Chief Machinist's Mate, U.S. Navy, 1939-1945, U.S.S. Lexington "Plankowner"
HISTORY
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In the engine room the sound and concussion was indescribable and so many things happened in such a short time it is difficult to relate them according to sequence. First, since the torpedo hit us in the stern, it blew off our #3 propeller. The turbine, which was running at about 18 knots, started to run wild and only conjecture could determine just how fast it went until we could secure it. This meant opening cross-connecting steam valves to prevent burning up the superheaters in the boilers feeding [the] #3 engine. Next, the main propeller shaft had been driven into the reduction gear and mis-alligned the gears and casued lub oil to spurt over half of the Engine Room. Hydraulic pressure from the explosion caused an oil cooler to start leaking badly and with all this trouble going on the ventilating fans started to bring in smoke from [the] ruptured smoke screen tanks that were stored in the stern. Visability was reduced to darn near zero and the ship was turning in circles because the rudder had been jammed.
The attitude of the men was that all were very concerned, but none displayed any fear. We were requested to put on the bilge pump to the main drain by the men in the Steering Engine Room. Lt. PN Mc Donald from Damage Control gained access to the Steering Engine Room and righted the rudder to amidships. Captain Stump spoke to the crew saying [that] all was under control and we would soon [be] leaving the battle area.
The next morning burial services were held and I believe about 14 men were buried at sea. We proceeded to Hawaii and drydock, it was there that we were able to see the extent of [the] damage.
Q. The U.S.S. Lexington returned to the Naval Yard in Bremerton, Washington, for repairs on December 22, 1943, and the ship was in drydock until February 1944. During this time did you get to see your family? If yes, what was the best thing about being home?
A. Returning to the Navy Yard in Bremerton was not an easy trip because we only had three engines and propellers and the steering system was not working at all. Therefore we steered the ship with the engines to about 2,000 miles by varying the speed from one engine to the other. The word would come down from the Bridge; up two revs on 4, then up two revs on 3 and then down two revs on 4, and so on all day and night and the throttle men just about went nuts until we reached Bremerton.
In . . . Puget Sound and Bremerton and nearly everyone went on leave. [In] three days and four nights on the Great Northern Railway. . . I was in Quantico, my mother and dad were overjoyed and my two little sisters jumped with joy that Pete was home. Of course I spun sea stories that virtually ruined the carpets with salt, but my dad, having been a mustang Marine from the first war, just smiled, for he knew better.
The best thing about being home was the freedom to sleep late and avoid the calls of superiors. Which I could not enjoy bcause I had been indoctronated and trained to get up early and do what I was told. I did enjoy seeing my friends from school, for they were still in school and I had dropped out, or dropped in, whichever you chose. I later realized that dropping out wasn't the smartest thing to do.
Q. Were you aboard the Lex for the "Marianas Turkey Shoot" on June 19 & 20, 1944? If yes, what do you recall about this event?
A. On June 19, 1944, the morning was just about perfect for anything, so I decided to take a walk topside, for we Engineers didn't spend a lot of time up where the air is clear and the sun shone. As I went up on the Flight Deck I noticed that all of the planes were gone and that the radar screens seemed to be extra busy oscillating from one place to the other. After a short walk on the Flight Deck I went down to the Barber Shop and sat for a haircut. About the time the Barber had finished my haircut general quarters was sounded and all hands went to their battle station, and my being still a MM 2/nd Class, my battle station was on the #2 throttle, [and] that's where I was.
Now all Throttlemen wore headphones and were on circut that included the Navigation Bridge. This meant that we not only heard the ship's PA system, but also heard the talkers on the Bridge. Shortly there were announcements of many, many bogies/angels high and many bogies low on the water and then the ship's guns bagan to open up and the sickening smell of gunsmoke filled the Engine Room and then the word that they were going into their dive.
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