Posted on 05/07/2020 3:20:59 AM PDT by Bull Snipe
1942 - The Battle of the Coral Sea resumes as Task Force Seventeen (TF-17) intercepts the Japanese intending to invade Port Moresby, New Guinea marking the first naval battle where aircraft carriers engage each other out of sight from one another.
My Dad was on the USS Yorktown CV-5 during the Battle of the Coral Sea. Here is some of his recollections of that event.
Background: My dad was born in 1922. He enlisted in the Navy Jan 1940. In June he reported to the USS Yorktown CV-5 as a fireman. He was assigned to #4 Engine Room and his GQ station was number 2 hose man on number 2 hose team in Repair V.
One Sunday morning I sat down at the table with a cup of coffee. My dad looked like he was far off in though. I asked him what was on his mind so heavily. He replied, “A question never asked, and I will never know the answer to. “I asked him, Dad, what was the question.” Here is the story he told me.
“It was May 7 during the of the Battle of the Coral Sea. I had spent most of it at my GQ station in Repair V. Early in the evening, GQ was secured and the regular watch was set. I had the watch, so I headed for the engine room. When I got to the foot of the ladder, the Chief Machinist Mate was standing there. He said “Kelley, next GQ your GQ station is the lower level in the engine room.” I replied “aye aye Chief, next GQ, lower level engine room. That was the conversation between us. I wondered why he changed my GQ station, but figured he had his reasons. “
“The next day, we went to GQ before sun up. I did the usual things on the lower level. I could feel the ship maneuvering heavily several timed during the morning. Several time I feel the ship shudder. Later in the morning, she shuddered very heavily. Soon, over the space announcing system, we were told to check for damage, that we had been hit. I couldn’t find anything out of kilter on the lower level and reported that to the top watch. Soon we were hearing scuttlebutt that the ship had been hit by a large bomb. Then we heard that most of Repair V had been wiped out by the bomb blast. I had the most gut wrenching feeling when I heard this.”
It was true. The bomb had exploded near Repair V. The kid that took my spot on number 2 hose team was dead, as were a lot of the men in Repair V. I often wondered why the Chief changed my GQ station the evening before. He saved my life. If he had not done that, we would not be having this conversation. I would not have two fine sons and a loving wife, nor 60 years of a great life. I would lay at the bottom of the Coral Sea in place of the kid that they buried there, instead of me. In those days a fireman did not ask a Chief why he did anything. You just carried out the man’s orders. That question has haunted me off and on now the last sixty years of my life, and I will never know the answer. This was a story my dad had never told me before. He was 86 years old at the time, just a couple of years before he passed on. This was in 2008.
Fate sometimes intervenes in our lives in an unassuming way.
God works in mysteries ways sometimes.
Thanks for sharing a little of the Greatest Generation.
Thanks for this.
That is something. Thank you.
He told me the Yorktown pulled into port at Norfolk about a week before Pearl was attacked and he had taken a train home and was having dinner with his family when they heard the news on the radio.
He managed to get back and rejoin the ship, I think he had to take a train to the west coast, but I don’t remember.
After Robert Ballard discovered the Yorktown, my sister bought his book and gave it to my dad. I went to visit home one night after work, as he was just finishing that book. He was choked up and emotional like I had never seen him. He handed me the book and said to take it and read it. I glanced though it for several minutes and then ask him if he could tell me about what he did.
He told me his job was to set up the torpedo and mount it to the plane. The torpedo planes took off and most did not return. Latter they knew they were going to be attacked and they lined up his group and ask for volunteers. He said they did not know what they were being ask to do, but he stepped forward. He said some men prayed and some men cried, but he had a strong belief in god and had no fear.
He ended up in the crows nest of the ship where they had mounted a machine gun and his job was to help with the ammo. They were trying to shoot down planes and one few by and one of the men in the plane stood up and was either waving at them or shaking his fist at them. The men in crows nest were shaking there fist back at him and more.
That plane was hit seconds latter and destroyed.
He never spoke about the Coral Sea or much else, wish I had known more to ask.
After he passed my mom gave me an envelope that had some of his records. Among the items was a group photo of his torpedo class graduation and certificates for each promotion. Also an original copy of the next ships action reports from the Destroyer he was assigned to next. It was sent to Guadalcanal in Dec of 42, up through the Salomon Islands, Rabaul, Tinian, Sipan, Philippines and China. I learn more form this paper he kept than I did from him as he kept his memories buried. I liked reading your memories your dad shared with you. They were truly great men of which the world could use more of.
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