Posted on 12/27/2003 5:06:12 AM PST by snippy_about_it
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![]() are acknowledged, affirmed and commemorated.
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Our Mission: The FReeper Foxhole is dedicated to Veterans of our Nation's military forces and to others who are affected in their relationships with Veterans. In the FReeper Foxhole, Veterans or their family members should feel free to address their specific circumstances or whatever issues concern them in an atmosphere of peace, understanding, brotherhood and support. The FReeper Foxhole hopes to share with it's readers an open forum where we can learn about and discuss military history, military news and other topics of concern or interest to our readers be they Veteran's, Current Duty or anyone interested in what we have to offer. If the Foxhole makes someone appreciate, even a little, what others have sacrificed for us, then it has accomplished one of it's missions. We hope the Foxhole in some small way helps us to remember and honor those who came before us.
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Typhoon Cobra~Disaster at Sea 18 December 1944
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Named for Ensign John R. Monaghan, (1873-1899) who was killed in action against natives in Samoa, standing steadfastly by his wounded superior, Lieutenant Lonsdale, against a score of attackers. The second to bear the name, Monaghan (DD-354) was commissioned 19 April 1935. Thereafter, she operated primarily in the North Atlantic.
On 7 December 1941, however, Monaghan was ready duty destroyer in Pearl Harbor, and at 0751 was ordered to join Ward, who had just sunk an unidentified submarine off the entrance to Pearl Harbor. Four minutes later, before Monaghan could get underway, the Japanese air attack began. Monaghan opened fire, and at 0827 was underway to join Ward when notified of the presence of a midget submarine in the harbor. Monaghan headed for the trespasser, rammed and then sank the submarine with two depth charges. She headed on out of the harbor to patrol offshore for the next week and then joined Lexington in an unsuccessful attempt to relieve doomed Wake Island.
Monaghan's first major action came 7 May, when U.S. naval forces successfully threw back a Japanese fleet, including several transports guarded by the light carrier Shoho that was attempting to enter the Coral Sea. In early June she participated in the critical battle of the Pacific War, the Battle of Midway. Through the first 2 days of the battle, Monaghan screened Enterprise (CV-6). Then, on the evening of 5 June, she joined the group of destroyers struggling unsuccessfully to save the badly damaged aircraft carrier Yorktown, and guard her from further damage.
Monaghan served in the Aleutians, Gilberts and Marshall Islands operations, during which she guarded the carriers. From 13 April to 4 May 1943, she covered the Hollandia landings, and struck at Satawan, Truk, Ponape, and Saipan. On 11 November 1944 Monaghan served as escort for three fleet oilers bound for a rendezvous 17 December 1944 with TF 38, whose planes had been attacking central Luzon in support of the Mindoro invasion. The fueling day was the first of the great typhoon that struck the 3d Fleet and claimed 790 seamen and sank three destroyers, including the Monaghan. Six survivors, rescued after drifting on a raft for 3 days, reported that Monaghan took roll after roll to starboard, before finally going over. The tragedy, Admiral Nimitz said, "represented a more crippling blow to the 3d Fleet than it might be expected to suffer in anything less than a major action."
Veteran of so many actions against a human enemy, Monaghan fell victim to the sailor's oldest enemy, the perils of the sea. Monaghan received 12 battle stars for her World War II service.
Lieutenant Commander Eugene E. Lindsey's Douglas TBD-1 "Devastator" torpedo bomber (Bureau # 0370) sinking astern of the carrier after a deck landing accident on 28 May 1942. Plane guard destroyer, USS Monaghan (DD-354) is in the left background. Enterprise was then en route to the Midway area. LCdr. Lindsey, Commanding Officer of Torpedo Squadron Six (VT-6), was flying out with the rest of the air group to join the ship when the crash took place. He, and the other members of the plane's crew, were rescued by Monaghan.
Lieutenant Commander Eugene E. Lindsey, USN, Commanding Officer of Torpedo Squadron Six (VT-6) Is assisted into a breeches bouy for transfer from USS Monaghan (DD-354) to USS Enterprise (CV-6) on 31 May 1942, while the ships were en route to the Midway area. He had been picked up by the destroyer on 28 May, after his TBD-1 "Devastator" torpedo bomber had crashed attempting to land on the carrier.
Aviation Radioman First Class Charles T. Granat is partially visible behind Lindsey, waiting his turn on the "high line". The other member of the plane's crew, Chief Aviation Pilot Thomas E. Schaeffer is standing with hands in pockets, just to left of the transfer group. Lindsey and Granat were killed in action attacking the Japanese fleet on 4 June 1942.
Aviation Radioman First Class Charles T. Granat, USN, Torpedo Squadron Six (VT-6) aircrewman prepares to ride a breeches bouy from USS Monaghan (DD-354) to USS Enterprise (CV-6) on 31 May 1942, while the ships were en route to the Midway area. He had been picked up by the destroyer on 28 May, after the TBD-1 "Devastator" torpedo bomber in which he was a passenger crashed attempting to land on the carrier. Granat was killed in action attacking the Japanese fleet on 4 June 1942.
At dusk on the 7th Maryland took her third hit from enemy planes in 10 months. A suicide plane loaded with a 500-pound bomb crashed the top of turret No. 3 from starboard. The explosion wiped out the 20mm. mounts, causing 53 casualties. As before, however, she continued to blast enemy shore positions with devastating 16-inch fire.
Now there was a "Fighting ship"!
Thankyou for sharing the naval history of your Father and your journey's of discovery.
Tin Can Sailors was helpfull in my quest to discover the history of a DD which carried our Families name in WW-2.
Thru contact was able to arrange meetings with the Navy dept in Washington D.C. and a special hands on research period at National Archives were pages brought boxes of photos from the War.
In time ..my persuit of learning would find me at Reunions for USS Isherwood and guest at many of the crews homes.
It is powerfull to be in their presence and see their emotions as they discuss the war at sea in WW-2.
For me..the journey never ends..always evolving in new directions....contact and sharing often enabling veterans to find rare things about their service and arangements to meet with veterans of other ships which sailed in their DD squadron or saw action in similar battles.
Seeing a 70 year olds eye's light up like a kid as he shares his life experience..
USS Isherwood was suicided by a Kamikaze off Okinawa...the aftermath was grizzly to say the least.
Many of the crew from the WW-2 period were scarred from the event...many sidestepped reunions and fellowship contact.
Research interaction did enable some to risk to fellowship ...the reunion in Frisco in 95 saw many first time veterans meet.
Alot of emotion and sharing....reflecting..healing was taking place,
many of the wives shared how happy they were to see their husbands attend.....something wonderfull was taking place.
It does count to risk...
FR Foxhole has been a great vehicle of sharing and learning for me....its my hope that others will risk to seek contact with veterans..often the return is more than they ever imagined for both parties.
DD 520 served in the Atlantic and Pacific ...9 months in the torrid waters of the Aluetians.
A few crew members shared their fears as ship sank in 20 ft trouphs and then rolled 48 degree's...water entered into the stack and snuffed boilers.
Best wishes in your journeys comwatch...may its reward continue : )
USS Isherwood Atlantic 43
Thank you. ;-)
Four medium tanks roared up the tree-lined roadway. Machine guns sprayed the snow-crusted evergreens. Dark enemy forms ran and fell as red tracers played among them.
A concrete blockhouse ringed by pines loomed ahead of the onrushing tanks. First Lt. Charles Boggess, Jr., Greenville, Ill., commander of the lead tank, spotted the emplacement from the open hatch of his Sherman. Down in the turret, Cpl. Milton Dickerman, Newark, N. J., traversed the sights of his 75 on the blockhouse, kicked the trigger. The tank bounced from the recoil as the shell crashed into the concrete.
The breech of the 75 slammed shut as Pvt. James G. Murphy, Bryan, Tex., the loader, slapped in another round. Pvt. Hubert Smith, Cartersville, Ga., driver of the tank Cobra King, tromped on the throttle, squinted through his dirt-splattered periscope as the medium rolled up to the smoking blockhouse. Bow Gunner Pvt. Harold Hafner, Arlington, Wash., kept the hot barrel of his machine gun trained on the woods.
In the open fields beyond the pines, Lt. Boggess saw red, yellow and blue supply parachutes sprinkle the snow like confetti. He halted his clattering mediums.
"Come here, come on out !" he shouted to khaki-clad figures in foxholes. "This is the 4th Armored !"
No answer, Helmeted heads peered suspiciously over carbine sights. The tanker bellowed again. A lone figure emerged.
"I'm Lt. Webster of the 326th Engineers, l01st Airborne," the paratrooper said. "Glad to see you."
At 1645, Dec. 26, 1944, the 4th Armd. Div. had reached another objectiveBastogne.
Twenty-five minutes later, Maj. Gen. Anthony G. McAuliffe (then Brig. Gen.), commanding the l01st Airborne Div., shook hands with Lt. Col. Creighton W. Abrams, Agawam, Mass., and Capt. William A. Dwight, Grand Rapids, Mich., to celebrate the relief of Bastogne.
Thank you Light Speed.
The Foxhole has been fortunate that over the past year we've received letters from people who may not post but want to send along their related personal story and thanks for a thread covered here. It is then when we see clearly the fruit of our work and our dedication to this labor of love is refreshed.
"In conclusion, both seniors and juniors alike must realize that in bad weather, as in most other situations, safety and fatal hazard are not separated by any sharp boundary line, but shade gradually from one into the other. There is no little red light which is going to flash on and inform commanding officers or higher commanders that from then on there is extreme danger from the weather, and that measures for ships' safety must now take precedence over further efforts to keep up with the formation or to execute the assigned task. This time will always be a matter of personal judgment. Naturally no commander is going to cut thin the margin between staying afloat and foundering, but he may nevertheless unwittingly pass the danger point even though no ship is yet in extremis. Ships that keep on going as long as the severity of wind and sea has not yet come close to capsizing them or breaking them in two, may nevertheless become helpless to avoid these catastrophes later if things get worse. By then they may be unable to steer any heading but in the trough of the sea, or may have their steering control, lighting , communications, and main propulsion disabled, or may be helpless to secure things on deck or to jettison topside weights. The time for taking all measures for a ship's safety is while still able to do so. Nothing is more dangerous than for a seaman to be grudging in taking precautions lest they turn out to have been unnecessary. Safety at sea for a thousand years has depended on exactly the opposite philosophy."
Thanks Gator Navy. Spruance and Halsey...so much is based on political decisions by those who are clueless rather than real deeds.
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