The FReeper Foxhole Remembers Robert James Dicken, C.S.M. - USS SIMS (5/7/1942) - May 7th, 2003

Ibiblio.Org ^

[SAMWolf]

Dear Lord,

There's a young man far from home,
called to serve his nation in time of war;
sent to defend our freedom
on some distant foreign shore.

We pray You keep him safe,
we pray You keep him strong,
we pray You send him safely home ...
for he's been away so long.

There's a young woman far from home,
serving her nation with pride.
Her step is strong, her step is sure,
there is courage in every stride.
We pray You keep her safe,
we pray You keep her strong,
we pray You send her safely home ...
for she's been away too long.

Bless those who await their safe return.
Bless those who mourn the lost.
Bless those who serve this country well,
no matter what the cost.

Author Unknown

.

FReepers from the The Foxhole
join in prayer for all those serving their country at this time.

.

.................................................................................................................................

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Robert James Dicken, C.S.M
"Battle of Coral Sea
USS Sims (DD-409)
Action Report"

May 18, 1942

From:	The Senior Line Petty Officer, U.S.S. SIMS, (Robert James Dicken, C.S.M., U.S. Navy).
To:	The Secretary of the Navy.
Via:	The Commander U.S. Submarines, Eastern Australia.
Subject:	Personal observations of SIMS #409 disaster.

1. On May 7, I was serving as Chief Signalman on board the U.S.S. Sims. We were employed convoying the U.S. Navy Tanker Neosho when attacked by Japanese planes, bombed and sunk. After several days we were picked up by the U.S.S. Henley and while enroute to Brisbane Australia, I prepared a report which I gave to the Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. Neosho who had been taken off by the U.S.S. Henley.

   That report is as follows:

   At Sea
   May 13, 1942

   From:	Dicken, R.J., C.S.M., U.S. N.
   To:	The C.O. U.S.S. Neosho.
   Subject:	Personal observations of SIMS #409 disaster.

   On May 7 at 0930 I was in the Chief's quarters and heard a man in #1 handling room exclaim that a bomb had lit right alongside. General Quarters sounded immediately and duty gun opened fire. Upon reaching bridge the other guns had commenced firing on horizontal bombers. Recognition signals were attempted but no reply.

   There were a large number of our shells which failed to burst at the beginning of the attack but after several rounds, number unknown, the fuse settings seemed to be operating satisfactory as bursts were observed near the enemy planes.

   At beginning of attack Sims went to full speed and patrolled on either bow of tanker. Our gunfire seemed very effective in keeping the planes high and on the move.

   Observed one bomb score near miss, port side, amidships. No damage reported. One casualty, slight shoulder wound, on #2 gun. Man treated during lull and returned to gun.

High level attack lasted ten to fifteen minutes.

For next two hours several Radar contacts made, distance fifteen to twenty miles, but no planes appeared.

#1 gun appeared to be blistered.

About 1155 planes approached, identification attempted and upon no response the order to commence fire was given. Enemy planes began dive bombing attack on tanker. A steady rate of fire was maintained from all 5" guns.

About 1215 Sims received direct hit on or near after set torpedo tubes. Bomb apparently pierced deck and exploded in after engine room. Deck buckled forward of after deck house. Radar fell across gig. Received two more hits, one on after deck house, port side forward, which appeared to have caused only local damage. Another hit on #4 gun caused local damage. #1 and #2 guns were continuing to fire by local control.

Personnel was ordered off bridge and reported to Assistant Chief Engineer Ensign Tachna who ordered us to take off our shoes and put motor whale boat in water.

Numerous fireroom personnel seemed uninjured by first hit in engine room. This force assisted in lowering boat. Two men in boat when lowered. Boat began drifting clear of side. I went over the side, swam to boat, took tiller and began picking up personnel in water.

The Captain, still on bridge, ordered me aft to try to get aboard to flood after magazines and extinguish fire on after deck house. This was necessary due to fact that main deck between after deck house and machine shop was awash.

An attempt was made to get aboard. Ship began settling from aft, whale boat pulled clear and immediately afterwards the boilers blew up followed by another but smaller explosion. The ship broke in two parts, and sank.

All men that were not apparently dead were taken aboard, search made for two life rafts with from ten to twenty (total) men aboard. We then proceeded to tanker and placed ourselves under that command. There were fifteen Sims survivors in boat.

I have questioned Sims survivors for more data but no further information available.

 

Respectfully submitted
Robert James Dicken C.S.M.

 

2. I never saw any sign of panic. Everyone was on their stations doing their job and the whole ship worked as a well organized unit until the end. Discipline was excellent.

3. There are a few outstanding things that I can remember in addition to the above report:

   The number one gun crew stood by their gun and kept up a steady rate of fire after the paint on their gun was burning and the ship was at such an angle that the decks were awash. The Chief Engineer was wounded severely but carried out several duties under extremely difficult conditions. He tried to fire the forward set of torpedo tubes to assist the Captain in lightening the ship and to remove the danger of the torpedoes exploding aboard. He also extinguished the fire on the torpedo deck house at the time. One outstanding act was done by an enlisted man named E.F. MUNCH, MM2c, just before he jumped over the side to be picked up by my boat, he secured a depth charge to the deck so it would not go over the side or accidently explode on deck.

4. The last I saw of the Commanding Officer he was standing on the bridge when the ship was blown up by the explosion. He showed an example of courage throughout the entire engagement.

5. To the best of my knowledge and belief all muster rolls, log books and valuable papers went down with the Sims. We did not have any books or papers in my boat at all. My boat was not loaded with a view to permanently abandon ship. The Captain believed that he could save the ship and was doing everything in his power to do so right up until the ship blew up and sank.

6. During the entire four days of hard work in the boat, part of which time we were alongside the Neosho, and part clear of the Neosho, the conduct of the men was very good. We did the best we could to provision the boat and prepare it for sea. For the first three days we were repairing the 18 inch hole in the boat.

7. Our small boat was left tied up alongside the Neosho when we were taken aboard the Henley. When the Neosho was fired on and purposely sunk, this boat went down with her.

No property of any kind remains of the Sims.

8. To the best of my knowledge and belief the following are the only survivors of the U.S.S. Sims:

   NAME	RATE	SERVICE NO.
   VESSIA, V.J.	F2c	Unknown
   LAWES, J. Jr.	Sea2c	Unknown
   TEVEBAUGH, J.W.	RM3c	Unknown
   GOBER, A.C.	Sea2c	Unknown
   CHMIELEWSKI, J.	F1c	Unknown
   SCOTT, M.W.	F3c	Unknown
   VERTON, J.C.	Sea2c	Unknown
   ERNST, G.E.	FC3c	Unknown
   SAVAGE, J.	FC3c	Unknown
   MUNCH, E.F.	MM2c	Unknown
   CANOLE, V.F.	MM2c	Unknown
   REILLY, T.F.	WT1c	Unknown
   CLARK, (unknown)	CY	Unknown
   PELIES, E.M.	Sea2c	Unknown
   DICKEN, R.J.	CSM	Unknown

   I am the senior petty officer in this group of survivors. Of this list two men are now dead, they are: Chief Yeoman CLARK, who died the first night we were in the boat and PELIES, E.M., who died in the sick bay on board the Henley. To the best of my knowledge and belief there are no other survivors of the Sims.

 

Robert James Dicken, CSM.

 

Transcribed and formatted by Jerry Holden for the HyperWar Foundation

Thanks to Freeper Concerto in D for suggesting this Thread

[SCDogPapa]

Thanks for the PING Jen. :)

[weldgophardline]

Good morning , looks to be a great day.

[Darksheare]

Now THAT was guts.

Makes me also wonder how the scout could be that near-sighted to misidentify a fleet oiler as an aircraft carrier and the destroyer as a cruiser.

hmm.

[SAMWolf]

Makes me also wonder how the scout could be that near-sighted to misidentify a fleet oiler as an aircraft carrier and the destroyer as a cruiser.

It was common on both sides to mis-identify ship types.

[Darksheare]

Hmm.. Yes.
Probably was at high altitude without binos. (Happened often, or so I read somewhere. The old Mk1 eyeball got alot of use.)

[SAMWolf]

Current Military News
Welcome Home 82nd Airborne

Staff Sgt. Maggie Peppers smiles as she is reunited with her children Wesley, 5, left, and Athena, 2, right, Wednesday, May 7, 2003, at Pope Air Force Base, N.C., after she and about 250 members of the 82nd Airborne Division returned from duty in Iraq. (AP Photo/Bob Jordan)


Pfc. Andrew Mitchell, left, has a tearful reunion with his mother Lorna, right, Wednesday, May 7, 2003, at Pope Air Force Base, N.C


Pfc. Andrew Mitchell has a tearful reunion with his sister Jessica as he gets a pat from his mother Lorna, left, Wednesday, May 7, 2003, at Pope Air Force Base, N.C.


Capt. Santos DeLean, left, has a quiet moment with his wife Yazmin as their son Julian, 2, plays with balloons, right, Wednesday, May 7, 2003, at Pope Air Force Base, N.C.


Sgt. Dennis Curry is reunited with wife Rachel Wednesday, May 7, 2003, at Pope Air Force Base, N.C.


About 250 members of the 82nd Airborne Division march off the runway, Wednesday, May 7, 2003, at Pope Air Force Base, N.C., after they returned from duty in Iraq. (AP Photo/Bob Jordan)


Rosa Diaz wipes away tears after the playing of the National Anthem, Wednesday, May 7, 2003, at Pope Air Force Base, N.C., during a welcome home ceremony for 250 members of the 82nd Airborne Division as they returned from duty in Iraq. Diaz was wating to be reunited with her son Specialist Elliott Diaz.(AP Photo/Bob Jordan)


Sgt. First Class Hector Laureauo, left, is reunited with his wife Aida, right, Wednesday, May 7, 2003


Ryan Fritz holds his sign high, Wednesday, May 7, 2003, as a plane carrying his dad, Chief Warrant Officer James Fritz, lands at Pope Air Force Base, N.C.

[Soaring Feather]

JOY JOY JOY

[karebare]

thanks.

[beachn4fun]

I WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT OUT OF MY WORKDAY TO SAY......

HI EVERYONE. I FEEL AS IF I HAVE BEEN GONE FOREVER! I am still busy catching up after my trip to New Mexico. While I was at the Radisson there I noticed that there was a meeting of the New Mexico Republicans. If I hadn't been so busy with work, I might have just peeked in to see what was happening ;->

Lots happening right now, so I want to say I might not be able to get here everyday as I want, but will try to visit as often as I can.

To our military and our allied military...... I don't want you to think for one moment I have forgotten about you. Especially those of you on duty in other countries. Never. You are constantly in my thoughts and prayers.

SAMWOLF you sure can find some great photos. Thanks so much for posting them so that we might share a brief moment with the military. And to the other FR-members, thank you for being constant in your support and postings to the military.

[SAMWolf]

HI Beachn4fun. Nice to see you back.

We appreciate it any time you can drop in and say hi.

[U S Army EOD]

The tradition of saving the ship still lives on in the US Navy. One has to remember during the USS Cole disaster, the crew professionally responded and in turn saved the ship. The same thing occured during the Vietnam era with the disasters on the Forrestal, Oriskani (SP) , and the Bon Home Richard. The three carrier incidents might make interesting reading in the future.

[SAMWolf]

Afternoon U S Army EOD. I'll have to see what I can find on those events.

[SAMWolf]

Current Military News
LAPD - Karbala Precinct

Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officers conduct joint exercises with Iraqi police in the holy city of Kerbala, 110kms south of Baghdad, May 7, 2003. Five police officers, reservists with the U.S. Marines, have begun training the local law inforcement personnel in riot control tactics. REUTERS/Petr Josek


A Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officer gestures during joint exercises with Iraqi police in the holy city of Kerbala, 110kms south of Baghdad, May 7, 2003. REUTERS/Petr Josek


Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officer Victor Lopez displays his identification card during joint exercises with Iraqi police in the holy city of Kerbala, 110kms south of Baghdad, May 7, 2003.


Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officer Vincent Deglinnocenti (L) smiles at the reaction of Iraqi police as he displays a tattoo during joint exercises in the holy city of Kerbala, 110kms south of Baghdad, May 7, 2003.


A Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officer demonstrates tactics during joint exercises with Iraqi police, in the holy city of Kerbala, 110kms south of Baghdad, May 7, 2003

[snippy_about_it]

Good afternoon ms. feather.

Good afternoon Sam.

[snippy_about_it]

Hey there, good to see you again.

[snippy_about_it]

Lots of good pics today Sam. I'm so glad you share with us the whole story.

Thank you.

[SAMWolf]

Good Afternoon Snippy.

[Soaring Feather]

Howdy Snippy!
Jumping into the middle of things this afternoon??

[snippy_about_it]

That's so cute. I'm fine, you look like you're having fun. lol.

[SAMWolf]

I have a few things I need to get done tonight, so no need for ransom collections today.