The Iowan History letter - The Veteran`s Association of the USS

Transcription

The Iowan History
letter
Vol. 3 Number 1 1st Quarter, 2014
The Clippings of Stephen DerMargosian
A Ship Remembered
By Brad Goforth
December 10, 1944
Dear Mom and Pap,
I’ve been assigned to the
Iowa, which is one of the
best ships we’ve got, and
I’m really glad I’m on it.
I’m very well and happy
and I’m getting along fine.
Please don’t worry about
me.
I can’t write much more now, except that I wish I
could send something better for Christmas, but this is
the best I can do from where I am. Wish everybody
a happy Christmas for me and tell them I’m sorry I
couldn’t send them at least a card. I hope you all have
a good Christmas at home.
Love,
Steve
The note was scribbled on the back of a simple piece
of paper. On the front is the silhouette of a ship with
big guns and next to it, a map of the Pacific Ocean
showing the Carolines, Guam, the Bonins, the Philippines, Formosa and Tokyo. The words say: U.S.S.
Iowa sends Christmas Greetings.
This was the start of a love affair between a young
19 year old man and his ship, which he had reported
aboard just two days before.
Very recently, Mrs. Susan DerMargosian sent me a
box containing all of the memorabilia Steve DerMargosian had collected about his ship over the years. It
was a good sized box. In talking to her, she wanted to
share Stephen’s memories with his shipmates and then
forward it all to the Iowa Museum in San Pedro.
“He loved being on the Iowa and told us many sto-
ries about his experiences - some funny and some sad,”
she wrote. “We have a great family and we were very
lucky to be together when he passed away, on September 11, 2012” she said.
The items are interesting. They let you know what
was going on while he was aboard and the pride he felt
not only during the war, but throughout the ship’s life.
As the war came to a close, Stephen took part in so
much. As a Third Class Electrician’s Mate, he learned
about the giant floating citadel and it became his
home. He was there when the Japanese surrendered
and watched from across the water when the armistice
was signed aboard USS Missouri. He helped get the
POWs back home. He was with her when the ship
finally returned to the United States in peacetime. He
stayed with the ship until June 19, 1946.
After the war, he earned an industrial Engineering
degree from the University of Hartford and married
his wife, Susan, remaining married for 60 years. Like
most others of his generation, he became very active in
his community, his church and as a Mason and member of the American Legion. He was a Commissioner
in the Town of Farmington. He and Susan had two
sons and a daughter.
As the years progressed, he became a member of
the Iowa Veteran’s Association and remained with
them the rest of his life. This issue follows some of
that journey in the articles he saved and the memories
he cherished.
A special thank you to Susan DerMargosian for
sharing her husband’s cherished memories with his
shipmates.
The City at Sea
Most people don’t realize that when a ship goes to
sea it is much like a small city at sea. Sure, there is
the barber shop, restaurant (by any other name) and
store. It even had a post office. But most didn’t know
of the other activities aboard. For example, there
was the pamphlet about the Ship’s Dance, March 6,
1945. Captain James Holloway, Jr. was the commanding officer. The music was by Ted Fio Rito and his
Orchestra, with entertainment featuring The Dorothy
Kilgore Dancers, songs by Lorraine DeWood, a novelty surprise by Ray Parker and the Porthole, and the
comedy dance team of Ames and Arno.
In June of 1945, the Welfare Division, under the
direction of Chaplains J. P. Mannion and W. J. Westhafer, held a “Minstrel Show and Musicale,” featuring an Orchestra, Chorus, Gag artists and costumes.
There were over 50 people who put the program on
aboard the ship.
On the way home from the war, the Chief Petty
Officer’s Mess pit on a show called “The Great 48.”
It honored “those who became shipmates and their
deeds which became memories...” The date was
October 2, 1945, en route to the United States after
victory, World War II. Representatives from each
state (crewmen aboard Iowa) entertained with a little
something from each of the then 48 states.
There was even a daily newspaper that provided
news from home and abroad as well as events on the
ship. Known as “The Iowa Radio Press News,” it kept
the crew from being isolated far at sea.
The Iowan History Letter 1st Quarter 2014
Page 2
Page 3
The following is an exerpt from The Iowa Radio Free Press News on August 27, 1945.
* * BROOKLYN TO TOKYO IN THREE YEARS * *
Yesterday, the IOWA anchored in SAGAMI WAN on the third anniversary of her launching which took
place on 27 August 1942. Following is a brief summary of the IOWA’s history and actions which she has participated in:
25 May 1939
U.S.S. IOWA authorized by Congress.
1 July 1939
U.S.S. IOWA ordered.
27 June 1940
U.S.S. IOWA keel laid.
27 August 1942
U.S.S. IOWA launched.
22 February 1943
U.S.S. IOWA commissioned.
March - April 1943
Shakedown.
27 August 1943
Departed Boston for Argentia, Newfoundland.
12 Nov. - 16 Dec. 1943
President’s cruise.
27 November 1943
First Shellback initiation enroute Bahia, Brazil.
2 January 1944
Departed U.S.A. for Pacific.
29 January 1944
Support force, air strike against Kwajalaein Atoll (Marshall Islands).
30 Jan. - 2 Feb. 1944
Support force, air strikes against Eniwetok Atoll (Marshall Islands).
16 - 17 February 1944
Striking force, Truk Atoll. Engaged in sweel around Truk resulting in destruc
tion of 1 destroyer, 1 minelayer, and 1 subchaser of the enemy. (Later confirmed
as sinking ot cruiser Katori - Editor).
22-23 Feb. 1944
Striking force Tinian Island.
18 March 1944
Bombardment of Mille Atoll (Marshall Islands)
30 Mar. - 1 April 1944
Air strikes against Palau, Woloai, Caroline Islands. (Support unit)
21 - 24 April 1944
Air strikes against Hollandia - Wakde, New Guinea (Support unit)
29 - 30 April 1944
Air strikes against Truk Atoll, Caroline Islands (Support unit)
1 May 1944
Bombardment of Ponape, Caroline Islands.
June 1944
Operated in the Marianas and around Tinian - bombardment of Saipan and
Tinian - first battle of the Philippine Sea.
July 1944
Action in the Marianas and Palau (Caroline Islands).
September 1944
Air strikes against the Philippines and Palaus (Support force).
12 October 1944
Support force Leyte landing. Air strikes against Formosa and Ryukyus.
25 October 1944
Second battle Philipping Sea, action San Bernadino Straits.
November 1944
Air strikes, Leyte - Luzon.
25 December 1944
Second shellback initiation enroute Manus.
15 January 1945
Arrived in San Francisco.
31 March 1945
Departed San Pedro.
April - May 1945
Operations around Okinawa and Ryukyus.
18 May - 14 June 1945
Third Fleet Operations - Support for Okinawa operation and air strikes against
Kyushu.
1 July - 15 Aug. 1945
Final Third Fleet operation.
10 July 1945
Tokyo air strike, support force.
15 July 1945
Bombardment of Muroran, Hokkaido.
17 July 1945
Bom,bardment of Hitachi, Honshu.
28 July 1945
Support force for Kure air strikes on Jap fleet remnants.
15 August 1945
Admiral Halsey announces cessation of hostilities.
27 August, 1945
Anchored in SAGAMI WAN.
THE ABOVE INFORMATION MAY BE MAILED FROM THE SHIP.
Page 4
The following message was sent from Admiral William F. Halsey to the Third Fleet upon the surrender
of Japan on 15 August 1945:
The war is ended.
You in conjunction
with your brothers
in arms of all services have contributed inestimably
to the final result.
Our fighting men
have brought an
implacable treacherous and barbaric
foe to his knees in
abject surrender.
Admiral Halsey (USN)
This is the first time
in the recorded history of the misbegotten Japanese
race that they as a nation have been forced to submit
to this humiliation.
I said in 1942 the Nips were no supermen. You
have helped write finis on that estimate in 1945. Your
names are written in golden letters on the pages of
history - your fame is and shall be immortal. Wherever you have met the foe, on the sea on the land or
in the air, you have been supreme. From the early
days of fighting with a very frayed shoe string to the
finish of fighting with the mightiest combined fleet
the world has ever seen. The results have been the
same - victory has crowned your efforts. The forces
of righteousness and decency have triumphed.
At this moment our thoughts turn to our happy
Japanese troops in Japan in late 1945 (USN)
and fortunate homeland, to our loved ones. Deeply
rooted in each and every heart is a desire, now that
the tumult of war has ceased and victory - absolute
and unconditional victory has crowned our efforts, to
return to our homes.
A simple process of thinking will demonstrate how
impossible this is at the moment. The boredom, the
homesickness, the periods of fear, the tragedy, the
sweat, the blood we have shed so freely, these have
been endured by all with fortitude and brotherly comradeship and gladly. This is a common and proud
possession of each and every rank and rating. We are
and shall always remain a band of brothers tried in
Halsey and Nimitz discussing POWs (USN)
the fire of the greatest holocaust this world has ever
experienced. And because of this, indissoluble. That
which we fought and bled and died for has become a
reality. That reality can not be - must not be transient,
it must rest on firm foundations. The structure that
we build must be so firm that the storms of all ages
to come cannot touch its surface. Because of your
righting qualities and the fighting qualities of our
brothers in arms of all services our beloved land has
not known the ravages of war, our dear ones at home
have not been endangered.
Give praise to God Almighty for this and give
humble and grateful thanks that He saw fit to use us
as His instruments.
Victory is not the end. Rather it is but the beginning. We must establish a peace, a firm, a just, and
enduring peace; a peace that will enable all decent
nations to live without fear and in prosperity; a peace
that will glorify then inherent dignity and nobility of
mankind. Never again should we permit the enslave-
Page 5
ment of decent human beings - never again, should
tyrants be permitted to rise in a civilized world. To
attain this requires unremitting toil over a period of
years. The enemy over the entire world is conquered
and has been forced to bow his collective knee to us
the victors. He is unregenerate. It is our cross, our
duty, to make him regenerate. This cannot be done in
a day. It may take decades and generations. The present and immediate duty of the Third Fleet is crystal
clear. We must in conjunction with all Allied forces
so employed reduce Nippon to military impotency.
We must keep them military impotent. Following
this is imperative that instrumentalities be set up to
educate and divest each of them from their barbaric
traditions teachings and thoughts. This is a matter
of common sense and good judgement, policy and
tenacity of purpose, and will require military might
for implementation and very wisest understanding
statesmanship.
ed by our
active participation
in combat
operations in an
unprecedented
naval war.
When
the time
comes,
many will
return to
civilian
pursuits.
Keep the
torch
Loading 40mm guns, USS Iowa (USN)
burning.
Join your forces in the pursuit of righteousness and
decency. You have been tried a cruel crucible - you
have, thank God, been proved now wanting. Let no
man tear down that for which you have sacrificed so
much. Your civic responsibilities will be great. Meet
them with the same fortitude you have displayed
Band concert, USS Iowa (USN)
The time necessary to attain this goal is unpredictable. Now that the fighting has ended there must be
no letdown. We shall have very long and trying periods of very watchful waiting. A busy man is a happy
man. It behooves all in authority to take this to heart.
Plans should be in the formative period now - plans
that provide work, study and recreation. This is not
only constructively necessary for the upkeep and
preservation of our splendid ships but imperative for
the morale of our incomparable fighting men.
I wish it were possible for me to meet, greet, and
know each officer and man of our fighting Third
Fleet. Owing to its size and its dispersion this cannot
during this war. Then shall our great land be safe and
be. You shall always occupy a special and honored
sound.
space in my mind and heart. We have been through
You that remain in the Navy keep your swords
this trying time together. We have shared the good
sharp. You accept a great responsibility. The great
and we have shared the bad. We are brothers - blood- traditions and the constant state of preparedness
Page 6
of this our first line of defense are in your keeping.
Maintain your powder dry and anticipate every new
development. The applications change but the principles of war are immutable. God grant that we may
never have to apply them again. A ready and efficient
fleet is one of the greatest deterrents to the horrors of
war. To you all I say I shall always be ready and glad
within my means to ponder any advice, assistance or
succor.
HMS King George V (RN)
To our fighting brothers of the British Pacific Fleet
my eternal gratitude for your efficient and generous
services. I am proud, very proud, to have you under
my command during this last combat period of the
Western Pacific war of the seas. We who know you
expected great fighting qualities. Our expectations
have been more than fulfilled. Your cooperative
spirit, your manner of meeting and anticipating our
wishes, the way you have adopted and fallen into our
scheme of maneuvers is little short of remarkable.
The coordinated offensive and defensive fighting on
USS Iowa, night steaming (USN)
the surface and in
the air makes us in
fact a single fighting team.
To those of us
who have suffered injuries or
have been permanently maimed
my gratitude and
the thankfulness
that you have been
spared for further
useful activeness.
May a grateful
country never forAmerican POW (USN)
get the sacrifices
you made for the good of all mankind.
For those of our brothers that have given their all
- who made the supreme sacrifice - hail! Rest with
God. The memory of you will never die. Your names
and your deeds will rest with and be an inspiration to
all decent mankind through all ages. To your loved
ones my deepest sympathy. May time assuage your
grief and bring a full realization of your dear ones
immortal fame. To all of you belongs the credit. And
I shall do all within my limited powers to see that you
receive it. Again and again God bless you and WELL
DONE.
Halsey
Crew assembly, USS Iowa (USN)
Page 7
News From The
Homefront
The following article was written about Petty Officer
DerMargosian and one of his friends in his hometown newspaper.
Page 8
US Third Fleet
Battered by Typhoon
While aboard Iowa, DerMargosian witnessed what
some called the most powerful and damaging typhoon of the age - Typhoon Cobra. He had several
articles about the storm. Editor.
Typhoon Cobra, also known as the Typhoon of
1944 or Halsey’s Typhoon, was the United States
Navy designation for a tropical cyclone which struck
the United States Pacific Fleet in December, 1944.
Task
Force 38
(TF 38)
had been
operating
about 300
miles east of
Luzon in the
Philippine
Sea conducting air
raids against
Japanese
Typhoon Cobra on radar screen (USN)
airfields in
the Philippines. The fleet was attempting to refuel its
ships, especially the lighter destroyers. As the weather
worsened it became increasingly difficult to refuel,
and the attempts had to be discontinued. Despite
warning signs of worsening conditions, the ships of
the fleet remained in their stations. Worse, the information given to Halsey about the location and direction of the typhoon was inaccurate. On December 17,
Admiral Halsey unwittingly sailed Third Fleet into
the heart of the typhoon.
Because of 100 mph winds, very high seas and
torrential rain, three destroyers ultimately capsized
and sank, with a loss of 790 lives. Nine other warships
were damaged, and over 100 aircraft were wrecked or
washed overboard.
On December 17, the typhoon was first observed,
surprising a fleet of ships in the open western Pacific
Ocean. Barometric pressures as low as 26.8 inHg (907
mbar) and wind speeds up to 140 mph in gusts were
reported by some ships. The storm was last seen on
Destroyer attenpting to refuel, Typhoon Cobra (USN)
the 18th.
TF 38 consisted of seven fleet carriers, six light
carriers, eight battleships, 15 cruisers, and about 50
destroyers. The task force had been conducting raids
against Japanese airfields in the Philippines.
Some ships experienced rolls of over 70° and damage suffered by the fleet was severe. Three destroyers,
Spence, Hickox, and Maddox, had nearly empty fuel
stores (10-15% of capacity) and therefore lacked the
stabilizing effect of the extra weight and thus were
relatively unstable. Additionally, several other destroyers, including Hull and Monaghan, were of the
older Farragut-class and had been refitted with over
500 tons of extra equipment and armament which
made them top-heavy. Spence, Hull, and Monaghan
were sunk either by capsizing outright, or as a result
of water down-flooding through their smokestacks
and disabling their engines. Without power, they
USS Cowpens during Typhoon Cobra (USN)
were unable to control their heading and were at the
mercy of the wind and seas. Hickox and Maddox,
due to ballasting of their empty fuel tanks (pumping
Page 9
USS New Jersey during Cobra (USN)
them full of seawater), had greater stability and were
able to ride out the storm with relatively minor damage.
Many other ships of TF 38 suffered various degrees of damage, especially to radar and radio equipment which severely compromised communications
within the fleet. Several carriers suffered fires on their
hangars and 146 aircraft were wrecked or blown overboard. Nine ships— including one light cruiser, three
light carriers, and two escort carriers—suffered severe damage and had to be sent for repairs. USS Iowa
bent one of her propeller shafts and lost a seaplane.
The carrier Monterey was nearly taken down
in flames by its own airplanes as they crashed into
bulkheads and exploded during violent rolls. One of
those fighting the fires aboard Monterey was then-Lt.
Gerald Ford, later President of the United States. Ford
later recalled nearly going overboard; when 20° and
greater rolling caused aircraft below decks to careen
into each other, igniting a fire. Ford, serving as General Quarters Officer of the Deck, was ordered to go
below to assess the raging fire. He did so safely, and
reported his findings back to the ship’s commanding
officer, Captain Stuart Ingersoll. The ship’s crew was
able to contain the fire, and the ship got underway
again.
3rd Fleet Damages
USS Hull - with 70% fuel aboard, capsized and
sunk with 202 men drowned (62 survivors)
USS Monaghan - capsized and sunk with 256 men
drowned (six survivors)
USS Spence - rudder jammed hard to starboard,
capsized and sunk with 317 men drowned (23 survivors) after hoses parted attempting to refuel from
New Jersey because they had also disobeyed orders to
ballast down directly from Admiral Halsey
USS Cowpens - hangar door torn open and RADAR, 20mm gun sponson, whaleboat, jeeps, tractors,
kerry crane, and 8 aircraft lost overboard. One sailor
lost.
USS Monterey - hangar deck fire killed three men
and caused evacuation of boiler rooms requiring
repairs at Bremerton Navy yard.
USS Langley - damaged
USS Cabot - damaged
USS San Jacinto - hangar deck planes broke loose
and destroyed air intakes, vent ducts and sprinkling
system causing widespread flooding. Damage repaired by USS Hector
USS Altamaha - hangar deck crane and aircraft
broke loose and broke fire mains
USS Anzio - required major repair
USS Nehenta - damaged
USS Cape Esperance - flight deck fire required
major repair
USS Kwajalein - lost steering control
USS Iowa - propeller shaft bent and lost a seaplane
USS Baltimore - required major repair
USS Miami - required major repair
USS Dewey - lost steering control, RADAR, the
forward stack, and all power when salt water shorted
main electrical switchboard
USS Aylwin - required major repair
USS Buchanan - required major repair
USS Dyson - required major repair
USS Hickox - required major repair
USS Maddox - damaged
USS Benham - required major repair
USS Donaldson - required major repair
USS Melvin R, Nawman - required major repair
USS Tabberer - lost foremast
USS Waterman - damaged
USS Nantahala - damaged
USS Jicarilla - damaged
The fleet was scattered by the storm. One ship, the
Page 10
USS Tabberer after Cobra (USN)
destroyer escort Tabberer, ran across a survivor from
Hull while itself desperately fighting the typhoon.
This was the first survivor from any of the capsized
destroyers to be picked up. Shortly thereafter, many
more survivors were picked up, in groups or in isolation. Tabberer’s skipper—Lieutenant Commander
Henry Lee Plage—directed that the ship, despite its
own dire condition, begin boxed searches to look
for more survivors. Eventually, Tabberer rescued 55
survivors in a 51-hour search, despite repeated orders
from Admiral Halsey to return all ships to port in
Ulithi. She picked up 41 men from Hull and 14 from
Spence before finally returning to Ulithi after being
directly relieved from the search by two destroyer
escorts.
Despite disobeying fleet orders, Plage was awarded
the Legion of Merit by Admiral Halsey, and Tabberers’ crew each were awarded Navy Unit Commendation ribbons (the first ever awarded).
After the fleet had regrouped (without Tabberer),
ships and aircraft conducted search and rescue missions. The destroyer Brown rescued the only survivors from Monaghan, six in total. She additionally
rescued 13 sailors from Hull. Eighteen other survivors from Hull and Spence were rescued over the
three days following Typhoon Cobra by other ships
of the 3rd Fleet. The destroyer USS The Sullivans
(DD-537) emerged from the storm undamaged and
began looking for survivors before returning to Ulithi
on Christmas Eve. In all, 93 men were rescued of the
over 800 men presumed missing in the three ships,
and two others who had been swept overboard from
the escort carrier Anzio.
In the words of Admiral Chester Nimitz, the typhoon’s impact “represented a more crippling blow to
the Third Fleet than it might be expected to suffer in
anything less than a major action”.
USS Iowa’s damaged seaplane (USN)
Oil tanker during Typhoon Cobra (USN)
USS Langley during Typhoon Cobra (USN)
Page 11
War News
Collected by Stephan DerMargosian
These are samples of several Iowa Radio Press News
issues he saved.
Saturday, 14 April, 1945
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT IS DEAD
The White House announced Thursday afternoon
that President Roosevelt is dead. The President died
at Warm Springs,
Georgia. Stephen Early, Presidential Secretary
said that President Roosevelt
succumbed to a
cerebral Hemorrhage. Vice
President Harry
President Roosevelt (Archives)
Truman has been
notified of the
President’s death and is preparing to take over the
office of President. Mrs. Roosevelt sent a message
to the four Roosevelt sons, all of whom are in the
service. Her message to them said that the President
slept away and that he did his duty to the end as he
wants you to do.
It was learned today that Roosevelt’s four sons are
all on duty overseas. Lieutenant Commander Frank-
lin Roosevelt, Jr. was last reported in the Pacific as
Commanding Officer of a destroyer escort. Lieutenant John Roosevelt is a supply officer aboard a carrier in the Pacific. Colonel James Roosevelt was last
reported to duty in the Pacific, assigned to the staff of
an amphibious group commander. The War Department did not know the whereabouts of Brigadier
General Elliott Roosevelt, but he was last reported in
the European Theater.
Secretary William D. Hassett revealed that the last
piece of legislation signed by President Roosevelt
was to continue the Commodity Credit Corporation
and increase its borrowing power. Hassett said that
Mr. Roosevelt made his usual comment as he signed,
“Here is where I make a law.” Hassett said the President’s hand was quite heavy on his last day and it took
him at least twenty minutes to sign the papers. Other
papers Roosevelt signed among his last official acts
were the appointments of a batch of small town postmasters and several citations for the Legion of Merit.
In the first inaugural address, March 4, 1933,
President Franklin D. Roosevelt said: “For the trust
reposed in me I will return the courage and the devotion that benefit the time. I can do no less. We face
the arduous days that lie before us in the warm courage of national unity; with the clear consciousness of
seeking old and precious moral values; with the clean
satisfaction that comes from the stern performance of
duty by old and young alike. We aim at the assurance
of a rounded and permanent national life. We do not
distrust the future of essential democracy.”
Note. At the end of the page was one sentence:
The word from an old Iowa shipmate would be “Carry on.”
Three of Franklin Roosevelt’s sons (Archives)
Page 12
Army and Navy casualties together now total
899,000. Of the Army figure, 159,000 killed, 88,000
missing. The Navy has reported 37,000 dead and
10,000 missing. The Navy has also announced a new
manpower total. There are now 3,750,000 officers
and enlisted men and women in the Navy. This includes Navy nurses but does not include the Marine
Corps or Coast Guard.
Wednesday, 9 May, 1945
ASSOCIATED PRESS AND THE GERMAN RADIO
ANNOUNCE NAZI UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER
The Associated Press announced today that Germany has surrendered unconditionally to the western allies and Soviet Russia. The Associated Press
report was not confirmed by any source in Europe
or the United States. Four hours after the Associated
Press story was released, the British Ministry of Information announced in London that Tuesday, May
the 8th, will be treated as V-E Day. The information
ministry announcement said: “It is understood that
in accordance with arrangements between the three
great powers an official announcement would be
broadcast by the Foreign Ministers at 3:00 May 8. In
view of dispatches, Tuesday, will be treated as victory
in Europe and will be regarded as a public holiday.
The day following, Wednesday, the 9th of May will
also be a holiday.”
Colonel James Roosevelt (USMC)
Moscow
Special Soviet investigators were to be at work in Berlin today questioning captured
Nazis and trying
to reconstruct
events leading up
to the disappearance of Adolph
Hitler. The Soviet press reiterated
Remains of Goebels and his wife (USA)
that the Russians,
together with the rest of the allies would like to see
the body of the Ex-Fuehrer. A new, but unconfirmed
version of the death of propaganda chief Joseph Goebells, claimed that he perished in a suicide pact with
his wife and entire family.
New York
Fritz Goering, nephew of Herman Goering, said Sunday, his
uncle wanted to make peace
10 days ago and was arrested
on Hitler’s orders and removed
from Berchtesgaden, Mutual
correspondent, Seymor Korman, reported from Berchtesgaden in a broadcast. Field
Marshall Albert Kesselring fled
from Berchtesgaden several
Herman Goering
days before American troops
arrived, Young Goering said. He added he did not
know where his uncle had been taken.
London
Here are some important statistics of World War II.
The British Commonwealth casualties among the
armed services from the beginning of the war until
February 26, 1945: 1,126,802. Total civilian casualties 59,793. In the last world war, the total British Commonwealth casualties were 1,089,919. The
European war has lasted five years, eight months, and
six days.
The soldiers in Europe are now asking themselves,
“Where do we go from here.” There are no planned
Page 13
celebrations among the troops. The men had seen
too much death and suffering.
Friday, August 10, 1945
RUSSIA DECLARES WAR ON JAPAN
President Harry S. Truman announced today that
Russia has declared war on
Japan. President Truman
made the announcement to
the hurriedly summoned
news conference. The President said that he had only a
simple statement to make,
but it was so important he
could not delay it. The President then announced that
Russia had just declared war
President Truman
on Japan.
(Archives)
The declaration of war was
effective at one minute past midnight Wednesday,
Moscow time, or one minute past 2 o’clock Tuesday,
U.S. Pacific War Time. Declaration revealed Jap
Government, backed by Hirohito personally, previously had asked Soviet in
mid-June to mediate peace
with the Allies. Russia’s
fateful decision was communicated by Soviet Foreign Commissar Molotov to
Japanese Ambassador Sato
in Moscow and by Russian
Ambassador Jacob Malik to
Jap Government in Tokyo.
State Secretary James ByMolotov
rnes announced in Washington that at the Big Three
Conference in Germany, President Truman in the
name of the Western World, asked Russia formally to
join war.
TOKYO ADMITS TOTAL DESTRUCTION OF
HIROSHIMA
General Carl Spaatz,
strategic air commander,
announced that a single
atomic bomb dropped on
Hiroshima by a lone B-29,
destroyed 60 percent of
the city. Radio Tokyo went
farther and said the city of
343,000 was completely destroyed. Spaatz said photos
show 4 and 1/10 square
miles of all built up area
General Spaatz (USA)
an 6 and 1/10 of all military targets were destroyed. The heart of the city was
devastated as if by giant bulldozers. Camera places,
hours after the bomb exploded , found two small fires
still burning, but the remainder of the city seems to
be in ashes. Tokyo Radio said practically all living
things, animal and human, were killed and the dead
are too numerous to be counted. Persons outdoors
were burned to death, while those indoors were killed
by what the enemy called indescribably heat and
pressure. Houses and other buildings were crushed.
Dead could not be distinguished from injured, Tokyo
said, and neither could be identified.
Enemy claims the use of the atomic bomb a violation
of International Law and referred to Hiroshima as
open city, although Quartermaster Depot is there and
it is a large garrison town and Army Base. Atomic
Bomb was dropped from B-29 piloted by Colonel
Paul Tibbets. It was ten miles away when the bomb
exploded. The plane was rocked as if by bursting
flack close by. All crew members wore dark glasses to
watch explosion. Although plane was several miles
Hiroshima after the atomic bomb (Archives)
Page 14
high, visual impact of flash was so great that crewmen
cried out in amazement. Only three aboard knew
what the secret mission was about.
Dispatches from Guam say the Atomic Bomb is
small enough to be carried by fighter planes. General
Spaatz warned Japan that planes are ready to drop
more of this world’s most destructive explosive if
resistance continues.
General Spaatz disclosed that German scientists
were working feverishly to produce an Atomic Bomb
at Oranienburg, when their secret laboratory was
wiped out by American airmen. He said that while
Allied Armies were still fighting on Germany’s soil,
work was proceeding at a laboratory and factory at
Oranienburg just outside Berlin. When the United
States learned of it, huge air attacks leveled the Nazi
scientist’s workshop. “One of our chief worries,” said
Spaatz who headed the strategic air forces in Europe
and now commands them in the Pacific, “was whether Germany could develop this Atomic Bomb before
we got to Berlin.”
LATE FLASH
Nagasaki was hit by the world’s second Atomic Bomb
at noon Thursday, Jap time. Crew members reported
good results. No further details will be available until
mission returns, General Spaatz announced in special
communique from Guam. Nagasaki, Japan’s 12th
largest city is on Kyushu.
Friday, 17 August 1945
MACARTHUR WILL DICTATE PEACE TERMS IN
MANILA TODAY.
General MacArthur will
dictate surrender terms to an
envoy from Japan in Manila
Friday. As Supreme Allied
Commander for the surrender and occupation of
Japan, General MacArthur
has ordered Emperor HiroGen. MacArthur (USA)
hito to see that the following
things are accomplished: Friday morning a Japanese
plane bearing an envoy from Japan will leave southern Kyushu Island. The plane will be unarmed, in
the words of General MacArthur - the plane will be a
type Zero, model 22-2D-3. The plane will be painted
white with green crosses visible at 500 yards. It will
fly to Eishima, a tiny island near Okinawa where
Ernie Pyle was killed. An airstrip on the island will
be painted white with markings of green crosses
similar to the ones on the Japanese plane. The plane
will circle the field at 1,000 feet or under cloud cover
until an escort of P-38s joins in and leads the planes
into a landing. The Jap envoy will then be flown to
Manila in an American plane. At his Manila headquarters, General MacArthur will lay down the terms
under which unconditional surrender of Japan will
be carried forth. In
addition, MacArthur
ordered Japan to designate a radio station
in the Tokyo area for
communication with
Manila. The communication will be in
English. Ironically,
MacArthur chose as
a radio recognition
signal of the envoy
plane one famous
General Wainwright (USA)
word, “Bataan.”
Among other things
Gen. MacArthur expected to arrange with Japan
right off the speedy release of American prisoners.
The allied note which told Japan her Emperor would
take his orders from them, also specified that Japan
would arrange to transport war prisoners under
allied direction to places of safety where they would
be speedily picked up by allied transports. Among
the prisoners is Lt. General Jonathan Wainwright,
Page 15
the hero of Corregidor. Lt. General Wainwright took
over the defense of the Philippines in 1942 after President Roosevelt had ordered MacArthur to Australia. It was Wainwright who was forced to surrender
Corregidor to the Japs. The last report was that he
was a prisoner of war in Manchuria after being taken
there in October from Formosa. Held with General
Wainwright are 18 other generals, 113 Colonels and
a number of Army and Navy enlisted men. The Japs
hold nearly 17,000 Americans. More than 13,000 of
these are military personnel, 3,000 are civilians. Most
of the military prisoners are being held in Japan while
civilian internees are in camps spread in both Japan
and China.
V-J Day will not be proclaimed until the Japanese
surrender has been signed, although the war theoretically is over, all the shooting has not yet stopped.
Fighting is still going on in Manchuria, and Burma
and most likely some areas of China and American
Third Fleet gunners still are shooting down attacking
Japanese planes.
In Japan itself the first results
of surrender was as announced by Tokyo Radio,
resignation of the Japanese
cabinet. On last report, War
Minister Gen. Anami committed hari kari. The report
said this being called for
because of his failure as war
minister. No other suicides
Gen. Anami
have been announced at last
word. Premier Suzuki in explaining the resignation
of the cabinet said it was because their efforts were
ineffective and they were not able to make decisions.
The Japanese people had gotten the first word about
the surrender at noon Wednesday. They had not
been told before that their leaders were asking for
peace but Emperor Hirohito made almost an unprecedented speech to them himself to explain not
only that Japan had surrendered, but also why. The
atomic bomb which Hirohito called just a new and
cruel bomb was the reason he gave up. He said that
if war went on, civilization would be destroyed so
Japan was quitting just to save civilization itself. He
told the Japanese they could not justify it before their
ancestors if they let the war go on and destroy civilization, so for this reason they were making peace.
One broadcast from Tokyo
took a different view. It
was made by Kusuo Oya,
Chief of Tokyo’s Overseas
Bureau. Said he, “We have
lost but this is temporary,”
and then urged Japan to
develop a type of mechanized which defeated her.
However, this appeared
not to be even a dim hope
for those in Japan who still
Emperor Hirohito
might be thinking along
that line. Allied troops soon will be occupying the
Japanese homeland perhaps as many as 1,000,000
strong and the Potsdam Declaration under which
Japan surrendered calls for completely wiping out
Japan’s machinery for making war.
Back in the U.S. Americans observed country’s
first day of peace nursing hangovers from riotous
night, and many Americans went to church winding way through ankle deep litter of paper, bottles,
and broken window glass. Bigger cities continued
celebration until well into Wed. morning, but reporters agreed that city which really blew its top was San
Francisco. There, many thousands of sailors, waiting
to be shipped to Pacific, sparkplugged terrific assault
on beachheads of property rights, unresisting women
and public drinks. San Francisco’s main thoroughfare
of Market Street was a shamble. Gasoline rationing
has been abolished and there has been general relaxing of may other government restrictions necessitated
by war.
San Francisco Celebrations (Archives)
Page 16
United Press correspondent
on Admiral McCain’s flagship
said “It has been a strange day
out here. We listened to radio
from the States telling of cheering and celebrations, but we are
still fighting a defensive battle for
our own lives. Apparently war
is hard to stop. No one out here Adm. McCain (USN)
resents celebration in the States.
We only wish the Japanese would really stop fighting.”
Adm. Nimitz has just announced that U.S. carrier planes destroyed or damaged 45 Jap aircraft in
pre-surrender hours in action against Tokyo area
Wednesday.
Radio Tokyo admitted some
attacks had been made after the
surrender and declared Imperial Command was trying its best
to halt those acts. Outstanding
feature of the latest Radio Tokyo broadcast has been series
of statements indicating leaders expect to keep control of
Adm. Nimitz (USN)
finance and economy and start
at once on gigantic recovery program. From tone of
broadcast it would seem they believe allied occupation troops are only going to Japan as tourists.
Note: According to the Navy discharge plan, a man
would have to be 76 years old and have one year of
service, that is if the man was single and had no dependents, in order to get out.
Mr. DerMargosian
kept newspaper clippings
and other memorabilia from both his time
aboard ship and his Iowa
Veterans Association reunions. He wore a badge
aboard ship, opposite.
Page 17
A 10 yen note he received while in Japan during the occupation.
Page 18
Electrician’s Mate Third Class DerMargosian aboard Iowa. (Personal photo)
Page 19
Page 20
DerMargosian with two of his shipmates
Page 21
New Britain Daily Herald, July 21, 1945
Page 22
On February 22, 1946, Iowa celebrated her third birthday (top left and bottom). Independence Day, 1945, the Dinner menu (top
right).
Page 23
Thanksgiving Menu, 1945, USS Iowa.
Yes, like most Iowa sailors, he had the Life cover
(above right).
Stephen’s family, (above center) and with his wife,
Susan and his two sons (above).
Photos from the DerMargosian family.
Stephen DerMargosian, Crewmember, USS Iowa.
Page 24
Letter from the Editor
take some time to get it in the newsletter, but we’ll
get it in for all to see.
Special thanks to Mrs. Susan DerMargosian for
sharing the life long collection of articles and memorabilia from USS Iowa. I realize the clippings are
very difficult to read, but I wanted to include them
along with the photos which were all newspaper size.
The collection was a treasure of things Mr. DerMargosian experienced through his time aboard ship
and about the ship. In particular, he saved the Iowa
Newspaper clippings highlighting important dates in
his life aboard. They all give insight into what was
going on and what influenced the life of this man.
In accordance with his wishes, all these things
will be sent to the museum aboard USS Iowa in San
Pedro, for archiving. I hope the items I have included will bring back fond memories of the times when
our ship plied the seas, both in peace and war.
Send your works to:
Brad Goforth, 1200 Somersby Lane,
Matthews, NC 28105
or email it to: [email protected]
Also, if you have any comments or questions, pop
me an email at the above address. I’d love to hear
from you.
Without your help, we can’t make this letter happen! I look forward to reading about you.
Brad Goforth
If you have anything you would like to share with
our shipmates and friends, please send it in. It may
Recognize this guy?
When was it taken?
Who are some of the others?
Send the identities to the editor at the email above.
We’ll share unnamed photos periodically just to test
your memories.
Disclaimer:
The Iowan History Letter is an independent online
magazine, and produced as a keepsake journal for
Battleship Iowa museum volunteers, former crewmen
of USS Iowa, and for our readers. The Iowan History
Letter is not sold, subscriptions are not offered, and all
credited photos, cartoons and stories are the sole property of their authors. Wherever possible, The Iowan
History Letter requests permission, properly credits,
and identifies the source of photographs, stories, or
quotations. If crediting errors, or any possible copyright infringements are found, please let us know and
corrections will be made.
Page 25

The Iowan History letter - The Veteran`s Association of the USS

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