~ Navy Trivia ~ Learning the Navy can be fun....

[Craig]

I'm opening this section for those that love Navy Trivia (or whatever you think is cool) 

I hope others will hop in and join the discussion.  It's always fun to break up boot camp discussion with other stuff.  This would also be good to send your sailors in boot camp to keep them occupied and learn something they didn't know.....

I'll start with the next post:

[Craig]

Man I tell you, everytime I post this it just ticks me off. I hope it ticks you off too....

Sorry that it's so long, but after reading it, you'll appreciate it....

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~ I am a United States Navy fighting warship.

~ I am commissioned, and still property of the U.S. Navy, and still part of the U.S. Navy inventory.

~ I am the only commissioned U.S. naval vessel that is in the possession of a foreign nation.

~ I was hijacked on the high seas on Jan 23 1968, in international waters by a foreign military force.

~ The last ship to have this happen was over 150 years earlier.

~ It was later found that U.S. spy, John Walker had sold crypto keys to Russia, however, Russia lacked the crypto hardware to use these keys. It knew I was in international waters, but it greatly needed my hardware, so it helped with my capture.

~ I was named after a U.S. city.

~ My crew was 83 people mostly from the Navy "CT" rating. 79 U.S. Sailors, 2 Marines, and 2 Civilians.

~ Of this 83, 82 were captured, and one killed in the line of duty.

~ My crew were held captive for 11 months.

~ My captures kept my crew in inhumane, deplorable conditions, and also tortured them.

~ During propaganda photo sessions, my Sailor’s dutifully smiled for the cameras--and flashed “the bird”, that one-finger salute which my enemies didn't understand.

~ This picture was widely published in newspapers across America. When my captures ask, my crew told them it was "A Hawaiian Good Luck sign". When they figured out what it really meant, they were extremely ticked, and subjected my men to many more severe beatings.

~ My CO was convinced that the enemy was bent on a massacre, so he chose to surrender me to save his sailors’ lives. Because of this my CO was recommended for a court martial.

~ The Secretary of the Navy, John H. Chafee, rejected the recommendation for a court martial, stating, "They have suffered enough."

~ My CO was never found guilty of any indiscretions and continued his Navy career until retirement.

~ My sister ship, USS Liberty, was also doomed. It was sunk on June 8 1967 by Isreal, FIVE torpedoes were lobbed at the Liberty, one hit amidships and instantly killed 25 U.S. Sailors. A total of 34 U.S. Sailors died in the attack, 172 were injured.

~ Although both I and my sister ship (USS Liberty) suffered similar fates, my CO was recommended for court martial, the CO of the USS Liberty was awarded the Medal of Honor. Even though both actions were within 6 months of each other.

~ Both my crew, and the USS Liberty, contained mostly Sailors from the "CT" rating.

~ Even though I am still captured, over 250,000 people have boarded me, to pay disrespect to both me, and the United States.

~ The U.S. is still technically at war with the country that captured me.

~ When captured, I had an enormous U.S. military force nearby, and within 5 minutes of flying time to help me. Even through I asked for help, no one came to help me.

~ To date, the capture has resulted in no reprisals against my enemy; no military action was taken at the time, or at any later date

Who am I ?

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I am the USS PUEBLO (AGER-2), and the only commissioned US Navy warship still held captive by a foreign goverenment.

 

The only reason I brought this up is North Korean dictator Kim Jong Il recently fired a missle that is a real concern for all of us.

The US is still trying to get this ship back for political reasons. North Korea is willing to repatriate the USS Pueblo to United States authorities, on the condition that a prominent U.S. government official, such as Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, come to Pyongyang for high-level talks. However, now with all the Nuclear crap going on, this is back to the bottom of the list....

What the ship looks like today...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlXiFpDoJ28

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Bfp5QcbkyU

 

The story ---> http://www.damninteresting.com/?p=588

 

For more info on the USS Pueblo, goto http://www.usspueblo.org

 

Here is a satellite view of the USS Pueblo in North Korea. 
http://www.gearthhacks.com/downloads/map.php?file=21912

 

Q. Did we ever had a clear shot of re-capturing our ship back?

A. Yes, last year 2009, North Korea moved this ship from the east coast to the west coast. The ship enter international waters and the U.S. had a great opportunity to take it back. But the current administration choose not to do it.

Q. Why didn't we get them out of there sooner?

A. Help was promised but never arrived. More than likely, no one wanted to take responsibility for an attack on North Korean vessels attacking Pueblo. By the time President Lyndon Johnson was awakened, Pueblo had been captured and any rescue attempt would have been futile.

Q. If all the Korean's wanted was an admission of guilt why didn't we send it sooner?

A. It's support the idea of agreeing to give in to terrorism. Finally, the US government agreed in writing that the Pueblo was spying on North Korea and offered an apology and a promise not to spy on the nation again. The crew was released at the DMZ between North and South Korea, after which the US then verbally retracted the entire admission of guilt.

Q. Do you know where Commander Bucher is buried?

A. Commander Bucher died on January 28, 2004. He was buried at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego, California

Q. Where their Marine's on the ship? What were the rates and ratings of the rest of the crew?

A. There were two Marine's on the ship, the rest were Sailors and two Civilians. Mostly of the CT rating.
Officers:
CDR Lloyd Mark "Pete" Bucher, Commanding Officer Deceased - January 28, 2004 
LT Edward R. Murphy Jr., Executive Officer El Cajon, California 
LT Stephen R. Harris, Research Officer Melrose, Massachusetts 
LT(jg) F. Carl Schumacher, First Lieutenant St. Louis, Missouri 
ENS Timothy L. Harris, Supply Officer Tombstone, Arizona 
CWO-4 Gene Lacy, Engineering Officer Kenmore, Washington

Chief Petty Officers:
CTMC Ralph D. Bouden Yuma, Arizona 
ENC Monroe O. Goldman Deceased May 3, 2006 
CTC James F. Kell (TAD from Kamiseya, Japan) Chula Vista, California 
First Class Petty Officers:
CT1 Don E. Bailey (TAD from Kamiseya, Japan) Portland, Indiana 
HM1 Herman P. Baldridge Chula Vista, California 
CT1 Michael T. Barrett Kalamazoo, Michigan 
EN1 Rushel J. Blansett Oak Hills, California 
YN1 Armando Canales Fresno, California 
SK1 Policarpo Polla "PP" Garcia Oxnard, California 
CT1 Francis J. Ginther Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 
EMI Gerald W. Hagenson Deceased - November 4, 1988 
BM1 Norbert J. Klepac Lewisville, Texas 
QM1 Charles B. Law Deceased - September 25, 2001 
CT1 James D. Layton Cherryfield, Maine 
PH1 Lawrence W. Mack Desceased - March 1, 2003 
CT1 Donald R. Peppard El Paso, Texas 
CT1 David L. Ritter (TAD from Kamiseya, Japan) Hanford, California 
EN1 William D. "Scabbie" Scarborough Deceased - February 26, 1970 
CT1 James A. Shepard Lady Lake, Florida 
Second Class Petty Officers:
CT2 Michael W. Alexander Deceased - April 20, 1994 
CT2 Wayne D. Anderson Waycross, Georgia 
BM2 Ronald L. Berens Belle Plains, Kansas 
SGT Robert J. Chicca, USMC (TAD from Kamiseya, Japan) Bonita, California 
IC2 Victor D. Escamilla Lubbock, Texas 
CT2 Joseph R. Fejfar (Hospitalized in Yokosuka prior to deployment) Kansas City, Missouri 
SGT Robert J. Hammond, USMC (TAD from Kamiseya, Japan) Campton, New Hampshire 
RM2 Lee R. Hayes Columbus, Ohio 
CT2 Peter M. Langenberg South Pasadena, California 
SM2 Wendell G. Leach Deceased - June 5, 1998 
CS2 Harry Lewis Ocala, Florida 
CT2 Donald R. McClarren Lewisburg, Pennsylvania 
ET2 Clifford C. Nolte Menlo, Iowa (last known ) 
CT2 Charles R. "Joe" Sterling Desceased - November 21, 2002 
GM2 Kenneth R. Wadley Woodburn, Oregon (last known) 
CT2 Elton A. Wood Spokane, Washington 
Third Class Petty Officers:
CT3 Charles W. Ayling Roanoke, Virginia 
CT3 Paul D. Brusnahan Trenton, New Jersey 
BM3 Willie C. Bussell Suffolk, Virginia 
RM3 Charles H. Crandell Forsyth, Missouri 
CT3 Bradley R. Crowe Newport, Vermont 
CT3 Rodney H. Duke Collins, Mississippi 
CT3 John W. Grant Portland, Maine 
CT3 Jerry Karnes Pittsburg, Texas 
CT3 Earl M. Kisler Canby, Oregon 
CT3 Anthony A. Lamantia Laurel, Maryland 
CT3 Ralph McClintock (TAD from Kamiseya, Japan) Jericho, Vermont 
QM3 Alvin H. Plucker Ft. Lupton, Colorado 
CS3 Ralph E. Reed Duncannnon, Pennsylvania 
CT3 Steven J. Robin Deceased - July 29, 2008 
CT3 John H. Shilling Mantua, Ohio 
CT3 Angelo S. Strano Greensville, Texas 
EN3 Darrel D. Wright Alma, West Virginia

Non-rated:
Steward Rogelio P. Abelon Mountlake Terrace, Washington 
Steward Rizalino L. Aluague Jacksonville, Florida 
Fireman Richard E. Arnold Sebastapol, California 
Fireman Richard I. Bame Manchester, Michigan 
Fireman Peter M. "Milt" Bandera Shingle Springs, California 
Fireman Howard E. Bland Deceased - July 25, 1992 
Seaman Stephen P. Ellis Henderson, Nevada 
Fireman John C. Higgins St. Joseph, Missouri 
Seaman Robert W. Hill Jr. Orange Park, Florida 
Fireman Duane Hodges Deceased - January 23, 1968 
Seaman Roy J. Maggard Deceased - May 27, 1994 
Seaman Larry J. Marshall Freetown, Indiana 
Fireman Thomas W. Massie Roscoe, Illinois 
Fireman John A. Mitchell Kneeland, California 
Fireman Michael A. O'Bannon Newberg, Oregon 
Seaman Earl R. Phares Ontario, California 
Seaman Dale E. Rigby Ivins, Utah 
Seaman Richard J. Rogala Elk Grove Village, Illinois 
Seaman Ramon Rosales El Paso, Texas 
Seaman Edward S. "Stu" Russell Eureka, California 
Seaman John R. Shingleton San Ramon, California 
Fireman Norman W. Spear Windham, Maine 
Fireman Larry E. Strickland Warner Springs, California 
Fireman Steven E. Woelk McLouth, Kansas 
Civilian Oceanographers:
Harry Iredale, III (TAD from the Naval Oceanographic Office) Fairfax Station, Virginia 
Dunnie R. Tuck, Jr. (TAD from the Naval Oceanographic Office) Carriere, Mississippi

[Craig]

What was the name of the Hollywood movie who’s underlying story was behind this real Navy event? 

The facts -
The USS SKIPJACK (SS-184) ordered 150 rolls of toilet paper. Five months later the toilet paper was denied by the Navy Supply Depot. The denial finally reached the ship 1 year after the request was submitted. After having no toilet paper for almost 1 year, the Commanding Officer of the USS SKIPJACK (SS-184), dictated this letter, and handed the letter to the Yeoman, telling him to type it up. Once typed and upon reflection, the Yeoman took it to the Executive Officer (XO), who shared it with the OD. The two proceeded to the CO's cabin and asked if he really wanted it sent. His reply, "I wrote it, didn't I?"

U.S.S. Skipjack
  
84/18/S36-1

June, 1943

  
From:               The Commanding Officer. 
To:                   Supply Officer, Navy Yard, Mare Island, California. 
Via:                  Commander, Submarines, Southwest Pacific. 
  
Subject:            Toilet Paper. 
  
Reference:        (a)        (6048) USS HOLLAND (5184) USS SKIPJACK Reqn. 70-42 
                                    of July 30, 1941. 
(b)               SO NYMI cancelled invoice No. 272836. 
  
Enclosure:         (A)       Copy of cancelled invoice. 
                        (B)       Sample of material requested. 
  
            1.         This vessel submitted a requisition for 150 rolls of toilet paper on July 30, 1941, to USS HOLLAND. This material was ordered by HOLLAND from Supply Officer, Navy Yard, Mare Island, for delivery to USS SKIPJACK. 
  
            2.         The Supply Officer, Navy Yard, Mare Island, on November 26, 1941, cancelled Mare Island Invoice No. 272836 with the stamped notation “cancelled-cannot identify”. This cancelled invoice was received by SKIPJACK on June 19, 1942. 
  
            3.         During the 11-1/2 months elapsing from the time of ordering the toilet paper and the present date the SKIPJACK personnel, despite their best efforts to await delivery of subject material have been unable to wait on numerous occasions, and the situation is now quite acute, especially during depth charge attacks by the “back-stabbers”. 
  
            4.         Enclosure (B) is a sample of the desired material provided for the information of the Supply Officer, Navy Yard, Mare Island. The Commanding Officer, USSSKIPJACK cannot help but wonder what is being used by Mare Island in place of this unidentifiable material, one well known to this command. 
  
            5.         SKIPJACK personnel during this period has become accustomed to the use of “Ersatz” the vast amount of incoming non-essential paper work, and in so doing felt that the wish of the Bureau of Ships for “reduction of paper work” is being complied with thus effectually “killing two birds with one stone”. 
  
            6.         It is believed by this Command that the stamped notation “cannot identify” was possibly an error, and this is simply a case of shortage of strategic war material, theSKIPJACK probably being low on the priority list. 
  
            7.         In order to cooperate in war effort at small local sacrifice, the SKIPJACK desires no further action to be taken until the end of current war which has created a situation aptly described as “War is Hell”. 
 

J.W. COE

The infamous "toilet paper" letter reached Mare Island Supply Depot. According to another source, a member of that office recalls the letter and said that all the officers in the Supply Department "had to stand at attention for three days because of that letter." By then, the letter had been copied and was spreading throughout the fleet. 

As the boat came in from her next patrol, SKIPJACK’s crew saw toilet-paper streamers blowing from the lights along the pier and pyramids of toilet paper stacked seven feet high on the dock. Two men were carrying a long dowel with toilet paper rolls on it with yards of paper streaming behind them as a band played coming up after the roll holders. Band members wore toilet paper neckties in place of their Navy neckerchiefs. The wind-section had toilet paper pushed up inside their instruments and when they blew, white streamers unfurled from trumpets and horns. As was the custom for returning boats to be greeted at the pier with cases of fresh fruit/veggies and ice cream, the SKIPJACK was first greeted thereafter with her own distinctive tribute-cartons and cartons of toilet paper. 
----------------------------------------------


Operation Petticoat opens with Rear Admiral Matt Sherman (Cary Grant) visiting the submarine SEA TIGER on the morning of its decommissioning and reminisces about his time as the first commander of the boat, in 1941.

This letter became famous in submarine history books and ultimately found its way to the movie Operation Petticoat, and eventually coming to rest (copy) at the Navy Supply School at Pensacola, Florida. There, it still hangs on the wall under a banner that reads, "Don't let this happen to you!"

http://www.history.navy.mil/library/guides/skipjacktoiletpaper.htm

[Craig]

Trivia: What year were women first accepted into U.S. Naval Academy? 

Answer: 
The Naval Academy first accepted women as midshipmen in 1976, when Congress authorized the admission of women to all of the service academies......Women comprise about 20 percent of the entering Class of 2008

 

btw: 1976 must have been the 1st year the Naval Academy ever heard the sentence "How do you get to xxxx (galley, BOQ, Barrack, ect).... Remember, guys will never ask for directions....

[Craig]

I am a famous sailor, who am I?

I am Fred Gwynne (aka Herman Munster), American Actor, and a United States Navy Sailor!

 

The lumbering six-foot, five-inch tail Fred Gwynne followed a complicated path to his destined role as the fumbling and sweet-tempered Herman Munster.

 

Born Frederick Hubbard Gwynne in New York City on July 10, 1926,  as the son of a wealthy stockbroker, Fred was packed off early to a prestigious "Groton"  preparatory school  located in Groton Massachusetts .  After gradua­tion from High School in 1944, he enlisted in the Navy as a radioman 3rd class on a Pacific sub-chaser at the end of World War II.  

 

Later, Fred spent a year at a design school developing his dormant drawing talents and then entered Harvard University on the G.I Bill, where he majored in English.  At Harvard, he presided over and contributed car­toons to the "Harvard Lampoon" and after a few performances in the Hasty Pudding Clubs farcical productions, Fred decided that his future was on stage.  After graduating from Harvard with the class of 1951, Gwynne acted in Shakespeare with a Cambridge, Massachusetts repertory company before heading to New York City, where he supported himself as a musician and copywriter. His principal source of income for many years came from his work as a book illustrator and as a commercial artist. His first book, "The Best in Show",  was published in 1958.

 

Most casting directors found Fred too tall or unattractive, but he did manage to appear in a few Broadway plays and even had a bit part in On the Waterfront, though work as a commercial artist was really paying the bills. Finally, in 1961, he was hired to co-star in the TV sitcom about two hapless cops, Car 54, Where Are you?  as the dim-witted Officer Francis Muldoon.  After cancellation of "Car 54's" after a two-year run,  Fred finally found a tailor-made role in The Munsters as Herman Munster. Actually, Fred wasn't completely perfect for the part—he had to wear five-inch-high platform soles, bolt through his neck, and a jagged haircut, and had to wear 40 - 50 lbs of padding and makeup for the role.  He reportedly lost ten pounds in one day of filming under the hot lights but he was right at home as a lovable Frankenstein, and audiences adored him.

 

Although "The Musters" episodes were shot in black-and-white, Gwynne wore green make-up and, far from portraying Herman Munster as frightening, made him lovable. The series, which began in 1964, ran for two years and 70 episodes, and Gwynne appeared in the spin-off film Munster Go Home, and the television movie The Munsters' Revenge (1981).

 

Fred found that the Herman Munster role had typecast him for life. But eventually, as his hair thinned and his Facial features became patriarchal, he returned to Broadway and film, usually as a boom­ing, authoritative character. Fred's career took on new zest in 1992 when he played an autocratic Southern judge, Chamberlain Haller, in the comedy film My Cousin Vinny, his last film.

 

But Fred decided to go out while he was still on top and, even as the accolades  for My Cousin Vinny poured in, he withdrew and purchased a farm in rural Maryland. After just a short period of tranquility, Fred was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Surgery and chemotherapy followed, but the cancer continued to spread. He died at 66.  He was just eight days shy of turning 67 years old. He is sorely missed by Baby Boomers who grew up delighted by his "Officer Francis Muldoon" and "Herman Munster" and were gratified by his late-career renaissance on film.

He left behind his first wife Foxy. They had five children and divorced in 1980.  He and his second wife Deb, whom he married in 1981, lived in a renovated farmhouse in rural Taneytown, Maryland. His neighbors described him as a good friend and neighbor who kept his personal and professional lives separate.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Craig]

Question:
What is the name of the ONLY U.S. ship to surrendered during WW2?


Answer:

The USS Wake -
This doomed ship was nothing but trouble... Thus, no other U.S. ship has yet been named the same as this unlucky ship.

This was a U.S. ship, which surrendered to the Japanese, the Japanese then gave it to China, which was then captured by the U.S., the U.S. then gave it to the Chinese nationalist, which then was captured by the Communist Chinese forces.
She was launched on 28 May 1927 as Guam by the Kiangnan Dock and Engineering Works in Shanghai, China, and commissioned on 28 December 1927. Her primary mission was to ensure the safety of American missionaries and other foreigners. However, by 1939, she was "escorted" by a Japanese warship whenever she went, as China fell more and more under Imperial control.

In January 1941, she was renamed Wake, as Guam was to be the new name of a large cruiser being built in the United States. On 25 November 1941 she was ordered to close the Navy installation at Hankow, and sail to Shanghai. Pearl Harbor was attacked on 7 December 1941, Shanghai immediately fell to Japan. Surrounded by overwhelming Japanese force, the crew attempted unsuccessfully to scuttle the craft. Wake surrendered, the only U.S. ship to do so in World War II

She was given by the Japanese to their puppet Wang Jingwei regime in Nanjing who named her Tatara, then she was recaptured by the US in 1945. They gave her to the Chinese nationalist as the Yuan. Finally, she was captured by Communist Chinese forces in 1949.

[Craig]

Welcome to the Navy Trivia section. Every so often I will ask a question about the Navy or a famous sailor. Remember, its not important that you get the answer correct. What is important is that you remember this Navy information so you can pass it along to others....... GO NAVY!

I am a famous sailor, who am I?

I am Eddie Albert (aka Edward Albert Heimberger), famous American actor, and United States Navy sailor!

Eddie Albert, Actor, Famous for the TV show Green Acres. Albert appeared on Broadway in the stage production of Brother Rat, and made his film debut in 1938 in the movie based upon the play, starring opposite Ronald Regan and was interrupted by a stint in the Navy during WWII. He's worked steadily throughout his 50+ years as an actor, and has an impressive list of stage, film, and television credits, including two Oscar nominations - the first for his work in Roman Holiday (1953), and the second for his performance in The Heartbreak Kid (1972).

Albert served in the Navy during WWII as a Navy as a junior officer (Lieutenant). Albert was a genuine war hero. A thousand Americans and 4,800 Japanese lives were lost in bloody battle at Tarawa, a Pacific island, and Albert fought in the first wave of the three day combat. Afterward, he was ordered to salvage usable military equipment off the battlefield, and won his Bronze Star with a combat 'V' for finding and rescuing 70 wounded Marines during the battle of Tarawa, who had been abandoned under heavy fire.

He was nominated for Oscars as Gregory Peck's pal with a camera in Roman Holiday (1953) and as a deranged military officer in Attack. But Albert will always be remembered as the exasperated Oliver Douglas, lawyer turned farmer, on TV's Green Acres. He also played a con man on Switch, and had a side career as narrator and producer of educational films. He explained the facts of life in How Life Begins (1968), and made a series of public service announcements urging people to protect the environment.