|
CONTRIBUTORS Bill Wenger
Thanks to W.E. (Bill) Wenger, for this most interesting story.
USS WILLIAM D. PORTER DD-579
WHILE WE WERE ON PICKET DUTY, WE WERE ORDERED TO THE SCENE OF THE SINKING
OF THE USS WILLIAM D. PORTER DD579, THE W.D.PORTER HAD BEEN MORTALLY
DAMAGED BY A MISS OF A KAMIKAZE AND WAS SINKING. WHILE OUR ASSISTANCE
WAS MAINLY THAT OF EXTRA AA FIREPOWER, WE DID WATCH OTHER'S ON THE SCENE,
RESCUING HER CREW, UNTIL SHE WENT UNDER.
WHAT WE DID, WAS ROUTINE DESTROYER ASSIGNMENT. ASSIST WHERE REQUIRED,
BUT THE STORY OF THE W.D. PORTER IS ANYTHING BUT ROUTINE, AND IS ONE MORE
TALE, OF THE "FLETCHER CLASS" DESTROYERS HISTORY.
THIS STORY CAME TO ME VIA A FORMER 1ST CLASS YEOMAN OF THE USS STEVENS
DD479, FROM WHICH I TRANSFERRED ENROUTE TO THE USS ANTHONY. I ALSO
ATTEND THEIR REUNIONS. HE PULLED THE STORY FROM A MAGAZINE, "BATTLE
ACTION CLASSICS" AND I UNDERSTAND HAS BEEN WRITTEN UP IN THE TIN-CAN SAILORS
ASSOC. NEWS.
THE ESCAPADES OF THE 'WILLIE DEE', AS SHE WAS AFFECTIONATELY KNOWN,
BY HER FORMER CREW, STARTED SHORTLY AFTER HER COMMISSIONING, IN ORANGE
N.J., 6 JULY 1943. COMPLETING HER SHAKEDOWN AND ACCEPTANCE BY THE
NAVY, SHE WAS ORDERED TO JOIN A TASK FORCE, FOR AN UNKNOWN FORAY INTO THE
ATLANTIC OCEAN AND BEYOND.
THE VEIL OF SECRECY HAS BEEN LIFTED AND THE TASK FORCE CONSISTED OF
FOUR DESTROYERS AND THE BATTLESHIP BB61, USS IOWA. IT IS ALSO KNOWN
THAT ON THE "IOWA", WAS PRESIDENT FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT, CORDELL H. HULL,
SECRETARY OF STATE, AND FLEET ADMIRAL ERNEST J. KING, CHIEF OF ALL NAVAL
OPERATIONS.
THEY WERE ON THEIR WAY TO MEET WITH PRIME MINISTER WINSTON CHURCHILL,
AND RUSSIAN PREMIER JOSEF STALIN, AT THE NOW HISTORIC MEDITTEREAN CONFERENCE
IN THE MEDITTEREAN AREA.
ON THE MORNING OF HER DEPARTURE, FROM NORFOLK NAVAL BASE, THE 1ST "INCIDENT"
OCCURRED. WHILE BACKING AWAY FROM A SISTER SHIP, MOORED ALONGSIDE,
SHE MANAGED TO DEMOLISH SISTER SHIP LIFE LINES, RAILINGS, DAMAGED THE BOAT
DAVITS AND THE SISTER GIG PLUS OTHER ASSORTED ITEMS. WITH ONLY A
SLIGHTLY SCRATCHED ANCHOR.
IT ONLY REQUIRED 24 HOURS FOR A NEW ADVENTURE TO KEEP THE STORY GOING.
THE TASK FORCE WAS RUNNING A MODERATE SPEED ZIG-ZAG PATTERN THROUGH
WELL KNOWN "U-BOAT" INFESTED WATERS. RADIO SILENCE WAS THE ORDER
OF THE DAY AND WAS STRICTLY OBSERVED. COMMUNICATION BETWEEN SHIPS
WAS BY BLINKER LIGHT, SEMAPHORE, OR FLAG HOISTS.
SILENCE AND SPEED, IN THOSE WATERS WAS CONSIDERED THE BEST OF SUB DEFENSE.
IN THE WEE HOURS OF THE MORNING WATCH, A TREMENDOUS EXPLOSION WAS FELT
THROUGH-OUT THE FORCE. IMMEDIATELY SHIPS BEGAN PRE-PLANNED ANTISUB
MANEUVERS WHICH CONTINUED UNTIL IN REPLY OF WHAT HAPPENED AND WHO WAS RESPONSIBLE
CAME THE REPLY, FROM THE SKIPPER OF THE 'WILLIE DEE', "WE DID IT".
A DEPTH CHARGE ON HER FANTAIL RACK HAD NOT BEEN SECURED PROPERIY, VIBRATED
LOOSE, AND ROLLED OFF THE STERN. OBVIOUSLY THE DEPTH HAD BEEN AT
A DEEP EXPLOSIVE SETTING OR THE "WILLIE-DEE" MIGHT HAVE LOST HER STERN.
TO PUT IT MILDLY. THE CAREER OF CAPTAIN WILFRED A. WALTER, LT.CDR
USN, WAS FAST BECOMING SIDE TRACKED.
THE NEXT EVENT HAPPENED SHORTLY THEREAFTER. ADDING TO THE WOES OF THE
SHIP, A FREAKISH WAVE SWEPT OVER THE SHIP, TEARING LOOSE LIFE RAFTS, SAFETY
RAILINGS AND EVEN ONE POOR LONE SAILOR WENT OVERBOARD AND WAS NEVER FOUND.
IN ADDITION THE WATER WENT DOWN THE INTAKES DROWNED OUT THE FIREROOMS LEAVING
THE SHIP WITHOUT POWER. THE CAPTAIN WAS NOW REQUIRED TO MAKE HOURLY
REPORTS OF READINESS TO THE TF COMMANDER. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN MERCIFUL
IF SHE HAD RETURNED TO NORFOLK FOR MORE TRAINING BUT THAT WAS NOT TO BE.
THE STAGE WAS NOW SET FOR NOVEMBER 14, 1943, A DAY WHERE THE DAWN CAME
WITH A MODERATE SEA, BRIGHT BLUE SKY AND A MODERATE BREEZE. THE TF
WAS JUST EAST OF BERMUDA AND THE PRESIDENT MADE A REQUEST THAT IOWA AND
OTHER SHIPS RUN THROUGH THEIR PACES WITH ANTI-AIRCRAFT PRACTICE AND SIMULATED
TORPEDO RUNS. EVEN IN SUB-INFESTED WATERS, THIS IS A REQUEST THAT
CAPTAINS GROW GRAY HAIR, AND SAY "AYE-AYE SIR".
THE BATTLESHIIP IOWA STARTED LAUNCHING WEATHER BALOONS FOR TARGET PRACTICE.
IT WAS EXCITING TO SEE OVER 100(?) GUNS FIRING AT THE BALLOONS. THE
PRESIDENT WAS DULY PROUD OF HIS NAVY. ADMIRAL ERNEST J. KING WAS
JUST AS PROUD, A TRUE MONARCH OF THE NAVY, WHERE DISAGREEMENT WITH
HIM, IT IS SAID, COULD BE THE END OF A NAVAL CAREER, YET UP TO THIS TIME
NO ONE KNEW ABOUT SHOOTING A TORPEDO AT HIM!!
WE KNOW THAT BALLOONS CAN'T SHOOT BACK! MEANWHILE, OVER ON THE
"WIILIE-DEE", CAPTAIN WALTER WATCHED THE DRILL ON THE IOWA, AND POSSIBLY
THINKING A BIT ABOUT CAREER REDEMPTION, REQUESTED PERMISSION TO SHOOT DOWN
ANY STRAY BALLOONS THE IOWA GUNNERS MISSED. PERMISSION WAS GRANTED
AND THE GUNNERS WERE ACCURATE AND THE CAPTAIN WAS HAPPY.
UP ON THE BRIDGE THE ORDERS WERE GIVEN TO COME ABOUT, IN LINE WITH THE
REST OF THE DIVISION OF DESTROYERS, AND WHEN THEY CAME ABEAM OF THE TARGET
IOWA, IN FIRING POSITION, THE NEW TORPEDO OFFICER ORDERED THE SIMULATED
FIRING, AND COMMANDED, "FIRE ONE","FIRE TWO", AND "FIRE THREE:,
ONE OF THE OFFICERS, A LT. H. SEWARD LEWIS, WHO WAS ON THE BRIDGE,
LATER DESCRIBED THE NEXT FEW MOMENTS, "AS PANDEMONIUM IN HELL", WOULD BE
LIKE IF IT BROKE LOOSE. JUST AFTER THE TORPEDO HIT THE WATER, HE
INNOCENTLY ASKED THE CAPTAIN" DID YOU GIVE PERMISSION TO FIRE A TORPEDO?"
CAPTAIN WALTER UTTERED SOMETHING AKIN TO "HELL N-0-0-0-0-0-a-a-a-a-a-a, WHAT THE HELL
HAPPENED"??
THE NEXT 5 MINUTES UP ON THE BRIDGE WERE PURE PANDEMONIUM. MEN
WERE RUNNING BACK AND FORTH, ORDERS WERE BEING SHOUTED, CONFLICTING ONE
ANOTHER, THE QUARTERMASTER STATED, HE WAS TOTALLY CONFUSED TRYING TO LOG
EVERY ORDER ACTION. BY BLINKER THEY TRIED TO CONTACT THE IOWA,
BUT THE DIRECTION OF THE TORPEDO WAS REVERSED, FLAGS WERE USED TO INDICATE
EMERGENCY SITUATION, SO FINALLY THE CAPTAIN OF THE "WILLIE DEE" WENT ON
THE RADIO "TBS", WE CALLED IT "TALK BETWEEN SHIPS", WHICH WHILE NOT TECHNICALLY
CORRECT, WAS ALL RIGHT. THE RADIO OFFICER ON THE IOWA WAS DEMANDING
TO KNOW WHO THE OFFENDER WAS BREAKING-SILENCE, BUT FINALLY UNDERSTOOD THE
DANGER, AND STEPS WERE IMMEDIATELY TAKEN TO HAVE THE IOWA INTO A FLANK
SPEED TURN TO AVOID THE ONRUSHING TORPEDO.
THE PRESIDENT HAD BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. HIS SECRET SERVICE
MEN ALL SURROUNDED HIM, WITH THEIR "45'S" DRAWN, AS IF TO SHOOT THE TORPEDO
OR STOP AN ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT. THE PRESIDENT HOWEVER WANTED HIS
WHEELCHAIR PUSHED OVER TO WHERE HE COULD LOOK AT THE TORPEDO.
SUDDENLY THERE CAME A TREMENDOUS EXPLOSION BLAST AS THE TORPEDO
HIT THE CHURNING WAKE OF THE POWERFUL BACKWASH OF THE IOWA'S SCREWS IN
A FLANK SPEED TURN, AND EXPLODED. DISASTER HAD BEEN AVERTED AND SOME
NAVAL CAREERS WERE IN STEEP DECLINE.
THE TASK FORCE COMMANDER HIMSELF ALSO BROKE RADIO SILENCE WANTING TO
KNOW WHO WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FIRING OF THE TORPEDO. BACK CAME
THE RADIO REPLY FROM THE CAPTAIN OF THE WILLIAM D PORTER, "I AM SIR, WE
ARE RESPONSIBLE".
IMMEDIATELY, ORDERS WERE ISSUED TO THE "WILLIE DEE", To PUT INTO PORT
AT BERMUDA AND ALL SHIPS COMPANY, MEN & OFFICERS ALIKE WERE TO BE CONSIDERED
UNDER ARREST, WHILE A NAVAL INQUIRY WAS HELD. IT IS THE ONLY TIME
IN U.S. NAVAL HISTORY THAT AN ENTIRE SHIP WAS PLACED UNDER ARREST TO AWAIT
POSSIBILE COURT MARTIAL.
WHEN THE SHIP APPROACHED THE PIER, WITHOUT INCIDENT, SHE WAS MET BY
A FULL TURNOUT OF U.S. MARINES TO STAND GUARD OVER HER. A BOARD
OF INQUIRY WAS QUICKLY CONVENED, BEHINND CLOSED DOORS TO DETERMINE THE
CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING THE ENTIRE INCIDENT AND TO PUNISH THE APPROPRIATE
OFFENDERS.
IT TOOK SEVERAL DAYS OF QUESTIONING OF THE BRIDGE & TORPEDO PERSONNEL
WHO WERE INVOLVED. AFTER A LENGTTY SESSION OF QUESTIONING, LAWTON
DAVIS, TORPEDOMAN 3RD CLASS, ADMITTED IT WAS HE WHO HAD NEGLECTED TO DEFUSE
THE TORPEDO AND HAD THROWN, THE FIRING PRIMER OVER THE SIDE, TO HIDE HIS
MISTAKE.
THE FINDINGS OF THE INCIDENT WERE THEN CLOSED AND COURT MARTIAL AND
REPRIMANDS WERE HANDED DOWN, SO THE NAVY DIDN'T WAIT TO HAVE THEIR DUCKS
IN ORDER AND SET FOR A REVIEW BY HIGHER AUTHORITY. THE CAPTAIN AND
SEVERAL OTHERS FOUND THEMSELVES HEADED FOR OBSCURE ASSIGNMENTS AND
TORPEDOMAN 3RD CLASS LAWTON DAVIS WAS SENTENCED TO 14 YEARS HARD LABOR
AT PORTSMOUTH NAVAL PRISON.
HOWEVER, PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT HIMSELF REVIEWED THE INQUIRY PROCEEDINGS,
AND REQUESTED "NO" PUNISISHMENT BE HANDED DOWN AS HE FELT IT WAS AN ACCIDENTAL
AND UNINTENTIONAL MISHAP. THE "WILLIE-DEE" RECEIVED NEW ORDERS,SENDING
HER TO THE ALEUTIANS FOR PATROL DUTY. APPARENTLY THE NAVY FIGURED
SHE WOULD BE IN A SAFE PLACE, WITH HER TALENT FOR MISHAPS. HOWEVER,
JUST TO KEEP HER RECORD INTACT, UPON ARRIVAL AFTER A SHORT TIME IN THE
AREA, SHE PULLED INTO THE LOCAL NAVAL OPERATING BASE, AND MANAGED
TO FIRE AN INERT 5"-38CAL. SHELL WHICH WHEN IT CAME DOWN, HIT IN THE FRONT
YARD OF THE NAVAL OPERATING BASE COMMANDERS YARD. NEEDLESS TO SAY,
BUT OKINAWA HERE SHE COMES.
HER POPULARITY WAS NOW BEGINNING TO BECOME KNOWN AND SHE WAS THEN ASSIGNED
TO THE WESTERN PACIFIC FOR DUTY AS A RADAR PICKET SHIP. IT WAS HOPED
SHE JUST MIGHT DO SOME DAMAGE TO THE JAPANESE FOR A CHANGE.
WE UNDERSTAND SHE DID DISTINGUISH HERSELF BY KNOCKING DOWN SEVERAL KAMIKAZES,
BUT BUT ALSO WAS CREDITED WITH 3 U.S. COMBAT AIRPATROL AIRCRAFT.
OF COURSE WE ON THE ANTHONY KNOW HOW RECKLESS AND DETERMINED THE CAP WAS,
SO I FOR ONE WOULD BE HESITANT TO BLAME THE "WILLIE-DEE" ENTIRELY. AS ALWAYS,
WE'LL NEVER KNOW.
HOWEVER, THE USS LUCE DD522, (LATER A CASUALTY OF THE KAMIKAZES), SPOKE
VERY UNKINDLY OF THE "WILLIE-DEE", AFTER DURING AN ENGAGEMENT THE "LUCE'S",
DECKS SIDES AND SUPERSTRUCTURE WAS HIT BY 20mm AND 40inm FIRE WHEN COMING
ON STATION THE COMMON THING TO HEAR WAS, "DON'T SHOOT, WE'RE REPUBLICANS",
FROM THE INCOMING CAP. BY THIS TIME SHE HAD BECOME USED TO THE JOKES
ABOUT THEMSELVES AND THEIR SHIP.
ON JUNE 10th, 1945, 2 YEARS AND APPROX. 10 MONTHS, HER LUCK, MOST OF
IT BAD CAME TO AN END. WHILE ON STATION, IN COMPANY OF ANOTHER SHIP
(?), THEY WERE TRACKING A FLIGHT OF BOGIES. A PLANE LATER DESCRIBED
AS A "VAL" APPARENTLY HEADED FOR THE SISTER DESTROYER, AND WHILE UNDER
HEAVY AA FIRE SUDDENLY VEERED AT THE "WILLIE-DEE", AND CRASHED ALONGSIDE.
WE HERE TONIGHT, KNOW WELL THAT EXPERIENCE
AND FEELING. TWICE IF WE CAN COUNT, AND WE WERE LUCKY THE RESULTS
WEREM'T THAT OF THE "WILLIE-DEE". THE KAMIKAZE HAD MISSED THEM AND
THEY WERE BEGINNING A SIGH OF RELIEF, WHEN SUDDENLY THERE WAS A LOUD UNDERWATER
EXPLOSION THAT SHOOK THE SHIP. AS YOU WELL KNOW THESE EVENTS TAKE
PLACE IN SECONDS, ALTHOUGH IT MAY SEEM LIKE HOURS, LATER.
THE AIRCRAFT BOMB HAD DETONATED UNDERNEATH THE SHIPS HULL, IT PROBABLY
WAS A LARGE, POSSIBLE THE EQUIVALENT TO OUR 500 LB TYPE, BUT WHEN IT WENT
OFF, IT CRACKED THE PLATING AND SEAMS OF, BOTH ENGINE AND FIREROOMS, FLOODING
ALL SPACE, CUTTING ALL POWER AND DAMAGE CONTROL WAS DEEMED IMPOSSIBLE.
THE SHIP WAS SINKING.
WITH NO CHANCE OF DAMAGE CONTROL, HIS SHIP WAS SINKING UNDER HIM, THE
CAPTAIN RELUCTANTLY GAVE THE ORDER TO ABANDON SHIP. IT WAS A VERY ORDERLY
OVER THE SIDES, NO WOUNDED, LOGS AND CODE BOOKS WERE SAVED, INCLUDING MANY
PERSONAL EFFECTS.
THREE HOURS (APPROX) LATER THE CAPTAIN RELUCTANTLY LEFT HIS COMMAND
AND HAD RECEIVED A GREAT RESPONSE TO HIS CALL FOR ASSISTANCE IN THE RESCUE
OF HIS CREW.
THERE HAD TO BE MIXED EMOTIONS AS THE OFFICERS AND CREW WATCHED THE
WILLIAM D PORTER DD579 SLIDE STERN FIRST INTO THE 400 FATHOMS OF THE DEEP
BLUE PACIFIC. THIS FROM A SHIP THAT ALMOST CHANGED NATIONAL AND WORLD
POLITICS.
EVERY SO OFTEN THE CREW, OFFICERS AND MEN ALIKE, GATHER FOR A REUNION
AND THE SEA STORIES ARE REPEATED OF FABLED LIBERTIES, AND TO MOST OF ALL
GIVE THANKS FOR BEING HERE TODAY. THERE ARE CHUCKLES AND LAUGHTER
BUT NOTHING LIKE THE HEART WRENCHING EMBARRASSMENT OF NOVEMBER 1943.
WE WISH THEM ALL GODSPEED.
END OF THE STORY
|