Posted on 05/27/2022 2:18:48 PM PDT by Jacquerie
Burial at sea is a ceremonial tradition dating back to ancient times when necessity dictated that the remains of deceased Sailors return to the deep. During World War II, several navies, including the U.S. Navy, buried their dead at sea. Often conducted while still on station in combat areas, the ceremonies were generally as brief as possible.
On 12 May 1945, the day after two kamikazes struck aircraft carrier Bunker Hill (CV-17) off Okinawa, one of the longest burials at sea in U.S. Navy history commenced. The ceremony was not only a testament to the fallen, but to the survivors, who worked long hours and endured untold horrors in order to lay their fallen brethren to rest.
Recovery efforts of the dead onboard Bunker Hill began almost immediately after the fires had all been put out later that afternoon. With most of the dead Sailors remaining in the spaces below decks, it became necessary for the physical removal of the bodies, most found in passageways and damaged compartments. This process, often done in the dark, was both unnerving and dangerous, yet necessary.
The recovery teams slowly made their way through smoke and water-filled compartments below decks, often not seeing any bodies of shipmates until physically walking into them. Placed side-by-side at the forward section of the portside hangar deck in neat rows, the identification moved to the flight deck. Lasman, rescued from his smoke-filled engineering space some 19 hours after the kamikaze attack, awoke to find himself lying on the flight deck among his dead shipmates. Still unnerved by the experience decades later, he recalled “the next day we buried almost 400 guys…”
Before the burials at sea could commence, the task of identifying the dead began in earnest. Although there were several horrific ways to die on board a warship off Okinawa, one of the most terrifying, yet typical, was by fire. The majority of those killed in action during the kamikaze attacks died from smoke inhalation, asphyxiation caused by intense heat, or fire, and several men were burned almost beyond recognition. According to Bunker Hill’s After Action Report, there were four ways medical personnel identified the deceased.
The first involved finding the servicemember’s identification tags (dog tags) or bracelets. Most of the identifications were made in this way, although not all men wore their dog tags, and other means of identification often became necessary. A stenciled last name, usually found on a belt or jacket, became the second method of establishing a man’s identity. The third means of identification involved comparing a corpse’s teeth against dental charts, while the fourth involved inspecting the clothing of the deceased. The last method was not foolproof, however, since “several persons were found who were wearing someone’s else (sic) clothing (in one case clothing from two other people).”
After completion of the identification of a deceased Sailor, the bodies were sewn into burial shrouds of white canvas. Aviation Machinist Mate Third Class Joseph E. Vignati recalled helping sew the canvas shrouds and placing “a 5-inch [shell] with them.” In order to weigh the bodies down and enable them to sink, two 55-pound, 5-inch projectiles, one tied around the chest and the second between the legs, was placed upon each body. Realizing the three burial chutes available onboard were not a sufficient number for the ceremony, crewmembers discovered three undamaged olive drab stretchers for use in the burials, adding these in order to cut down on the length of the ceremony and release six bodies at a time over the side.
The longest burial at sea in U.S. Navy history commenced onboard Bunker Hill on 12 May at three minutes past noon. A rabbi, a Protestant minister, and Catholic priest prayed for the 352 crewmembers (of 393 killed in action) arrayed for burial at sea according to the deceased’s religious preference. In the case of 24 unidentified crewmembers, all three officers said a prayer over the individual. The surviving Bunker Hill crewmembers remained on the flight deck during the nearly eight-hour long ceremony. At various points throughout, several wandered off, often overcome by the emotional tribute to their dead shipmates. After a Marine honor guard fired a 21-gun salute for the fallen and the six burial chutes delivered all of the bodies of the slain to the deep, the somber ceremony finally ended at dusk, at approximately 2000. The physically and emotionally exhausted crew next made ready to get underway to Ulithi Atoll.
However, after coming across a photograph of dead shipmates in the book, he claims the memories came flooding back. Walking out of his office, he “cried like a baby for an hour. I had stood in that same spot and saw those bodies.” The valiant crew of Bunker Hill, through both their tireless actions in saving the ship and identifying the remains of shipmates for burial at sea, were truly in keeping with the highest order and traditions of the United States Navy.
There is film of an Avenger gunner whose pilot made it
back to the carrier but the gunner was dead and entangled
in the cockpit so the service was read then they pushed
the whole plane off the stern.
Very moving.
The Battle of Okinawa was the USN’s largest loss of life during WWII.
Dad was there on the Maryland.
My Dad (USMC Feb 1942 - March 1946) had enormous respect and admiration for the men of the U.S. Navy...
In his later years, most of his discussions with his two sons were about the valor of, and huge losses of, the U.S. Navy at Guadalcanal and Okinawa in particular...
He never discussed his Purple Hearts
While I joined the Marine Corps two days after graduating from HS in 1951 to honor my Dad, in 1979 my oldest son entered the Navy at my Dad’s suggestion to honor his grandfather...
Thank you for sharing. Almost everyone knows of Marine bravery at Guadalcanal: Edson’s Ridge always stood out for me. Few are aware of the several major sea battles in support of the Marines.
In what battles did your father live through?
Guadalcanal (6-months), Pelileu (3-months), Okinawa (5-months), Tsingtao China (4-months)...
He was 1st Division for Guadalcanal & Pelileu...
Then, after injuries recuperation he was sent to help train the brand new 6th Division for the invasion of Okinawa...
When the war ended he ended up going to China with elements of the 6th Division...
From Tsingtao he ended up spending a month in the Chelsea Naval Hospital (where we got to visit him since it was near where we lived)) and then discharged...
I never understood why some nimrod send the first to Pavuvu for R&R. What a hell hole on top of all the abuse they took in combat.
They sent them there twice.
Governments and their leaders have always been stupid and uncaring.
I recall that the newly formed third got to recover in Hawaii... twice.
I had a friend, a Marine pilot, who began his trial at Guadalcanal and ended it at Pelileu. All he said was that Pelileu finished him. He was a grand man.
Maybe to avoid anymore wild brawls with the Aussies...🤨
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