On Dec. 8th, I wrote about Norman Hartnett serving on board the USS Frederick Funston during WW II. I did a follow up on the ship in wikipedia.
This attack transport served in both the Army and the Navy during WW II and was also in the Korean War. It was the lead ship of its class of two and heavily armed with anti-aircraft guns to protect the troops it carried. It was named after a Medal of Honor-winning US Major General.
Launched in September, 1941, it served first in the US Army before going over to the navy. where it was commissioned in April 1942.
It took part in the invasions of Sicily and Salerno in the Mediterranean and then went to the Pacific where it took part in the attacks on Saipan, Leyte, Luzon, and Iwo Jima.
It later saw some service in the Korean War and was scrapped in 1969.
A Little-Known Vessel, But Did Its Part. --Cooter
Showing posts with label USS Frederick Funston. Show all posts
Showing posts with label USS Frederick Funston. Show all posts
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Monday, December 8, 2008
Pearl Harbor Again
I am trying to gather as many names and stories of the survivors as I can before it is too late.
The Dec. 8th Metro West Daily News of Massachusetts reported that 18-year-old Norman Hartnett was at the former Gorman Theatre on Dec. 7, 1941, and was walking across Kendall Street when he learned of it.
He begged his mother to enlist but she wouldn't let "Gabby" (named after the Cubs catcher) do it for a year. When he was finally able, the Navy overlooked his weight, 114, which was three pounds too little.
He became a radioman on the attack transport USS Frederick Funston and took part in five invasions: Sicily and Salerno in Italy, and in the Pacific: Saipan, Guam, and the Philippines.
"I was a 19-year-old kid and so frightened. I thought the ship would be attacked. It was chaotic. The British were in charge of all aircraft in Sicily and were dropping bombs around our ship during the invasion where they shouldn't have."
The Dec. 8th Oneida (NY) Daily Dispatch reported that Pearl harbor Survivor Ford Hitt died December 7, 2007, at almost the same instand as the attack. He was always very involved with the remembrance of the attack and his family attended this year's in his place.
Another survivor, Ralph Osterhout said he was just out of high school and a fellow worker was complaining about the "raw deal" Adolph Hitler was getting. This so maddened him that he enlisted.
He was at Hickam Field on Dec. 7th, and preparing to relieve another man on the portable radio when he heard someone saying Japanese planes were approaching. Minutes later, they saw them coming in three at a time in V formation with their red circles. They dropped something and then there were explosions.
A badly wounded man ran in, bleeding and yelling for help. They drove him to a hospital in a jeep and when they returned, found the back of the jeep riddled with bullets.
The oldest member of their PHSA chapter is now 89. At the first ceremony at the Legion, there were 35 survivors in attendance, but that number has been dwindling.
The Greatest generation.
The Dec. 8th Metro West Daily News of Massachusetts reported that 18-year-old Norman Hartnett was at the former Gorman Theatre on Dec. 7, 1941, and was walking across Kendall Street when he learned of it.
He begged his mother to enlist but she wouldn't let "Gabby" (named after the Cubs catcher) do it for a year. When he was finally able, the Navy overlooked his weight, 114, which was three pounds too little.
He became a radioman on the attack transport USS Frederick Funston and took part in five invasions: Sicily and Salerno in Italy, and in the Pacific: Saipan, Guam, and the Philippines.
"I was a 19-year-old kid and so frightened. I thought the ship would be attacked. It was chaotic. The British were in charge of all aircraft in Sicily and were dropping bombs around our ship during the invasion where they shouldn't have."
The Dec. 8th Oneida (NY) Daily Dispatch reported that Pearl harbor Survivor Ford Hitt died December 7, 2007, at almost the same instand as the attack. He was always very involved with the remembrance of the attack and his family attended this year's in his place.
Another survivor, Ralph Osterhout said he was just out of high school and a fellow worker was complaining about the "raw deal" Adolph Hitler was getting. This so maddened him that he enlisted.
He was at Hickam Field on Dec. 7th, and preparing to relieve another man on the portable radio when he heard someone saying Japanese planes were approaching. Minutes later, they saw them coming in three at a time in V formation with their red circles. They dropped something and then there were explosions.
A badly wounded man ran in, bleeding and yelling for help. They drove him to a hospital in a jeep and when they returned, found the back of the jeep riddled with bullets.
The oldest member of their PHSA chapter is now 89. At the first ceremony at the Legion, there were 35 survivors in attendance, but that number has been dwindling.
The Greatest generation.
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