George Trask and the USS Spence (DD-512)

The July 18th Lakeland (Fl) Ledger had an article on an event that took place 65 years ago, when the USS Spence, a destroyer, sank in a bad typhoon in the Philippine Sea. Fortunately for George Trask, he wasn't aboard at the time. There were only 24 survivors of the 336 man crew.

Mr. Trask enlisted after Pearl Harbor, in early 1942. After basic training, he was sent to Bath, Maine, where the Spence was christened October 27, 1942.

The Fletcher-class destroyer was 376 feet long and had five 5-inch guns. ten 40-mm antiaircraft guns, ten torpedo tubes, six depth charge projectors and carried a crew of 336.

It was commissioned January 8, 1943, and served off North Africa.

During May 1943, during a brief layover, Mr. Trask married his girlfriend.

The Spencer was then sent to the Pacific Theater where it participated in many battles. In October 1944, the USS Spence was in the Battle of the Philippine Sea. In November, Trask was sent to San Francisco for three weeks of additional training.

On December 18, 1944, the Spence and destroyers Hull and Monaghan were sunk in a massive storm some called "Halsey's Typhoon." Before it hit, the ships were low on oil and had spent all day pumping out sea water ballast in preparation to being refueled.

There was little ballast to steady the ships in the heavy seas, causing them to sink.

Afterwards, Trask was assigned to the Light Cruiser Santa Fe in 1945.

A Very Fortunate Break for Mr. Trask. --Cooter