[KeyWest]

My father was the Gunnery Officer on the Astoria. He was in the main battery Director when the Japs attacked. He returned fire, but the Captain came to the bridge and ordered cease fire because he thought they were firing on the southern group. My Dad said, "For God's sake, fire!" But the CO would not. That gave the Japs enough time to zero in on the cruisers and started to hit them with gunfire. Only then did the CO allow my Dad to return fire but then it was too late.

The long lance torpedos came into use when the Cruisers were burning and made easy targets.

The Astoria made it into the next day. My Dad was rescued that day.

He never told me what happened to him during the war. I learned it from books, all of which made him into the one person who did the right thing. The CO got a medal but refused to allow one for my Dad. He hated him for being right.

One of my father's classmates published an article saying that it was probably the Astoria that made the only hit on the jap group- the chartroom of the flagship. The Admiral thought others of his ships were being hit so withdrew. Had they just turned around they could have sunk all the transports and that would have doomed the Marines on Guadacanal.

One of the great lessons that came out of the battle was that we lost ships because of fire resulting from peacetime practices. Dust was allowed to collect in the ventilation ducts over many years of just being show ships, so that when they took a hit and fire broke out, it spread throughout the whole ship quickly. No one thought of cleaning the ducts or the danger of years worth of dust.

[SAMWolf]

Thanks for sharing about your Dad. I thank him for his service.

[HiJinx]

It's amazing how much went on that never makes it to the history books...or articles. I've learned similar things about the air war over Guadalcanal in conversation with Joe Foss.

As SAM said, we honor your father's service and thank you for bringing us his story.

[Polybius]

One of the great lessons that came out of the battle was that we lost ships because of fire resulting from peacetime practices. Dust was allowed to collect in the ventilation ducts over many years of just being show ships, so that when they took a hit and fire broke out, it spread throughout the whole ship quickly.

Not to mention wooden furniture.

After Savo Island, wooden furniture was no longer allowed aboard U.S. Navy ships.

[pttttt]

The CO got a medal but refused to allow one for my Dad. He hated him for being right.

Thanks for telling about your dad. Being right is seldom forgiven. Fortunately there are still people who will speak up.

[kigle1]

My Dad was also on The U.S.S Astoria CA-34 “ The Nasty Asty”. He too was wounded during that battle and saved by an unknown sailor. My dads name was Lester E. Iglehart. I’ve become very interested in the battle of Savo Island since he died, he never talked about it with us.