That shot reminded me of one of my best friends Dad who flew a B-25 and was shot down in the Pacific, spent 2 days and a night in the water before being rescued.
Whether on land, sea or in the air, war is the same, bloody and merciless. But in an environment like the ocean, it’s even more stressful. Not to mention the atrocities of war, two days and a night in the water lost in the middle of nowhere, a traumatic experience. That’s how these men had nerves of steel. Thank you for remembering.
My Dad's ship went down in the Pacific. He was definitely one of the strong ones.
Spoiler:
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USS Destroyer Reid (Wiki entry). In Reid's final two weeks in the waters around Leyte, the crew was able to sleep only an hour or two at a time. They were called to battle stations (condition red) an average of 10 times a day. It was a period of near constant combat. While escorting reinforcements for Ormoc Bay near Surigao Straits 11 December 1944, Reid destroyed seven Japanese planes, when the following took place: Reid was protecting a re-supply force of amphibious craft bound for Ormoc Bay off the west coast of Leyte. At about 1700 hours, twelve enemy planes approached the convoy. Reid was the nearest ship to the oncoming planes. Planes 1 and 2 were shot down by the 5-inch battery, and Plane 3 exploded about 500 yards (460 m) off the starboard beam. Plane 4 hooked a wing on the starboard rigging, crashing at the waterline. Its bomb exploded, causing considerable damage forward. Plane 5 strafed the starboard side and crashed on the port bow. Plane 6 strafed the bridge from the port side and crashed off the starboard bow. Planes 5 and 6 apparently had no bombs or their bombs were duds. Plane 7 came in from astern, strafed Reid and crashed into the port quarter. Its bomb exploded in the after magazine, blowing the ship apart. All this action took place in less than a minute.
The ship was mortally wounded but still doing 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph). As the stern opened up, she rolled violently, then lay over on her starboard side and dove to the bottom at 600 fathoms (3,600 ft; 1,100 m). It was over in less than two minutes, and 103 crewmen went down with the ship. The survivors were strafed in the water by Japanese planes before rescue.[2] Her 150 survivors were picked up by landing craft in her convoy.
A troubled period of history, characterized by the bravery, courage and especially the resilience of men. These qualities definitely apply to your father, his comrades and his opponents. Whether they fought for a good cause or a bad cause, what matters is what they had to endure, as such they deserve all our respect. I find that the years passing we forget what our elders lived. I’m glad it evokes a "piece of life". In my opinion, it is by keeping our memory that we are most likely not to make the same mistakes again. Thank you for sharing this memory.
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Thank you very much and happy new year!
rescued.
Thank you for remembering.
My Dad's ship went down in the Pacific. He was definitely one of the strong ones.
only an hour or two at a time. They were called to battle stations
(condition red) an average of 10 times a day. It was a period of near
constant combat. While escorting reinforcements for Ormoc Bay near Surigao Straits 11 December 1944, Reid destroyed seven Japanese planes, when the following took place:
Reid was protecting a re-supply force of amphibious craft bound for Ormoc Bay off the west coast of Leyte. At about 1700 hours,
twelve enemy planes approached the convoy. Reid was the nearest ship to the oncoming planes. Planes 1 and 2 were shot down by the
5-inch battery, and Plane 3 exploded about 500 yards (460 m) off the
starboard beam. Plane 4 hooked a wing on the starboard rigging,
crashing at the waterline. Its bomb exploded, causing considerable
damage forward. Plane 5 strafed the starboard side and crashed on the
port bow. Plane 6 strafed the bridge from the port side and crashed off
the starboard bow. Planes 5 and 6 apparently had no bombs or their
bombs were duds. Plane 7 came in from astern, strafed Reid and crashed into the port quarter. Its bomb exploded in the after magazine,
blowing the ship apart. All this action took place in less than a
minute.
The ship was mortally wounded but still doing 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph). As the stern opened up, she rolled violently, then lay over on
her starboard side and dove to the bottom at 600 fathoms (3,600 ft;
1,100 m). It was over in less than two minutes, and 103 crewmen went
down with the ship. The survivors were strafed in the water by Japanese
planes before rescue.[2] Her 150 survivors were picked up by landing craft in her convoy.
I’m glad it evokes a "piece of life". In my opinion, it is by keeping our memory that we are most likely not to make the same mistakes again.
Thank you for sharing this memory.