IV
USS Douglas H. Fox DD 779 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Commander R. M. PITTS, USN, Commanding Officer LT. Cdr. C. H. CARLSON, USN, Executive Officer LT. J. H. DAVIS, USN, Gunnery Officer LT. J. H. HOWARD, (D), USNR, First LT. LT. J. C. JONES, (DE), USNR, Engineer Officer LT. (jg) E. L. WEBSTER, (D) LR, USNR, CIC Officer LT. (jg) O. C. STEGMAIER, MC, USNR, Medical Officer LT. (jg) N. H. WITSCHEW, Jr., (CD), USNR, Communications Officer LT. (jg) R. D. VISGER, (D) L, USNR, Asst. Gunnery Officer Ensign J. R. BEIRNES, (D) L, USNR, Sonar Officer Ensign T. H. EASTWOOD, USN, Radar Officer Ensign V. S. AKERS, USN, Asst. Engineer Officer Ensign A. P. BEARD, (D) LX, USNR, Intercept Officer Ensign J. A. FLEMING, (CD) L, USNR, Asst. Communication Officer Ensign A. KOORHAN, (D) L, USNR, Asst. Navigator Ensign L. A. HOYING, (D) L, USNR, Automatic Weapons Officer Ensign D. W. KORTE, USN, Fire Control Officer * Ensign L. D. FAY, (D) L, USNR, Asst. First LT. Ensign W. J. FOLLETTE, (D) L, USNR, Torpedo Officer Ensign R. R. CONLEY, (E), USNR, Asst. Engineer Officer Ensign I. H. LEVY, SC, USNR, Supply Officer |
ACHTZENER, Jack Charles, MM1c V6 ACKERMAN, Paul Joseph, RM3c V6, ACKERMAN, Rudolph Peter, CRM (AA), USN ADAMAK, Fred John, Cox., USN AHFELD, Harold J, CGM, USN ALDEN, Kenneth Melvin, MM1c, USN ALEXANDER, Walter Thomas, S1c, USN ALLEN, Byron Gordon, QM2c, USN ALLEN, Wilbur John, S2c, V6 ALVEY, James Robert, S1c, V6 ANDERSON, Donald Adolph, MM1c(T), V6 ANDERSON, Leon Russell, S.2c, V6 ANDERSON, Robert Gordon, S1c, V6 SV ANGLIN, Charley Vann, S2C(RdM) V6 SV APPLEGATE, Archie Truitt, FC2c, USN ASHYK, John Paul, TM1c, USN * ASKEW, Jack Thomas, GM3c, USN AURENHEIMER, Fred Allen, S2c, V6 BADER, Charles William, S2c, V6 SV BARKER, John Palmer, F2c, V6 BARNES, Milton (n), S2c, V6 SV BARR, Lawrence Edward, M2c, V2 BEAR, Monroe Spencer, Flc, V6 BELLMAR, Fred Cyril, Jr., S1c (GM), V6, SV BENDER, Edward Mathew, Jr., S2c(RdM), V6 SV BERRY, Jack Paul, S2c(RdM), V6 BIAGI, Robert Hammond, CPhM(AA), USN BINETTI, John Joseph, BM1C, USN BONAHATA, Aldo Frank, Flc, V6 BORNEMANN, William Richard, S2c, V6 BRADY, Clyde Euel, WTlc, USN BRAGUNIER, Allen Barber, F2c, V6 SV BROOKS, Donald Lewis, Slc, USN BROOKS, Joe Wilson, Slc(GM), USN BROWN, Arles Luther, S2c, V6 SV BROWN, Harold William, CBM, USN BRYAN, Gail Hugh, GM3c, USN-I BURLESON, Gerald Talcom, Slc, USN BYRD, Harold F., WTlc, USN CANCERAN, John Gorospe, Cklc, V6 CANTER, Albert Paul, Slc(SC), V6 SV CARROLL, Frank Edgan, S2c, V6 SV CATNUR, Eric Alan, S2c(RdM), V6 SV CHAPMAN, Frank Henry, Slc, USN CHEEK, Doyle Shearrell, S2c, V6 CHILES, Wilbur Lee, S2c(RdM), V6 SV CLARK, Earl Wayne, MM3c, USN CLARK, Roy Benson, SFlc, USN CALUSSEN, Henry Tonjes, S2c, USN-I COLLINS, Lawrence Sylvester, S2c, V6 COLLINS, Robert Frederick, SoM3c(T), V6 COON, William Ben, Slc, V6 COTE, Paul Denis, Jr., S2c, V6 COULTAS, Frank Kingdon, Jr., Slc(GM), V6 SV COULTER, Frederic Kennedy, S2c(QM), V6 SV COYLE, Joseph Howard, MoMM3c, M2 CRAGIN, Robert Joseph, Flc V6 SV CRANE, Lester Clayton, MM2c, USN CUBBERLY, Doyle Philip, SL3c, V6 CURTIS, Clyde Allen, Y3c(T), V6 CUSWORTH, Edward Jacob, SoM3c, V6 DAMARII, Thomas Joseph, Jr., Slc, V6 SV DASE, Leo Roy, MM3c, V6 SV DAVIS, Lloyd John, FC3c, V6 DAVIS, Walter Joseph, S2c(TM), V6 SV DAYTON, Lester Lowell, S2c, V6 DECKER, Norton Henery, GM3c, USN DE FLIEGER, Donald Willia, Slc, V6 DE LA PARTE, Edward Paul, S2c, V6 SV DEL PUPPA, Peter Arrigo, Slc(FC), V6 SV DEVINE, Carl Morton, Slc, V6 DAIGLE, George Joseph, Cox, USN DIETHART, Lester Earl, GMlc O-1 DONOVAN, Justin R, EMlc, USN DRENNING, Raymond, TM2c, V6 DUFFETT, Clarence William, TM2c, USN DUFFY, Anthony Daniel, WT2c, USN DUNCAN, Lyman Troy, Slc, V6 DUNDAS, Irving Alfred, S2c, V6 SV DUNN, Robert Louis, StMlc, USN DUVALL, Robert Brown, S2c, USN-I DYER, Robert Vernon SoM3c(T), V6 EARL, Gordon Rhoade, S2c, V6 EDINGTON, Paul Herman, S2c(FC), V6 EDSTROM, Kenneth Emanuel, S2c, V6 SV EGGERT, Lewis (n), Jr., RT2c, V6 EITEL, Henry Winson, Jr., Flc, V6 SV ELLIOT, Edward Alfred, Slc(SC), V6 ELLIS, Richard Bayard, Jr., Cox, USN ERWIN, John Ormond, Slc, V6 ESPINOZA, Rudy Marin, Slc, V6 ETHRIDGE, Lewis Clinton, MM2c, V6 EVANSKIE, Walter Leonard, GM3c(T), V6 FEHSER, David Henry, WT2c, V6 FERNENGEL, Fred Henry, PhM2c, V6 FINK, Henry Ford, Slc(RM), V6 FISCHER, Fred August, Jr., RT2c, V6 FLANAGAN, Melvin Walter, Slc(FCO), V6 SV FOSTER, Richard Ellis, S2c, V6 FOX, Frank Edward, MM2c, USN * FRANKLIN, Richard H, S2c, V6 FRANTZ, Herbert Royston, Jr., MM2c, V6 GALLAGHER, David George, BM2c, USN GALLAGHER, VERNON Thaddeus, S2c, V6 SV GALLI, Lawrence Henry, S2c(TM), V6 GAMMON, William Richard, Sr., S2c, V6 SV GANDY, William Humbert, StM2c, V6 SV GANGI, William (n), EM2c, V6 SV GARRETT, Lloyd Milton, S2c(TM), V6 SV GIBSON, Jimmie Lee, S2c, V6 SV GIBSON, Robert Haslett, S2c, V6 SV GILLIAM, Van Nicholas, Flc, V6 GILMER, George Hudson, S2c, V6 SV GINN, Jessie Lee, Slc, V6 GOLDSTONE, Morris (n), SKD2c, V6 GRAHAM, Arvin Elliott, S2c, V6 GRAUBERGER, Robert Nelson, S2c, USN GREAVES, David Louis, CMM, USN GREENE, Foster Oakley, CMM(T), USN GREEN, Hillma Eugene, S2c, V6 SV GRUE, James Joseph, Slc, V6 GUILD, Harold Paul, S2c, V6 SV HALLER, Eugene Bradley, FC3c, V6 HALLMAN, Robert Eugene, MM2c, V6 HANDLEY, Gilbert Norman, S2c, V6 HANNER, Gordon Wilbur, S2c, V6 HANSEN, Kristian Daniel, MM3c, V6 SV HANSEN, Thomas Ethelbert, S2c, USN HARTMAN, Gerald Brown, SoM3c(T), V6 HAWLEY, John Charleton, Jr., Flc, V6 HAWORTH, Jesse LaVerne, S2c(RM), V6 SV HELTMAN, Eugene Anthony, Flc, V6 HENDERSON, James (n), StMlc, V6 SV HENDRICKS, John Albert, QM2c, V6 HERMAN, Robert Conrad, RM3c, V6 HESS, Lloyd Anderson, S2c(RdM), USN-I HESS, Simon Burkholder, GM2c, V6 HIBEN, Daniel (n), Flc, V6 SV HICKMAN, John Chandler, Jr., RMlc, USN HINSHAW, Edward Garfield, F2c, V6 HOCKETT, Teddy George, QM3c, V6 SV * HODGES, Paul Buford, Slc, USN HOLLIER, Edmond Ray, F2c, V6 SV HOLTZCLAW, Harry Rayford, Jr., TM2c, USN HOUGHTON, William Henry, EM2c, V6 INFANTE, Thomas George, 238 80 25, GM3c, USN IVERSON, Walter Buford, 758 24 77, S2c, V6, USNR JACKSON, Lester Carlyle, 888 37 29, S2c, V6 SV, USNR JACOBS, Frank Herman, 962 05 56, S2c, V6 SV, USNR JACOBSON, Merrill Stanley, 393 26 15, FC2c, USN JENNINGS, Albert Orval, 866 35 05, S1c, V6 SV, USNR JOHNSON, Donald Juel, 385 39 26, SM1c, USN JOHNSON, Ernest William, 305 90 77, Bkr2c, USNR JONES, David Augustus, Jr., 382 95 56, MM2c, USN JONES, Gordon Lewis, 313 68 18, S2c, V6, USNR JONES, Roscoe Richard, 875 9242, MM3c, V6 SV, USNR JUNGE, Arthur John, 810 67 83, SoM3c, V6 SV, USNR KALWEIT, Denmore Clifford, 387 11 78, S2c, V6, USNR KAUFMAN, Walter Miller, 807 48 34, GM2c, USN-I KAY, John Ross, 843 35 16, F1c(EM), V6 SV, USNR KEEFE, Paul David, 203 07 96, S1c, V6, USNR KEEGAN, James Joseph, 376 89 14, MM2c, V6 USNR KEEN, Buel Dean, 956 91 31, S2c, V6 SV, USNR KEHRER, George Leroy, Jr., 955 62 32, F1c(EM), V6 SV, USNR KEIL, Frank Edward, 894 63 81. S2c, V6 SV, USNR KELLOGG, Beverly Neate, 413 47 31, GM2c, V6, USNR KERNS, Thomas Joseph, 246 24 34, S1c(RM), V6, USNR KLEINMAN, John Francis, 866 06 55, WT3c(T), V6 SV, USNR KOEHL, John Mitchell, Jr., 619 43 61, S2c, V6, USNR KOEPPL, Vernon John, 871 41 61, S2c(FC), V6 SV, USNR KOZLEVCAR, Anthony Joseph, 851 56 24, S1c, V6 SV, USNR KUCINSKAS, Donald (n), 207 23 30, CEM, USN KUEHNER, Ivan Eugene, MoMM1c(T), V6 KUYKENDALL, Delman Vernon, Jr., RT1c, V6 KYLER, George (n), F2c, V6 SV LAMBERT, Donald Charles, Slc, USN LANBERG, Ralph Herman, F2c, V6 SV LANIER, Marlin (n), S2c, V6 SV LATHAM, William Walter, Jr., MM2c, V6 LAW, Edmund Joseph, F2c, V6 LERWICK, Paul Charles, S2c, V6 SV LEVINE, Samuel, (n), Flc, V6 SV LEVY, Bertram (n), MMlc, V6 LEWIS, Miles E, CY(AA), V6 LONG, Olan Lamar, F2c, V6 LOY, Lester Jerry, F2c, V6 LUTHE, Beryl Vernon, Mmlc, V6 LYLE, Charles Arthur, CM2c, USN LYNCH, Paul Arkell, Slc(GM), V6 SV LYTLE, Curtis Thomas, F2c, V6 LYTLE, Homer William, Slc, V6 SV MADSON, Richard Allen, S2c, USN MAHONEY, Bernard Patrick, S2c(RdN), V6 SV MAKAR, Alexander (n), S2c, V6 SV MALONE, Joe H, CMoMM, USN MARBLE, Horace Edwin, Jr., S2c(SM), V6 SV MARLER, Robert Erwin, Jr., Slc(SM), V6 MARSH, Edwin Junior, Ylc(T), V6 MARTINEZ, Sam (n), S2c, USN-I MARTORANO, Alexander Joseph, S2c, V6 SV MASTROPIETRO, Felix (n), Slc(RT), V6 SV MAXON, John William, S2c(RdM), V6 SV MAYO, N D, S2c, V6 MC ARTHUR, Floyd Edward, SM3c, V6 MC CAIN, Alva Harold, BM2c, V6 MC CLURE, Virgil Vincent, MM3c, V6 MC CONNELL, Richard James, S2c, V6 MC DERMOTT, John Thomas, S2c, V6 SV MC DEVITT, Daniel James, CTM(AA), USN MC DONNOUGH, John Charles, F2c, V6 MC HUGH, Thomas Patrick, WTlc, V6 * MC KINLEY, Willard Wade, SC2c MC LACHLAN, Harold Raymond, S2c, V6 MC NAMARA, Thomas Woodrow, SKlc, USN MELLING, Verlin Eugene, TMlc, USN MELTON, Lester Edward, RM2c, USN MEYER, Alfred George, S2c, V6 SV MICHAEL, Cyrus Thomas, WT3c, USN MIDDLETON, Walter Raleigh, StMlc, V6 SV MIHELIC, Anthony (n), S2c, V6 SV MILLER, Harmon (n), Ck3c, V6 MITCHELL, George Warren, Slc(GM), V6 SV MITCHELL, Lester Joseph, S2c, V6 SV MOLL, Robert Frederick, Sr., Flc(EM), V6 SV MONTOYA, Edward Patricio, PhM3c, V6 MOONEY, Robert B., CFC, USN MOORE, Richard Ray, SoM3c(T), V6 MORGAN, Francis Joseph, EMlc, V6 MORGAN, William John, Slc, V6 MORROW, Donald Eugene, S2C(Y), V6 MOSTYN, Thomas Joseph, S2c, V6 SV MOYER, John Frederick, EMlc, USN MULLENHOUR, Rolland Jay, F2c, V6 MUNIZ, Jerry Alvarez, F2c(BE), V6 SV MYLLYMAKI, Carl William, Flc(WT), V6 NELEC, George William, Slc, V6 SV NEVILLE, Harry Allan, Flc(EM), V6 SV NUZUM, Donald Max, S2c, V6 SV OHARA, Frances Aloysius, S2c, V6 SV OLSEN, Norman Harry, S2c, V6 OSBORN, Floyd Hardin, F2c, V6 SV OSTERLOH, Warren Herman, F2c, V6 OTTO, Wayne Everett, S2c, V6 PAPPAS, George (n), S2c, V6 SV PARKINS, Ellis Jerome, CGM, USN PARKS, Cyrus, Ellenus, S2c, V6 SV PATRICK, Jack Riley, Slc, V6 SV * PEED, Richard Maurice, GM2c, USN PERDUE, Wayne C., RTlc, V6 PERRY, Dolan Ray, WT2c, USN * PILAFAS, John Constantine, Slc, V6 SV PIPER, Brisco, Sr., StMlc, V6 SV PISACANO, Anthony (n), Slc, V6 SV PLATZ, Merlin Edward, Flc(EM), V6 SV PRESTON, Julius John, CWT(PA), USN PRICE, Evan John, MM2c, V6 PRINCE, William Richard, S2c,USN PROULX, Andre Joseph, S2c, V6 SV RESSMAN, Louis Benjamin, SClc, V6 RHODES, Leon (n), CMM(T), USN RICHARDS, Glen Dean, Slc(FCO), V6 SV RICHHART, James Allen, F2c(EM),V6 SV ROGERS, Jack Carl, S2c, V6 SV ROSENBERG, Stanley David, S2c, V6 SV RUTLEDGE, Charles William, S2c(SSML), V6 SV SANDIFORD, George William, Jr., S2c, V6 SAUCIER, Melvin Corbit, S2c, V6 SV SCHUMACHER, Paul Anthony, S2c, V6 SV SEABORN, Donald C., CWT, V6 SEEGERS, Henry Thomas, GM3c, V6 SETTLES, Faustino (n), Slc, V6 SEUSS, Jack Martin, SoM3c(T), V6 SV SHEPPARD, Hugh (n), MM3c, V6 SHERMAN, Clarence Robert, F2c, V6 SV SHERMAN, Gordon Paul, S2c(FC), V6 SIECZOWSKI, Walter Francis, Slc, V6 SV SIENKO, Edward Joseph, Slc, V6 SITES, Robert Vernon, Sc2, V6 SKEEL, Lynn Thomas, Blc, USN SMITH, A C, Slc, V6 SV SMITH, Hugh Francis, S2c, USN SMITH, Robert Eugene, F2c, V6 SMITH, Theodore Jacob, BM2c, USN SNYDER, William Foster, Slc, USN SOUDER, Floyd LeRoy, GM3c, V6 SOUZA, David Joseph, S2c, V6 SV SPARKS, James Dewey, Slc, V6 SV STANFILL, Willie Eugene, S2c, V6 SV STANLEY, Vincent Francis, CQM(AA)(T), USN STANTON, Samuel (n), Stlc, USN STILL, Curtis Lee, Slc, V6 STOGSDILL, Claude Edward, GMlc, USN STOREY, Robert Wesley, Slc, V6 STOREY, Orvil Lewis, F2c(MM), V6 STANGE, James Joseph, Flc, V6 * STROCK, Stanley Fay, Slc, V6 STRUCKEL, William Daniel, Slc, V6 ST THOMAS, Robert Edward, Slc(TM), V6 SUNDQUIST, Paul Victor, S2c, V6 SWEENEY, William John, Slc, V6 SYPOLT, Theodore Stewart, S2C, V6 TAMER, James Abraham, RDM3c, V6 SV TAYLOR, Loren Calvin, Y2c, V6 TENNISON, William Dee, Slc, V6 * THIESSEN, William A, S2c, V6 SV THIGPEN, Archie Cleveland, Slc, USN-SV THOMAS, Lester Larsen, S2c, USN THROGMORTON, William Louis, Slc, V6 SV TILTON, Arthur Edward, Slc, USN TIMLAKE, James William, S2c, V6 TOMAN, Norman Cecil, Slc, V6 TOTH, Joseph Michael, GMlc, USN TRAVERS, Richard (n), SM2c, USN TRENT, Elmer Lee, GM3c, V6 SV TRZASKA, John Joseph, Slc, V6 TURNER, John Edward, S2c, V6 TURVEY, David Oliver, S2c, V6 TUTTLE, William Davis, MMlc, USN UETZ, Melvin George, MMlc, USN VACHAL, Ralph Allen, S2c, V6 SV VANDIVER, John Newton, Jr., S2c(RdM), V6 SV VAN HEIDEN, Willard Stanley, S2c(FCO), V6 SV VIGMAU, Robert Alexander, Slc(GM), V6 VINCENT, Keith Bradley, Cox, USN VOLLERTSEN, Quentin Harry, S2c, V6 SV WADE, Lewis Raymond, Slc, USN-I WALLACE, Max Allen, S2c, V6 WARD, Bliss Langstaff, S2c, V6 SV WARREN, Arnold (n), GM3c, V2 WASSOM, Eldon Clare, S2c, V6 SV WEAVER, Kenneth Ray, S2c, V6 WEIR, Cecil. H., SFlc, V6 WEITZEL, Theodore Jacob, S2c, V6 SV WELLS, Lemuel Swanson, S2c(FC), V6 WELSH, Clyde Harlow, Slc, USN WELSH, John Anthony, Slc, USN WENTWORTH, Byron Philip, S2c, V6 SV WHITE, Bill David, S2c, V6 SV WHITE, Luther David, Jr., S2c, V6 WHYBREW, Gerald Franklin, TM2c, V6 WILDER, William Best, S2c, V6 WILLIAMS, Charles Landis, FC3c V6 WILLIAMS, Richard Alvin, S2c(RdM), V6 WILSON, Roy Van, Slc, V6, SV WINTERS, Ralph Waldo, Flc V6 WOODLEY, Arthur Hal, Jr., Slc(TM), USN-I WRIGHT, Dean Earl, Jr., Slc, V6 SV WUENSCH, Louis Emil, Slc, V6 SV YORK, Chester Wordon, Bkr3c, V6 SV YORK, Jesse Truman, Slc, V6 ZOEPHEL, Robert Louis, Slc V6 ZOURAS, Themio Peter, S2c, V6 SV |
At 1130 this date, Lt. (jg) M. J. COPELAND, USN, Reported on board for temporary duty in accordance with orders of the Commandant Thirteenth Naval District, 13ND-T2534 of 20 December 1944. 1145 All visitors left the ship.
Letter From Lew Eggert, RT2, 1944-46, to Sondra, November 8, 2004 The Fox left Puget Sound (Seattle) early January 1945 and got into a rough Pacific storm that had almost everyone seasick. I'll bet your Dad, TM3 Lloyd Garrett was seasick too! After a few days it calmed down and we pulled into San Francisco Bay for ammo and stores. We continued shakedown exercises on the way down to San Diego, shooting at air and surface targets and simulating submarine attacks. We continued shakedown out of San Diego to mid March 1945. We were shooting at land targets on San Clement Island when Clyde A. Curtis got appendicitis and died on 2/28/45. We pulled into a dock momentarily at Long Beach and left his body. Two weeks or so afterwards we left San Diego for Pearl Harbor, arriving 3/31. Easter Sunday was 4/1. I was sent to school for 2 weeks on the base to learn about some new radar that was being installed on the ship. I got several liberties in Honolulu and ate a lot of pineapple and drank juice. Much of the time I had a terrible bellyache. When I got back to the ship I was really afraid I had appendicitis, and after what happened a month before I didn't want Doc working on me. My buddy was Fred Fernangle; PhM2/c, and he assigned me to a bunk for a day or so. My bellyache went away but I had learned I was allergic to pineapple. A few days later we left Pearl Harbor heading west, shot at air targets and chased imaginary submarines. I think it was May 3 when we anchored in Buckner Bay at Okinawa and waited for the next assignment. But that's another story.
MEMORIES OF LT.CDR. CONNIE CARLSON, EXECUTIVE OFFICER, 1944-1945 Written by Cmdr. "Connie" Carlson, USN (Ret.), for Cmdr."Andy" Wilde, in August 1999. Reading Andy Wilde's super book brought back memories of my experience as Executive Officer of the FOX and especially of our skipper, Ray Pitts. He was the best, a superb ship handler, a great leader and teacher, and a valued friend. Before commissioning, I had the bulk of the crew for training at Treasure Island, while Ray had the department heads and senior petty officers at Seattle, where the ship was being built. We put the crew through various courses, but my most vivid memory was the Fire Fighting School which every crew member went through. They had built a destroyer's fire room without boilers, and they filled the bilge with fuel oil, poured gasoline on top and then threw in a torch. You can't imagine the smoke and flames. We had to go in and put it out. We were equipped with gas masks and spray nozzles. It was amazing how effective the spray nozzles were. Just before commissioning, we took the ship out in the bay and tested the engines at full power and all the guns for proper operation. When we came back to tie up, as we approached the pier Ray told me to take her in. This was my first experience docking a destroyer. I was naturally conservative and with a strong current setting the ship, my approach was too cautious. We would have hit the pier so we backed out for another approach. At this point the Harbor Master called on the radio to ask if we needed help. Ray quickly replied, "Negative, we are conducting drills." He then brought the ship in smartly using plenty of power. On the way to San Diego for shakedown we had two memorable incidents. The weather was extremely rough en route, and most of the crew was seasick. One of our men, Clyde A. Curtis, Y3c, came down with appendicitis. Our doctor did his best to control it, but he had to operate on the wardroom table while still at sea. Unfortunately Yeoman Curtis did not survive and his death is recorded as having taken place on February 28, 1945. We diverted to Long Beach to dispose of the body. This was our first loss of life aboard the Fox. The other event was caused by the shipyard installing a group of valves backward, and as result they discharged oil over most of the hull and superstructure. We had to do something before our arrival inspection so I went down among the compartments to get the crew out to clean the ship. In one of the compartments I saw a pile of vomit at the head of a bunk and gave the sailor hell for not cleaning it up. He looked at me and pointed to the upper bunk and said, "It was the guy up there." We got the ship cleaned and passed the inspection with flying colors. During shakedown we operated out of San Diego daily. One day the skipper said "Connie, take her out." It was my first experience conning the ship through the channel and Ray watched my progress all the way. And he did the same for each department head. When we finished shakedown we headed for the San Francisco Navy Yard and then for Pearl Harbor, where we received training in antiaircraft/antisubmarine warfare, and shore bombardment. Meanwhile the skipper read all the reports on destroyer activity at Okinawa and came up with a brilliant idea. Our problem was going to be attacks by Kamikazes, and our torpedo's would be useless. Therefore he obtained permission from COMDESPAC to send Jim Davis, Gunnery Officer, out to get six .50 cal. machine guns to be manned by our torpedo gang. On the way out, we mounted the guns on the main deck, three on each side. When we arrived at Majuro Atoll (Marshall Islands) Ray sent Jim to find some ammo and belts. We got underway for screening duties when our task force was ordered out of Majuro, before Davis returned. He was seen heading our way in a heavily loaded boat, so we slowed down, took him and his load on board, and then cast the boat adrift. We later got a nasty message from the Harbor mater for taking one of his boats and casting it adrift at the atoll. By the time we arrived at Okinawa the guns were fully tested and did yeoman service during our engagements on picket station. The roar of those guns during attacks gave all of us in CIC a very comfortable feeling. The damage we sustained from the Kamikaze hit on 17 May 1945 was too severe to be repaired at Okinawa, so we returned to San Francisco for repairs. Just as we were ready to go back to the War Zone, the war ended. I was detached and ordered to command the USS McDougal, DD 358. My next contact with Ray was in Oslo, Norway, where I was stationed with the Military Assistance Advisory Group. He was assigned to the Joint Chiefs in the Pentagon and was responsible for advising NATO of our government's position on nuclear matters. On my last tour of duty in the Pentagon, I had lunch with Ray frequently and found out how well-thought-of he was with the Joint Chiefs and the President. A Russian submarine was believed to have entered a South American port uninvited and it was creating quite a stir. Ray was ordered to the port to evaluate the situation and recommend a course of action by the United States. He retired shortly after I did in 1962, and I lost contact with him. (Ray Pitts died in 1977). However I'll always remember the lessons I learned under his guidance which stood me in good stead for the rest of my naval career. Conrad H. Carlson. Commander, USN (Ret.) ("Connie" is an active member of the Association. June 08)
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