Remember Pearl Harbor - Navy Good Conduct Medal Groups to Survivors

[KASTAUFFER]

The 77th Anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack is around the corner. Any new additions?

 

Kurt

[KASTAUFFER]

Good Conduct Medal and other artifacts recovered from the USS Oklahoma during salvage operations. The items were returned to his family in 1944. The Purple Heart was issued in 1943.

[KASTAUFFER]

[jguy1986]

USS St. Louis (CL-49)

 

I recently obtained this grouping from a lifer and mustang in the field of naval medicine. Preliminary research shows around 1930 he spent time aboard the USS Gold Star (AK-12), and the SS Southern Cross. He was a plankowner with the St. Louis' commissioning crew from 19 May 1939; already having over a decade of experience, he was serving as a PhM1c aboard the ship during the attack on Pearl Harbor. Within the year, he advanced to CPhM and then Warrant Officer, followed quickly by an officer's commission in 1943 and service aboard the USS Cowpens (CV-25), later retiring in 1949. I still have much more research to do with this group, but I'm honored to be it's caretaker.

 

[Teamski]

Good Conduct Medal and other artifacts recovered from the USS Oklahoma during salvage operations. The items were returned to his family in 1944. The Purple Heart was issued in 1943.

 

 

That is absolutely heart rending. Wow. You cannot get any more poignant that that grouping.

 

-Ski

[KASTAUFFER]

 

 

That is absolutely heart rending. Wow. You cannot get any more poignant that that grouping.

 

-Ski

Thanks Ski

 

This group, to me, epitomizes the sacrifices made due to the Pearl Harbor attack.

 

Kurt

[KASTAUFFER]

A group from the USS Dobbin

 

 

[Wharfmaster]

^

[Rakkasan187]

Here is a uniform and medal grouping that I have had for about 30 years. I picked it up at a local militaria show in El Paso, Texas.. My apologies for the poor pictures as this was taken with a first generation digital camera back in the late 1980s...This grouping was the first Pearl Harbor grouping I had obtained, but it would be several years later that I would find out that this Sailor survived the attack on Pearl Harbor due to the lack of my knowledge of the National Archives. It was only in the past 10 years or so that I was able to obtain the records and that is when I discovered the Pearl Harbor connection.. I was happy to be able to find out the history of this Sailor...

 

 

Charles Edward Arnold was born in Cowles, Nebraska in November 1920. On April 30, 1940 he joined the U.S. Navy as an apprentice seaman at the Navy recruiting station in Omaha, Nebraska. His initial enlistment was for a period of six years. On May 1, 1940, Arnold reported to the United States Navy training station at Great Lakes, Illinois. On September 24, 1940 Arnold was transferred to San Diego, California to start clerical training on the USS Perry. From the USS Perry, he was further assigned to the USS Trever. The USS Trever was moored at the West Loch at Pearl Harbor during the attack on December 7, 1941. She was located with the minesweepers Zane, Wasmuth and a former ship of Arnold's, the Perry. The Trever was a Clemson class destroyer (DD339). The Trever engaged Japanese aircraft with its .50 caliber machine guns and is credited with shooting down one plane alone and with the assistance of the Trever's sister ships moored near the Trever, it was credited with shooting down a second plane. Arnold survived the Pearl Harbor attack on the USS Trevor based on the records from NARA it appears he came out of the attack without any injuries...

There was a significant gap in records for the next assignment for Arnold, releasing him from the USS Trever and assigning him back to the receiving ship in San Diego on July 7, 1944. After a 30 day delay in reporting, Arnold was transferred to the naval reserve officers training Corps Center at Notre Dame, Indiana for duty at the rate of S K-1 C, storekeeper disbursing. The rate of SK (Store Keeper) was changed to DK (Disbursing Clerk) in 1948. The next sequence of datable records shows on December 31, 1950 Arnold was assigned to the submarine tender USS Sperry until March 31, 1952. He was then reassigned to the USS Bushnell, another submarine tender. In December 1952 until February 28, 1955, Arnold was assigned to the US Naval Air Station Anacostia in Washington, DC. April 1955 he returned to recruit station San Diego, California for about two months. He then reported for duty on board the aircraft carrier USS Wasp CVA 18. After duty on the carrier Wasp his last major assignment was at the Naval Recruiting Station in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

 

 

 

Lest we forget..

 

Leigh

[KASTAUFFER]

Coast Guard Cutter Taney

 

 

[Kurt Barickman]

Really nice example of a CGGC; a member of the Legion here in Albert Lea was also on the Taney on Dec. 7th. Thanks for sharing.

 

Kurt

 

 

[KASTAUFFER]

USS St Louis

 

 

[KASTAUFFER]

Aviation Unit USS Honolulu

 

 

[KASTAUFFER]

Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron One

 

 

[KASTAUFFER]

USS California 

 

 

 

 

[KASTAUFFER]

VP-24

 

 

 

 

[KASTAUFFER]

VP-12

 

 

 

 

[KASTAUFFER]

NAS Pearl Harbor

 

 

 

[KASTAUFFER]

USS Montgomery

 

 

[KASTAUFFER]

VP-23

[KASTAUFFER]

USS Dobbin

 

 

 

 

[collectsmedals]

U.S.S. Ramsay DD-124

 

On 10 December 1940, Ramsay returned to Pearl Harbor and, throughout the next year, operated with Mine Divisions 5 and 2. Moored at Pearl Harbor on the morning of 7 December 1941, she fired her guns in combat for the first time at carrier-based planes delivering Japan's declaration of war on the United States.

Underway from the harbor before 0900, for offshore patrol, Ramsay made sound contact with a submarine at 1120. She released ten depth charges, and then watched an oil slick spread over the attack area. She had damaged, and possibly had sunk one of the midget submarines used by the Japanese in the attack. Eight days later, while escorting a merchant ship off Kauai, she made her second contact. During two runs over the enemy, she dropped her depth charges and again was rewarded by the appearance of an oil slick on the surface indicating damage to her quarry.*

 

*Source: Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANSF)

[Bearmon]

6 hours ago, KASTAUFFER said:

USS Dobbin

 

 

 

 

Any history on Mr Ray?   There is an WW2 MOH awardee with the same last name, Bernard J. Ray, from NY, I wonder if there is any relation?  There is also a Ronald E Ray from Georgia MOH awardee in Vietnam.

 

[KASTAUFFER]

3 hours ago, Bearmon said:

Any history on Mr Ray?   There is an WW2 MOH awardee with the same last name, Bernard J. Ray, from NY, I wonder if there is any relation?  There is also a Ronald E Ray from Georgia MOH awardee in Vietnam.

 

I have copies of all the ships muster rolls from World War II, but I have not done any family history for him.

 

Kurt

[KASTAUFFER]

USS Nevada