One more WWII video, although this one is actually a mix of actual and CGI, and has been around for a while.
The USS Laffey, DD724, was named in honor of LAFFEY (DD-459), sunk during the Naval Battle for Guadalcanal (13 November 1942). She not only participated in the D-Day landings, she also served in the late Pacific portion of the war, including the run up to the Japanese mainland.
While operating off Okinawa, on April 16, 1945, she was attacked by 22 Japanese bombers and Kamikaze killing 32 and wounding 71 of the 336-man crew. The heroic crew shot down 9 Kamikaze aircraft and saved the damaged ship earning her the nickname: “The Ship That Would Not Die.”
She, like many ships that have been in battles and lost shipmates, is haunted. Period, end of subject.
This video portrays some of that action, including actual video from the Navy Combat Camera crew that were aboard her.
In 1981, she was moved to Patriot’s Point, joining the Yorktown, the Clagamore, and now a Vietnam area.
If you’ve never been down there, it’s definitely worth the trip and a full day to see the museum. Patriot’s Point is located at the foot of the Ravenel Bridge in Charleston, SC.
All of the ships there are maintained by volunteers, and those volunteers are quite the story in and of themselves.
She is the sister ship to my ship (DD 754) and I have given many guided tours and we have had two reunions in Charleston. It is a difficult time for the survivors and the families of the Lost 74, too. The volunteers too out the forward officer’s quarters and put in a video/museum room… to my dismay. If you are in the area let me know and I’ll show you around.
I may take you up on that.
Anytime!
I was just there this past weekend with my son’s Scout troop. It was a great experience.
Next time I visit my son in S.C. will try to take that in.
I still have a tough time watching such footage; my tin can was built in ’44, and as a Gearing class was so similar to the Sumner class that it feels the same.
Excellent video.
Heartrending video.
Had an uncle that had to destroyers shot out from under him in the Pacific between 1942 and 1945. Gonna hafta check and see if anyone knows which ones. People like him are the reason I feel like a slacker whenever someone says “Thank you for your service.” I couldn’t shine the shoes of those men!
At 4:15, the kamikaze is about to hit the USS Columbia, (CL-56)during the battle of Lingayen Gulf. The impact was at 1729 hours, 6 January 1945. There were 33 killed and 44 wounded. This was not the last time she was hit by a kamikaze.
Bravo.
All- Thank you for the comments, and it is WELL worth the tour!
Posted from my iPhone.
Hey Old NFO;
We have been there 2 times with the Cub Scouts.and the last time I was there, the Laffey had just came out of a refurb and looked good, however the Yorktown looked “sad” as as I recall the Navy was pissed about that and telling Patriots point that they need to fix the carrier or they will “take it back” and turn her into a reef. It boils down to money, how fast they can raise the money to refurb the carrier. And Yes that trip was one of my favorites.
“however the Yorktown looked “sad” as as I recall the Navy was pissed about that and telling Patriots point that they need to fix the carrier or they will “take it back” and turn her into a reef. It boils down to money, how fast they can raise the money to refurb the carrier.”
Bob, is there someplace we can send donations to? Probably won’t be much, but it’s kinda like eating an elephant: One bite at a time!
Hey Retired Spook;
Here is the link for Patriots point,http://www.patriotspoint.org/ you can ask them more about that. I remembered they had the article taped up in the gift shop a couple of years ago. I kept telling myself if I ever won the lottery, I would throw a nice donation at them.
Hey, Bob;
Checked out the link you sent, and they have a donation site, so I shook loose a few shekels, and kicked them down. Wish I could do more. Thanks for the info, and I promise I’ll pass it along!