The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors

by James D. Hornfischer

  Mullener, Elizabeth. “Remembrances of World War II: The Battle for Leyte Gulf.” New Orleans Times-Picayune, Oct. 26, 1994, p. 1.

  Okun, Nathan. “Underwater Projectile Hits.” Sept. 7, 1999. www.warships1.com/W-Tech/tech-041.htm; last visited by author Feb. 13, 2003.

  Ottenheimer, Eldon. “Why Powerful Jap Fleet Failed to Sink Small U.S. Force Remains Mystery,” Dallas Times, Nov. 1, 1944.

  Pasadena Star-News, “Pasadena Flyer Sighted Strong Jap Task Force, Aided in Historic Battle.” Jan. 1, 1945.

  Reynolds, Quentin, George E. Jones, Frank D. Morris, and Ralph Teatsorth. “America’s Greatest Naval Battle.” Collier’s, three-part series, Jan. 13, 1945, p. 11; Jan. 20, 1945, p. 18; Jan. 27, 1945, p. 18.

  Roby, Richard. “Stories of Two Taffy III Airmen.” USS St. Lo (CVE-63) VC-65 Newsletter, vol. 34, Sept. 1997. Originally published in Old Shipmates, newsletter of the USS Gambier Bay Survivors Association, May/Aug. 1995.

  Slover, Gene. “The Mark 1 Fire Control Computer.” www.warships1.com/W-Tech/tech-056.htm, May 29, 2000; last visited by author Feb. 12, 2003.

  “Roll, Pitch and Yaw: Fire Control Problems and Mark 1/1A Solutions.” www.warships1.com/W-Tech/tech-074.htm, July 6, 2000; last visited by author Feb. 12, 2003.

  Sprague, Rear Adm. C.A.F., as told to Lt. Philip H. Gustafson. “The Japs Had Us on the Ropes.” American, Apr. 1945, p. 40.

  Tully, Anthony P. “Shell Game at Surigao: The Entangled Fates of Battleships Fuso and Yamashiro.” www.combinedfleet.com/atully06.htm. Posted Jun. 15, 1999; last visited by author Apr. 24, 2003.

  “Solving Some Mysteries of Leyte Gulf: Fate of the Chikuma and Chokai.” Warship International, no. 3, 2000, p. 248.

  USS St. Lo/VC-65 Association. “History of Composite Squadron 65 (VC-65).” www.stlomidway6365.org/squadron/history.html; last visited by author May 6, 2001.

  Welch, Stuart. “1200 Survivors of U.S. Carrier ‘Gambier Bay,’ Sunk in Philippines, Arrive in S.F.” San Francisco Chronicle, Dec. 2, 1944, p. 3. Courtesy of George Bray.

  Whitney, Harold E. “The Battle of Samar.” Our Navy, Nov. 1, 1946, p. 12.

  “World Battlefronts” (news summary on the Leyte campaign). Time, Nov. 6, 1944, p. 26.

  Wright, David Curtis. “Ensigns H. L. Jensen, W C. Brooks, and the Beginning of the Battle off Samar, 25 October 1944.” Unpublished manuscript. Courtesy of David Curtis Wright, University of Calgary, March 2003.

  Eyewitness Accounts—Unpublished or Privately Published

  [Individuals are identified by their rank or rating as of Oct. 25, 1944.]

  Bedard, C. K. [AMM3, USS Kitkun Bay]. Excerpt from journal, Oct. 14-31, 1944. Courtesy of Michelle Bedard.

  Brown, Joseph [USS Gambier Bay]. “Account of Joseph Brown.” www.ussgambierbay-vc10.com/leytegulf_reports/survivors.htm; last visited by author Dec. 30, 2001.

  Budnick, Larry, and Wayne Hammett [Lts. (jg), VC-65, USS St. Lo]. “S-Q-U-A-D-R-O-N” [narrative history of pilot training and VC-65]. Undated. Courtesy of William C. Brooks, Jr.

  Carlsen, Verner [Chaplain, USS Gambier Bay]. “Account of Verner Carlsen.” www.ussgambierbay-vc10.com/leytegulf_reports/survivors.htm; last visited by author Dec. 30, 2001.

  Ciolek, John S. [AOM2, VC-65, USS St. Lo]. “What Did You Do During the War, Daddy?” Undated narrative. Courtesy of Les Shodo.

  Copeland, Robert W, Rear Adm., USNR [Lt. Cdr., USS Samuel B. Roberts], with Jack E. O’Neill and Richard K. Rohde, eds. The Spirit of the Sammy B. 1950. USS Samuel B. Roberts Survivors Association, 2000.

  Cordner, William F. [Lt. (jg), USS Gambier Bay]. www.ussgambierbay-vc10.com/leytegulf_reports/survivors.htm; last visited by author Dec. 30, 2001.

  DeSpain, Bob [S1, USS Hoel]. Personal narrative. Undated.

  Dix, John C. W [Lt., USS Hoel]. Missing off Samar. 1949, reissued by Pocahontas Press, 2000.

  Farris, James W “The St. Lo—A Story of Survival.” Undated. Courtesy of William C. Brooks, Jr.

  Fetridge, Arthur E. [Lt. Cdr., USS Kalinin Bay]. “To the Men on the Kalinin Bay.” Oct. 30, 1944.

  Fluke, R. W [AOM3, USS Fanshaw Bay], rewritten by C. L. Wright. “The Fighting Fanny Bee” [prose poem]. Courtesy of M. Royce Hall.

  Frenn, Willard [GM1, USS Hoel]. Personal narrative. Undated.

  Gibson, W R. “VC-65 Personnel History, Before and After October 25, 1944.” Undated. Courtesy of William C. Brooks, Jr.

  Goheen, Leo Carl [S1, USS St. Lo]. “The Sinking of the USS St. Lo, CVE-63.” Undated. Courtesy of William C. Brooks, Jr.

  Green, Maurice Fred [Lt., USS Hoel]. “Fred Green Report.” www.ussjohnston-hoel.bigstep.com/generic.html?pid=31; last visited by author Feb. 16, 2003.

  Harrington, Joe. [USS Fanshaw Bay]. “Turn On the Lights,” personal narrative. Undated. From the collection of Elden L. McClintock.

  Hobbs, Bishop [Air Dept., USS Gambier Bay]. “Account of Bishop Hobbs.” www.ussgambierbay-vc10.com/leytegulf_reports/survivors.htm; last visited by author Dec. 30, 2001.

  Holloway, James L., III [Lt., USS Bennion]. “The Battle of Surigao Straits.” Address to the Naval Historical Foundation’s Leyte Gulf Symposium, Oct. 22, 1999. www.navyhistory.org/whats_new/holloway.htm; last visited by author Mar. 4, 2003.

  Kanaskie, Adam [Electrical Dept., USS Gambier Bay]. “Account of Adam Kanaskie.” www.ussgambierbay-vc10.com/leytegulf_reports/survivors.htm; last visited by author Dec. 30, 2001.

  Katsur, William [F1, USS Samuel B. Roberts]. Untitled narrative. Undated (c. 1994).

  Keeler, George H., Jr. [Lt., USS Kalinin Bay]. “Memories of the USS Kalinin Bay (CVE 68).” Jun. 17, 1988. www.bosamar.com/keeler.html; last visited by author Jan. 19, 2001.

  Lamar, Hal. I Saw Stars: Some Memories of Commander Hal Lamar, Fleet Admiral Nimitz’s Flag Lieutenant, 1941-45. Admiral Nimitz Foundation, 1985.

  Lewis, David A. “Life in the Navy During World War II, 1942 through 1945.” Undated. Courtesy of David A. Lewis.

  Lewis, David A. “Rest in Peace, Eddie” [on the death of Eddie Thrasher, AMM2, USS Fanshaw Bay]. Nov. 12, 2001. Courtesy of David A. Lewis.

  Mackay, Donald E. [Lt. (jg), USS St. Lo]. Letter to Michael F. McKenna. May 20, 1982. Courtesy of Donald E. Mackay.

  Mallgrave, Fred J. [Ens., USS Gambier Bay]. “Account of F. J. Mallgrave.” www.ussgambierbay-vc10.com/leytegulf_reports/survivors.htm; last visited by author Dec. 30, 2001.

  McClintock, Elden L. [Ship’s Historian, USS Fanshaw Bay]. “Turn on the Lights.” Undated narrative. Courtesy of Elden L. McClintock.

  McKay, Keith, ed. At Rest 4,000 Fathoms Under the Waves, USS Hoel, DD 533 [collecting many survivors’ narratives]. USS Johnston/Hoel Association, 1990.

  McKenna, Capt. Francis J., USN [Capt., USS St. Lo]. “Narrative of Events Concerning Loss of USS St. Lo (CVE 63).” www.bosamar.com/slloss.html; last visited by author Feb. 16, 2003.

  Mercer, Bill [S1, USS Johnston]. “GQ Johnny: A Very Short Story.” Undated narrative. Courtesy of Bill Mercer.

  Mercer, Bill, and Bob Chastain, eds. The Fighting and Sinking of the USS Johnston (DD-557) as Told by Her Crew [collecting many survivors’ narratives]. USS Johnston/Hoel Association, 1991.

  Moore, Jack [Ens., USS Samuel B. Roberts]. “A Japanese Admiral’s Dream Come True.” Nov. 1944.

  Murphy, James [Lt. j.g., VC-3, USS Kalinin Bay]. “I Remember,” Spinning a Yarn (USS Kalinin Bay/VC-3 Association newsletter). March 1999, p. 14.

  Nickless, F. P. [QM, USS St. Lo]. “The Battle off Samar Four Days Later—One Man’s Story.” Oct. 29, 1944. Courtesy of William C. Brooks, Jr.

  Parkin, Glenn H. [S1, USS Hoel]. “Historical Account of Glenn H. Parkin.” www.ussjohnston-hoel.bigstep.com/generic.html?pid=48; last visited by author Feb. 15, 2003.

  Phillips, D. H. [Chaplain, USS Heermann]. God Rode Destroyer ‘X.’ Privately published, 1956.

  Pierson, Verling W. [Lt., USS Fanshaw Bay]. “Fighting Fanny Bee.” Oct. 27, 1944. Courtesy of Robert C. Hagen.

  Rabenstein, Maynard [RM2, USS Dennis]. “Invasion o
f the Philippine Islands (Leyte).” www.bosamar.com/rabenstein.html; last visited by author Feb. 17, 2003.

  Raynor, Gilbert S. [AGM2, VC-5, USS Kitkun Bay]. “Notes on Battle off Samar.” www.bosamar.com/account.html; last visited by author Jan. 19, 2001.

  Roberts, Everett E. [Lt., USS Samuel B. Roberts]. Autobiographical narrative (unabbreviated version). Feb. 15, 1995. Courtesy of William Katsur.

  Shodo, Leslie [AMM2, VC-65, USS St. Lo]. “Diary of Leslie Shodo.” Oct. 1-Nov. 29, 1944. Courtesy of Les Shodo.

  Short, Winston B. [SM3, USS St. Lo] “St. Lo Experience—Memories of Oct. 25, 1944.” Undated narrative (ca. June 2003). Courtesy of Winston B. Short.

  Sisul, Joe [GM1, USS Fanshaw Bay]. “Navy Days.” 2001. Courtesy of Elden L. McClintock.

  Sochor, Bob [S1, USS Johnston]. “Come Hell and High Water.” Apr. 14, 1991. www.bosamar.com/sochor.html; last visited by author Jan. 19, 2001.

  Sprague, Clifton A. F. [Rear Adm., Task Unit 77.4.3 (Taffy 3)]. Handwritten marginalia in his copy of The Battle for Leyte Gulf by

  C. Vann Woodward. Courtesy of John F. Wukovits.

  Urbanski, Stanley R., ed. [S1, USS Heermann]. History of USS Heermann, 1943-46, ‘Destroyer X’ [collecting many survivors’ narratives]. USS Heermann Survivors Association, 1988.

  USS Gambier Bay & VC-10 survivors’ accounts. www.ussgambierbay-vc10.com/leytegulf_reports/survivors.htm. Includes accounts by Earl Bagley, James Ball, Joseph Brown, Verner Carlsen, William Cordner, Wayne Galey, Charles Heinl, Bishop Hobbs, Andy Judd, Adam Kanaskie,

  William Kroger, W. E. Lynch, William McClendon, F. J. Mallgrave, Marshall L. Mitchell, Donald Topczewski, Michael Towstick, Louis Vilmer. Last visited by author Feb. 16, 2003.

  USS St. Lo Association. Attack on the St. Lo [featuring the artwork of John M. Downs]. USS St. Lo CVE-63/VC-65 Association.

  Van Brunt, Thomas B. [Lt., VC-65, USS St. Lo]. “October 25, 1944: A Day to Remember.” Undated. Courtesy of William C. Brooks, Jr.

  “A Bird’s-Eye View of History’s Greatest Naval Battle: The Battle for Leyte Gulf, October 24 and 25, 1944.” Speech given to the Rotary Club of Tallahassee, Florida, Aug. 30, 1995. Courtesy of Thomas B. Van Brunt.

  Welch, Ellsworth [Lt. (jg), USS Johnston]. Untitled Memorial Day address. May 30, 1994. Courtesy of Ellsworth Welch.

  Whitney, Harold [CY, USS Heermann]. Untitled narrative. Jan. 7, 2003. Courtesy of Harold Whitney.

  Wood, Russell [Lt. (jg), VC-4, USS White Plains]. “Memoir of Battle.” www.bosamar.com/vc4bat.html; last visited by author Feb. 21, 2003.

  Videotapes

  “Destroyer Escorts of the 1940s and 1950s.” Traditions Military Video.

  “Great Lakes Naval Training Center: Navy Boot Camp in the 1940s.” Traditions Military Video.

  “Leyte Gulf Battle—Veterans.” Courtesy of Hank Pyzdrowski, USS Gambier Bay Survivors Association, 1977.

  “Navy Man in the 1940s.” Traditions Military Video.

  “Showdown at Leyte Gulf” [documentary]. A&E Home Video, 1993.

  “Taffy 3 Remembered” [footage of the dedication of the Taffy 3 Memorial in San Diego, with cut-ins of battle footage]. Traditions Military Video.

  “USS Kalinin Bay CVE-68/VC-3 Pilots & More” [interviews with personnel from Composite Squadron Three]. Courtesy of Elmer T Glenn, USS Kalinin Bay Survivors Association.

  Interviews

  Archer, Earl “Blue,” Lt. (jg), VC-3, USS Kalinin Bay, Nov. 10, 2001.

  Barrett, Myles, Lt. (jg), USS Hoel, Jan. 30, 2002.

  Bassett, Burt, Lt., VC-10, USS Gambier Bay, Mar. 16, 2001.

  Bebb, Edwin, Lt., USS Heermann, May 27, 2002.

  Branham, Bill, S1, USS Samuel B. Roberts, Mar. 16, 2001.

  Bray, George, S1, USS Samuel B. Roberts, Apr. 13-14, 2001.

  Breeding, Ed, Ens., VC-65, USS St. Lo, Apr. 16, 2001.

  Brooks, Bill, Ens., VC-65, USS St. Lo, Mar. 18, 27-28, 2001; Mar. 11, 2002.

  Budnick, Larry, Lt. (jg), VC-65, USS St. Lo, Apr. 4, 2001.

  Carter, Clint, GM2, USS Johnston, Sept. 18, 2001.

  Chastain, Bob, S1, USS Johnston, Oct. 1, 2001.

  Chastain, Bob, interview by Ronald E. Marcello, University of North Texas Oral History Collection, Aug. 2, 1994. Transcript courtesy of Bob Chastain.

  Cochran, Jesse, Lt. (jg), USS Johnston, Nov. 6, 2001.

  Comet, Bud, S1, USS Samuel B. Roberts, Jan. 15, 2002.

  Copeland, Harriet, widow of Lt. Cdr. Robert W. Copeland, USS Samuel B. Roberts, Feb. 12, 2001.

  Correll, Jim, GM1, USS Johnston, Oct. 25, 2001.

  Crawforth, Holly, RT2, USS St. Lo, Mar. 27, 2001.

  Cuming, Bill, Ens., USS Gambier Bay, Dec. 30, 2001.

  DiGardi, Ed, Lt. (jg), USS Johnston, Apr. 17-18, 2001.

  Dodd, Peggy Carr, sister of Paul Henry Carr, GM3, USS Samuel B. Roberts, Apr. 10, 2002.

  Downs, Joe, AOM3, VC-65, USS St. Lo, Apr. 27, 2001.

  Durfee, Bud, USS Kalinin Bay, May 24, 2001.

  Getas, John, AOM3, USS St. Lo, Apr. 18, 2001.

  Gifford, Earl, ARM1, VC-68, USS Fanshaw Bay, Jul. 13, 2002.

  Goodrich, Vince, SOM3, USS Samuel B. Roberts, Jan. 29, 2002.

  Hagen, Robert C, Lt., USS Johnston, May 22, 2001.

  Hall, M. Royce, AOM1, VC-68, USS Fanshaw Bay, May 2, 2002.

  Hammett, Wayne, Lt. (jg), VC-65, USS St. Lo, Apr. 11, 2001.

  Hartley, Suzanne, daughter of Lt. Cdr. Robert W. Copeland, USS Samuel B. Roberts, Feb. 12, 2002.

  Heric, E. Don, SM2, USS Gambier Bay, Sept. 14, 2001.

  Hippe, Kenneth, Lt. (jg), VC-3, USS Kalinin Bay, May 26, 2001.

  Hollenbaugh, Robert, BM1, USS Johnston, Oct. 14, 2001.

  Hood, Clarence, QM3, USS Hoel, Jan. 21, 2002.

  Johnson, Allen, EM1, USS Johnston, Oct. 31, 2001.

  Katsur, William, F1, USS Samuel B. Roberts, Mar. 11, 2003.

  Kight, Harold L., SC3, USS Fanshaw Bay, May 26, 2001.

  Lewis, Steve, son of Dave Lewis, GM2, USS Johnston, Sept. 12, 2001.

  Lucas, Sam, S1, USS Hoel, Jan. 31, 2002.

  Lupo, Thomas J., Lt (jg), VC-68, USS Fanshaw Bay, Sept. 29, 2001.

  Mercer, William, S1, USS Johnston, Apr. 1, 2001.

  Mostowy, John, Cox, USS Johnston, Sept. 12, 2001.

  Moylan, Dudley, Ens., USS Samuel B. Roberts, Jul. 25, 2002.

  Murry, William, MaM3, USS Fanshaw Bay, Oct. 8, 2001.

  Pace, John E., Lt. Cdr., USS John C. Butler, interview by John F. Wukovits. Nov. 15, 1993. Transcript courtesy of John F. Wukovits.

  Pehl, Milt, USS Johnston, Oct. 8, 2001.

  Randles, Dale, MM1, USS Johnston, Sept. 6, 2001.

  Reneau, Patricia Sprague, daughter of Rear Adm. Clifton A. F. Sprague, interviewed in “Taffy 3 Remembered” videotape, Oct. 24, 1996.

  Rhodes, Harold “Dusty,” S1, USS Johnston, Oct. 30, 2001.

  Roby, Richard, Lt., VC-10, USS Gambier Bay, Feb. 28, 2002.

  Rogers, Richard S., Lt. Cdr., VC-68, interview by John F. Wukovits. 1993. Transcript courtesy of John F. Wukovits.

  Rohde, Richard, RM2, USS Samuel B. Roberts, Mar. 15, 2001.

  Steinberg, Julius, Lt. (jg), USS Heermann, Apr. 16, 2001. Stevenson, Thomas, Lt. (jg), USS Samuel B. Roberts, Mar. 16, 2001. Thompson, Derrill, CRM, USS Hoel, Feb. 2, 2002. Turner, Morris, S1, USS Kalinin Bay, May 24, 2001. Van Brunt, Thomas B., Lt., VC-65, USS St. Lo, Mar. 15, 2001. Welch, Ellsworth, Lt. (jg), USS Johnston, Oct. 31, 2001. Whitney, Harold, CY, USS Heermann, Jan. 31, 2003. Yusen, Jack, S2, USS Samuel B. Roberts, Jan. 13-15, 2002.

  Correspondence

  Archer, E. L. (“Blue”) [Lt. (jg), VC-3, USS Kalinin Bay]. Letter to William Long, USS Kalinin Bay Survivors Association, April 2001. Courtesy of Blue Archer.

  Bacon, Betty [widow of Robert Bacon, USS Johnston]. Letter to author, Sept. 15, 2001.

  Beagle, Clayton [USS John C. Butler]. Letter to author, Mar. 18, 2001.

  Bray, George [S2, USS Samuel B. Roberts]. Correspondence with shipmates, responses to Battle off Samar questionnair
e, various dates, 1984.

  Brooks, William C, Jr. [VC-65, USS St. Lo]. Letters and e-mails to author, various dates.

  Budnick, Larry [Lt. (jg), VC-65, USS St. Lo]. E-mails to author, various dates.

  Canter, Shelton Carl. Letter to Mrs. John S. LeClercq, Dec. 22, 1945. From the collection of Robert LeClercq.

  Carew, Robert E. [SM1 (flag), USS Fanshaw Bay]. Letter to Harold Kight, Mar. 14, 1986. Courtesy of Harold Kight.

  Chambers, Ray [USS Samuel B. Roberts]. Letter to Geroge Bray, undated (probably 1984). See Bray Correspondence with shipmates above. Courtesy of George Bray.

  Copeland, Robert W [Lt. Cdr., USS Samuel B. Roberts]. Letters to William Katsur, Apr. 24, 1945, and Dec. 27, 1945.

  Downs, Joseph A. [AOM3, VC-65, USS St. Lo]. Letter to author, Apr. 20, 2001.

  Follmer, Frank [CM1, USS Fanshaw Bay]. Letters to Harold Kight, Mar. 11, 1986, and Apr. 10, 1986.

  Getas, John [AOM3, USS St. Lo]. Letter to author, Apr. 23, 2001.

  Glenn, Elmer T. [USS Kalinin Bay]. Letter to author, Apr. 23, 2001.

  Glocheski, Virgil [Lt. (jg), USS Fanshaw Bay]. Letters to Harold Kight, Jun. 14, 1986, and Sept. 6, 1986. Courtesy of Harold Kight.

  Hagen, Robert C. [Lt., USS Johnston]. Letter to author, May 1, 2001.

  Letter to Naval History magazine, Dec. 28, 1999.

  Hall, M. Royce [AOM1, VC-68, USS Fanshaw Bay]. Letters and e-mails to author, various dates.

  Letter to Henry A. Pyzdrowski, Jan. 14, 1988; published in Heritage, newsletter of the Heritage Foundation of the USS Gambier Bay and VC-10, Oct. 1988, p. 17.

  Letter to James H. Flatley, Jul. 1997. Courtesy of Royce Hall.

  Harrington, Joe C. [USS Fanshaw Bay]. Letter to Harold Kight, Mar. 10, 1986. Courtesy of Harold Kight.

  Harrington, Red [BM1, USS Samuel B. Roberts]. Letter to George Bray, received May 22, 1984. Courtesy of George Bray.

  Jacobs, Vice Adm. Randall, Western Union Telegram to Mr. and Mrs. John S. LeClercq. Nov. 19, 1944.

  Kight, Harold [SC3, USS Fanshaw Bay]. Correspondence with shipmates, in response to Battle off Samar questionnaire, various dates, Mar.-Dec. 1986. From the collection of Harold Kight.