THE TROPHY KILL

JDWetterling.com ^ | December 6, 2005 | JD Wetterling

[Jackknife]

THE TROPHY KILL

USS Queenfish (SS393)

Sixty-four years ago, on Dec. 7, 1941 my dear friend, Jack Bennett, survived the attack on Pearl Harbor by an inch or two when a bullet clipped his thumb in front of his face as he adjusted his broken helmet. His ancient WW I helmet, with a broken chin strap, was a microcosmic metaphor of the sorry state of our country’s military preparedness back then. You may read the story of Holocaust Sunday and Jack’s miraculous survival as it appeared here last year on this day of infamy.

“Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord” (Romans 12:19). Few of us are allowed to partake in our own revenge, but in God’s grace Brother Jack was allowed to on a number of occasions, long before he became a Christian. Here's one, adapted from a book in progress:

Shortly after the Guadalcanal battle, the “most furious sea battle in history,” Jack finally gave up trying to get Navy approval to become a fighter pilot and volunteered for far more dangerous duty, the silent service—submarines—with the highest casualty rates, by a wide margin, of any branch of service in WW II. Because that service desperately needed more men, they took him immediately (after he passed a battery of tests that only a minority survived). Pagans would say he led a charmed existence. I think most of my readers know otherwise.

[Jackknife]

This was written by my friend, JD Wetterling, last week in remembrance of Pearl Harbor Day, and his friend Jack Bennett. I didn't have a chance to post it last week, but better late than never. JD is shopping the book he wrote about Jack's life. Hopefully it will be picked up soon!

[Jackknife]

Ping

[The Drowning Witch]

BUMP. GREAT read.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

Ditto bump.

[Jackknife]

WW2 vet ping.

[hc87]

Not to be a killjoy, but according to Clay Blair, Jr. in Silent Victory, it was Akitsu Maru, not Akitsu and it was an aircraft ferry, not an aircraft carrier. Meaning that planes could be flown off but nor landed. And for what it's work, A.J. Watts, in Japanese Warships of WWII, classifies Akitsu Marui as a landing ship.

One heck of a patrol, but not the sinking of a carrier. The only American subs that pulled that off were Cavalla, Archerfish, Spadefish, Rasher, Redfish, Barb and Albacore.

[hc87]

Let's try that one more time without the typos:

Not to be a killjoy, but according to Clay Blair, Jr. in Silent Victory, it was Akitsu Maru, not Akitsu and it was an aircraft ferry, not an aircraft carrier. Meaning that planes could be flown off but not landed. And for what it's worth, A.J. Watts, in Japanese Warships of WWII, classifies Akitsu Marui as a landing ship.

One heck of a patrol, but not the sinking of a carrier. The only American subs that pulled that off were Cavalla, Archerfish, Spadefish, Rasher, Redfish, Barb and Albacore.

[Jackknife]

If you like that, check out some of JD's other writings, as well as his bio......

"He was Top Gun in every fighter squadron in which he served in the USAF."

[Jackknife]

Have any links handy? I'd like to check that out.

[Jackknife]

Nevermind. I googled and got some sources. ;)

[SampleMan]

In 1941, that "ancient" helmet was 23 years old. What is the age of the newest B-52?

[Jackknife]

From this link.....

"The newest B-52 is 40 years old"

[Gay State Conservative]

Think what you will about Brokaw,but I agree with him 1000% when he speaks of "The Greatest Generation".

[Gay State Conservative]

I saw a B-52 last year at the Air Show at Westover AFB (Massachusetts).A very impressive chariot,I'd say.

Even more impressive,to me,would have been an SR-71!

[RunningWolf]

Thanks for the ping,

I had several relatives that fought in WWII, and I got the stories straight from them. In '65 the end of the war was only 20 yrs in the past.

One cousin manned a gun the deck on a boat during Pearl Harbor. One Uncle in the Navy, another Uncle was in the 82nd Airborne drop into France a couple weeks after D-Day.

Wolf

[VOA]

bump for publicity

[hc87]

I wouldn't have been of any help anyway. I was relying on my beloved and yellowing copies of both books :-)

[Grampa Dave]

Another book to read when the winter storms hit.

Thanks.

[Jackknife]

No problem. ;)

[Jackknife]

Truly, the Greatest Generation.