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

Posted on 05/07/2003 5:35:20 AM PDT by 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.

     

  1. 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.
  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. 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.

  1. 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



TOPICS: VetsCoR
KEYWORDS: coralsea; freeperfoxhole; michaeldobbs; robertjamesdicken; usssims; veterans; warriorwednesday; wwii
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To: SAMWolf
Thanks. :)
41 posted on 05/07/2003 3:33:53 PM PDT by snippy_about_it (Pray for our Troops)
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To: AntiJen
remove
42 posted on 05/07/2003 3:54:05 PM PDT by reedmelnick
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To: SAMWolf
USS SIMS

I'm not surprised by their heroism yet I always regard such bravery with awe. Thanks Sam, this is a piece of history previously unknown to me.
43 posted on 05/07/2003 3:58:51 PM PDT by snippy_about_it (Pray for our Troops)
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To: reedmelnick
OK
44 posted on 05/07/2003 4:12:39 PM PDT by Jen (The FReeper Foxhole - Can you dig it?)
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To: snippy_about_it
The SIMS and Neosho are pretty much a footnight in any history of the Coral Sea battle. It was nice to find some more detailed info on the event.
45 posted on 05/07/2003 4:19:32 PM PDT by SAMWolf (If the economy does improve soon, bet on HIllary throwing her broom in the nomination ring)
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To: AntiJen; *all
Hiya Jen, all!


A Message of SUPPORT for our Troops deployed in harms way.

Clic on the pic!

46 posted on 05/07/2003 4:51:54 PM PDT by snippy_about_it (Pray for our Troops)
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To: AntiJen
Bunp AntiJen.
47 posted on 05/07/2003 5:04:10 PM PDT by fatima (Go Karen,Look at all these's prayers.For all our troops,we love you.)
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To: SAMWolf

USS Kitty Hawk sailors “man the rails” as the carrier returns from 103 days at sea.

USS Kitty Hawk sailors look on as their home port of Yokosuka comes into view Tuesday morning.

USS Kitty Hawk sailors wave flags as they man the rails Tuesday morning.

48 posted on 05/07/2003 5:12:27 PM PDT by GATOR NAVY
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To: SAMWolf

I just thought I'd throw this one in too, because I'd never seen these twin .50 cal mounts except on patrol craft.

And the caption says he's using a sextant. He's actually using a stadimeter, which finds distance to an object of known height.

49 posted on 05/07/2003 5:17:37 PM PDT by GATOR NAVY
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To: GATOR NAVY
They look good! Welcome home.

Thanks for sharing the pics with us.
50 posted on 05/07/2003 5:33:06 PM PDT by snippy_about_it (Pray for our Troops)
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To: GATOR NAVY
Thanks Gator Navy.

Love the 50 Cal. All these years and it's still an excellent HMG.
51 posted on 05/07/2003 6:33:41 PM PDT by SAMWolf (If the economy does improve soon, bet on HIllary throwing her broom in the nomination ring)
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To: SAMWolf; AntiJen; snippy_about_it; All
Hi everybody! Hope you're having a wonderful evening.


52 posted on 05/07/2003 6:55:57 PM PDT by Victoria Delsoul
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To: Victoria Delsoul
Hi Victoria. Everytime you post a pic I clic on it just in case. lol.
53 posted on 05/07/2003 6:59:21 PM PDT by snippy_about_it (Pray for our Troops)
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To: snippy_about_it
Oooh, OK try this one...


54 posted on 05/07/2003 7:13:11 PM PDT by Victoria Delsoul
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To: Johnny Gage; SAMWolf; AntiJen; snippy_about_it; E.G.C.

55 posted on 05/07/2003 7:14:19 PM PDT by PhilDragoo (Hitlery: das Butch von Buchenvald)
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To: Victoria Delsoul
Whoo. Dean-o!
56 posted on 05/07/2003 7:18:57 PM PDT by snippy_about_it (Pray for our Troops)
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To: PhilDragoo
You have the coolest stuff! :)
57 posted on 05/07/2003 7:19:45 PM PDT by snippy_about_it (Pray for our Troops)
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To: Victoria Delsoul
Evening Victoria. Nice Charel Brown and Woodstock Graphic
58 posted on 05/07/2003 8:19:30 PM PDT by SAMWolf (If the economy does improve soon, bet on HIllary throwing her broom in the nomination ring)
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To: PhilDragoo
Evevning Phil Dragoo. Great painting of the TBM's
59 posted on 05/07/2003 8:20:56 PM PDT by SAMWolf (If the economy does improve soon, bet on HIllary throwing her broom in the nomination ring)
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To: SAMWolf
Hey Sam, how are ya?
60 posted on 05/07/2003 8:28:28 PM PDT by Victoria Delsoul
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