Posted on 04/01/2016 5:14:25 PM PDT by Jet Jaguar
Like some others on this thread, I first learned about this from that movie. What a story.
No..he died in his 50s...long story...he NEVER talked about his service...my great Uncle told me about it after he was gone...I only recently figured out he was only 17 during the LEYTE Battle
Great book called “The Franklin comes home” IIRC
Did your Dad fly for CNAC?
I can’t see any 12 y o today doing what they did.
Sadly, jihadists are doing it.
My uncle joined the Navy during Korea when he was 15. He said it was called the “kiddie cruise”. Join when you’re 17 and get out on your 19th birthday. He got out on his 17th birthday just when all of his friends were enlisting.
He’s been a poker player his whole life and was a hell of a poker player even back then. He said he left home with $5.00. He said when he got to San Diego he had $35.00.
I’m sorry for your loss, but glad you are learning about his bravery, even second-hand. Apparently a lot of men never talk about their time in the service. My late husband rarely mentioned serving during wartime.
I just watched on netflix recently. The poor guy.
Fred presents Judge Harper with three of those letters addressed simply to "Santa Claus" and delivered to Kris, asserting the U.S. Post Office (and therefore by extension the federal government) has thus acknowledged that he is the Santa Claus. When Harper demands "further exhibits", mailmen dump the entire contents of 21 full mailbags onto the bench in front of Harper, whereupon he dismisses the case.
Vis a vis obamacare, childhood now ends at age 27 when they no longer can be carried on their parents healthcare.
Convoluted and a stretch, yes, but no more so than the decision concerning the separation of church and state.
bkmk
Great story. Thx for posting.
Yes.
He was an OCH...
Technically the US Navy didn’t sink any Japaneses AC Carriers during the battle of midway of midway. They were scuttled by the IJN.
Thanks Jet Jaguar. And the USS South Dakota was a great place for him -- no 'quit' in either one of them.
My father followed the rules and enlisted in the Marines at age 17, one year short of HS graduation. He wanted to serve his country in time of war.
He was discharged in 1946 after two years of service yet still short of his 20th birthday.
He was seriously wounded after 45 days in combat, on Okinawa. As his oldest son, and the only one that served in the military, I was given his Purple Heart after his death.
[snip] South Dakota’s crew casualties were 39 killed and 59 wounded... [all communications and fire control were out] ...The Japanese ships continued to concentrate their fire on South Dakota and none detected Washington approaching to within 9,000 yd (8,200 m). Washington was tracking a large target (Kirishima) for some time but refrained from firing since there was a chance it could be South Dakota. Washington had not been able to track South Dakota’s movements because she was in a blind spot in Washington’s radar and Lee could not raise her on the radio to confirm her position. When the Japanese illuminated and fired on South Dakota, all doubts were removed as to which ships were friend or foe. From this close range, Washington opened fire and quickly hit Kirishima with at least nine main battery shells and at least seventeen secondary ones, causing heavy damage and setting her aflame. Kirishima was hit below the waterline and suffered a jammed rudder, causing her to circle uncontrollably to port... the Japanese ships still did not know where Washington was located, and the other surviving U.S. ships had already departed the battle area... Imperial ships finally sighted Washington and launched several torpedo attacks, but by the skilled seamanship of her captain she avoided all of them and also avoided running aground in shallow waters... Kondo ordered his remaining ships to break contact and retire from the area... Ayanami was scuttled by Uranami at 2:00, while Kirishima capsized and sank by 03:25 on 15 November. Uranami rescued survivors from Ayanami and destroyers Asagumo, Teruzuki, and Samidare rescued the remaining crew from Kirishima. In the engagement, 242 U.S. and 249 Japanese sailors died... The four Japanese transports beached themselves... Only 2,000 to 3,000 of the embarked troops embarked made it to Guadalcanal, and most of their ammunition and food were lost... The failure to deliver to Guadalcanal most of the troops and supplies in the convoy prevented the Japanese from launching another offensive to retake Henderson Field... On 12 December, the Japanese Navy proposed that Guadalcanal be abandoned. [/snip]
related threads:
One Marine, One Ship
http://www.google.com/search?q=one+marine%2C+one+ship+site:freerepublic.com/focus/
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
