Tin Can Titans
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12. Thompson letter to his parents.
13. Thompson letter to his parents; Whisler interview, May 12, 2016.
14. USS O’Bannon War Diary, August 19, 1945.
15. Whisler interview, October 15, 2015.
16. USS O’Bannon War Diary, August 27, 1945.
17. Starr email to author, May 16, 2016.
18. Thompson letter to his parents.
19. “Flagship Missouri Steams to Site of the Surrender,” New York Times, August 29, 1945.
20. Whisler interview, May 12, 2016; Thompson letter to his parents.
21. USS O’Bannon War Diary, September 14, 1945.
22. William L. Worden, “The Japs’ Last Bite,” Saturday Evening Post, October 27, 1945, 128.
23. McCarthy, “Handshake”; Worden, “Japs’ Last Bite,” 128.
24. Halsey, “Life,” 608–609.
25. Halsey and Bryan, Admiral Halsey’s Story, 283; Masuo Kato, The Lost War: A Japanese Reporter’s Inside Story (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1946), 264.
26. McCarthy, “Handshake.”
27. Starr email to author, May 16, 2016.
28. USS Nicholas Cruise Book, 5, 17.
EPILOGUE
1. Author’s interview with Thomas Chesnutt, May 31, 2016.
2. Bramble interview, June 14, 2016.
3. Whisler interviews, October 15, 2015, and May 12, 2016.
4. Johnson interview, May 16, 2016.
5. Author’s interview with Jack O’Neill, August 11, 2015.
6. John C. McCarthy, “The Handshake,” April 9, 2004, found at http://destroyerhistory.org/fletcherclass/index.asp?r=46804&pid=46823, accessed March 23, 2015.
7. Warren H. Gabelman, “She Was My Yacht,” found at http://destroyerhistory.org/fletcherclass/index.asp?r=44905&pid=44935, accessed March 10, 2015.
8. Douglas Perret Starr, “I Would Not Have Missed It for the World,” found at http://destroyerhistory.org/fletcherclass/index.asp?r=44905&pid=44937, accessed December 4, 2014.
9. Letter from Donald MacDonald to Captain T. F. Utegaard, December 19, 1964, in Papers of Donald J. MacDonald, Box 1, “Correspondence, 1955–1964,” Naval Historical Foundation Collection, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress.
10. “Reminiscences of George Gowen,” found at http://destroyerhistory.org/fletcherclass/usschevalier/index.asp?r=45100&pid=45109, accessed May 6, 2016.
11. Letter from Alvin R. Brooks to Olon Henderson, 1983, included in Chesnutt Diary.
12. Chesnutt Diary.
13. Rhyne interview, October 20, 2015.
14. “Recollection of Al Grimes,” found at http://destroyerhistory.org/fletcherclass/desron21/index.asp?r=4210&pid=4213, accessed May 6, 2016.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
ACTION REPORTS AND WAR DIARIES
All vessel action reports and war diaries are archived at the National Archives and Records Administration, College Park, Maryland.
USS O’Bannon (DD-450)
War Diary
Monthly War Diary, June 1942 to October 1945.
Action Reports: Actions Around Guadalcanal,
November–December 1942
Commanding Officer to Commander in Chief, United States Fleet, “Report of Anti-Submarine Action,” November 12, 1942.
Commanding Officer to Commander in Chief, United States Fleet, “Report of Anti-Aircraft Action,” November 12, 1942.
Commanding Officer to Commander in Chief, United States Fleet, “Report of Engagement with Japanese Units on Morning of November 13, 1942,” November 17, 1942.
Executive Officer to Commanding Officer. “Report of Personal Impressions and Recollection of the Night Action with Japanese Units in Guadalcanal-Florida Island Area, November 13, 1942,” November 16, 1942.
Commander, South Pacific Area and South Pacific Force, to Commander in Chief, United States Pacific Fleet, “Report of Engagement with Japanese Units on Morning of November 13, 1942,” November 17, 1942.
Task Force 62, Operation Plan No. A24–42, November 27, 1942.
Task Force 62.4.7, Operation Plan No. 3–42, November 27, 1942.
“Antisubmarine Action by Surface Ship,” December 4, 1942.
“Antisubmarine Action by Surface Ship,” December 5, 1942.
Commanding Officer to Chief of the Bureau of Ships, “War Damage Report,” December 9, 1942.
Action Reports: In the Solomons, January–March 1943
Gunnery Officer to Commanding Officer, “Bombardment of Enemy Shore Installations at Munda Point During Early Hours of January 5, 1943, Report Of,” January 6, 1943.
Commanding Officer to Commander Task Force 67, “Bombardment of Munda Point, New Georgia Island, Solomon Group, Early Morning January 5, 1943,” January 7, 1943.
Action Reports: Desron 21 in the Solomons, March–July 1943
Commanding Officer to Commander in Chief, United States Pacific Fleet, “War Action Report—Bombardment of Vila and Stanmore Plantations, Kolambungara [sic] Island and Munda Aerodrome, New Georgia Island,” March 7, 1943.
Commander, Task Group 68.3, to Commander in Chief, United States Pacific Fleet, “U.S.S. O’Bannon (DD-450)—Action Report—Shore Bombardment—Forwarding Report Of,” March 8, 1943.
Action Reports: To the Philippines
Commanding Officer to Commander in Chief, United States Fleet, “Action Report,” April 27, 1944.
Commanding Officer to Commander in Chief, United States Fleet, “Leyte Operation, 18 Oct., 1944, to 30 Oct., 1944, Inclusive, Report Of,” November 2, 1944.
Commanding Officer to Commander Seventh Fleet, “Mindoro Operation, Report Of,” December 29, 1944.
Commanding Officer to Commander in Chief, United States Fleet, “Shore Bombardment of Bataan Peninsula, Corregidor, Ternate Village—Action Report On,” February 19, 1945.
Action Reports: To War’s End
Commanding Officer to Commander in Chief, United States Fleet, “Offensive Carrier Air Strikes against Honshu and Hokkaido, Japanese Empire, July and August, 1945, Action Report On,” September 1, 1945.
USS Fletcher (DD-445)
War Diary
Monthly War Diary, June 1942 to October 1945.
Action Reports: Actions around Guadalcanal, November–December 1942
Commanding Officer to Commander, Task Force 67, “Report of Action,” November 15, 1942.
Executive Officer to Commanding Officer, “Report of Action,” November 15, 1942.
Captain Gilbert C. Hoover, USN, Ex–Commanding Officer, USS Helena, to Commander in Chief, United States Pacific Fleet, “Loss of Juneau, Circumstances Of,” November 28, 1942.
Commanding Officer to Commander, Task Force 67, “Action Report,” December 3, 1942.
Executive Officer to Commanding Officer, “Action Report,” December 3, 1942.
Action Reports: In the Solomons, January–March 1943
Commanding Officer to Commander in Chief, United States Pacific Fleet, “Action Report,” January 6, 1943.
Commanding Officer to Commander in Chief, United States Pacific Fleet, “Action Report—Munda Bombardment,” January 6, 1943.
Executive Officer to Commanding Officer, “Action Report,” January 6, 1943.
Commanding Officer to Commander in Chief, United States Pacific Fleet, “Action Against and Sinking of Enemy Submarine,” February 12, 1943.
Commanding Officer to Commander in Chief, United States Pacific Fleet, “Action Report—Munda Bombardment,” March 8, 1943.
Action Reports: Desron 21 in the Solomons, March–July 1943
CIC Handbook for Destroyers Pacific Fleet, June 24, 1943.
Action Reports: Desron 21 in the Kula Gulf Battles, July–October 1943
Commanding Officer to Commander in Chief, United States Pacific Fleet, “Action Report,” July 7, 1945.
Action Reports: Desron 21 in the Gilberts and Marshalls
Commanding Officer to Commander in Chief, United States Pacific Fleet, “Action Report,” November 26, 1943.
Action Reports: To the Philippines
Commanding Officer to Commander in Chief, United States Fleet, “Action Report,” June 10, 1944.
Commanding Officer to Commander in Chief, United States Pacific Fleet, “Action Report,” July 9, 1944.
Commanding Officer to Commander in Chief, United States Fleet, “Action Report—Morotai Bombardment,” September 19, 1944.
Commanding Officer to Commander in Chief, United States Fleet, “Action Report—Destroyer Sweep of Ormoc Bay, Leyte Island, Philippine Islands,” December 20, 1944.
Commanding Officer to Commander in Chief, United States Fleet, “Action Report—Mindoro Operation,” December 24, 1944.
Commanding Officer to Commander in Chief, United States Fleet, “Action Report—Covering Participation in Landings at San Antonio and Subic Bay, Luzon Island, Philippine Islands, Period 28 January Through 30 January 1945,” February 2, 1945.
Commanding Officer to Commander in Chief, United States Fleet, “Special A.A. Action Reports for Lingayen Operation—Period from 1 January Through 31 January 1945,” February 3, 1945.
Commanding Officer to Commander in Chief, United States Fleet, “Action Report—Manila Bay Operations, 13 February Through 17 February 1945, Inclusive,” February 22, 1945.
Medical Officer to Chief of the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, Navy Department, Washington, D.C., “Report of Casualties,” February 15, 1945.
Commanding Officer to Commander in Chief, United States Fleet, “Action Report, Tarakan Operation, 24 April–3 May 1945 Inclusive,” May 4, 1945.
USS Nicholas (DD-449)
War Diary
Monthly War Diary, June 1942 to October 1945.
Action Reports: In the Solomons, January–March 1943
Commanding Officer to Commander in Chief, United States Pacific Fleet, “Action Report—January 5, 1943—Southern Solomon Islands,” January 7, 1943.
Executive Officer to Commanding Officer, “Executive Officer’s Report, Action of January 5, 1943, in Southern Solomon Islands Area,” January 7, 1943.
Commanding Officer to Commander in Chief, United States Pacific Fleet, “Action Report,” February 3, 1943.
Commanding Officer to Commander in Chief, United States Pacific Fleet, “Action Report—Bombardment,” March 6, 1943.
Action Reports: Desron 21 in the Solomons, March–July 1943
Commanding Officer to Commander in Chief, United States Pacific Fleet, “Action Report—Shore Bombardment,” March 17, 1943.
Action Reports: To the Philippines
Commanding Officer to Commander in Chief, United States Fleet, “Action Report—Aitape, New Guinea—Occupation of April 22, 1944,” April 24, 1944.
Commanding Officer to Commander in Chief, United States Pacific Fleet, “Action Report—Philippine Island Occupation—Report Of,” November 3, 1944.
Commanding Officer to Commander in Chief, United States Fleet, “Anti-Aircraft Action 29 November 1944—Report Of,” November 30, 1944.
Commanding Officer to Commander in Chief, United States Fleet, “Action Report—Occupation of Luzon Island, Philippine Islands,” February 6, 1945.
Commanding Officer to Commander in Chief, United States Fleet, “Action Report—Bombardment and Occupation of Mariveles Harbor and Corregidor, 13–16 February 1945,” February 21, 1945.
Commanding Officer to Commander in Chief, United States Fleet, “Action Report—Seizure and Occupation of Tarakan Island, Dutch Borneo, 24 April–5 May 1945,” May 5, 1945.
Action Reports: To War’s End
Commanding Officer to Commander in Chief, United States Fleet, “Action Report—Occupation of Sagami Wan and Entrance into Tokyo Bay Terminating in Surrender Ceremonies, 16 August to 2 September 1945,” September 10, 1945.
USS De Haven (DD-469)
War Diary
Monthly War Diary, October 1942 to February 1943.
Action Reports: In the Solomons, January–March 1943
“Report of Action, Bombardment of Vila-Stanmore Plantation, Kolombangara Island, Morning of January 24th, 1943,” January 25, 1943.
Senior Unwounded Survivor, USS De Haven (DD-469), to Secretary of the Navy, “U.S.S. De Haven (DD469)—Loss of,” February 5, 1943.
Ensign Clem C. Williams Jr., “Sinking of the USS De Haven in the South Pacific,” June 3, 1944, Office of Naval Records and Library.
Ensign Clem C. Williams Jr., “Amplifying Report of the Senior Unwounded Survivor on Loss of the U.S.S. De Haven on February 1, 1943,” June 5, 1943.
USS Jenkins (DD-447)
War Diary
Monthly War Diary, November 1942 to June 1945.
Action Reports: To the Philippines
Commanding Officer to Commander in Chief, United States Fleet, “Action Report 22–23 April 1944—Aitape Beach, Territory of New Guinea,” April 25, 1944.
Commanding Officer to Commander in Chief, United States Fleet, “Action Report Night of 8–9 June 1944, North of Biak Island, New Guinea,” June 11, 1944.
Commanding Officer to Commander in Chief, United States Fleet, “Action Report of Bombardment of Noemfoor Island, New Guinea, 2 July 1944,” July 16, 1944.
Commanding Officer to Commander in Chief, United States Fleet, “Action Report for Morotai Operation 15 September 1944,” September 16, 1944.
Commanding Officer to Commander in Chief, United States Fleet, “Action Report: Reinforcement of Sopi Point, Morotai Island, 21–22 September 1944,” September 23, 1944.
Commanding Officer to Commander in Chief, United States Fleet, “Action Report; Leyte Gulf, Philippine Islands, 20 October 1944 to 4 November 1944,” November 10, 1944.
Commanding Officer to Commander in Chief, United States Pacific Fleet, “Action Report 9 January 1945, Lingayen Gulf, Luzon, Philippine Islands,” January 11, 1945.
Commanding Officer to Commander in Chief, United States Fleet, “Action Report U.S.S. Jenkins, 13–17 February 1945, Corregidor, P.I.,” February 19, 1945.
Commanding Officer to Commander in Chief, United States Fleet, “Action Report, U.S.S. Jenkins (DD-447), Tarakan Island, 27–30 April 1945,” May 2, 1945.
Other
Commanding Officer to Secretary of the Navy, “War Record—Forwarding Of,” October 5, 1945.
USS La Vallette (DD-448)
War Diary
Monthly War Diary, November 1942 to February 1945.
Action Reports: In the Solomons, January–March 1943
Commanding Officer to Commander in Chief, United States Fleet, “Action Report—U.S.S. La Vallette,” February 6, 1943.
Executive Officer to Commanding Officer, “Battle Report of Action with Enemy Aircraft off Koliula Point, Guadalcanal, on January 29, 1943,” February 6, 1943.
Commanding Officer to Commander in Chief, United States Fleet, “Action Report—U.S.S. La Vallette,” February 8, 1943.
Executive Officer to Commanding Officer, “Battle Report of Action with Enemy Aircraft off Rennell Island on January 30, 1943,” February 8, 1943.
Action Reports: To the Philippines
Commanding Officer to Commander in Chief, United States Fleet, “Action Report—Landing Operation at Aitape, New Guinea, 22 April 1944,” May 7, 1944.
Commanding Officer to Commander in Chief, United States Fleet, “Action Report—Night Engagement with Enemy Destroyer Force Northwest of Biak, New Guinea, 8–9 June 1944,” June 12, 1944.
Commanding Officer to Commander in Chief, United States Fleet, “Action Report—Support of Landing at Noemfoor Island, New Guinea, July 2, 1944,” July 13, 1944.
Commanding Officer to Commander in Chief, United States Fleet, “Action Report—Operation Against Morotai Island, September 15, 1944,” September 18, 1944.
Commanding Officer to Commander in Chief, United States Fleet, “Action Report—Leyte Island Landing Operation,” October 24, 1944.
Commanding Officer to Commander in Chief, United States Fleet, “Action Report—Bombardment of Enemy Installations, Ormoc Bay, Leyte Island, Philippine Islands, on Night of 6–7 December 1944,�
�� December 10, 1944.
Commanding Officer to Commander in Chief, United States Fleet, “Action Report—Bombardment of Camp Downes, Vicinity of Ormoc City, Leyte Island, Philippine Islands, 9 December 1944,” December 11, 1944.
Commanding Officer to Commander in Chief, United States Fleet, “Report of Camotes Sea Sweep and Bombardment of Coast Lines between Pangtail Point and Calunangan Point, Leyte Island on, 7 December 1944,” December 7, 1944.
Commanding Officer to Commander in Chief, United States Fleet, “Action Report—Invasion of Southwest Mindoro, P. I., December 12–15, 1944,” December 29, 1944.
Executive Officer to Commanding Officer, “Casualty 2/14/45 as a Result of Underwater Explosion in Mariveles Bay, P. I.,” February 17, 1945.
Engineering Officer to Commanding Officer, “Report of Personal Observations, Performance of Duty, and Recommendations Concerning Recent Action and Battle Damage of U.S.S. La Vallette (DD-448),” February 17, 1945.
Assistant Engineering Officer to Commanding Officer, “Report and Personal Observations of Action, 14 February 1945 of the U.S.S. La Vallette (DD-448),” February 20, 1945.
Medical Officer to Chief of the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, “Report of Casualties,” February 21, 1945.
Medical Officer to Commanding Officer, “Medical Report of Action, 14 February 1945 of the U.S.S. La Vallette (DD-448),” February 21, 1945.