14 years later I was First Lt. on the Happy Harry (Harold E. Holt 1074) and we pulled into the RoK Navy Base at Chinhae and there it was, only now it was ROKS Kang Won (DD 922). It's amazing the way these old war horses kept going.
Posted on 02/27/2005 3:02:40 PM PST by TownhallMeetup
Sunday, February 27 at 8 p.m. ET!
In this thrilling episode you’ll go to war aboard the destroyers of World War II. Their crews nicknamed these ships “tin cans” because they lacked armor. The hundreds of destroyers and the 300,000 brave souls that sailed aboard proved invaluable in both the Atlantic and Pacific theatres.
"War Stories" host Oliver North talks to several sailors who survived a punishing typhoon in December of 1944. Evan Fenn tells how he barely escaped the USS Monaghan as it was overwhelmed and capsized by seas towering near 80 feet. You’ll meet another sailor whose ‘tin can’ went head to head with a massive Japanese battleship. And you’ll learn, from a survivor, what it’s like to have suicidal kamikazes smash into your ship, just feet from your battle station.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
respect bump
14 years later I was First Lt. on the Happy Harry (Harold E. Holt 1074) and we pulled into the RoK Navy Base at Chinhae and there it was, only now it was ROKS Kang Won (DD 922). It's amazing the way these old war horses kept going.
The USS Hull's continuing legacy is a tribute to all who served. The group's reunions brought Typhoon Cobra survivors together with later Hull sailors and a new Hull is in the works I'm told.
The little group that watched the show tonight ended with a call to Evan Fenn. We thanked him again for his service and his willingness to make connections only he can. The son of a lost sailor talking to the last man to see him alive is something I cannot begin to describe. All I can say is there's not a dry eye in the house.
USS Bancroft, DD-598
.\ Coral Sea was off Iran with me, I delivered mail to it in 1980
http://rescueattempt.tripod.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/cv43coralsea.jpg
Thanks for the ping!
Some sad news tonight, a close freind and Vietnam Veteran US Navy, died of a heart attack at home tonight at the age of 61.
He was also the artist who did the artwork for our Praying For A Safe Return displays.
Prayers going up for the family.
While I wasn’t a WWII tin can sailor, the show did bring back some memories of the sea. The Typhoon Cobra segment was awesome. I have experienced 50 foot seas, but never 80 foot. The first time was in on an Army LCU – 115 foot, 250 tons – in the South China Sea. We saw a destroyer having a hard time of it, with every sea it would bury itself nearly to the bridge, shake like a dog and struggle back up with green water pouring over it. We came up on the radio and offered her aid just as she came up on the light asking if we needed help. We thought we were doing pretty good – except for the green water over the conn on every sea. To the destroyer we must have completely disappeared with every plunge.
The other times were in the area around Okinawa with a 140 foot, 610 ton tug boat and a 74 foot, 105 tons LCM 8.
The tug was (so rumor had it) able to take a 55 degree roll safely. Every time the inclinometer hit 55 I would look away.
BTTT!!!!!!
BTTT!!!!!!
Hi Jim,
I was on several ships and boats during my Navy days, including Swift Boats, (I was in Nam 12-months, not 4).
I ended up on a destroyer, the USS Ault, DD 698, out of Mayport, Florida, where I ended my career as lead navigator, QM2. I almost shipped over because I liked being on a Can, (aka, Sea-going Greyhound) so much. Great ship and proud crew.
Cheers from Argentina
At first light we made several passes by the freighter and finally got a line to her so we could get her out of the trough and into the sea. Many of the bos'ns mates got medals that day for manning those lines on the main deck. It was incredibly dangerous down there.
Boy does that bring back memories. I was on USS Ingraham DD694 which stayed in the US fleet until 1971 when she was sold to the Greek navy. She could do 35 knots at full power and that was why she stayed commissioned so long. Mount 52 was my baby.
I know what they were going through.
The Army tugs working out of Okinawa did emergency response (no Coast Guard there). The only time we were needed was during typhoons – the old Victory ships only seemed to break down during storms.
Do Frigates count? USS Barbey (FF-1088).
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