Friday, October 05, 2007
Clever like that
My Navy buddy Shawn volunteers for the State Department in Afghanistan in a ploy to get a video linked from Slightly Rough.
Labels: Navy
Dang. I miss that.
Friday, August 17, 2007
The Galloping Ghost of the Java Coast
I haven't posted in quite awhile, but I thought this account was worth spreading. Being a Navy guy, I thought you would be interested.
Matt
Book: Ship of Ghosts: The Story of the USS HOUSTON, FDR's Legendary Lost Cruiser, and the Epic Saga of Her Survivors.
Author: James D. Hornfischer
Format: Audiobook (Unabridged 14 Discs)
General: Just finished up listening to the last disc today. Wanted to put down some of my thoughts regarding the sinking of the cruiser USS HOUSTON at the Battle of Sunda Strait off the coast of Java near St Nicolas Point & Banten Bay in early 1942. This was just the beginning of the ordeal for the survivors of the battle as they would become POWs for the next 3.5 years.
The following are some interesting points I learned that I had not heard before. I didn't serve in the military so, you'll have to excuse my 'layman' descriptions.
=> The HOUSTON was President Franklin Roosevelts' flagship and enjoyed many cruises on it in the years prior to the outbreak of war.
=> FDR boarded the ship one time by "hand-walking" up the gangway using the rails to swing his immobile legs to the amazement of crew and crowds.
=> While on board, FDR's favorite pastime was taking the ships launch to go on fishing excursions. He preferred to take along enlisted men as his fishing buddies in lieu of the ships officers. Upon returning from one of these fishing trips, he told the lone sailor who was driving the boat to take her back out solo and enjoy some fishing since sailor was too busy earlier with his duties. Upon hearing this, the sailor rigged a rod and proceeded away from the Houston. The recently arrived officer in charge started yelling at the sailor to return or face being AWOL. FDR told the officer he had ordered the sailor to go fishing and the red-faced officer had to defer to his Commander In Chief.
=> Due to political pressure of the Dutch, the ABDA (allied force tasked with defense of the Dutch East Indies) leadership was transferred from US to Dutch command.
=> During the Battle of the Java Sea, the deck guns located near the catapult launched seaplanes started firing before the planes were launched. The concussive blasts ripped the canvas from the airframes and left the stunned pilots sitting in the skeletal frames. The pilots simply climbed down and the catapults were fired launching the useless airframes overboard.
=> Many of the Japanese shells that managed to hit the HOUSTON failed to explode (due to duds or incorrect calibration for the HOUSTON decking and armor plating).
=> The ABDA fleet simply did not have any air cover during the Java Sea Battle. Japanese planes flew overhead and constantly dropped flares to mark the fleets position and course.
=> During the Battle of Sunda Strait, the PERTH and HOUSTON ran out of munitions for the big guns. They started firing their phosphorus star shells at close range to set fire to enemy ships. The smaller caliber weapons proved more effective in this close quarter battle than the big guns. 50 caliber machine guns were firing to take out enemy searchlights and personnel.
=> Upon abandoning ship, the sailors took their shoes off and lined them up along the rail before jumping in the sea. Many later regretted this action upon reaching the coral shoals, beaches and rough inland terrain.
=> The Japanese actually paid the POW's in Batavia (now Jakarta) for the work they did. Albeit the money paid was next to nothing, however this was the first that I had ever heard that Japanese did this.
=> Upon the surrender of allied forces on Java, the Texas Guard Artillery unit (later to become known as the lost battalion) came into POW camp full of supplies and gear which was distributed among already imprisoned PERTH and HOUSTON men. Among this group was a liaison officer that had hundreds of thousands of dollars which was smuggled into the camp. He was given this money to purchase ships and materials to effect an evacuation of US personnel from the theater of operations.
=> Enroute from Java to Burma to start work as slave labor on the Burma-Thai Railway, the Japanese prison ships came under attack from a flight of Liberators. Unknown to the airmen that they were attacking POW transports, they made bombing runs. The only anti-aircraft guns the Jap ships had were a couple field artillery guns tied down to wooden platforms on the ships deck. The Japanese crew were obviously inexperienced with the guns since during the first bomb run, the Japanese fired into their ships bridge destroying a portion of it, reloaded and swiveled the gun again. This time upon firing the shell hit a cable directly in front of the barrel and destroyed both gun and crew. The other gun was put out of action due to the fact that it was fired without the breach being fully closed and the back blast set fire to the gun crew. Eventually, one of the POW's used a signal mirror to inform the Liberators that they were POW's. The air crews acknowledge them with a return signal and broke off the attack.
=> During the jungle campaign to build the railway, the POW camps didn't have a fenced perimeter.
=> Toward the wars end, the OSS (wartime predecessor to the CIA) set up camps in Thailand to foment an uprising against the Japanese. One of these camps actually rescued a couple guys from the HOUSTON.
=> The University of Houston has a collection of records and mementos of the HOUSTON along with a 6 ft long model of the ship. The ships bell was recovered by Indonesian divers and now is located as a memorial in downtown Houston. I'll have to make a trip to these places soon.......
Matt
Book: Ship of Ghosts: The Story of the USS HOUSTON, FDR's Legendary Lost Cruiser, and the Epic Saga of Her Survivors.
Author: James D. Hornfischer
Format: Audiobook (Unabridged 14 Discs)
General: Just finished up listening to the last disc today. Wanted to put down some of my thoughts regarding the sinking of the cruiser USS HOUSTON at the Battle of Sunda Strait off the coast of Java near St Nicolas Point & Banten Bay in early 1942. This was just the beginning of the ordeal for the survivors of the battle as they would become POWs for the next 3.5 years.
The following are some interesting points I learned that I had not heard before. I didn't serve in the military so, you'll have to excuse my 'layman' descriptions.
=> The HOUSTON was President Franklin Roosevelts' flagship and enjoyed many cruises on it in the years prior to the outbreak of war.
=> FDR boarded the ship one time by "hand-walking" up the gangway using the rails to swing his immobile legs to the amazement of crew and crowds.
=> While on board, FDR's favorite pastime was taking the ships launch to go on fishing excursions. He preferred to take along enlisted men as his fishing buddies in lieu of the ships officers. Upon returning from one of these fishing trips, he told the lone sailor who was driving the boat to take her back out solo and enjoy some fishing since sailor was too busy earlier with his duties. Upon hearing this, the sailor rigged a rod and proceeded away from the Houston. The recently arrived officer in charge started yelling at the sailor to return or face being AWOL. FDR told the officer he had ordered the sailor to go fishing and the red-faced officer had to defer to his Commander In Chief.
=> Due to political pressure of the Dutch, the ABDA (allied force tasked with defense of the Dutch East Indies) leadership was transferred from US to Dutch command.
=> During the Battle of the Java Sea, the deck guns located near the catapult launched seaplanes started firing before the planes were launched. The concussive blasts ripped the canvas from the airframes and left the stunned pilots sitting in the skeletal frames. The pilots simply climbed down and the catapults were fired launching the useless airframes overboard.
=> Many of the Japanese shells that managed to hit the HOUSTON failed to explode (due to duds or incorrect calibration for the HOUSTON decking and armor plating).
=> The ABDA fleet simply did not have any air cover during the Java Sea Battle. Japanese planes flew overhead and constantly dropped flares to mark the fleets position and course.
=> During the Battle of Sunda Strait, the PERTH and HOUSTON ran out of munitions for the big guns. They started firing their phosphorus star shells at close range to set fire to enemy ships. The smaller caliber weapons proved more effective in this close quarter battle than the big guns. 50 caliber machine guns were firing to take out enemy searchlights and personnel.
=> Upon abandoning ship, the sailors took their shoes off and lined them up along the rail before jumping in the sea. Many later regretted this action upon reaching the coral shoals, beaches and rough inland terrain.
=> The Japanese actually paid the POW's in Batavia (now Jakarta) for the work they did. Albeit the money paid was next to nothing, however this was the first that I had ever heard that Japanese did this.
=> Upon the surrender of allied forces on Java, the Texas Guard Artillery unit (later to become known as the lost battalion) came into POW camp full of supplies and gear which was distributed among already imprisoned PERTH and HOUSTON men. Among this group was a liaison officer that had hundreds of thousands of dollars which was smuggled into the camp. He was given this money to purchase ships and materials to effect an evacuation of US personnel from the theater of operations.
=> Enroute from Java to Burma to start work as slave labor on the Burma-Thai Railway, the Japanese prison ships came under attack from a flight of Liberators. Unknown to the airmen that they were attacking POW transports, they made bombing runs. The only anti-aircraft guns the Jap ships had were a couple field artillery guns tied down to wooden platforms on the ships deck. The Japanese crew were obviously inexperienced with the guns since during the first bomb run, the Japanese fired into their ships bridge destroying a portion of it, reloaded and swiveled the gun again. This time upon firing the shell hit a cable directly in front of the barrel and destroyed both gun and crew. The other gun was put out of action due to the fact that it was fired without the breach being fully closed and the back blast set fire to the gun crew. Eventually, one of the POW's used a signal mirror to inform the Liberators that they were POW's. The air crews acknowledge them with a return signal and broke off the attack.
=> During the jungle campaign to build the railway, the POW camps didn't have a fenced perimeter.
=> Toward the wars end, the OSS (wartime predecessor to the CIA) set up camps in Thailand to foment an uprising against the Japanese. One of these camps actually rescued a couple guys from the HOUSTON.
=> The University of Houston has a collection of records and mementos of the HOUSTON along with a 6 ft long model of the ship. The ships bell was recovered by Indonesian divers and now is located as a memorial in downtown Houston. I'll have to make a trip to these places soon.......
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Brave sailors each, who came to fall.
Desert Dispatch: Family recalls local sailor killed in Iraq
BARSTOW — His 10-year high school reunion was next month, and his mother, Lydia, said he was considering coming home from Iraq for it.The Virginian-Pilot: Three Beach-based sailors killed in blast in Baghdad
Tragically, Petty Officer 1st Class Steven Phillip Daugherty, 28, will not make it back. Daugherty and two other sailors, Petty Officer 1st Class Jason Dale Lewis, a SEAL, 30, of Brookfield, Conn., and Petty Officer 1st Class Robert Richard McRill, 42, of Lake Placid, Fla., were killed on Friday by an improvised explosive device in Baghdad, according to a recently released Naval report.
Three Virginia Beach-based sailors, including a Navy SEAL, were killed Friday by an improvised explosive device during combat in Baghdad.SFGate.com: Barstow Navy man killed by Iraq bomb
Petty Officer 1st Class Jason Lewis, a SEAL based at Little Creek Naval Amphibious Base, and fellow first class petty officers Robert McRill and Steven Daugherty were killed when an improvised bomb detonated near their Humvee, the Navy said Saturday.
Petty Officer 1st Class Phillip Daugherty, a Navy cryptologic technician from Barstow, was killed by an improvised bomb in Iraq.WHO LOVED SO WELL
Daugherty, 28, was on his second tour in Iraq but was considering coming home next month for his 10-year high school reunion, his mother said.
(A sailor's eulogy)A million years ago, I was a Cryptologic Technician, like PO1 Daugherty. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.
by Robert E. Browne CPO, USN, ret.
We sailed the sea by oceans light,
Around the horn through restless night.
Our course and luck did make it right
To see things new in strange delight.
The seas were harsh and took their toll
With branded flesh and tortured soul
And when at last the sun sat low
It touched the earth with blood red glow.
The mighty wars have all been won.
Now empty winds slack sails undone.
The world is ours but mates care not
And search in vain for wars unfought.
Silver breakers plight our trough
To sails unfurled and winds aloft.
Spirits soar on breezes free
That bear the souls of sailors we.
Hear our prayer Oh Lord our God.
We lived to serve and wield thy rod.
Though wretches we and racked with flaws,
We are the ones who fought thy cause.
Now bleached white bones on foreign sands
Attest the toll in far off lands
For those who heard their country's call,
Brave sailors each, who came to fall.
Remember those who served on ships
And bid farewell on endless trips
Across the seas to Timbuktu
And lived and died, these chosen few.
We ask this, Lord, for those so true
And honor bound beneath skies blue
Who served and died for freedom's hand
To hold and cherish this, your land,
A sailor's death on ships of sleep
With few to know and none to weep
For faith so brave, a soul to keep
A silent grave in oceans deep.
And when the end has come at last
And unfilled shadows heaven casts,
Remember we who served and fell
And to the hosts of heaven tell,
Bring home my boys who loved so well.
Labels: Navy
Monday, February 19, 2007
Let the beat wind you up, and don't stop till your time is up
or; I got the Johnson's Baby Powder and the Polo cologne
Worked out. 30 minutes on the elliptical. Music: Lily Allen, Gwen Stefani, and The Killers. I mentally mash up "When You Were Young" with "Hey Jealousy" by The Gin Blossoms. You kids with your mashups, back in my day, we had to do the mashing up ourselves, by singing over other songs. Jimmy was a big fan of adding "woo" and "yeah" from "It Takes Two" by Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock to just about any song.
Which reminds me of a nickname I was given (adding to the list).
When I was stationed at OSIA, I would get to work by 7:00 AM. I drove the Beltway, it was either wait at work and drink coffee or wait in traffic and sweat being late.
So, after dropping my gear off, I would go around back with a fresh cup of mud and take up my position in the smoking area near the newspaper machines. (WaPo and WaTimes, $0.25 each. What a country.) I would light up and by 7:20 YN1 Vern N. would drive up. He'd walk up, slide the cover off his head, light up a Salem, smile out of the corner of his mouth, and start:
Vern honored me by calling me Rob Base from then on.
I've updated the soundtrack.
Worked out. 30 minutes on the elliptical. Music: Lily Allen, Gwen Stefani, and The Killers. I mentally mash up "When You Were Young" with "Hey Jealousy" by The Gin Blossoms. You kids with your mashups, back in my day, we had to do the mashing up ourselves, by singing over other songs. Jimmy was a big fan of adding "woo" and "yeah" from "It Takes Two" by Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock to just about any song.
Which reminds me of a nickname I was given (adding to the list).
When I was stationed at OSIA, I would get to work by 7:00 AM. I drove the Beltway, it was either wait at work and drink coffee or wait in traffic and sweat being late.
So, after dropping my gear off, I would go around back with a fresh cup of mud and take up my position in the smoking area near the newspaper machines. (WaPo and WaTimes, $0.25 each. What a country.) I would light up and by 7:20 YN1 Vern N. would drive up. He'd walk up, slide the cover off his head, light up a Salem, smile out of the corner of his mouth, and start:
I wanna rock right nowand then I'd start
I'm Rob Base and I came to get downVern was curious about how a white guy from Austin knew all the lyrics to so many rap songs. (When I was in the Navy I would just say I was from Austin, since I lived there five years before I signed up and I had no family in Houston anymore.) I tried to explain to him how I was in high school when rap broke and we all thought it was the greatest thing. I listened to the Roxanne Wars as they unfolded on Magic 102. I used to know all the words to La-Di-Da-Di.
I'm not internationally known
But I'm known to rock the microphone
Because I get stoopid, I mean outrageous
Stay away from me if you're contagious
Vern honored me by calling me Rob Base from then on.
I've updated the soundtrack.
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
39 years ago
The Pueblo Chieftain Online - Today marks capture of the USS Pueblo
Labels: Cryptology, Navy, USS Pueblo
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
Fair winds and following seas, LCDR
WaPo: Gerald R. Ford, 93, Dies; Led in Watergate's WakeFord's budding political interests were interrupted by World War II. He joined the Navy and spent 47 months on active duty, two years of this time on the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Monterey, where he was once nearly swept over the side during a typhoon. He left the Navy in 1946 with the rank of lieutenant commander.Lieutenant Commander Gerald Ford, USNR
He always seemed to have a sense of humor, so I guess he would find this funny.
Update: Bubblehead and I Google alike.
Labels: Navy, President Gerald Ford
