January 3, 1944 -- U.S.S. Turner

[bob lamoreaux]

On the early morning hours of January 3, 1944, the destroyer U.S.S, Turner was sunk off Sandy Hook, NJ, having completed escorting a convoy to Casablanca. There remains some controversy over the cause of the (allegedly) two explosions that tore the bow off this ship, the official report (which I have not seen) attributing the explosion to hedge-hog anti-submarine munitions, unofficial sources (some surviving crewmen believing that the ship was torpedoed). It appears that many of the crew were from Pennsylvania. While I want to offer this remembrance to all the sailors lost in that tragedy, I would also like to pay homage to my uncle (my father's youngest brother), Ralph Lee Lamoreaux of Plymouth, PA, who was 19-years old when lost in this incident. God rest the souls lost in all of our wars.

[Dave]

I had no idea that the Turner incident even happened, until I started researching one of the guys for my book. I had the honor to meet with his younger sister and scan/photograph the items of his that she had retained. Below is a small scale photo of the ship's Wardroom. All but two of these officers would be dead on the morning of 3 January, killed while eating breakfast... RIP, Sailors...

[Dave]

And here's the photo...