Aaron Ward (DM 34) - Naval Cruise Book

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Hitchcock, A. L., MN2fc Hodge, W. S., Flfc Hol-te, R. T., QM'lfc Hosking, L. R., RDtM3!c Howard, M. S., MM3fc Huckabee, C. M., SC3fc Husted, R. O., Stlfc Iames, W. W., S'P1!c Iaroszewski, E. H., SOM3fc Iefferson, T. B., 'Slfc Iohnfson, K. R., Flfc Iohnson, T. A., WT3fc Iohnson, T. B., S'M3fc Iones, D. F., BMlfc Ionles, L. I., S2!c Kellejian, C. P., SMIXC Kennedy, I. I., PH'M3!c Kinman, R. E., WT2fc Ki-nney, W. P., S'C3fc Kock, B. R., Slfc Kock, L. E., Slfc Kohne, A. E., Slfc Kreyer, R. C., Slfc Kroll, C. H., FCIXC La Plure, C. R., Slfc Larson, G. O., GM3fc Layrnon, D. I., M'M3fc Lepon, R. A., Flfc Little, K., MM3fc Long, S. S., Flfc Long, L. I., GlM3fc Lonlglois, O. W., PC3fc Lunetta, I. A., MOMIMIXC MacPherson, E. B., EMZXC Macukas, A. P., Flfc Mann, S. B., CMM Marchello, E. fM., Slfc Marquoit, W. I., Slfc Marshall, I I , Slfc Marston, I. D. L., BKR3!c Martin, I. W., RM3fc Martin, O. A., MM3fc Martinez, I., Slfc Mattei, X. F., Flfc McCarthy, D. I., Flfc McCaughey, C. R., CMM McClendon, W. M., Slfc McCoy, B., S2fc McCoy, W., MMZXC McCurry, H. W., RMZXC McGee, W. E., Slfc McKanna, W. R., SOM3fc McLaughlin, M. I., Slfc Mc'Mah-an, E. H., Flfc Mecca, D. A., WT3fc Merington, I. L., Cox. Michael, R. D., QM3fC Miller, M., WT2fc Moe, G. V., Plfc Mogensen, H. R., MN3fc Morgan, I. I., F2fc Moxley, R. S., Slfc Muirhead, B. M., MMZXC Murphy, O. E., Ylfc Neuman, R. T., RDM3fc Newman, G. H., RDM3!c Niwinski, H. W., Slfc Norlen, K. C., Slfc Noss, K. L., S2fC Oden, I. W., BMIXC Offins, I. A., CMN Olmeda, A., Slfc Quimette, I. L., GMIXC Padgett, N. R., Slfc Panaro, I. T., CWT Parker, I. L., MMZXC Parker, B. L., SKlfc Pepoon, R. S., Flfc Personlius, O. S., MMZXC Peters, R. N., Flfc Peterson, D. H., WT3fc Peterson, R. A., MMIXC Phillips, I. M., MlM2!c Phillips, W. I., RTIXC Piatt, B., WT3fc Posey, R. A., MMl!c Potter, R. E., SOM3fc Preston, H. A., Slfc Putrzynski, A. V., G'M2fc Oueior, I. W., FC3fc Quick, F. D., Slfc Quinn, E. M., FC3fc Rader, W. H., Slfc Ragan, R. H., CCS Ransom, I. M., BM2!c Rapalee, P. A., M'M2fc Raymond, R. E., MM3fc Rawlins, I. B., MM3fC Reber, G. T., Cox. Reed, L. R., Slfc Reed, W. M., SZXCIRDMI Reich, I. G., RDM2fc Reichard, I. L., RT2fc Richards, B. G., SK2fc Ritter, W., Slfc Rogers, D., Flfc Rogers, I. M., Slfc Rotter, H., Flfc Roumfort, R. R., FCZXC Ruby, T. A., Slfc Russell, H. E., Slfc Salisbury, H. B., CMM Sandow, I. B., CM2fc Sanford, I. L., Slfc Sawchuck, L. W., Plfc Schaefer, W. W., Mlfc Schmitt, I. C., Slfc Schofield, R. W., Slfc Schroeder, L. H., S2fc Schroeter, C., WTlfc Schurman, B. P., RDM3fc Scoggins, R. P., Slfc Scott, S., STMIXC Scott, W., STMIXC Seggerman, C. R., Slfc Shaw, R. I., SC3fc Shea, C. B., GM2fc Shelley, C. A., CBM Shores, G. P., BIM2fc Showalter, C. I., S2fC Simons, G. F., S2fc Smith, I. E., EfM3fc Smith, S. B., CWT Snow, R. D., Slfc Soli, W. T., S2fc Spradlin, L. R., S2fc -,111.. Spr-adling, P. C., S2fc St. Clair, W. I., CEM Stacy, B. E., S2fc Stamm, R. P., S2!c Stark, L. A., S2fc Stefani, S., Flfc Steinhilber, C. W., S2fc. Stokke, R. E., Slfc Stole, G. I., F lfc Stolz, A., S2fc Storey, C. E., SOMIXC Strine, E. S., Flfc Stucke, M., Slfc Swedlund, H. D., Slfc Sweeney, I. P., Slfc Symes, R. S., Slfc Tedford, O. F., CPHM Thibodeau, D. A., RM3fc Thomas, V., Flfc Thorp, T. I., QM2fc Thostenson, A. P., Slfc Throneberry, I. IR., Slfc Tippet, P. E., SClfc Titus, R. F., Slfc Toye, W., S'SML3fc Trites, D. E., GM3!c Trotter, I . D., Slfc Turner, I. S., GM3fc - Vandenberg, G. P., MMIXC Van Paris, F., Slfc Veiga, A. E., S2fc Vermie, M. F., RDMSXC Voorhees, H. M., Slfc Vornbrock, I. T., SOMZXC Vowvalidis, L., SZXC Wagner, E. L., S2fc Walsh, I. I., Flfc Weed, M. F., Slfc Wenta, I. V., RTZXC Wefst, W. H., Plfc Weyrauch, H. P., M'M3!C Whelan, T. I., GMlfc Whipple, H. D., SZXC Widing, A. C., S2fc Wike, C. A., Flfc Willand, C. I., Cox. Williams, A., Slfc Williams, V. A., Slfc Wilson, R. E., Slfc Wilson, R. M., Flfc Wimer, H. D., MN2fc W-indle, D. G., Silfc Win-grove, A. C., Slfc Winston, R. D., COM Wise, I., STMIXC Wiseman, I. W., EM2fc Withrow, K. L., SK2fc Wittenberg, E. M., RDM3fc Woodford, H. E., Slfc Woods, D. E., RDM3fc Woodward, L. O., Slfc Wright, W. F., RDM3fc Wrobleski, E., SZXC Young, I., STMIXC Zagone, A. I., SMSXC Zaloga, I. E., MN2fc Zeug, L. I., S2fC Zulick, M., Slfc

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.. . W Y . ... ..- -Y .W , W...-..' .V-yn THE FOLLOWING OFFICERS AND MEN ' WERE ON BOARD THE AARON WARD ON MAY 3, 1945: Sanders, W. H., Ir., Commander, Commanding Officer Neupert, K. F., Lit. Cmdr., Executive Officer Rubel, D. M., Lt., Gunnery Officer Young, D. A., Lt., Engineering Officer Wallace, T. L., Lt., Navigator' Lavrakas, 'L., Lt., Assistant Gunnery Officer Biesmeyer, R. I., Lt., First Lieutenant and Damage Control Rainey, 'C. H., Lit., Assistant First Lieutenant Ca'thcart, G. F ., Lt. 'KjgI,, Assistant First Lieutenant Clark, D. 'C. Lt. Cjgl, Assistant Engineering Officer Halsted, H. tC., Lt. Cjgl, C.l.'C. Officer Rosengren, I. S., Ens., Sound Officer -Q-W V - sedan .Jr - - Kelley, P. W., Ens., Assis-tant Gunnery Officer Paine, C. S., Ens., Assistant Engineering Officer Dillon, S., Ir., Ens., Fighter Director Officer and Radio Officer Ferguson, D. P., Ens., Assistant Gunnery Officer Tiwald, I. P., Ens., Signal Officer Barbieri, I, K., Lt. Cjgl, Medical Officer McKay, R. N., Lt. Cjgl, Supply Officer Danford, D. A., Lt., Fighter Direction Koehl, F. W., Lt. Cjgl, Fighter Direction Siler, G. E., Warr. Gun., Mine Control Woodside, L. A., Lt. fjgl, Communicat-ion and Radar Officer Abbott, E. S., GM2fc Abercromwbie,,H. L., EM3fc Adams, B. C., WTZXC Adams, W. H., Slfc Ahrens, C. W., Slfc Aitchison, P., RDlM3fc Anastasia, I. G., MfMlfc Anderson, I. B., Flfc Andrade, A., BKfR2fc Andrade, I. W., Sllfc Ante-ll, R. O., M'M2fc Armand, M. I., M-Nlfc Aylworth, A. A., RDM3fc Bahmiller, L., Stlfc Bailey, P. l., Slfc Baker, C. L., S'2fc Ballard, A. C., WT2fc Bartlett, Vernon KNI S2fc Batchelor, Paul UNI Ir., S2fc Beadel, Allen KNI., RDMSXCCTJ Beattie, Vernon Edmond, S2fc Beckner, Ioseph David, MM3fclTJ Beckmann, Iohn Alouis, FCZXC Be-ll, Daniel Clyde, RDM3fcCTJ Berkey, Iames Dale, Slfc Bernas, Amando Ravara, SZXC Berry, Loyd C , MMlfc Birley, Charles Grant, Ir., Flfc Bissonnette, Roger Lionel, SlfcCRMJ Blunck, Ted Iohn, SOM3fc Boles, I Loyd, Ir., GMZXC Border, Russell Robert, WT3fc Bosney, Ioseph CND, Ir., FZXC Brewster, Iohn Harvey, Flfc Bridgewater, K. B., Slfc Brown, I. R., MNlfc Bruna, F., SCZXC Brusky, I. A., CRM Burchett, C. W., Stlfc Burgess, D. I., Slfc Burns, C. P., EM'3fc Buschbacher, R., GMl!c Cain, I. R., S2fc ,t-ki Caldwell, E. H., Y2fc A Carpenter C. L., Slfc Carpenter, R. P., E'Mlfc Carrick, I. R., S2fc Carroll, L. W., WTlfc Carson, R. L., Slfc Casaro, P. A., Slfc Castagnola, L., S2fc Castarrien, L. E., G'Mlfc Ceckowski, F. A., EM3fc Cezus, I. G., E'M3fc Chmiel, C. S , S2fc Christofferson, T. R., Cox. Clark, C. E., STl!c Clark, E., S.lfc Clingenpeel, L. C., Slfc Collins, C. M., GM3fc Coltra, P., MMVZXC Connell, C. H., S'2fc Conrad, L B , Slfc Cooper, E. E., WT2fc Cornutt, I. H., SOM2fc Couie, R. L., Cox. Coward, G. L., MM2fc Cozby, L. E., RDM3fc Crider, 'Clair William, PHM2fc Curr, Allan Ioseph, EMZXCCTD Curtis, Thomas Marion, Slfc Dalton, Iohn Shields, Slfc Dart, George Leonard, SSMLSXCKTI Day, Iohn Darrell, Sllfc Deacon, Robert Burton, Slfc Deckert, Amos Earl, S2fc Demyen, Ioseph Frank, SMZXCKTJ De Reimer, Vernon Pennington, MM3fc Despin, George, FC2fc Devlin, Ierry Gray, Cox. Dial, Billy Rae, SOM3fc Dial, Edwin Leon, GMZXC - Dolliver, Harvey Richard, S-lfc Dove, Hollie CND, F2fc Dow, Ralph Arden, Cox.CTI Dulin, Frank Benson, Slfc -Ugl- Duriavig, Robert Iames, F2fc Dyhrkopp, Einar Victor, F2fc Elliott, 'Samuel Olvin, Shlfc Elrick, Wallace Wayne, RM3fctTI Enderle, 'Richard Miles, FZXC Erice, Tom CK2fc Erin, Thomas Frank, Slfc Eves, Carson Hubert, SZXC Fields, Iames Fred, Slfc Fisher, Mark Roger, Slfc Fitzpatrick, Iohnnie Wesley, Slfc Fletcher, Clyde Thomas, GM3fc Fletcher, Farrell Ronald, SZXC Flinn, Frederick Terence, OMSXCCTJ Floyd, Harry Arnold, S2fc Follett, Robert Raymond, MN2fc Forrey, Page Durbe-tte, WTlfc Foster, Benjamin Hardin, FClfc Fowers, Wayne Grow, YSXCCTJ Frederick, George Ioseph, RM3fcCTJ Frenchik, Paul Edward, F2fc Friese, Rose Churchill, F2!c Gaines, Eddie KNJ, STMlfc Gaworski, Vernon Carl, SUCCGMD Gervais, Alphonse Alfred, GMlfc Giese, William Frederick, Ir., RM2!c Glenn, Iack Lawrence, SZXCCFCOJ Good, Rae Gervais, SlfcCFCJ Gorczyca, Stanley Paul, MMtlfc Graver, E. H., EMZXC Greenoe, VV. S., MMZXC Gross, N. A., MNZXC Guyer, W. M., MM2fc Ha-berek, M. C., Flfc Hall, E. G., GM3!c Hammock, E. A., GM3fc Hansell, G. H., CY Harris, R. I., S-lfc Haubrich, I. I., WTlfc Hetjhall, C. I., Slfc Hendrickson, I. M., Slfc Hetvick, F. M., Slfc Higgins, O. K., Flfc L KT?

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gangs?-'Q-:J Atv- ,W , ,, .-..- .-. V -.-... ,,-.-,......-.--v--sf -sf-N-H - - '1-:.,Ann.ai- V - ,V Y -. .-.W-H Y , --M . Y 4 Y -f , , ,.,. .V THE AARON WARD EPIC A lustrousfnew chapter in the annals of bravery at sea was revealed today, and another Yankee ship and crew took their place in the top rank of naval gallantry when the Navy told for the first time the story of the Aaron Ward, destroyer minelayer No. 34. A F Many epic chapters have come out of the furious sea battle of Okinawa, when the Iapane-se Kamikaze tactics reached their greatest ferocity. No story of American boys sticking to the guns under fire-of never giving up the ship even though it was almost under water-can eclipse that of the Aaron Ward. T This destroyer type vessel, in her maiden campaign, took six suicide planes aboard in 52 minutes of hell the late afternoon of May 3. Three of them dropped bombs that blew holes deep in the hull. Five of them exploded, spreading flaming death over the main and superstructure decks. The after stack toppled, blazing ammunition exploded lethally, the steering gear was one of the first casualties, and during' the action the Ward steamed in a circle like the British Battleship Warsp'ite at Iutland. Both engine rooms were pierced and flooded. But the Aaron Ward never stopped fighting. lmpenetrable smoke poured from the pierced stack, mask- ing Iap suicide planes as they made their runs, but A-aron Ward'.s guns kept blazing. Five Kamik-azes were blasted into the sea before they reached their targets. Five others which crashed the Aaron Ward were hit hard during their runs. But these five laps-and one more which sneaked in undetected-hit their mark in one of the most intense and carefully co-ordinated mass suicide attacks on record. When the attack was over the Aaron Ward lay dead and low in the water, listing eight degrees to starboard, her main deck only five inches out of the w-ater. Fires were blazing aft and amidship. Engine spaces were flooded. All 'power was gone. Darkness had set in over the Pacific, but the flames of the Aaron Wiard lit the fwater for miles, providing a beacon for other enemy planes. Now, the ship's action report records, began the nightlong fight to save the Aaron Ward and her crew by the damage control parties and the medical department. Assisted by smaller vessels which came alongside, the Aaron Ward s officers and men fought the flames. The powder magazines were sprinkled down by hand by brave kids who didn't bat an eyelash though they knew the magazines might go up any minute. Damage control parties manned gasoline pumps. A herculean task faced the ship's doctor, Lt. I. K. Barbieri CMCD, USN, an.d his small staff of hospital corpsmen. F V Nineteen members of the crew lay dead. Six were mortally wounded, forty-nine others were seriously wounded, twenty others, blown overboard, were missing and were never recovered. . ' 'The first suicide plane had dest-royed the after battle dressing station. The sick bay was a mass of debris from another Kamikaze. Corpsmen and sailors' from all divisions picked their way through a gantlet of flames and exploding ammunition carrying wounded shipmates to the wardroom for t-reatment. Sulfa drugs, penicillin and blood plasma in whole-sale quanties were administered to shocked, bleeding blue- jackets, with only flashlights and emergency battle lanterns to give illumination. Some 55 major injuries and '20 lesser cases were treated during the night. ' ' The next morning, when the Aaron Ward, under tow, reached a haven near Okinawa, the wounded were transferred to another ship. The rest of the men of the' Aaron Ward turned to on the work of 'clearing out debris and extricating bodies of the dead. A ship, that the flaps must have marked sunk, had been saved to fight another day, ' ' C I D' That the ship was saved to fight again after such punishment in the face of overwhelming odds, Captain Sanders' report said, bears witness to the wonderful work and high calibre off fighting officers and men I had the good fortune to have assigned to my command. 'l cannot say en-ough to express my complete admiration for them. n A Others have echoed the captain's words. From squadron, division and fleet commanders messages of glowing praise flashed into the battered radio shack of the Aaron Ward. The big boss of the Pacific Fleet, Admiral -Chester W. Nimitz, spoke for all in his following dispatch from his advance headquarters a few days after the action: , We all admire a ship that can't be licked. Congratulations on your magnificent performance. ' The high points in the Aaron Ward story were emblaz-oned during Sl minutes of action Ma-y 3, and the l4 agonizing hours afterwards, when the almost sinking' ship was towed into Kerama Bet-to, with other attacks expected any minute and the horizon flashing with anti-aircraft fire of other ships. From there, after repairs by her own engineering department had restored the forward engineering -I 121,