Al Zelent: USS Princeton Survivor-- Part 4

Unfortunately, when the bomb hit, the flight deck was full of torpedo planes, fully loaded and ready for take off. He remembers seeing men burned over most of their bodies. Others were crying.

The ship's commander, and later admiral, John Hoskins, lost his leg.

National Geographic magazine had an article about the Princeton in the August 1945, Vol. 88 #2.

It was really an honor to get to talk to a hero like Mr. Zelent and I sure could have spent longer, but I wanted others to get an opportunity as well.

The Greatest Generation.

Al Zelent: USS Princeton Survivor

According to Mr. Zelent, the Princeton was one of the "Nine Sisters." These were nine cruisers that were converted into aircraft carriers during World War II.

The Japanese plane that dropped the bomb which caused his ship to sink, came in with a return flight of planes coming to the Princeton, which is how it slipped in through the anti-aircraft defenses.

The Princeton did not sink from the bomb itself, but rather from a series of explosions of the aircraft bombs and fuel that doomed the ship and damaged nearby vessels attempting to keep it afloat.

He was scared. When he saw his best friend from Hamilton, Ohio, jump into the ocean from the flight deck, he thought he was seeing his friend for the last time. He was greatly relieved to see that his friend was picked up by the same destroyer that saved him. His first words to his friend were, "I never thought I'd see you again, Earl." They kept in touch after the war, even after Earl moved to California. Unfortunately, Earl died several years ago.

Mr. Zelent still has the life preserver he wore after jumping overboard (and had it at the Meet-A-Vet). He was not afraid for himself, but worried about how hard his death might be on his mother.

More to Come. --Cooter

Al Zelent: USS Princeton Survivor-- Part 2

Al Zelent today keeps the newsletter of the Princeton going out. Of the 1500 aboard when the ship sank, around 100 died. If the survivors, today he sends out 182 mailings of the newsletter and figures that at least half go to widows. He estimates about 88 crew still alive. Mr. Zelent is 88 now and was 21 when the ship sank. It is sad to see how fast this Greatest Generation is dying, but they are getting very old.

He was born and raised in Chicago and raised his family in Deerfield where he is a member of the Deerfield American Legion.

Another friend from the Deerfield Post was there who was aboard the USS Franklin, an aircraft carrier hit by a kamikaze.

There is a book about the his ship's sinking "Carrier Down: The Sinking of the USS Princeton (CVL 23)." He donated two copies to the Great Lakes Naval Library.

In 2006, the survivors had a reunion in San Diego, the home port of the newest USS Princeton. A memorial service was held and they were able to tour the ship and had lunch aboard. That had to be some meeting between the new crew and old crew of the Princetons.

More Yet to Come. --DaCoot

Al Zelent: USS Princeton Survivor-- Part 1

This past Saturday, I attended the 2nd Annual Fox Lake American Legion Meet-A-Vet event.

I spoke at length with Mr. Al Zelent, who was aboard the aircraft carrier USS Princeton CVL 23, when it was sunk by Japanese bombs at the Battle of the Philippines.

The Princeton was one of the famed "Nine Sisters" which were cruisers converted into aircraft carriers.

He enlisted in the Navy in September 1943 and received his training at Great Lakes Naval Training Center. he was assigned to the Princeton and participated in seven major battles in the Pacific, until his ship was sunk by a Japanese bomb. He and other sailors spent several hours in the water before they were rescued by destroyers.

Then, it was to Pearl Harbor for 30 days of survival leave and then to San Diego where he served until the end of the war.

More to Come. --Cooter