kfields Posted June 22, 2017 Share #1 Posted June 22, 2017 How sad. I found this certificate in a period frame at a flea market in Urbana, Ohio ( where the soldier was from). Pvt Joseph Burley found himself on the USS Ticonderoga in September 1918. Hauling vehicles, animals and other military items, the USS Ticonderoga was part of a convoy leaving New York and heading to France when it suffered engine problems on the evening of September 29 and dropped out of the convoy. U-152 attacked on the 30th. The guns of the U-boat and the guns on the transport engaged in a furious gun battle for two hours. Nearly all the 237 men aboard the Ticonderoga were injured or killed during the gun battle. Out of 237 men aboard the Ticonderoga, only 24 survived. Kim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tennessee Posted June 22, 2017 Share #2 Posted June 22, 2017 That is some remarkable story! This soldier was probably headed to France as a replacement and just on the wrong ship at the wrong time! It's remarkable that there weren't more transports sunk, and this is actually a rare artifact! I can't help but wonder if this framed certificate spent most of its life on the wall in someone's bedroom, or, more likely it was in a drawer or closet as the soldier was long forgotten! It's important to remember that these soldiers and sailors also served and played a part in the Great War! Thanks for sharing this artifact and its story! David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kfields Posted June 23, 2017 Author Share #3 Posted June 23, 2017 Thanks for the comments David. I did some more reading this afternoon and see where the commander of the Ticonderoga received the medal of honor for his actions against U-152. Kim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kfields Posted April 5, 2021 Author Share #4 Posted April 5, 2021 I thought I would resurrect this post and add slightly better photos as well as a period article I found in the local paper ("The Democrat", Urbana, Ohio October 22, 1918) that describes the event and his death. Kim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manayunkman Posted April 5, 2021 Share #5 Posted April 5, 2021 Rare document. Interesting battle, I wonder why the Uboat didn’t torpedo the ship? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kfields Posted April 5, 2021 Author Share #6 Posted April 5, 2021 Good question. I suspect the U-boat captain thought the Ticonderoga was easy pickings for its' deck guns and saved the torpedoes for more stealthy, dangerous work. However the records show the transport did put up a good fight and its' captain, Lt Commander James J. Madison received the MOH for his performance that day. The transport was loaded with supplies of all types. Of the 247 soldiers and sailors aboard, only 24 survived. Kim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manayunkman Posted April 5, 2021 Share #7 Posted April 5, 2021 That U-boat Captain took a chance and probably got more fight than anticipated. One good shot form the Ticonderoga and it would have been over. But to shoot the life boats as they rowed away was horrible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bertmedals Posted April 5, 2021 Share #8 Posted April 5, 2021 Incredible story and artifact. Glad someone in-the-know was at that flea market and was able to preserve it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kfields Posted April 5, 2021 Author Share #9 Posted April 5, 2021 Actually I was pretty ignorant when I purchased the framed certificate, about $10 as I recall. I actually had my eye out for the frame it came in, one of those period fake wood painted frames that I wanted to use for something else. But I'm really glad I kept it together, other than replacing the old acidic cardboard backing which had stained the certificate over the years. I started researching the guy and found out about his short military career (2 1/2 months) and that he lived in the same small Ohio town (Urbana) where I found the certificate. I thought I'd stop by and see his house but it is long gone. An auto parts store is now in its place. Would like to find a photograph of Mr Burley so I'll keep looking. I've read on-line little bits and pieces about the engagement between the 2 vessels and the more I read about it, the more I want to know. Kim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salvage Sailor Posted April 5, 2021 Share #10 Posted April 5, 2021 2 hours ago, manayunkman said: That U-boat Captain took a chance and probably got more fight than anticipated. One good shot form the Ticonderoga and it would have been over. But to shoot the life boats as they rowed away was horrible. He decided upon a surface action as she only brandished two (2) deck guns and one was put out of action early in the fight Battle with U-152 (DANFS - Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships) Ticonderoga loaded another Army cargo at Norfolk between 5 and 19 September. She then steamed to New York where she joined a convoy bound for Europe. On 22 September, Ticonderoga cleared New York for the last time. During the night of the 29th and 30th, the transport developed engine trouble and dropped behind the convoy. At 05:20 the following morning, she sighted the German submarine SM U-152 running on the surface; and she cleared for action. For the next two hours, her gun crews fought the enemy in a losing battle. The U-boat's gunners put her forward gun out of commission after six shots, but the 6-inch gun aft continued the uneven battle. Almost every man on board Ticonderoga, including her captain, suffered wounds. Eventually, the submarine's two 5.9-inch guns succeeded in silencing Ticonderoga's remaining gun. At 07:45, Ticonderoga slipped beneath the sea. Of the 237 sailors and soldiers embarked, only 24 survived. Twenty-two of those survivors were in one lifeboat and were picked up by the British steamer SS Moorish Prince four days later. The other two, the executive officer and the first assistant engineer, were taken prisoner on board the U-boat and eventually landed at Kiel, Germany, when U-152 completed her cruise. Ticonderoga's name was subsequently struck from the Navy list. Lieutenant Commander James Jonas Madison received the Medal of Honor for his actions on Ticonderoga. LCDR James J. Madison, USNRF - Awarded the Medal of Honor (Tiffany Cross) for his actions as Commanding Officer of TICONDEROGA - (1918) Photos and captions and citations below from Navsource.com At Boston, Massachusetts, 27 November 1917. Also present, at far left, is the [protected cruiser] USS Albany. Three section patrol (SP) boats are partially visible at the far right U.S. Navy photo NH 42415 Ticonderoga as seen from the U-152, prior to her sinking Photo from "A History Of The Transport Service: Adventures And Experiences Of The United States Transports And Cruisers In The World War", by Vice Admiral Albert Gleaves, USN, Published by George H. Doran Company, New York Photo taken from the deck of the enemy submarine shows the only surviving lifeboat from the transport Ticonderoga comes alongside the U-152. The occupants were forced to hold up their hands at the point of revolvers in the hands of the U-boat's crew. In the back ground Ticonderoga may been seen on the horizon line four minutes before she sank Photo from "A History Of The Transport Service: Adventures And Experiences Of The United States Transports And Cruisers In The World War", by Vice Admiral Albert Gleaves, USN, Published by George H. Doran Company, New York Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salvage Sailor Posted April 5, 2021 Share #11 Posted April 5, 2021 A Note on the above: There's a statement of interest in the DANFS history of the TICONDEROGA. .....The other two, the executive officer and the first assistant engineer, were taken prisoner on board the U-boat and eventually landed at Kiel, Germany, when U-152 completed her cruise. This was standard practice by U-Boat commanders after sinking an enemy vessel. They would search amongst the survivors in their lifeboats and take aboard the senior surviving officers and bring them to Kiel for interrogation and imprisonment. This is the same way in which Gunnery Officer (and Tiffany Cross MOH recipient) LT Edouard Izac was captured by the U-90 after she sank the transport USS LINCOLN. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kfields Posted April 7, 2021 Author Share #12 Posted April 7, 2021 S-S: Thank you for the nice historical additions. I had a question. The main armaments of the Ticonderoga was a 3 inch gun forward and 6 inch gun at the rear. Were these gun positions protected or were they exposed open air positions, no protection from shell fire or flying debris? Kim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salvage Sailor Posted April 8, 2021 Share #13 Posted April 8, 2021 They would have been open gun mounts on the fore and after decks with little protection This is a 3 inch/50 caliber deck gun on an USN auxiliary and as you can see it affords little to no protection for the gun crew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kfields Posted April 8, 2021 Author Share #14 Posted April 8, 2021 You are right - there is no protection from well aimed shots! Even a close hit would be deadly! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tennessee Posted April 20, 2021 Share #15 Posted April 20, 2021 What an amazing thread!! Those photos really add to the story, and I hope, Kim, you will sometime find a photo of Burley to go with it! Thanks to all for rediscovering this soldier's place in history! This is why I collect WWI groups- and having so much more available on line now makes it fascinating! I can't wait to retire! David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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