USS Grayson

Memories of the USS Grayson DD435

The USS President Coolidge and the Minefield

The USS President Coolidge and the Minefield

The day that the USS President Coolige hit a mine and sank, we recovered one of her large doughnut-type life rafts from the beach where it washed ashore. We had seen what had happened to the Meredith survivors, so we thought it would be good to have for the future. We hoisted it aboard the "G" and lashed it down on the starboard quarter across from the aft deck house. It was carried there for the rest of the war.

During the Korean War, I was assigned to the USS Jarvis DD799 at the Charleston Navy Yard. The Jarvis had been taken out of mothballs.

At this time, the "G" was moored about three piers over from the Jarvis. When I left the "G" in late 1946, it was moored up the Ashley river. I used to walk over from the Jarvis to take a look at her. Those Jap flags were still painted on the main battery director and that life raft was still where we had lashed it down.

--Verne Bedwell GM2/c 2/41-11/46

The USS President Coolidge and the Minefield Continued

On our return trip to Espirito Santos after the Meredith was sunk, we got into the same minefield where the President Coolidge sank just 5 or 6 hours before. The DD Tucker got in the same minefield about 5 or 6 weeks before and hit a mine and sank.

I can tell you that everyone who was topside at the time was along the rail looking for mines. It was a very uneasy time backing out of the minefield.

--Verne Bedwell GM2/c 2/41-11/46

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Information was provided by Dave Craigmile, ENS USS Grayson. Copyright 2000, USS Grayson Association and Richard Angelini.
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