SAILORS WITH RED STRIPPED HELMETS ...NORMANDY

The article that I posted just prior to this article [ACTION THIS DAY OF DAYS] which happens to be on the Normandy invasion....and during that invasion all of the military was on that beachhead...Army, Navy, Coast Guard, Air Force and Marines.  Well somehow they had to tell one another apart....so to glance at a Sailor or a Coast Guard-man....they was told to paint a 'grey stripe' on their helmet.  Well this article somewhat follows the same idea...but with a twist due to the fact that these sailors that was on the Normandy beachhead...was largely unappreciated of their heroic duties .....

They were the naval beach battalions or (NBB's)....and they were I.D.ed by red helmet markings.....  Secretly trained they were the U.S. Navy medical teams.....and they were on Omaha Beach, on June 6th, 1944.  I talk of "they"...well "they were 18 doctors and 144 corpsmen who landed in the early hours of D-Day."

So as you can see this article somewhat fits on the heels of the prior article.....so if you'd care to give this one a read as well....I think you'll get some idea of what these guys had to deal with when landing on the Normandy beach heads.....and the guts it took to make all the attempts they could to save lives in a very high casualty assault. 

Just click on the following title to read:

'SAILORS DRESSED LIKE SOLDIERS'

cshortridge73@gmail.com

ACTION THIS DAY OF DAYS

We've all heard or read about Omaha....and Utah beaches....all hooked with the word "Normandy Invasion."  It was an enormous undertaking by everyone concerned....amassing a huge array of more than 4,000 ships, landing craft....all were berthed in United Kingdom ports....in preparation for one of the largest amphibious assaults in modern military history.

This article....will provide you with just a tad of the years of planning...and regardless of all this planning....the things that "went wrong"...and why they went wrong....some were just mistakes....but some were not.  Then you have what the sailors and soldiers faced....  The Navy guys to get those soldiers on that beach...and in such numbers that effect could be made on the enemy.....but it was well known that there was going to be many casualties in this "assaults of all assaults."   And this was "just getting them soldiers on the beach"....once on...there was still intense fighting them men faced.

If you'd care to give this some of your valuable reading time....I do believe you will be enlightened to some degree and provide to you some idea just what went into this WW II assault, and actually I have only explained just a tip of the iceberg of this event.

Just click on the below link...if you care to give it a go

ACTION THIS DAY OF DAYS

Hope you find the article interesting

cshortridge73@gmail.com

USS IOWA ....SCRAPPED??

---------------------------------------------------------

WITH A WRETCHED ECONOMY SCARING AWAY POSSIBLE FINANCIERS TO KEEP THE WORLD'S LAST UNCOMMITTED BATTLESHIP AFLOAT, THE FUTURE OF THE ONCE-PROUD USS IOWA APPEARS MORE BLEAK EVERY DAY.

These "Battlewagons" as they were referred to has always been true to a sailors heart....just looking at them...you see "a mass of power."  Something that has served us all so well one would think there has to be a way to somehow....some way to keep these massive battleships that helped preserve our freedom....a place for all to see and marvel at...like being a museum ship of some sort.

Well that is all nicely said...but it cost huge sums of money in doing so....and we've done a fair job at preserving many ships....the Missouri...New Jersey...and many more...actually the U.S. has become known for preserving the third-largest fleet in the world.

So... this article goes over the problems and some history of the USS Iowa (BB-61)....what do we do with her????

If you care to give this one a glance...all you need to do is click on link below:

BATTLESHIP IOWA ....TO BE SCRAPPED?

Enjoy

cshortridge73@gmail.com

MARCH 1, 1945 CALSHIP LOG "GOSSIP SHEET"

Here is another issue of the "Calship Log"...  I have posted a couple of others on this blog so you can run a search on them if you wish to give them a gander.  For those of you that don't really know what these are all about....below is a thumbnail description....that I provide whenever I post one of the issues.

If you know all about them and rather not read...but just go right to the "Log"....just click on the below:

CALSHIP LOG MARCH 1, 1945

-----------------------------------------

I'm going to provide just an extremely short "intro" to this articles 'subject.'...so if you will kindly  bare with me on this.....it will give the reader a thread of back ground info of the 'Who, Want and When.'

Most of you know that several shipyards were built around the U.S. just prior to WW II....and most of these 'shipyards' was to gear up and built ships for the U.S. Navy as well as for the Liberty ship program....and later on the Victory ship came into the picture.

One such shipyard was the Californai Shipbuilding Corporation which was managed by Henry Kaiser and his associates.  "CALSHIP" as it was referred to, was the third emergency shipyard on the West Coast.  Built on land owned by the local port authority, it was located on the Cerritos Channel of Terminal Island which connects the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles.

The orginal 1941 plan called for eight building ways, but this quickly expanded to fourteen.  With expansion came remodeling and rapid Liberty ship construction.  Initially a production quota of twelve ships per month was set and by June 1942 this had been surpassed and was continually exceeded throughout 1943.

The 'Calship' shipyard mainly built Liberty freighters and tankers and later on began producing Victory ships.  Now this particular 'yard' was ranked the third in the nation in savings during the wartime emergency ship construction effort.  Their ships were built at an average cost of $1,858,000.....all together this yard produced 306 Liberty freighters and 30 Liberty tankers.

Ok....now you have a tad of a back ground on the 'Calship' shipyard.  Well to construct all these vessels at a cost savings as I just stated....management was always attempting to devise ways to cut cost but to still keep the quality in these "oh so important" cargo haulers of the War up to snuff.  So how did they do this??  Well they were always asking there Shipyard employees to suggest, suggest, and suggest...cost cutting ways to improve the product for less.

Well that is all fine and dandy....but to keep the shipyard worker 'in the mood' to help in this area they had to keep up the moral of the worker....and one of the ways management accomplished this was to provide the "CALSHIP LOG" [kind of a weekly newspaper of what was going on around the shipyard] twice a month....[issued on the 1st and 15th of each month].

It just so happens I have several of these "Calship Logs"....about 18 to 20 of them...I have them on a 'disk.'..I do not have the orginal. 

I'm going to provide to you 'one' of these logs....it is dated March 1, 1945....Vol 1 No. 4....and what is so darn interesting about this particular log is......this 'Calship Log' tells of the launching...[with pictures and data] of the SS John C. Fremont the first of 55 Liberty ships they built.

Now this is not the only thing that is described in this 'Calship Log'....if you read the entire 'Gossip Sheet' you'll soon see how management used this publication to keep the employees informed and to show just how important of a job they were involved in....and the appreciation for the quality and importance of the job all was doing.

So...if you've never seen one of these....you can 'open' the above March I, 1945 issue by clicking on this:

CALSHIP LOG MARCH 1, 1945

and believe me your in for a treat.

This particular issue has two interesting articles...one of these are on Japanese shipyards....the other article provides some insight on the Turbo Generators...of which each ship had four installed.  Both articles are interesting.

As I stated above....I have several additional issues....which was actually provided to be by a Mr. William Layton....whom is a computer friend of mine that has in the past provide me with many, many Liberty ship pictures and data...

So....hope this is all interesting to y'all.....and I'll be offering other issues from time to time....

Enjoy

cshortridge73@gmail.com

OCEAN STATIONS SAVED LIVES

The nation enthralled in mid-January of this year after seeing television coverage of the remarkable ditching of a passenger plane in the frigid Hudson River off Manhattan.  Captain Chesley “Sulley” Sullenberger was pilot of the U.S. Airways Airbus 320. He skillfully brought the plane to safety after its jet engines swallowed birds and lost power. All 155 people on board were saved, thanks to quick response by Coast Guard, police, and commercial craft on the river. With his background as an Air Force pilot and safety expert, Captain Sullenberger was the right man in the right place at the right time.

News reports hailed the feat as “unprecedented.” Perhaps that is true in a narrow sense, but this was not a new experience for the Coast Guard. Its men were also in the right places when needed years earlier. With the advent of commercial aircraft able to span the world’s oceans, the Coast Guard set up a series of ocean stations. It was not pleasant duty, for it required steaming around for weeks at a time. - often in cold, rough weather. The cutters’ duties included determining winds aloft, serving as navigation beacons, and relaying radio communications. It was a mission that beat up both men and ships.

Oh yes....it all happened before...and the Coast Guard was there

OCEAN STATIONS SAVED LIVES

Louis A. Sengteller (1846-1889) had a career with the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey.  He created the first detailed charts of the coast of California and Oregon.

-----------------------------------

This Liberty of which was a freighter had an Emergency Hull no. of 2149.  She was built at: Permanente Metals Corporation, Yard No. 2.  Her keel was laid on August 24, 1943.  Launched on September 14, 1943.  Her Operator: Alaska Packers Association.

After the war the SS Louis A. Sengteller was sold to
ARGENTINA

1946 in Nov. she was sold to Cia. Argentina de Nav. Dodero, S.A. she displayed the Argentina Flag and name changed to Coracero......[which can be viewed in the pictures below]

1948 she was renamed to Arriero

1951 she was sold to Flota Agrentina de Vav de Ultamar and continued to display the Argentina Flag and kept the same name ....that being Arriero.

1961 she was sold to Empresa Lineas Maritimas Argentines and continued to display the Argentina Flag and kept the same name ...that being Arriero.

1963 she was sold to Melteni Cia. Nav., S.A. and displayed the Liberia and the name was changed to Akti.

1969....in the month of October  she was actually scrapped by Shipbreakers, Hirao of Japan.

By: Bud Shortridge

cshortridge73@gmail.com

DEATH STRUGGLE OFF GUADALCANAL

The picture you see is of the 'Island' on the USS Enterprise and if you look close to the left of the Island you'll see a Japanese 'Val' on fire and attempting to come in for a 'kill.'  This is just one of many Japanese planes that was attacking the Enterprise during the battle of the eastern Solomons.
We had three carriers and there support groups in this battle....but the Enterprise was pretty much singled out as the target....the Japs wanted her "down & out" in there quest to hang on to southern Solomons.

Folks this is one heck of a battle...and yes one of the commanders of our side did make a mistake....a costly one for his career as a battle commander....and the Enterprise took one hell of a beating....damaged her...as well as killed some of her crew.

It is a detailed article of which if you're into reading about sea battles....well let me tell you this one is for you...at first it is a tad 'slow' in providing you with how this battle all got started and how we "thought" it was going to play out....but hang with it...because it sure does get interesting.

If you wish to give it a go...just click on the title below:

DEATH STRUGGLE OFF GUADALCANAL 

MIDWAY-CLASS CARRIERS A FIRST FOR ATOMIC AGE

Months before Pearl Harbor the Navy began design studies that envisioned a quartet of giant new carriers intended to improve on the then-building Essex-class. The result would be the 45,000-ton Midway-class, the largest warships ever built for the US Navy.

It was an unusually hot summer in Washington, D.C., when naval planners gathered to tackle a thorny new project. Given a mandate to conceive a giant new class of battle carrier, heated round table discussions commenced in an atmosphere as scorching inside the bureau of ship as temperatures outside. No two people shared the same reactions to the encyclopedic masses of data on which judgments would be based.  At issue was not only the concept of how to configure the envisioned gargantuan 45,000-ton vessels, but debate if they were needed at all. The time was 1941. Though the United States was not officially at war disastrous events in Europe and Asia foretold that the thin thread of America’s neutrality would soon snap under the weight of Axis aggression. A year earlier President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s administration had fortuitously ordered an unprecedented naval treaties. If the United States were to become the fee world’s ‘Arsenal of Democracy’ it would need a strong modern navy to counter the sizable fleets of Japan, Italy and Germany.  Foremost in these fleets would be the large new 27,000-ton Essex-class aircraft carriers then under construction. Fast, tough, purpose-built ships embodying the very latest naval technology, the 24 Essex would become the backbone of the carrier task forces in the 1940s.

Due to the length of this extremely interesting article there is "two parts"...just click on the titles below:

THE MIDWAY-CLASS CARRIERS [PART I]

THE MIDWAY-CLASS CARRIERS [PART II]

I certainly hope you enjoy the article

DISASTER OFF SAVO ISLAND

We had a major battle in getting onto Guadalcanal....but we did eventually manage.....but involved in this whole mess was a night battle referred to as "The Battle of Savo Island."  

To put it real bluntly...there were four.....yes that is 1, 2, 3, and 4...cruisers lost during this battle...one of which was the USS Astoria (CA-34).  Now a cruiser is no cork in the water as far as a warship goes....she is one hunk of ship that does in fact pose a factor in any sea battle.

Well this particular night...August 9th, 1942 started a series of events that proved out to be extremely costly in the loss of the four cruisers.  The Japanese had slipped into position....missed by all the forces we had in the area....planes, ships and anything else that would float....but still the Japanese slipped in to within striking distance of yards.....and lite up the surprised cruisers with searchlights....and lite them up...and pounded the hell out of all units.

The one unit...the USS Astoria provides great detail on what took place during being surprised right up to the ship fighting back when surprised....all the way to when she was abandoned...
Yes it is one hell of a story.

If you'd care to give it a read....just click on the below title:

DISASTER OFF SAVO ISLAND

THE "LADD REEF RESCUE"

This article is an extremely unique sub-to-sub rescue....which draws together two sub crews .....U.S. and Dutch submariners in the later days of WW II.

It involves the USS Cod (SS-224) and the Dutch Sub O-19.  The Cod got sent out on a mission to take care of one situation but ended up being directed to the O-19 that so happened to having an unfortunate meeting with a coral reef.

So the two crew met...and proceeded to tackle the problem of removing the O-19 from the reef...which for a submarine was not in the Submarine handbook on 'Just how to do such a thing'.

Anyway...after it was all said and done.....[no I'm not going to tell you how it turned out you'll have to read that for yourself]....the two crews bonded....and it even continues in todays world.

If you consider reading this....just click on the below title

RESCUE AT LADD REEF

Hope you enjoy the article

U.S. NAVY..."SICK WITH THE FLU"

In our modern world it is almost unbelievable that an illness would almost cause the loss of a war....but in WW I do you realize that the flu was more deadly than mustard gas, bombs, or bullets....it killed millions in its march across the land.

What you see in the picture is these young Navy recruits at the Naval Training Center, San Francisco....which all found out they were not immune from the flu's lethal effect.

Yes...it was a "Pandemic".....and in 1918 -19...influenza was comparable to the "Black Plague"...it was called many things...flu, grippe, Spanish Lady, Flanders Fever, or Three-day Fever....whatever you decide to call it....it killed more than 20 million people...which was a conservative estimate...  

This article provides you with some idea how this 'Influenza Pandemic" effected the U.S. Navy fighting forces....it came close to shutting down all Naval activity...in WW I.

If you'd care to give this one a read....just click on the below title
EVERYONE SICK WITH THE FLU

SS GEORGE H. POWELL

This particular Liberty ship was named after.... GEORGE H. POWELL....(1872-1922) whom made a career as a horticulturist whereas the U.S. Department of Agriculture sent him to California in 1904 to study citrus fruits that were rotting in transit....and actually became an authority in the preservation of fruit.  He also became general manager of the California Fruit Exchange (1912-1922),

-------------------------------------------------

The SS George H. Powell was built by Permanente Metals Corporation, Yard No.1, as a freighter. and was assigned the Emergency Hull No. 2126.  Her keel was laid on November 16, 1943, and her hull greeted the water [launched] on December 4,1943.  She was delivered to her 'operator': McCormick Steamship Co.on December 16, 1943.  Following her stent in the WW II she entered the Astoria Reserve Fleet on October 3, 1946 and was withdrawn shortly after that on February 7, 1947.

1947 (Feb) she was sold to Det Dansk Franske D/S A/S and displayed the Denmark flag and was renamed Gronland.

1951 she was sold again to Cia de Commercia y Vapores, S.A. and displayed the Liberia flag and again her name was change to Barka

1957 she was sold again to Cia Oceanica de Nav., S.A. and continued to display the Liberia flag under her name as Barka (no name change)

1958 sold  to "Siracusano" S.p.A di Transporti Transoceanici and this time she displayed the Italy flag and her name was changed to Siracusano.

1962 sold to Shipbreakers, Vado, Italy and arrived for scrapping on August 8.

[Note: If anyone has any pictures of this vessel and would like to share to this post please feel free to contact me]

Author: Bud Shortridge

cshortridge73@gmail.com 

AIRSHIPS AGAINST THE SUB'S

This article is about a subject that has not generally been discussed a great deal.  Oh yes if you've viewed WW II pictures of invasions you would see the (LTA's)....which stands for 'Lighter-Than-Air' components of the U.S. Navy....better referred to as "blimps."

There were and probably still is many miss-conceptions about how the performance of the LTA's benefited the Navy in the all out effort of invasions and having a "helium umbrella" over the Merchant Marine that was so important in supply to our friends and fighting men on other shores.

I'd have to say...this is an interesting article...so if your up for a short read....and wish to know a tad about these "LTA's".....well you can click on this: AN EFFECTIVE UMBRELLA

Hope you enjoy the article

SS CHARLES J. FINGER

This Liberty ship was named after..... Charles J. Finger (1869-1941) whom was an author of juvenile books.  His book Tales from Silver Lands (1924) won the 1925 Newbery Medal.   Some of Finger's other works include Tales Worth Telling (1927), Courageous Companions (1929), and A Dog at His Heel.  Finger was an accomplished musician. He directed the San Angelo Conservatory of Music in Texas, from 1898 to 1904.[4] Among his piano students in San Angelo was David Wendel Guion, who would later achieve notability for arranging and popularizing the ballad "Home on the Range."

-------------------------------------------------

The Liberty Ship freighter SS Charles J. Finger was built at Todd Houston Shipbuilding Corp. with emergency Hull No. 2909.  Her Keel was laid on December 8th, 1943.  Her hull kissed the water [launched] on January 28th, 1944, and was delivered to her 'Operator" Overlakes Freighter Corp.  After her postwar duties she entered the James River Reserve Fleet on October 20th, 1945 and was withdrawn on February 24th, 1947.

SS Charles J. Finger

1947 March the Charles J. Finger was sold to Det Ostasiatiske Kompagni and was to display the Denmark flag.....her name was changed to St. Thomas.
1951 she was sold again to Aragon Cia. Nav., S.A. and this time she would display the Panama flag with a name change to Cavostaras.

1953 she was sold again to Cia Europa Comm. y Maritima, S.A. and she would display the Panama Flag with a name change to Despina.

                                                                       SS Despina


1959 Re-flagged to display the Greece flag....and she was renamed Amfithea.
1963 she was sold to Chogule Steamships, Ltd. and was to fly the India flag....and to be renamed Maratha Explorer.
1966 she was sold to Pent-Ocean Steamships Ply., Ltd. and was again to display an India flag, and her named changed to Samudra Vijay.
1970 August. she was purchased by Shipbreakers, Bombay, India to be scrapped.

---------------------------------------

                                                                  

Author: Bud Shortridge                                                      

THE "AgR's"

America's Forgotten "COLD WAR" Skywatcher's

Completing an early-warning ring of radar sites around the United States in the pre-satellite Cold- War era was a fleet of 16 Specially modified Navy-manned Liberty ships spotted in mid-ocean to alert America’s East and West Coast of impending air attack.

This article entails the era of the "Cold War"....when tensions seemed to escalate between the United States and the Soviet Union....this was in the mid- 1950's.  Well what took place was the U.S. and Canada were somewhat concerned that an attack from over the North Pole could be a possibility.  So in light of  this concern it was conceived that and "Early Warning System"..had to be put into place...they call this the "Distant Early Warning Line" or better known as The 'DEW' Line...across the Arctic border.

The article gives you some input on how we came up to monitor this "DEW LINE"...and what ships were involved....

If you would like to give this article a glance....you can link to it by

 clicking : HERE

MISFORTUNE AT CORAL SEA

Many of us don't have a clue on how 'we' would react if we were on a warship...involved in a major sea battle....and being attack by many enemy planes....  So in many of these articles that I publish on this blog I attempt in my merger manner to put the reader in the thick of the battle...and what the crew was going through.

Well this is what this article is all about....the USS Sims (DD-409) as well as the USS Neosho (AO-23) while being engulfed in the battle at "Coral Sea."  

This article is pretty much based on one of the few survivors of the USS Sims.  Most if not all the survivors do not agree with the Captains decisions or non appropriate decisions at the time of the attack.  By reading about this incident you'll read that the survivors feel is the appropriate evasive moves would have been made with the USS Sims...many more....in fact many, many more of the crew would have survived.

So...this is the story...there are parts that are not real entertaining to read about...so I warn you NOW!!!  If you care to give this accounting of this event a go....

Just click: HERE

RULER OF THE SEAS

BIG-BORE NAVAL GUNS MADE THE BATTLESHIP

The "Battleship"....it has been referred to as a 'Naval Phenomenon'.  The mass of it's image was enough to scare an opposing foe....and when she let loose with her huge guns no enemy wanted to be on the receiving end of what was headed toward them.  Actually it was said that the battleship was more than a vessel....."it was a state of mind".....and when view...or even thought about it was a symbol of 'power'.


So other than size what made this immense vessel so thought of to be 'indestructible'....well folks it was the range and accuracy of her main gun battery.


So this is what this rather long article entails....the development of the battleship and how it revolutionized all Navies as the range and accuracy of the big-bore Naval rifles rewrote the rules of war at sea.


This article provides great detail on how these 'Big Guns' all came about....so if you looking to fine out what took place and when on this subject ....this will provide you with an abundance of facts.

Like to 'give it a go'...just click: HERE

Hope you enjoy this tad of history

AIRCRAFT CARRIER PICTURES..."A MUST SEE"

72 AIRCRAFT CARRIER PICTURES THAT ARE "AWESOME".

If you click on this: AIRCRAFT PICTURES  you will be treated to 72 pics of 'Aircraft Carrier's' at sea, planes take offs and landings on their decks.....  Tell you what folks these are pretty darn neat...you are in for a treat when you view this...

Hope you enjoy!!!

A NAVY SECOND TO NONE 1922 - 1941

The battleship USS Arizona (BB-39) had spotting for her twelve 14-inch guns was done by her floatplane spotting aircraft and from the top level of her tripod masts.  The "clock" on the forward leg of her forward leg of her foremast was in fact a range indicator, so that the ship ahead would know the range of Arizona's target.

Folks this is a 'long' article....actually it is a 'two parter'....so what I'm going to do here is provide the first page what I call the 'lead-in'....  Now to me this is one damn good article....plenty of data..pictures...and just a general understanding of "why" we (USA) was the best of the best....we never considered 'second best'...  So...here is the lead in....and the links of getting to both parts.

When the governments of the United States, Great Britain, Japan, Italy, and France signed the Five-power Pact limiting naval armaments in February 1922, the U.S. Navy was at last second to none. The treaty allowed the United States a navy the equal of that of the British Empire and superior to that of the Empire of Japan. Yet the U.S. Navy was like a man caught straddling a fence - not quite out of one world and not entirely safe in a new position. The treaty had frozen much of the Navy in place, cut off much of the massive building program authorize in 1916, and curtailed the planned investment in the ship of the future - the aircraft carrier. The result was a powerful navy, but not powerful enough to gain control of both the
Pacific and the Atlantic if the United States were to fight a two-ocean war.  One goal of the Washington Treaty had been to keep any navy a party to it from building up enough strength to overcome its main rival with one major offensive. The treaty therefore left Japan strong in the western Pacific while conceding dominance of the e stern Pacific and the Caribbean to the United States. In the event of a conflict between them, neither navy could be sure of defeating the other with just its treaty strength. The treaty also constrained the advance of naval technology. The three major naval technologies that showed great promise in World War I

PART I

PART II

Hope you enjoy the article

'UNDER THE EYE OF THE GOVERNMENT'

For more than 200 years the Washington Navy Yard has played an important part in the history of the U.S. republic and its navy.  From being an early center of shipbuilding, to producing heavy ordnance in the Civil War and two world wars, to being an administrative center and keeper of the Navy's history, the U.S. Navy's oldest installation always has been a vital servant of the nation's sea services.

Yes....I am aware that there are parts of this article that could be a tad dull...but if you stick with the read....I'm positive you'll get a history lesson of a huge facility.....I myself would have gave every cent I have to see this "Gun Factory" and the huge machinery that it took to produce these huge guns for the many battleships that graced our oceans...

If you want to give this one a read....which I encourage you to do so..just click :

HERE

Hope you enjoy the read.

SS ABSAROKA

The Absaroka was an unarmed old lumber carrier.....on December 25, 1941 she met up with I-19 sub about 26 miles or so off San Pedro, Calif.....well the result was not all that great.  The SS Absaroka was lost and so were some lives...

So....if you are searching for this ole girl and wanting to know just what happened to her....

Well click: HERE

Hope the article is interesting to you.

SS HOKE SMITH

Michael Hoke Smith....(1855-1931) of which this particular Liberty ship was named after became an excellent lawyer without a 'formal' education....[he passed the bar examination at the age of seventeen in 1873].  Established a legal practiced by becoming a prominent injury attorney in the Southeast, by representing workers and passengers against the railroads.....in doing so he became financially and professionally established.  In 1887 purchase the Atlanta Journal, of which became very profitable in just a few years.  He used his wealth, and the successful Atlanta Journal to enter Democratic politics.  He went on from this point to become the United States Secretary of the Interior (1873-1896), the 58th Governor of Georgia (1907-1909, 1911), and a United States Senator (1911-1920) from Georgia.  He was most influential as the leader of Georgia's Progressive movement during his years as governor and as a U.S. Senator.

-------------------------------------------

SS HOKE SMITH

The SS Hoke Smith was built as a Liberty ship freighter at Southeastern Shipbuilding Corporation and was assigned Emergency Hull No. 1061.  Her Keel was laid on July 21, 1943, and she was Launched September 16, 1943.  She was delivered to her 'operator' which was: American Export Lines, Inc. on September 27, 1943.  Following postwar service she entered the James River Reserve Fleet on July 13, 1946 and a few months later.....February 15, 1947 was withdrawn.

1947 March sold to Rederiet "Ocean" A/S, displayed the Denmark flag and her named changed to Thora Dan.

SS THORA DAN

1948 sold to Cia de Nav. Aeolus, S.A. and displayed the Panama flag and her name changed to Spalmatori.

1960 sold to Cia de Vapores Realma, S.A. and displayed the Greece flag and her name again changed to Mastro-Stelios ll.

1961 sold to Ulysses Shipping Enterprises, S.A. continued to display the Greece flag and continued to carry the same name of Mastro-Stelios ll.

SS MASTRO-STELIOS ll

1965 sold to First Freighters, Ltd and displayed the South Africa flag with a name change to Wendy H.

1967 September 23 she arrived for scrapping at Shipbreakers, Valencia, Spain.

Author: Bud Shortridge

SS ROBERT G. HARPER

The Liberty ship SS Robert G. Harper was named after Robert G. Harper (1765-1825) whom was born in Fredericksburg, Virginia.  At the age of fifteen he joined a volunteer corps of Cavalry and served in the American Revolutionary Army.  Sometime after that he went to and graduated from the College of New Jersey [which now is Princeton University]. After graduation he studied law in Charleston, South Carolina, as well as teaching school at the same time.  He started a practice in the Ninety-Sixth District of South Carolina, moving back to Charleston, S.C. in 1789.
Harper was a member of South Carolina House of Representatives in 1790 until 1795....then elected to the Third Congress, due to filling a vacancy.   It appears he was well liked because he was re-elected the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Congresses, was not voted in for the seventh....but did serve as a U. S. Representative from February 1795 to March of 1801.  Harper was involved in the impeachment proceedings against William Blount.  He moved to Baltimore, Maryland and became engaged in organizing the Baltimore Exchange Co. in 1815.

---------------------------------------

The SS Robert G. Harper, a Liberty ship freighter,  was Built at Oregon Ship Building Corporation and was assigned the Emergency Hull No. 234.  Her Keel was Laid on: January 22, 1942.  Her Launching was: March 22, 1942, and she was delivered to her operator: Pacific-Atlantic Steamship Co. on April 27, 1942.  Following postwar service she entered the James River Reserve Fleet on June 8, 1946 and was withdrawn on September 1, 1947.

1947 March the Robert G. Harper was sold to Def Ostasiatiske Kompagni and she displayed the Denmark flag and her name changed to St. Croix.

SS St. Croix ex SS Robert G. Harper

1951 she was sold to Puerto Cabello Cia. Nav., S.A. Corp and displayed the Panama flag and her name changed to Marna.

1954 she was sold to Fairwind Shipping Co, S.A. and displayed the Panama flag and her name changed to Astron.

1962 she was sold to Uranos Cia. Nav., S.A. and displayed the Greece flag with a name change to Uranos.

1966 sold to Great Fortune Nav. Co., S.A. and displayed the Liberia flag with a name change to Great Peace.

1968 she was 'Reflagged' and displayed the National China flag but carried the same name...Great Peace.

1970 March she arrived at Shipbreakers, Keelung, Taiwan for scrapping.

Author: Bud Shortridge

THE "TURNER" A LOSS WITHOUT WARNING

USS TURNER (DD-648)

On January 3rd, 1944, the USS Turner (DD-648) suffered explosions originating near her bow that continued along her 348 foot length until the new destroyer literally was annihilated.  She eventually sank and 138 of her crew were killed in the two-hour ordeal.  It was not a loss through combat as she was anchored in protected waters off the Ambrose Light near New York Harbor.  This was human error involving one of wartime's more unstable antisubmarine weapons....the Mousetrap.

At the left: February 28, 1943, launching day for the brand-new Bristol-class destroyer, USS Turner (DD-648).  Her cost of $8.8 million is small compared to the 1990's Arleigh Burke-class destroyer that cost approximately $1 billion.

If you;d care to read about this unusual loss....just click 

HERE


Hope you enjoy the article

"ZIGGY" A PILOTS PILOT

"Ziggy" was a pioneer Naval Airman, he had vast experience....and when he was associated with "Taffy Three" at the battle off Samar.....his experience saved the day!

---------------------------------

Yes....a guy named "Ziggy"....kind of plump guy....probably not the type that others would look at that had a head on his shoulders for Naval Warfare....the type of kid that other kids just 'Zeroed' in on....to make fun of....and this continued all the way to the U.S. Naval Academy.

Actually....no one would have dreamed this moon-faced kid would become one of America's most acclaimed fighting admirals of WW II.  Oh yes, "Ziggy" was the one you didn't hear about....was in the back ground....but when you heard his name you said, "Who is that?".  Well the big boys could not imagine that this admiral who would place hi out gunned and outnumbered ships between an overwhelming Japanese strike force and exposed U.S. troops on an invasion beach head would be the same Clifton "Ziggy" Sprague, that was this "moon faced kid."

But the truth be known....."The Navy was his life, and 'it' came first."

You will read that Ziggy Sprague was actually rescued from 'Gun Duty" and sent to Pensacola Florida, in 1921....to learn how to fly Navy style.  He learned quick...in fact super quick....reason is he taught himself.  Within months he was flying the Curtiss N-9.....and in a few months he was chosen as the commanding officer of Aircraft Squadron Three......and get this folks...."Ziggy Sprague" was the one who would instruct the future Admiral "Bull" Halsey how to fly during Naval aviation tempestuous infancy.

This folks is one darn good bio on an extremely interesting Naval Admiral....I'm sure you'll enjoy.

Just click: HERE  to link to the article.

Hope you enjoy the article.