grandfather was in B Division, and that is him shown in the picture on the web site. There was some confusion at first about the hat he was wearing in the photo, but (I may be wrong, this is coming to you secondhand, it is a foreign services hat, which befits an officer.) Nevertheless, there is no doubt from my family that is indeed him.

I did visit your memorial page. For the simple facts, My Grandfather served on the USS Pennsy from 1941 till the end of the war in 1945, and was a Pearl Harbor survivor. He passed away in November, 1989. I would be deeply honored if you would add him to the Memorial page.

As his first Grandchild, I consider myself especially lucky to have known him the longest, and about his life story's, especially about being on the USS Pennsylvania. Each December 7th the local TV and newspapers would call upon him to retell the tale. It amazed me how strong he was in talking about the single most worst attack on US soil in history. I will never forget him telling me that he was having coffee with a shipmate, walked out onto the deck, only for the room he was in seconds ago to have been bombed.

A couple years before he had passed away, he, like many other Pearl Harbor survivors, made the journey back to Hawaii. As strong a man as he was, I know this was exceptionally difficult for him, and to this day, I remember being told of the nightmares he had on the trip in anticipation of returning to Pearl Harbor.

Words cannot express how proud I am to be related to this man, and how humbled I am for the sacrifices he made for the freedoms I too easily enjoy today.

Ken, thank you so much for responding to me. On behalf of my entire family, we are grateful that the men who served on the Pennsy will be remembered. Thanks to your site, we were able to see a picture of my Granddad we had never seen before, and that in itself is priceless.

From: Chris Faulkner [NoSpam_chrisf@tamu.edu]
Sent: Tuesday, September 12, 2000 9:37 PM
To: Ken Munro
Subject: Response to your note

I have purchased the "Reign of Fire" print to hang in my office here at Texas A&M University. There are many reasons why I like this print. The first is that I am a World War II history buff. The second is that I am from Pennsylvania and I am proud of the states veterans who have fought in all wars. I have a co-worker who collects Civil War prints and he showed me some prints by Mark Churms and I was immediately impressed with his work. Correct me if I am wrong, but wasn't the Arizona the sister ship of the Pennsy? If this was the case it would be nice to commission Mr. Churms to do a painting that depicted the two ships, one as a ghost (Arizona) along side the other (Pennsy) firing a salvo. Call it "A Sister's Fury".

I do enjoy your web site. I am ashamed of what they did with the Pennsy at the end of the war. A great ship with a distinguished battle record should have been treated with more respect.

Texas A&M University is very proud of its military history with the Corps of Cadets. I am sure as people see this print in my office they will enjoy it as much as I will.

The Pennsy Web [NoSpam_ken@usspennsylvania.org]
Sent: Wednesday, September 13, 2000 7:11 PM
To: (P) Christopher Faulkner
Subject: Your Email

Your email sent chills down my spine, the idea of the Sister ship painting is absolutely stunning and the name is perfect, you my friend have hit the nail on the head here. Mark is currently in Hawaii and he will be back in a few days, I will forward your mail to him if you don't mind. I would also like to post your email on the site, again with your permission.

Thanks for the kind words about the site, I have spent a lot of hours at it over the past two years and it is letters like yours that make it all worth while..., thanks again Chris.

From: USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) NoSpam_ken@usspennsylvania.org
To: Rilla Hartsoe NoSpam_mrswjh1@elite.net
Date: Sunday, March 26, 2000 3:25 PM
Subject: Re: Memorial

"For extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy in the waters between Tulagi and Guadalcanal Islands, British Solomon Islands, during the period from Sept. 1, 1942, to Nov. 2, 1942. Chief Boatswain Branyon was in command of a small auxiliary naval craft used in transporting essential men and supplies. His craft __raged at least one trip a day, many of the trips having been made under heavy enemy fire, and at night, under the most trying circumstances. In spite of the obstacles and great danger present, Chief Boatswain Branyon carried out his missions with extreme courage and skill, setting an example to his command. His unflinching leadership resulted in an uninterrupted flow of reinforcements and supplies without which the ground troops would have been greatly hampered."

(very faint handwriting "N. C. & __fwd to C.O. 4-5-44. P. Cit. ______recip. 5-9-44)

From: Veterans Commemoration Association [NoSpam_vca(the@sign)proaxis.com]
Sent: Friday, April 21, 2000 12:45 AM
To: NoSpam_Phylcleo(the@sign)aol.com
Subject: Re: USS Pennsylvania
FWD To: Ken Munro

I have a fellow veteran here who served with the USMC at Pearl Harbor. I do not remember what unit he was assigned to, but he was sent down to the Pennsy with stretchers about 1030 that morning...he was leaning on the chain of the gangway when they brought out a victim who was conscious and looked at him and said "GO GET 'EM MARINE" Del (the veteran I am referring to) said that he is no longer sure whether this man was a sailor or a Marine, but he had the impression that he had lost one or both legs...he is not sure about that...HE would very much like to locate that man and find out how he is...CAN YOU HELP!!!?? He has wondered all these years not only HOW he was, but HOW he had sustained such injuries and yet remained conscious and able to recognize the Marine at the gangway and tell him such MOTIVATING words!!!!

I'd really like to find this man and maybe ask if he would be willing to meet Del Pitzer...Del was in his mid twenties then and is about 86, now.
He has been a great inspiration to me and his delightful wife, Violet are great moral support for the Veterans Day Parade.

On a personal note, I have been in the Marine Corps for 16 years this September and can NOT tell you how much I admire the heroic actions of all the Service Personnel and Civilians that Day that Shall live forever in the history of this great nation!!!!Than you from the bottom of my very proud heart!!!

From: DolArt(the@sign)aol.com
Sent: Thursday, April 27, 2000 8:16 AM
To: NoSpam_Phylcleo(the@sign)aol.com; NoSpam_ken@usspennsylvania.org
Subject: Patricia Crawford.

Following is the e-mail I wrote to Patricia Crawford in response to Al's
passing her e-mail on to me.

Hello Marine.

Albert Crabtree forwarded your letter to me because I was a Marine on the Pennsy that day. Al didn't indicate your rank or rate so I'm playing it safe!

Sixteen Marines in the Marine Detachment were wounded that morning and six killed. I have the Detachment's December 1941 Roster and it lists the names of the killed and wounded. Several of the men had leg fractures but I know of only one who lost one but I don't recall whether before leaving the ship for the US Naval Hospital, Navy Yard, Pearl Harbor. His name: Kember D. Mabey. I saw him in 1978 at a ship's reunion in Las Vegas. It was held at the same time as the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association's National there that year. Unfortunately, I don't recall where he lived at that time, or his home state upon entering the Marine Corps--I checked a September 1941 roster in hopes it would list next-of-kin but it didn't. We corresponded for a time after the reunion. I believe his death ended our contacts but I can't be certain. I do not have him listed, in any way, on my roster of about 29 Marines out of the detachment. The usual terminology used by Marines in those days, maybe still is, when addressing another, if a male, who he didn't know was "Mac", so chances are, the man on the stretcher was navy. I too was carried off the ship on a stretcher but I don't recall anyone at the foot of the gangway, even a Marine who would normally be on duty there, but there was one at the head of it. If your friend helped place a Marine on a mattress in the bed of a civilian pickup, it could well have been me.

Apparently, Mabey was member of PHSA at that time and if still living, may still be. You might contact the Editor of the Pearl Harbor Gram because he'd have him listed if still receiving the newsletter. His address:

Bob Watson Editor
Pearl Harbor Gram
PO Box 1340
Alta Loma CA 91701-1340

If Bob can't help you, The Veterans Administration--if alive, he'd be drawing disability--or Social Security Records if dead. I pulled a search in the far west states before writing this but no luck there. Of course, an unlisted number wouldn't be in Switchboard or other of the national phone directories. It has been a long day so I searched only California, where I live, Oregon, Nevada and Arizona.

Your old friend was probably serving at the Marine Barracks, Navy Yard, PH, or with the 1st Defense Battalion--the latter had men stationed in the area. If at the barracks, he may know a couple of my old buddies, unfortunately both now dead.

Good luck in your search. If you don't find him right away, let me know and I'll contact a few of the Marines off the ship and maybe one of them will recall his home state or possibly may have been in contact since shipboard days.

From: "Steve" perry(the@sign)wingsisp.com
To: <NoSpam_ken@usspennsylvania.org>
Subject: Lost and Found
Date: Saturday, February 19, 2000 3:24 PM

Hello my name is Steve Perry. My dad Howard Perry served on the USS Pennsylvania 7th Division during 1943 to 1945. He is looking for a freind that also served during that time his name is A.J. Winchester. He also was in the 7th Division. My Dad would very much like to get in touch with him and say hi. If anyone has any information that could connect these two sailors please help us out.

From: "Steve" perry(the@sign)wingsisp.com
To: <NoSpam_ken@usspennsylvania.org>
Subject: E-mail Reply
Date: Saturday, February 19, 2000 8:01 PM

Dear Ken,

Thank you so much for your time in looking for A.J. Winchester. I called my dad and he was so surprised to know we even got a reply. So once again thank you for your effort. My dad told me that A.J. was from Arkansas. So I don't know if this will be of any help but if it is we appreciate it.

From: "Steve" perry(the@sign)wingsisp.com
To: <NoSpam_ken@usspennsylvania.org>
Subject: E-MAIL REPLY
Date: Saturday, February 19, 2000 10:01 PM

Dear Ken,

Isn't it great that my Dad was able to reach A.J. He was so delighted to
talk to him. You hit the nail on the head with that address and phone
number. My Dad called me and said that he talked to A.J. for the first time
in over 55 years. That is wonderful. I guess there going to make plans to
visit each other this summer. All this would have not been possible if it
wasn't for your help. So thank you. I'm interested in getting one of those
hard-cover books about the USS Pennsylvania. Can you e-mail me and let me
know how to get one. I would like to send a check can you tell me where to
send it and how much I need to write the check for to order one. I would
also like the plastic cover for it.

Sincerely,
Steve Perry

From: <Blue77vet(the@sign)aol.com>
To: <NoSpam_ken@usspennsylvania.org>
Subject: USS Pennsylvania Shipmates, Sam Walden Jr
Date: Saturday, April 01, 2000 10:49 AM

I hope that I am contacting someone who can help me! My father was in the
6th Division onboard the USS Pennsylvania from 1943-45 and has always
wondered if there were in fact any reunions going on. He has not ever been in
contact with anyone and did not know where to even begin to search for
someone who would have any information. I recently bought a computer and
happened today to just check for him and I found the reunion information.
Can you possibly put me in touch with someone who could help my dad get more
information. He talks about it all the time, and would be so happy if he
could get in contact with former shipmates.

Thank you in advance,
Linda

Subject: Re: USS Pennsylvania Shipmates
Date: Saturday, April 01, 2000 12:05 PM

Hi Ken, Thanks for the info. I just got off the phone with my dad. I was
looking through the roster for 1945 but unfortunately his name was not
included. He departed the ship 3/15/45 and I do not know when the picture
was taken. I was looking through the pictures from the 99 reunion in Tucson
and reading the names to him and he recognized T.D. Lake and would like to
reach him. He has not seen him in 55 years. As you can tell, I am very
excited for him and would like to help him out.

Dad's name is Sam Walden Jr., 6th Division 1943-45 and was from Rockvale, TN.
I told him of the reunion coming up, but they cannot make it on this short of
notice. My father and mother live in Gardnerville, NV. Please let me know if you need
his address, and if there is anything I need to do to get him into the
"group" i.e.; memberships or anything. I would like him to be able to receive
information in the mail if possible.

Again, thanks for the help. He does not have a computer, so I guess I will be
the one who will search out information for him. If you can get me in touch with T.D.Lake, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks again,

Linda Forsyth
Fontana, CA

Subject: Re: Sam Walden
Date: Saturday, April 01, 2000 9:18 PM

Ken, Once again thanks for everything. My dad was very appreciative. He was able to contact T.D.Lake by telephone today and spoke to him for a half hour or so. He was so choked up when I spoke to him. For so long he had no information at all, and in one afternoon was able to speak to a fellow shipmate. You have no idea how happy it made him. Thanks again, and I will surely be in touch.

Linda

Hi Ken, I am writing again on behalf of my father. A while back you helped me get in touch with T.D. Lake for my dad. I think that I told you he was able to call him and have a very nice talk. Since then, my dad wanted to get in touch with more former shipmates and so he had me look up several shipmates on the internet with the last known cities that they lived in 55 years ago.

We were successful in locating at least 3. This past week my dad and mom drove down from Gardnerville, NV where the now live and he was able to visit one friend in Hesperia, right up the hill. I have not seen him so happy!! (Thanks to you)

He then went on to Texas to see another, and to Tennessee for a family reunion and will then pick up another shipmate and his wife to venture on to Virginia Beach, VA to visit yet another shipmate.

I am sure glad that I found you. You have enabled me to make my father a very happy man!! I want you to know how very thankful I am for your help!!

Yes, I was aboard the Pennsylvania on August 12, 1945. I went aboard in San Francisco in September 1943 and left the ship in February 1946 in route to Banbridge, Maryland for discharge. As well as I remember, I was in Sick Bay a couple of times--nothing serious, catarrah fever (flu or bad cold). Your father may have been on duty during the time that I was sick.

Yes, I recall vividly the night of August 12, 1945. We had pulled into Buckner Bay, Okinawa that morning early, dropped anchor and took aboard Admiral Jesse B. Oldendorph and his flag. We were to be the flagship leading our group of ships into Tokyo Bay. It was a rather quiet day with not too much going on aboard ship.

Since I was to have a midnight watch-12 to 4,I was preparing to "hit the sack." As I remember it was about dusk in the evening. All at once the forward part of the ship, where my living quarters was, jumped up in the air with a loud noise. We rushed topside to find out what had happened. Immediately, General Quarters or Air Defense alarm, I don't remember which, sounded and I rushed to my battle station. My station in both "GQ" and Air Defense was sight setter and fuse setter on Mt. 5 of the starboard 5" 38 Caliber mount. It didn't take long for us to find out what had happened. A Jap plane came in low with his running lights on and his motor off and dropped a torpedo. It hit aft on the quarterdeck just aft of the boat boom. The crew could not get our pumps to work in order to pump water out and a rescue vessel came alongside and set their pumps up. We stayed on our "GQ" stations all night and even kept all fire power stations manned for two or three days afterward. Things then settled down since the A bomb was dropped at this time and the Japs called it "quits."

The next day (Aug. 13) we were towed toward land where the water was not as deep and the divers went down and put a temporary patch over the hole which was large enough to put a small house in.

Then tugs towed us to Guam where we went into a floating dry-dock to make the patch more secure before sailing slowly to Bremerton, Washington.

I am now 75 years of age, and in spite of the time that has passed since this happened, it is written on my memory never to be forgotten.

Hello. My name is Jim Duncan and I'm writing because of an old newspaper clipping I found about a fire in San Francisco somewhere around 1936. It states that men from USS Pennsylvania were called in to help fight the fire. It took place at the rail yard on Third St. where a boxcar load of matches exploded. Well, my grandfather was injured fighting that fire with the SFFD and now I'm trying to find some information about it. I can't find anything with the Fire dept. or the museum, so I thought I'd try a real long shot here and see if anything rings a bell, so to speak. I'm not to sure about the date, it states he was 32 at the time, and he was born in 1904 so it should be correct unless the paper was wrong. Any how, if this doesn't pan out I want to say you have a very nice website and God Bless all World War 2 veterans.
Yours,
Jim Duncan,
Dayton, NV.

My name is Don Dawson. I served in WW2 in the Washington BB56. After the war, attended the USMM Academy at Kings Point. I lost the best boyhood friend I EVER had, and have found out after all these years he served in the glorious old Pennsylvania. I understand he was on her at Pearl on December 7th. If you or any of your shipmates can tell me anything about him, I will be eternally grateful. There was some correspondence between us when we were kids, but you know how that goes, especially during wartime. I will anxiously await your reply. With all warm regards and best wishes.

From: USS Pennsylvania (BB-38)
To: Don Dawson
Sent: Tuesday, January 04, 2000 10:47 PM
Subject: Arthur A. McCann

Have not heard from you, we need you to tell us what your friends name is?????

Ken

From: Don Dawson
To: USS Pennsylvania (BB-38)
Sent: Wednesday, January 05, 2000 2:41 PM
Subject: Arthur A. McCann

I'm so sorry, and I apologize all over the place. I did Email the lady you recommended and gave her what I hope is sufficient info, sparse though it is. My buddies name is ARTHUR McCANN. I don't know what division he might have been in. I'm not even positive he was on your "Penny" on December 7th and I would be happier if he were not. Realistically, it doesn't bode well however as my attempts to contact have gone unanswered. I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM----GOOD OR NOT SO GOOD. I'll tell you one thing that's for sure Ken. What you fellows are doing, keeping in touch, and keeping track of your old shipmates is what many of us should have been doing all these years. I salute you shipmate! I have come to realize that the friendships I had are more precious than anything and grow even more cherished with the passing of time. That damned time does pass doesn't it? I'll close again hoping to hear from you once more. You are in my thoughts and wishes for all the happiness and good fortune that can come your way. I don't remember the prayer that Cowboys used to intone but it was something like, "May the wind always blow on your back and may the snow always fall gently on your shoulders....It goes on to wish the best to a friend. I'd be proud to consider you my friend Ken.

From: USS Pennsylvania (BB-38)
To: Don Dawson
Sent: Wednesday, January 05, 2000 7:31 PM
Subject: Arthur A. McCann

Can you tell me more about where he was from and where the two of you grew up? Thanks for the kind comments, my father is the one who got me started on this and I can't quit, the more I find out the more I know that this site and all sites like it need to be maintained and saved for future generations. You are America's finest and to that end I am dedicated. My father was in "A" division and served from 1941 to 1945. I too spent 4 years in the Navy during the Vietnam war and strange as it seems, he and I traveled the same seas and had a lot of the same ships around each of us. I was aboard a ship that was involved in the invasion of the Philippines in his tour, 20 years later. We had our hides saved by the battleship Missouri at the DMZ, we were at anchor off-loading marines and equipment and we started taking incoming, the first round landed short by about 100 yards, the second round landed long by 100 yards (I happen to be standing there with my movie camera filming the off-loading, got it all on film) and the Missouri was returning fire between the two and took care of that, sent Charlie a 3000 lb. present...., it's a small world my friend, sometimes this kind of stuff makes you wonder about how our lives are mapped out for us... Take care and tell me all you can about your friend, I will post it for you.

From: Don Dawson
To: "USS Pennsylvania (BB-38)"
Subject: Arthur A. McCann
Date: Friday, January 07, 2000 7:41 PM

Dear Ken:
I hesitate to keep 'bugging' you and having the lady Carol (Carol Serr) take of your time to find a long lost friend of mine. As I told you, "Flips" name is Arthur A. McCann. He always lived in Petersburg, Virginia. We parted when my Father had me come back to Pittsburgh, PA. There was a big custody battle going on and as usual kids are the inevitable losers. We, Flip and I were 14 at the time and his parents had him accompany me to Pittsburgh. We both knew the end of a close personal relationship was drawing near and it did about 2 weeks later when Flip left to return to Petersburg. We were closer than brothers. We milked cows together, searched for "minnie balls" together, shared lunches, turned the crank on the ice-cream freezer for Sunday dinners dessert, and so many other things it would take a year to write. I went off to Military School, and as my Father was pretty insistent I apply for and go to West Point (my family was ALL Army and Army Air Force) I rebelled and joined the Navy. It was an escape as much as anything. Anyhow, I served in the USS Somers DD381 an 1850 destroyer, the James Lawrence DD250 one of the old 4 piper tin cans, a very short stay on the Salt Lake City a Heavy Cruiser, and then on to Philadelphia for assignment to PT school. That blew with the Delaware River demise of the PT8, and I was sent to the Rec. Ship for duty assignment COM4. And THAT is how I came to the USS Washington BB56. I sailed in Washington through our North Atlantic convoy operations. We escorted convoys from Rekavyk, Iceland to Murmansk Russia, and then lay over at Scapa Flow in the Orkneys awaiting to rendezvous with the next convoy headed back to Iceland. We finally were assigned to the SOPAC and the great old Rusty W wrote her own history there, sinking an enemy battleship among other "butt" kicking's at the 3rd battle of Savo. Later on, and seeking something that only "nutty" people look for I volunteered and was sent to Nanakuli for UDT training. I was not one of the demolition cowboys, but was in the Support Group. Made one landing, Saipan, the night before the invasion, (Opome Point my group assignment). 4 days later picked up my million dollar wound and came back to the Glory Land. Thank God for ALL the people in Navy Medical. One year healing, and I went to Columbia University in NY. Dear old Ike was the President of Columbia at that time, and I don't know if it was he that started the graph system or not, but lots of us on the GI bill were losing our eligibility as we couldn't carry the course load and maintain the grade average on the graph. So I applied for the USMM Academy (United States Merchant Marine) at Kings Point. Hey it sounded pretty good to me, a kid with no family ties. Your education is paid for AND get this Ken....You are given an Ensigns commission in the USNR. Of course one has to pass the Coast Guard examination for rank in License. Sailed as an Engineering Officer in rank and grade from 3rd Engineering Officer to Chief Engineer (Unlimited Horsepower) I was re-treaded for duty in Viet Nam, and that's where our paths had to cross. If you were off-loading Marines from your ship it was probably up in I Corps, right? Well, old friend I was at DaNang in those days, and was Liaison with Maj. Fred "Tex" Snyder for the off loading of all Air Force and (landed) Navy ammo. I did 3 tours out there and "hung it out to dry" Joined Ogden Engineering as a Sales Eng. and after 3 years with them took over Koike America in the States to establish their North America market. Became Vice President and General Mgr. Lived on airplanes for too long and took a retirement in spite of a VERY lucrative bonus offer. Enough is enough of hotels, motels, rental cars, lost luggage, and all meals eventually tasting the same. That and the fact that you are smiling at people you'd frankly like to deck out. We built a new house and I got acquainted with my wife and my grown kids. It was all pretty nice. I started sky-diving, to my wife's consternation, who always thought that "retire" meant sit down for a little while and smell the roses. To keep everyone placated, got into Real Estate....was successful, but HATED it. Those people live on BS. Honestly, they don't care as long as they can get the sale and realize their commission. Went up against a bunch of the locals here for the position of County Officer (Constable). Having cut my teeth on competition, it was a "shoo-in" The physical part just caught up to me after 9 1/2 years of that. Have had some pretty extensive spinal surgery, and am more or less limited to carrying in the mail and threatening to beat Claire with a wet noodle when she gives me a little guff. That's it Kiddo'. I am still anxious to find out how I can find Arthur A. "Flip" McCann. The anxiety grows, and I know I have you and Carol to thank for all you've done. Please try to bear up under the history. It's just good to hash over old times with someone who knows the smell of salt spray, and good Navy coffee. Do let me know if anything turns up on your watch. Again I'm forever grateful.

Sincerely,
Don Dawson

If you can help in any way to shed some light on this story please email me or Don Dawson

Hello, My name is Joe Greer and my father (James Greer) served aboard the USS PENNSYLVANIA during WWII. He was in the 10th Div. He attended a few reunion's in Memphis, Tenn. He was very proud of his naval service. He was very sick the past six years and pasted away Aug. 3rd, 1998. I ran across your web page looking for information about the Pennsylvania. It is a great tribute to the brave me who served aboard this great ship. I hope you and your family keep this site as a fitting memorial to these men. The one regret I have in life is I didn't sit down with my father and video tape all his experiences during WWII. Keep up the good work.

From: <Carol Serr>
To: <Ken Munro>
Subject: Hi again
Date: Saturday, December 11, 1999 11:31 PM

Ken...I hadn't ever visited your What's New page....and just saw what you have written about me and dad. How nice of you. Thanks!

I spent several hours today "interviewing" dad about his history on the Pennsy. I heard his stories over and over growing up...but had never put them all together...and wasn't sure of the chronology...so I am now (finally) making a record of it...and plan to type it up...and will submit it for your page on my dad. His memory is as sharp as a tack...which seems amazing for an 81 yr old. The stories haven't ever changed... I'm sure they are etched in his memory. It occurred to me that I never actually thought about how my dad fought for our freedom and had never Thanked him...as I have seen so many people doing on your Email Log (or other pages). I thanked him today...for the first time.

He told me today how total strangers come up to him after seeing his Pearl Harbor Survivor license plate...and thank him...or just talk to him. At a gas station he even had a teenager come up wanting to shake his hand...after seeing the license plate....the young man felt honored to meet someone like my dad. Its like he...and all the other men (people) who fought in WWII are celebrities. I had never thought of it that way.

And he has given out many of his "business cards"...which has gotten he and my mom some great service or even some free meals! etc....from people in appreciation for his service to our country. I almost feel ashamed I never looked at him that way. His stories were for the most part light-hearted and humorous...of his adventures...never the gory part of war...so I didn't see it in that context....but should have. I'm sure he intentionally sheltered us from the ugly parts of war...and any experiences he had. But he sure had lots of good experiences also.

Now I need to get him to unbury his old photos albums and shoo away the moths...so I can get out some more photos relating to the Pennsy...for your page. I keep meaning to create my own personal web page...and have now thought I would add a page on my dad....and of course will have to give equal time to my mom...even though she says she didn't do anything memorable. We all have memories of our life...and our histories are only relative to our own experience.

Oh...I voted for your page...hope you win!! Thanks again for all your efforts on a wonderful and deserving page of memorial to all who served aboard this ship.

You haven't heard the last from me. :o)

Carol Ser

From: David Aiken
To: Ken Munro
Subject: Royal Navy observer
Date: Thursday, November 18, 1999 5:53 AM

Howdy Ken,
You sort of asked about my source on the Royal Navy observer. This is from the brief biographies given in the Taylor Publishing Company volume on Pearl Harbor Survivors (I don't have the title with me) that came out in the mid-1980s. I Xeroxed this volume, clipped each biography and filed them by ship. Glen H. Berg, Lt JG, noted when below deck, he went to the casemate where the bomb hit the ship. Then he went to his compartment below the damaged area to see what damage was to his stuff. "In midst of all this a British officer who'd been an observer on board was now just sitting in the compartment and crying." The old term would be shell shock, battle fatigue, or (today) Post Combat Stress.

Just wanted the name of the Royal Navy observer to include in the full text of ABOVE PEARL, a tactical history of 7 Dec 1941.

TIA,
Sincerely,
David Aiken
Director PHHA,

From: Miller, Bryan
To: NoSpam_ken@usspennsylvania.org
Subject: looking for information
Date: Monday, November 29, 1999 6:19 PM

Hello Ken,
I really enjoy your web site on the USS Pennsylvania. I'm looking for information about my father. He served on the Pennsylvania from March 1941 to sometime during the time she was back on the West Coast. I looked at my father's discharge papers but they do not say when he was transferred from the Pennsy to the Rebuilder. The only other thing I know is that he was a boatswain mate 2nd at Pearl Harbor and was on her during the attack. My
father's name was Gerald G. Miller (Jerry). I noticed that you are working on a crew list from 1945. Is there any way to get a crew list from 1941? I would like to find out what division my father was in and where on the ship he was stationed during the attack. My Father never talked to me about his day in the navy much, he said that I couldn't understand what was really like. I'm very proud of my father was would like this information to add to his memorial. I have included his picture of when he was in basic at the Great Lakes Training Station, his six metals, and the flag that drape his casket. I thing the information could be passed to my son to help understand the sacrifices that the warriors of WWII went through. Can you help me?

It is letters like yours that keep me at this. I receive many just like it. First of all, your father is an American Hero and part of a generation that changed the world. Never in history has so many gave so much. We owe our freedoms today to these great men and there is no doubt that this world would be a very different place had they not sacrificed so much.

As far as being able to help you with the 1941 crew list, I am sorry but I do not have that list, but I am in contact with many Crewmembers that were there. I will (with your permission) post your email on the site. Hopefully there may be someone who remembers and will contact you. You may also consider contacting the Pearl Harbor Survivors website http://www.members.aol.com/phsasecy97/ and http://members.aol.com/USAHeroes/warlib48.htm.
Here also is an address that was sent to me today by Art Wells and this is where you can get ships information, I have not used it so I don't know how it is but it is certainly worth a shot:

OPERATIONAL ARCHIVES BRANCH
NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON, DC 20374-0571

I am putting you on the mailing list and I hope you will continue to check the site out, it changes every week, thanks for stopping by and let me know how you do with your search.

I had posed a question about where the Torpedo plane had come from and this was one of the responses that I received, Thanks John

From: John McShan
Sent: Saturday, August 07, 1999 2:26 PM
To: NoSpam_ken@usspennsylvania.org
Subject: Torpedo Plane

Ken: I always thought, for reasons I don't recall, that the torpedo plane came from a land base. I remember the plane was described by some as a "washing machine charlie", meaning that it was pieced together what ever was available. I have wondered what became of the pilot. He was probably the same one who came back the next night. He should have survived the war and may be still living. It would be very interesting to hear his side of the story. A good project for some historian.

John T. McShan

About John
I served aboard the Pennsylvania from May 1945 to November 1945 in the seventh division. My watch station was sky control, starboard side and I was on watch when the torpedo plane got in. I heard it but never saw it. I have found one shipmate through your web.

I was aboard the USS Cabot CVL-28 when the Pennsylvania shelled Wake Island, near the end of the war and we made air strikes. At the time we were told a Japanese shore battery made a hit on the Pennsy. Do you have info on that?

On 7/2/99 I received the following message from Clifford Holley who was a signal man on the Pennsylvania. "You were right about the ship being hit at Wake Island. We were straddled by several rounds of 8-inch until one round struck the star-board aft director (along side the Main mast). This round did nothing more than mess up that director. It hit the hand rail on the outside, bent it, and then entered the director, making a neat hole, and I guess bounced around inside. I suppose it was "old" ammo the Japanese were forced to use". He also mentioned that your dad was a MAA, which if I remember right was a "Master At Arms".

According to Clifford Holley, the attack on Wake Island occurred on August 2, 1945. The History of the USS Cabot records the date as August 1.

I have an article that I copied from some source which tells about the rescue of a Cabot crew member named Hanna who was washed over-board during a typhoon in September 1945 near Okinawa. He was a signalman who was in the well deck aft of the island and was unable to swim! There was one crew member aft who saw him go out and tossed a life preserver over board which landed right by him. He was rescued by the destroyer USS Ordronaux. When he was returned to our ship I assisted with pulling the breech-buoy line and we sent the DD ice cream. I mention this mainly because the article includes a photo of the Cabot, taken from the Ordronaux, steaming with a small object in the front which is the USS Pennsylvania (which would likely have been when we were on our way to Wake Island).

It is of some interest that the person who rescued records of the USS Ordronaux was a teen age fellow who was in some type of Navy cadet group. He and others went aboard ships scheduled for scraping and retrieved such records.

I served on the USS Cabot CVL-28 from May 1945 to March 1946. On August 1, 1945 our air squadron bombed Wake Island. The USS Pennsylvania was with us and they shelled the island. We were told that the Japanese managed to hit the "Pennsy" during this attack with some sort of gun. Later, we learned that the Pennsylvania was hit by a torpedo in Okinawa. I read the account of this later event on your site. My other brief contact with the Pennsylvania occurred at Hunter's Point, San Francisco. I sat on the dock one evening until 2:00 am waiting for it to return from a shakedown cruise, to help with the lines securing it to the dock. Visited with the wives of some crew members, who had to be awakened to go topside to see them. I appreciate sites like yours that clarify events that I had some connection with.

William R. King - Peoria, IL

HI KEN!
Thanks for including the pictures on your site! the plaque on the base of the Bell which unfortunately is obscured reads as follows:

USS PENNSYLVANIA BB-38

THE BATTLESHIP PENNSYLVANIA FAMOUS AS THE FLAGSHIP OF THE US FLEET WAS COMMISSIONED IN 1916 WITH A DISPLACEMENT OF 32,600 TONS. A LENGTH OF 608 FEET, A BEAM OF 106 FEET AND A SPEED OF 21 KNOTS. SHE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST OIL BURNING BATTLESHIPS OF THE NAVY. ON DEC. 7TH 1941 WHILE IN DRY-DOCK AT PEARL HARBOR SHE RECEIVED ONE BOMB HIT. THE PENNSYLVANIA WAS MODERNIZED IN 1942 AND FROM THAT DATE PARTICIPATED IN BOMBARDMENTS AND AMPHIBIOUS OPERATIONS AT ATTU, KISKA, MAKIN ISLAND, KWAJALEIN, ENIWETOK, SAIPAN, GUAM, PELELUI, ANGAUR, LEYTE, WAKE ISLAND, LINGAYEN AND OKINAWA. SHE WAS HIT BY A TORPEDO AT OKINAWA AND WAS OUT OF ACTION FOR THE REMAINDER OF WORLD WAR 2. THE PENNSYLVANIA WAS THE ONLY US BATTLESHIP TO TAKE PART IN EVERY AMPHIBIOUS OPERATION IN THE PACIFIC OCEAN AREAS AND THE TWO LARGEST OPERATIONS IN THE SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA DURING THE PERIOD MAY 1943 TO FEB 1945. ONE OF THE FOUR BATTLESHIPS AWARDED THE NAVY UNIT COMMENDATION FOR ACTION IN WORLD WAR 2. THE PENNSYLVANIA WAS DECOMMISSIONED IN FEB 1948.

My interest in Pennsy began when I found out she was at Pearl during the attack.I have an avid interest in salvage operations in general and was very curious about finding out how the ships were raised at Pearl Harbor. Not to mention a little home state pride!!! It was then that I discovered that Pennsy and Arizona were sister ships and also that Pennsy put up the most return fire of all the ships on Dec 7. Her ammunition consumption was the highest of all the ships in combat during WW2. She had an even silhouette with her four three gun turrets and I found her to be the most stately looking battleship in the fleet of pre war BBs. I was also curious as to how she was sunk at Kwajelein after the nuclear tests. Was she torpedoed or were scuttling charges placed aboard ? Hopefully someone will have the answer! Great site Ken and it must be very gratifying to know that your father was on board one of the nations premier ships of the line when she was needed most!! Please tell the Pennsy vets for me that the young generation they see today are not all hooked on just MTV there are many of us that have learned of the sacrifices and the heroism of those who have made sure that our freedom has been bought and paid for ! It is a debt that we can never repay!! We can only make sure that we remember those who have come before us and that we must answer the call if necessary to assure freedom for the next generation!!