The FReeper Foxhole Remembers Bari: The 'Second Pearl Harbor' (12/2/1943)

...a Marine by the name of Ernest M. Phillips on the heavy cruiser Northampton.

No offense to the Marines, but if you think a ship's company Marine knew what the ship was really doing in the pre-war Navy, you don't know crap about the Navy. Even now, I could go to the smoke deck tomorrow and start the most absolutely stupid rumor about what the ship is going to be doing and it would be everywhere by lunch. If they don't know otherwise, then it's the truth to them, but it doesn't mean it's true.

But were delayed in getting there and could not enter the harbor because the sub nets were in place

The delay in the arrival of the ENTERPRISE group due to bad weather has been well documented for years. It had nothing to do with submarine nets. Do you really think we had nets with no way of moving them when we needed to? Give me a break.

The other thing is he states is the Japanese put 27 torps. into the Utah.

The idiocy of this statement is not even worth commenting on. Forget about the conspiracies, try reading a real history of Pearl Harbor like Prange's "At Dawn We Slept", or at least realize that especially when you are reading an oral history, just because they said it doesn't mean it's right.

Hmm I guess that funny looking Crow I had on my sleeve for over ten years was just for show.

Were you there? Why wouldn’t a ship's company Marine know what’s happening? What are some of the things Marines aboard a ship of this type use for?

Maybe things like courier duty or walking around with the Captain making him look important. (Captain’s guard)

It’s his story. And he doesn’t say what duties were. But I think a Marine assigned to a cruiser. Would have a better chance of knowing what’s going on that most of the ship's company.

If you want his full story. Get the book and read it. But if you must know the reason he gives for the Northampton being delayed. Is they were conducting carrier towing exercise with the Enterprise And later refueling Destroyers in rough seas.
An aft line parted and fouled there screws. So they had to send divers over the side to “unravel the mess”

And yes I can see a dispatcher telling them to delay entry to the next day instead of opening the nets at night.

OK you tell us were was the Enterprise due to tie-up.
Japanese pilots were ordered to ignore the UTAH.

Yes I have read those other books. And just because there the “big official” book don’t mean everything there is the gospel truth.

If you take the time. You will find out you can learn more about history thru oral historys Than the official storys.

Yes they can contain errors too. But put together with others and the “official” ones. A more accurate picture emerges.

There are other accounts that backup what he says.

http://www.lkwdpl.org/lore/lore45.htm

http://www.chiseledincloth.com/cgi/YaBB.pl?board=nora_cat;action=display;num=1091630730

You just may not have the whole story of why the Enterprise was late.

http://www.chiseledincloth.com/NHamptonnavigation.html

If you had a crow for ten years then you know exactly what I mean when I said I could start the stupidest rumor and get it believed. And this is now, when the crew is generally much more informed of what is going on. The gulf between the crew and officers in those days was far greater than it is now, and the enlisted were far more in the dark about what was really happening. What happens then? They guess and speculate, but that doesn't mean it's the truth.

Re the UTAH. Yes, that was ENTERPRISES' normal berth and yes the Japanese were without a doubt going to look there. But just think about the number this guy throws out. 27 torpedoes? To believe that means one either says the Japanese were unable to tell UTAH was not ENTERPRISE or that they continued to throw ordnance into in an already sunk ship. The UTAH took 2 torpedoes and capsized in 10 minutes.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.