Posted on 05/26/2018 4:21:26 PM PDT by lowbridge
That famous battle in June 1942 turned the tide of World War II in the Pacific. Mills was there, as chief steward aboard the doomed carrier Yorktown, playing a small but memorable role that spoke of character and determination — so much so that decades later a barracks at North Island Naval Air Station was named after him.
Mr. Mills, a longtime San Diego resident, died last Friday at Mission Hills Health Care. He was 103.
-snip
In interviews, Mr. Mills said he and other blacks understood that they were under a microscope, watched by white people expecting them to fail. If instead they succeeded, they knew the way would be paved for later civil-rights reforms, he said.
At the Battle of Midway, named for a strategically located atoll in the Pacific, the Yorktown was hit by Japanese bombs and torpedoes on June 4, 1942, and the crew was ordered to abandon what was presumed to be a sinking ship.
But it didn’t sink, and the next day a salvage party was assembled. Mr. Mills, the captain’s steward, volunteered.
They put out fires, pumped out water and brought the ship close to even keel. The paymaster decided things were stable enough to go below and retrieve the payroll and other papers, and he brought along Mr. Mills for help.
When the paymaster fumbled with the lock on the safe, Mr. Mills stepped forward and got it open. So many coins spilled out they covered his shoes.
“Don’t bother with the silver,” he remembered the paymaster saying. “Get the green stuff and let’s get out of here.”
(Excerpt) Read more at sandiegouniontribune.com ...
White people suck
RIP sailor. Glad you didn't fail.
“White people suck”
A bud of mine has a son who is in construction in downtown L.A. He said he’s the ONLY white guy in a crew deep full of mexicans. They expected him to screw and fail but he’s still there...
This is a MAN. This is a GREAT AMERICAN, who’s awesomeness should cause all sjw’s to shut the h—l up!
RIP.
Not sure what happened there, meant to say sjw’s.
God’s Speed Sailor!
U.S. Navy World War II Enlisted Rates: Messman/Steward Branch
Chief Steward
Quite the skill set for that steward. Wonder where he learned that.
I used to hang out at a neighborhood bar with a great group of local men who were great company to share a couple of drinks with and engage in conversation with. One man, in particular, Jack C., was great company, and a pleasure to talk with. He joined the Coast Guard in 1937 and ended up as a commander of a landing craft where he happened to mistakenly been stranded on Tarawa in the midst of that crucial battle. He said the Marines there were a very good to him and saved him from almost certain harm.
On a civilian ship, the chief steward is also the purser. US Navy WWII? Who knows, part of their training?
purs·er noun: purser; plural noun: pursers
an officer on a ship who keeps the accounts, especially the head steward on a passenger vessel.
RIP.
He was a chief petty officer, if it the type of safe I’m thinking of, he broke the locks with a sledgehammer or fire ax while the officer was looking for the keys.
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