Halsey's Typhoon - Memorial Day
Paulie Brading
On December 18, 1944 the storm known as Halsey's Typhoon in which more than 140 aircraft were destroyed and three destroyers were sunk and over 700 men died my father was riding out the storm serving on the USS Nehenta Bay (CVE-74). Dad's CVE was often called a "baby flattop" or "jeep carrier" was assigned the duty of escorting a fleet of Navy tankers in the waters not far from the Philippines.
December 17 began like any other day with the battleships, cruisers and carriers, screened by destoyers as part of Task Force 38 filled the ocean. The carriers launched their fleet of aircraft headed to the Japanese airfields on Luzon. By nightfall the men in the radio shack were decoding reports that entire squadrons of planes were unable to find their ship to land. The next morning a fragment of a message come up from the radio room from another ship, it read "rolling heavily...believe may capsize......" The USS Monteray (CVL-26) was burning, it's planes had broken free and were crashing themselves to pieces against the ship. Fires were below deck and the hanger deck was filled with flames.
A wave crashed over the Nehenta Bay turning her on her side. Would the ship right itself? Then came a report that ships were all about. My father explained a ship closer than a half mile was too close for comfort. "Ship dead ahead, 1,000 yards, closing" radar plot reported. "Ship dead ahead, 800 yards, 600 yards and closing" while the Nehenta Bay was pitching violently with the flight deck rising up so the men on the bridge could see nothing ahead. Finally the signalman flashed the biggest searchlight at the battleship bearing don. The ship finally saw the Nehenta Bay and began its slow turn.
The Typoon lasted for two and a half days and the Nahenta Bay was moving from its center. The Fleet joined together with message after message sent to ships unaccounted for after the worst of the storm.
The storm was one of the worst naval disasters that the Pacific Fleet had suffered since Pearl Harbor. My father survived to tell the tale including looking out a porthole at Japan the day the Japanese surrendered.
Dad will be 85 this summer. He's lively and fit and about to take an Alaskan cruise. I'm certain he'll delight the other passengers with his memories of sitting in the radio shack sending messages to the bridge during Halsey's Typhoon
I write to thank all Veteran's for their service on this Memorial Day.
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May 25, '09
No doubt Ms. Brading's father is an honorable man who, when called upon, did not shirk his commander-in-chief's call to put himself in harm's way.
He was lucky, in one way, in that he participated in a war which can be justified in terms of actual defense of the United States.
As counterpoint, however repellent some might think it is even to mention it, I would remind that the military engagement that had the most Congressional Medals of Honor awarded to participants was the one that happened on Dec. 29, 1890 at Wounded Knee in South Dakota.
I think it's important to put the "thanks for your service" in an historical context, in the continuing attempt to try and get the U.S.A. to stop with wars of aggression (which by far the majority of U.S. actions have been).
May 25, '09
Pailie, I thank your father and the countless other men and women who helped out and answered the call during WWII. this week-end I had the honor of meeting and talking with a survivor of Halsey's island hoping attacks on Gudacanal and Saipan. He is a true hero.
Memorial day is not about political idealogue or demogue posts such as the trip offered up by the person above. All of our men and women in the military, past present and future serve at the command of our Presidents and political leaders. They do as ordered and make our world that much safer.
The real tragedy is that so many have been sacrificed over the years in faile dpolitical interventions.
Paulie, a big thank you to your father is due.
May 25, '09
Thank you to your father and all servicemen and servicewomen---past, current and future---for their service and sacrifice on behalf of The United States of America.
May 25, '09
I just looked up the USS Nehenta Bay. It was launched on November 28, 1943 at Kaiser Shipbuilding Co., Vancouver, WA. My father helped build it. He then got drafted for the invasion of Japan.
Links to some pics http://www.navsource.org/archives/03/074.htm
May 25, '09
Stephan, while I agree with your sentiment, I don't believe Memorial Day is an appropriate venue to discuss US miliarism/imperialism, if only because it is counterproductive. While I get a bit nauseous at all the flag waving and war worship, I prefer to suffer for one day in silence and salute the brotherhood and sacrifice that so many young men and women have given. It is a bond that veterans of all wars and from all countries share.
Its ironic but true that war in some sense brings out the noblest traits of humanity.
May 26, '09
I would like to say Thank You to All of our Veterans that served in the military, but particularly those who died in combat. Also to the men & women in the military now for protecting us now.
Thank You to all that have served and God Bless You All.
Its ironic but true that war in some sense brings out the noblest traits of humanity.
If you haven't served, you are aid and comfort to the enemy. We always have enemies. No one should be able to retire and draw social security without a confirmed kill. That's a long time, and you must have dodged it to retire a virgin.
Ricky
<hr/>[email protected]
May 26, '09
Kurt Chapman posted: "They do as ordered and make our world that much safer."
Maybe the operative word here is "our", in that maybe Kurt Chapman means that destruction is rarely visited on the United States' own territory.
There's a very long list of events in which the U.S. military did not make the world at large safer.
May 26, '09
I'm trying to figure out if Ricky Ford's post is tongue-in-cheek?
I recommend to all, first, of course, the Howard Zinn classic, "A People's History"; and William Blum's books, especially "Rogue State".
Isn't this a "progrssive" blog?
May 27, '09
Here is a very helpful summary that was passed on to me by a friend.
May 27, '09
In this job market, it doesn't help that unemployed persons of conscience, that could have done the "it's a paycheck" route in the military, are denied access to the job market, in favor of "hiring a vet".
What about all the work that is temporary, that can't be rationalized as "a job they left"? On a State of Oregon employment application, a vet gets as many points as I do for 25 years of references. If you want to pay someone for their military work, then PAY THEM. GI bill was a good idea. Instead, you're taking my job and handing it to them, for something that I don't consider "service".
From drug tests to the military, this society has determined that you will be denied everything, until you bend over and grab your ankles. Having done that, you WILL be reinforced. That is what Memorial Day celebrates. How about a day for the objectors that have had society set about to destroy their lives for thinking?
Stephen, one can't tell. Both parties have couched the debate in terms of it being an administration's decision, not the result of choices made by the average individual. The troops, post Iraq, have been given a bye by both parties. It is not a personal moral issue. It's just another job. Literally. Why all the security contrators? They are hired for "force protection". Excuse me, but isn't that what US troops are supposed to be doing? Nope. Not anymore. They're just doing a job within the parameters of the nanny state. That means you now need REAL soldiers, hence the contrators.
I used to think that nothing was more absurd than the police adopting policies that say that no officer should ever be in danger, ever, completely at the expense of public safety, which is why we pay them. I always said that we were exporting our policing metaphor to the military. Unbelievably, now we have SOLDIERS with the cop expectation that it's just another job, and risks should be eliminated to make it so.
Historically, military 101, the function of an infantry soldier is to die. Now, it's a way for minorities to learn to kiss ass, get an education and carries with it no more danger than living in most the neighborhoods they come from. So, which way is more perverted? So what are we celebrating?
Yes, I know, we're celebrating that when the big man said get in line, they did. Yippppeeeee!!! I'm easily convinced otherwise, though. Is there one function of war that isn't the same as when a troupe of chimps goes on a hunt?
Our troupes, indeed.
May 27, '09
All very well said, Assegai Up Jacksey.
As you said, the military is now looked upon as an employment/career option. The circumstances of the wars are incidental. Which is why no one's getting really riled up that the U.S.A. is permanently at war; that it's now a part of the essential economy of the country?
And, as you said, how about some official appreciation for those who've attempted to stop the insanity and have been willing to put their lives on the line to do so.
How about a Father Philip Berrigan postage stamp, in a couple years, by which time he'll have been deceased the required 5 years?
May 27, '09
Heck, we've had a Thoreau stamp. That's the way it should go- recognition of movements as exemplified by Thoreau and the like.