The Story of the U.S.S. BENNION DD662
The gunners' mates, fire controlmen, rangefinder operators and fire control radarmen are the nucleus around which the Gunnery Department is built. They serve the primary function for which the ship was conceived, built and brought to the battle line, that of delivering fire against the enemy.
With the ever increasing complexity of armaments and control mechanisms, the task of maintaining the ship's batteries in a condition to "commence firing" requires intelligent organization, mechanical skill, tireless and conscientious labor. In this era, speed of operation is stress on the theory that: "if you hit the enemy first, he may not be able to hit you at all!" One early hit may be worth more than all of the ammunition in the ship's magazines! With everything working properly, the modern destroyer is capable of firing all of its ammunition in the course of about 20 minutes. BENNION loaded her magazines three times in a single day incident to firing on targets at PELELIU. The Japanese in their own action reports repeatedly commented very respectfully regarding the ability of American destroyers to deliver "5" fire "machine gun-like rapidity>" These complicated mechanisms require precision operation of thousands of moving parts and in order to insure readiness for optimum performance at all times these moving parts must be properly lubricated and adjustments and tests are required constantly. There is an urgency attached to the immediate correction of a "slick" gun mechanism, gun director, torpedo director, or radar which brooks no delay. When the Nip makes his pass at you--you want to be ready to shoot. The slogan adopted in the business of repairs to the battery was "Any results less than complete and timely repairs must be considered as a failure." In a shooting match only first place counts!
BENNION's shooting ability was tested many times under the most rigorous conditions which are described in the following narrative. Sufficient to say at this point, the good shooting was planned that way.
Lieutenant JAMES L. HOLLOWAY, III deserves special credit for the initial organization and training and for the leadership in this superb performace through the SAIPAN,, TINIAN, PALAU and LEYTE operations. Lieutenant HAROLD M. SCOTT "carried the ball" as gunnery officer during the more strenuous campaigns at MINDORA, LINGAYEN, IWO JIMA andOKINAWA and acquitted himself with distinciton. Lieutenant(jg)ANGUS L. ROBERTSON lost his right arm while controlling the 400-mm battery firing at Jap held shore positions on CATMON HILL at LEYTE. His loss to the ship as a first team man was keenly felt. Later, Lieutenant(jg) RICHARD B. LOOMIS served in a similar capacity with credit. Lieutenants (jg) GREER and MCGUFFIN were a reservoir of strength as technical experts and served also in the important capacity as gunnery watch officers. Lieutenant CONNELLY instructed the crew unceasingly in aircraft identification and also served as gunnery watch officer. Ensign W.F.COBB reported just prior to the OKINAWA operations and served capably as assistant gunnery and machine gun control officer. Chief OMER SHRIVER , now a Chief Gunner had the capacity for being everywhere at once and seemed never to get tired, a valuable attribute in a gunnery officer. Chiefs KINART and JENSEN could always be counted on being found at the scene of the casualty and following through until everything was ready to go again.
Overall, credit for the splendid performance of the Gunnery Department must be granted to all divisions in the ship, tho the seamen who fired the guns, to the electricians who insured electrical service from engine room to gun firing circuit, to the engineers who consistently picked up targest "early." But the men who lived, ate and slept gunnery were ALLRED, BURGESS, BRADLEY, CADENHEAD, CAFFREY, COFFEE, CUZZO, DiNARDO, EGAN, ELLIS, FOY, FIELD, FRAYSER, HOSCHEK, JEERVIS, KETCHAM, LOW, MARLOW, MAARTEL, OSTERMAN, McDERMOTT, MORAK, PERRY, PATE, PARSONS, PITTS, PETERS, PRICE, RONAN, TITCOMB, TRBOVICH, SHARER, SIMS, SLIDER, SOLLER, STEFFAN, STRICKLAND, AVILES, VARLEY, WALKER, WHEELDON and WHIIPPLE.
Lieutenants HAROLD M. SCOTT and WALTER TRBOVICH, GM2c were awarded the Silver Star Medal for outstanding performance in action at OKINAWA: TRBOVICH was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received in the same action. Lieutenant JAMES L. HOLLOWAY III was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for outstanding performance during the BATTLE of SURIGAO STRAITS ; and the Commendation ribbon for service as gunnery officer during the SAIPAN, PALAU and LEYTE operations. CHARLES V. PRICE GM3, JOSEPH R. DiNARDO GM3c, FRANK C. SAWICKE FC3c, JOHN E. GOWEN FC2c and DONALD L. KELLER FC3c were awarded the Bronze Star Medal for outstanding performance in action at OKINAWA. STANLEY K. JENSEN CFC, CHARLES E. YATES CGC, CORNELIUS F. RONAN GM1c, PAUL H. HOSCHEK FC1c, AMSTEAD E. BRADLEY FC1c, ALVIN H. PETERS FC2c, JESSE C. FRAZIER GM3c, WILLIAM J. KELLEY, GM3c and JOSEPH A CUOZZO, GM3C were awarded the Commendation Ribbon for outstanding service in action in OKINAWA. RICHARD J. FOY FC3c and DEAN F. GOCHENOUR GM3 were awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received in enemy action at LEYTE and OKINAWA respectively.
The original destroyer was laid down as a torpedo boat and with the development of torpedo warfare during the present century the torpedo boat grew bigger with each successive design until the World War II model emerged as a small cruise with torpedo power still an important consideration but gradually receding before the more urgent requirement for more anti-aircraft guns. Still the development of torpedo equipment in a "ready" condition remains a task particular to destroyer men.
In a sense , the torpedomen's mates are the aristocrats of the gunnery department having a high percentage of rated men and infrequent firings, as compared to the gun crews; which permits the torpedo division to present a spick and span appearance with a minimum of individual physical toil. The torpedo workshop is traditionally a work-of-art and in addition to an imposing array of tools, the most up-to-date art gallery clipped numerous old Esquires and Police Gazettes is normally on display there.
With the ship operating for sustained periods at sea it was necessary for the ship's torpedomen's mates to make adjustments ordinarily accomplished on tenders or at shops ashore. A rigorous check-off list for torpedo and depth charge equipments was carried out constantly and during normal steaming conditions these men were so organized as to be ready to launch a torpedo attack or a depth charge attack on an instant's notice. As is the case with the gunners the organization of the torpedo division finds roots in the engine room and extends to CIC and the bridge. Thus this compact unit blends easily into the over-all organizations as an integral and fighting component of the ship's team.
Under the capable leadership of Lieutenant (jg) TOM BAYLISS, BENNION's Torpedo Division was a splendid organization. Long dull watches were enlived by surprise exercises at random times throughout the days and nights, and in the course of the war cruise the torpedo watches became proficient in making the final adjustments, necessary for depth charge attacks against submarines, or any one of the several methods of torpedo fire.
These hum-drum drills proved well worth the trouble because when the test came in the BATTLE of SURIGAO STRAITS twelve torpedoes were fired "hot, fast and straight" against Japanese capital ships to good effect during one of the blackest nights of the year. During this supreme test which seldom comes to destroyer men more than once in a lifetime and which never comes to the majority, BENNION's torpedomen made it a "routine" operation.
for outstanding performance in the BATTLE of SURIGAO STRAITS, HASKELL D. BROWN TM1c was awarded the Silver Star Medal; Lieutenant (jg) TOM BAYLISS, EARL C. BROWN CTM, DONALD BEALL, JR. and THOMAS S. BOWEN TM1c were awarded the Bronze Star Medal. Other members of this distinguished division were BANKENBILLER, CALIN, OGLE, LAGARO, McGHEE, PETOT, SANDERRE, SHAFFER, SHAW, SHCICH, SLEUTARIS, TRUE, WEATHERWAX, WEISKE and WEISMANTEL. VERNONE R. WEIDKE S1c was awarded the Purple Heaar for wounds received in action at OKINAWA.
The deck force seaman is the navy's counterpart of the Army "dog face" or the "G.I." He is younger than the men in any other group in the service and his manifold tasks are more numerous and varied than the habitual assignments given to other divisions; his normal day's work begins earlier and lasts longer than is the case for the rest of the crew. He is frequently confronted with "special tasks" which range from hoisting all boats after taps to lashing down all topside gear in a typhoon and as a result his days are variable and his nights frequently sleepless. As one BENNION sailor expressed it in a letter home -- "I never seem to have any time for sleep: if I ever get home again I am going to sleep for a week!"
In essence, the deck force is the foundation for the ship's gunnery department and simultaneously furnishes the strong-arm assistance required by the First Lieutenant in maintaining the ship in a clean, habitable and secure condition.
Life for the deck force has its bright side; however, since the variety of tasks assigned tend to break up the monotony of months at sea and the topside sailor is most frequently in a position to "find out what is going on," and when the shooting starts he can see what is shooting at him. The topside machine gunner is certainly more exposed than men at below deck stations but the seaman prefers the topside station from which vantage point he "can dish it out" as well as "take it."
The deck seaman may advance through any one of many ratings, boatswain's mate, gunner's mate, signalman, yeoman, ship's cook, storekeeper, yeoman or on of the engineering branches. Thus, the seaman is most admirably fixed to view the world objectively and with an open mind.
The performance of the deck force largely determines how well the ship looks from the outside. The very make-up of the destroyer requires versatility and ingenuity on the part of the crew. For example, a ship is judged by the smartness displayed in fueling at sea, transferring passengers while underway, passing a tow line, recovering a downed aviator, and in a dozen other ways. BENNION not infrequently was forced to handle boats and the anchor while at general quarters, and many of the fueling operations at sea were punctuated by air raids. In many of these evolutions, additional hands would have helped considerably but the characteristic aplomb displayed by these young destroyer men rendered the impossible tasks capable of accomplishment. These young men demonstrated that a smart ship's company was capable of accomplishing several tasks at the same time--in fact this was frequently necessary for survival.
By his leadership and technical ability, Lieutenant E.C. KOPPELMAN, as ship's First Lieutenant, during the initial stages of her career accomplished a great deal in the limited time available in the organization of the deck in the limited time available in the organization of the deck and repair divisions and the development of damage control training which was of inestimable value during the months following his detachment.
Lieutenant R.F.CONNELLY, a careful painstaking officer, served a First Lieutenant through the several operations, up to and including IWO JIMA, until relieved by Lieutenant (jg) R.B. LOOMIS and Ensign J.H.KOLLERT. In addition, he was the ship's educational officer with particular emphasis placed on aircraft identification. Lieutenant (jg) DAVID R. MATLACK, Ensigns D.A. BARKSDALE, A.R. ROSS, A.R. COOPER and R.F.STANTON served for varying periods in dual status, as First Lieutenant and as battery officer.
"FRENCHY" DECLERCQ, CBM spent a major portion of his time at his battle station in Number 2 gun mount where he served as a most efficient gun captain. His alert handling of his gun crew and routing details on deck contributed substantially to the smartness of the ship.
NORMAN C. TELFORD BM1c, in additional to growing the most beautiful whiskers in the Pacific Fleet, set a high standard of performance on deck and on gun stations.
The steady output on the part of the deck force and the diligence and skill habitually displayed by the rank and file were important factors in the development of the ship's team. Many others are equally deserving but representative of the BENNION's deck force were BARANSKI, BLOCK, CIFUENTES, DURAND, DWORK, FARIS, FARR, HICKEY, JOHNSON, LITCHFIELD, MCKEEVER, MILEA, MITCHELL, NATALI, REICHEL, HARRY SIMS, SINGER and JAMES SMITH. Lieutenant (jg) DAVID R. MATLACK, GEORGE E. MANTIUS S1c, GERALD R. SKINNER S1c and HENRY MORTENSON S1c were awarded the Bronze Star Medal for outstanding performance in action at OKINAWA. JULIUS C. JAVORSKI S1c was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for personal heroism in going over the side to rescue a wounded officer at OKINAWA. LEONARD P. DECLERCQ CBM, WILLIAM F. HENDERSON BM2c, PATRICK J. NOLAN BM1c, WILLIAM M. BARANSKI, Coxwain, SAMUEL DWORK, Coxwain, WALTER MORRISON, JR.S1c, JAMES E. ORR S1c, RANKIN M. MEALY S1c and HAROLD W. HARTMAN S1c were awarded the Commendation Ribbon for outstanding service at OKINAWA. THOMAS H. BOVEN S1c and LEON G. ROACH S2c were awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received in action at OKINAWA. HOWARD V. MOBLEY was awarded the Purple Heart (posthumously) for wounds received in the same action.
The BENNION class destroyer is a fast and powerful ship which generates several times the horse power developed by some of our older battleships. The task of operating the main engines, auxiliary machinery and the numerous electrical appurtenances could well utilize the services of twice as many engineering ratings as were carried. During the course of her war cruise, BENNION steamed 142,000 miles predominantly in the tropics and operated continuously for long periods under rigorous conditions.
During the pre-commissioning period the thoroughness with which selected engineering ratings insured that proper equipage and spare parts were provided and actually placed in the ship contributed in a great measure to efficient performance in service. ANTHONY P. SESSA MC1c was a tower of strength in this important work and he was sorely missed after severe steam burns incurred in line of duty caused his involuntary detachment early in the BENNION's career.
The majority of the dull everyday jobs performed by the men who work below decks pass unnoticed until the lack of some particular service bring them into prominence. The water without which the crew could not long exist is also required for the boilers and, curiously enough, humans can drink water safely which would be unfit for boiler consumption. The water problem is of constant concern to the captain, executive officer, engineer officer, and the "Water King"-- and the supply of good water is checked as carefully as the course being steered by the ship. Very often, in order to maintain and adequate supply, the Water King and his crew spend long sleepless hours scaling evaporator tubes so that the capacity of the set will meet the ever increasing demand. Similarly, the "Oil King," who is charged with the storage of fuel oil must keep forever on his toes in order to prevent contamination of his precious fuel and to "have pure fuel oil in the right tanks at the right time at the correct temperature." If the "Oil King" "miffs his job," the ship may lose power suddenly and cease being an effective fighting unit--unable to fire its guns, operate its radars or communicate with other ships. Services of steam and electricity make the ship habitable and useful and are furnished as the result of the careful organization and arduous toil of skilled men.
The water tenders and "snipes" who fire the boilers under varying speed requirements under unbelievable working temperatures frequently must relieve themselves on watch in order to meet changing conditions. The throttlemen must be capable of translating knots of speed into steam pressure--and when the "bridge" knows what it wants and works out the best combination possible.
The Engineers even though below decks and surrounded by whirring machinery can still hear the guns fire and all are willing and anxious to produce the radical speed changes requires for dodging Kamikazes or bullets as the case may be in times of emergency.
The Engineers are never permitted to relax entirely. When in port a great many of the ship's functions cease but the maintenance of a substantial part of the engineering plant is required in order for the ship to retain the characteristics which make it livable. In addition to purely engineering duties as in all ships, BENNION had many "all hands" evolution to perform, such as replenishing provisions and ammunition; and on these occasions the engineers wiped the oil from their hands and went to work with a will. BENNION was particularly fortunate in the leadership in this department. Lieutenants TEETER, HILL and MCCOOL, Ensign SHAEFER and Machinist FLAHERTY ably supported by Chiefs FOLWELL, CARRE, BEDLINGTON, HINDS, GRINROD, LEWIS, STOVER, WARREN, HEINZ and CERMAK developed a combination that withstood the rigors of high pressure steaming under conditions which would have been arduous without the daily hazards of war. The superb performance of the engineers in accomplishing the impossible as a matter of routine bolstered the confidence of the crew and contributed to survival. Space does not permit adequate mention of all of these splendid engineers but typical of those who made BENNION a distinguished ship are BEGLEY, COTTER, FREGEAN, GOFF, KOCHEL, LOISELLE, MELLOR, PARRIS, STUDLEY, TYLER, BRAWNER,GAUGHAN, GREEVE, WARNER, BURNS, JACOBS and LAIL.
Lieutenant TEETER was awarded the Bronze Star Madal for landing service as Engineer Officer during the SAIPAN, PALAU and LEYTE operations. ANTHONY H. PULCINELLA WT3c was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for service in action at OKINAWA. GEORGE S. SANFORD MM2c was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for personal heroism in going over the side to rescue a wounded officer at OKINAWA. CARL C. ULERY F1c and ADELBERT A. ABRAHAMSON EM3c were awarded the Purple Heart for wounds in action at LEYTE.
Fortunately for the ship, one of the first officers ordered to ship at the Navy Yard was the Supply Officer, .Lieutenant (jg) GEORGE MCCAY, ably assisted by Chief Commissary Steward WILLIAM PIRIE, Storekeepers SCHARTZ and SCHENK searched out scarce items and those considered important to the ship's stores. .This required careful and deft planning, particularly since a great many new ship's company wished to commence its trek across the Pacific without the items which helped make the ship more habitable. Through the efforts of the men who did not stop trying with the first negative answer BENNION cleared the Navy Yard with two ice cream machines, a mimeograph machine, two bicycles, an extra operating light for the Medical Officer and numerous other equipment for fitting out a destroyer for extended war cruising.
Lieutenant (jg) W.G. WEIS relieved Lieuteneant (jg) MCCAY at PEARL HARBOR and continued the good work until relieved by EnsignN.R. HARBOUGH during the OKINAWA operation. Constant unremitting foraging was essential since replenishment became more of a problem as each forward area was reached A system was developed which in effect spread a dragnet over all sources of provisions and other supplies immediately on arrical at any anchorage. Chief BOWEN, SNOWDEN, SCHWARTZ and SCHECK, SK2 were particularly effective in locaating and obtaining everything from shoes to paint. By boat and jeep their travels in the cause of logistics covered the harbors and land installations of ENIWETOK, PURVIS BAY, KOSSUL ROADS, LEYTE GULF and KERAMA RHETTO in detail and as a result of their efforts the ship operated more efficiently and the crew lived more comfortably. The storekeepers also accomplished the important work of maintaining pay accounts and assisting the paymaster in making periodic disbursements. Most of the pay was promptly funnelled through the mail back home in the form of checks which required additional service in preparing the chiecks. This was all in a day's work. The same men manned important battle stations separate and distinct from Supply Department duties and carried their customary high standards of performance with them. AARON F. SCHWARTZ and FRED W. SCHENK were awarded the Commendation Ribbon for outstanding service as members of the fire control crew in action at OKINAWA.
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