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One of the most heartbreaking stories to come out of WW2


kanemono
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This is one of the most heartbreaking stories to come out of WW2. Electrician’s Mate Harvey C. Dobbins was the father of two sons who were both killed in action in the first year of World War two. Richard, an Electrician’s Mate Second Class, was killed on December 7, 1941 at Pearl Harbor. Albert, Seaman First Class, was killed on June 6, 1942 at the Battle of Midway. Harvey Dobbins never recovered from the loss of his sons and he died in 1943.

 

Electrician’s Mate Harvey C. Dobbins, United States Navy

Harvey Collin Dobbins was born in Salam, Indiana, on March 11, 1886. He enlisted in the United States Navy for a period of four years as an Apprentice Seaman on January 4, 1907. Dobbins served on several ships between 1907 and 1916 including the USS Hancock, USS Alabama and the USS Colgua. On June 30, 1916 Dobbins was assigned to serve as Electrician First Class on the submarine U.S.S. L-1. The L class of United States submarines built between 1914 and 1917 were the Navy's first attempt at building ocean-going submarines. The USS L-1 was launched on January 20, 1915 and was assigned to the Atlantic Submarine Flotilla operating along the East Coast. She ranged the Atlantic Ocean from New England to Florida during the year 1916 testing new techniques of undersea warfare. The L-1 required an extensive refit at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, when the United States declared war on Germany to prepare her for service in Europe. In November of 1917, the U.S.S. L-1 was sent to the submarine base at Bantry Bay, Ireland, for duty on anti-U-boat patrols and to escort convoys. During World War One United States Navy L-class submarines displayed "AL" pennant numbers to avoid being confused with British L-class submarines. The L class submarines were under powered, however, they showed good endurance for patrols in the North Atlantic and in British waters. US submarines did not sink any U-boats in World War I. Dobbins served on the U.S.S. L-1 until 1919 when he was assigned to the Submarine U.S.S. E-1 training new submariners and testing experimental listening gear. In 1921 Dobbins was promoted to Chief Electrician’s Mate. He was transferred to U.S. Fleet Reserve and released from active duty upon the completion of sixteen years of active duty on July 13, 1922. Dobbins was recalled to duty for World War Two and reported for duty at the Receiving Station, Boston, Massachusetts on April 9, 1942. He became ill and was transferred to the U.S. Naval Hospital, Chelsea, Massachusetts. Harvey Collin Dobbins died at his home in Salam, Indiana on August 2, 1943.

 

Electrician’s Mate Second Class Richard Henry Dobbins, United States Navy

Richard Henry Dobbins was born in Salam, Indiana on March 25, 1918. A graduate of Salam High School he enlisted in the United States Navy at Louisville Kentucky on January 19, 1937. After graduating from United States Naval Training Center, Great Lakes, Illinois, Dobbins attended Electrical School at San Diego, California. He reported for duty aboard the U.S.S. Helena on September 18, 1939. While serving aboard the Helena Dobbins was temporarily assigned to Mine Warfare School at Yorktown, Virginia. U.S.S. Helena was a United States Navy, St. Louis-class, light cruiser, she was launched on August 27, 1939. She was part of the Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor when the Japanese attacked on December 7, 1941. The Helena was in the berth normally assigned to the battleship U.S.S. Pennsylvania, and became a prime target for Japanese planes. A Japanese torpedo bomber launched a torpedo which hit the Helena on the starboard side as the crew raced to battle stations. The explosion partly lifted the ship bodily amidships just forward of the number three gun mount. Twenty men were killed immediately. Thirty-four of Helena‍ '​s sailors were killed and sixty nine were wounded during the Japanese attack. Helena began to flood and had slight list, however, only one of the two engine rooms and one boiler room were flooded. With attacking planes flying overhead, the crew broke out the service ammunition, and by 8:01 AM the ship began to fight back by sending up anti-aircraft fire. Richard Henry Dobbins was manning his station in the forward fire room when the torpedo hit, flooding the area. His body was recovered on December 18, 1941.

 

Seaman First Class Albert James Dobbins, United States Navy

Albert James Dobbins was born in St. Louis, Missouri, on February 25, 1920. A graduate of Salam High School he enlisted in the United States Navy for six years on November 3, 1939. After training at the United States Naval Training Center at Great Lakes, Illinois he was assigned to the USS Hammann. The Hammann was a United States Navy, Sims-class destroyer, launched on February 4, 1939. After a shakedown cruise off the East Coast she spent the next two years participating in training and readiness operations off both coasts. On May 8, 1942 she took part in the Battle of the Coral Sea, the first naval engagement fought entirely on both sides between aircraft and ships. The Hammann screened the US carriers, firing at Japanese torpedo planes and bombers as they attacked. One Japanese bomb exploded 200 yards off Hammann‍’s starboard bow. The aircraft carrier USS Lexington took two torpedo hits to her port side. A large internal explosion on the Lexington followed by other explosions doomed the ship. The order was given to abandon the Lexington, the destroyers Hammann, Morris, and Anderson stood by to rescue survivors. The destroyers picked up nearly 500 men from the water before the Lexington went down on the night of May 8, 1942. Hammann with the remaining Task Force was sent to Pearl Harbor to make repairs. The Task Force got underway on May 30, 1942 in time to take part in the Battle of Midway. During the Battle of Midway on June 4, 1942 Hammann screened the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Yorktown, she helped to shoot down many of the attacking Japanese aircraft. The Yorktown took two torpedo hits and, listing heavily, was abandoned. Hammann picked up survivors in the water and transferred them to the larger ships. The next morning an effort was to save the stricken carrier. A skeleton crew returned on board the Yorktown, and attempted to tow her to safety. Hammann came alongside on 6 June to transfer a damage control party. The Hammann tied up next to the Yorktown, providing electrical power, hoses and water for firefighting. The protective destroyer screen was penetrated by the Japanese submarine I-168. She loosed four torpedoes, one missed, two passed under Hammann and hit the Yorktown and the fourth torpedo hit the Hammann amidships, breaking her in half. The Hammann sank bow first in just four minutes. Following the sinking the destroyer's depth charges and torpedoes exploded underwater causing many deaths of sailors in the water. This brought the death toll to eighty. Seaman First Class Albert James Dobbins was severely injured and was taken aboard the Destroyer U.S.S. Benham where he died on June 6, 1944. He was buried at sea.

 

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What is really heartbreaking is that most people today have no idea that families lost everything so we didn’t have to speak Japanese or German.

 

Thank you for taking the time to post this.

 

Never forget.

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If you ever feel down and need to be set straight, remember the Dobbins.

 

If that doesn’t fill you with gratitude what will?

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“Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.” - Ronald Reagan

Thanks for sharing. Truly the sad part of war.

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Kurt Barickman

Another very historical and amazing group in your collection Dick? Always impressed and amazed by your collection; thanks again for sharing with us.

Kurt

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There are so many stories like this of brave men and women answering the call and giving all that we may enjoy the freedoms we hold so dear! They go, not thinking of self, but of Duty, Honor, & Country. To all who have served, Thank You so very much!! To those that have lost, walk with pride knowing they gave us this great nation. I was named after two brothers, cousins of mine, who were Marine Corps fighter pilots. They were both killed within 3 days of each other flying off Okinawa at the end of the war.

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