Things I Remember
The most embarrasing thing and most memorable was on April 22, 1945, the day the Indiana shot down two Japanese planes (Kamikaze). I was up on the Signal Bridge (my battle station). Next to me in the well was, the handle bars, trigger, and sights for the 40 mm quads on the main deck. Everyone commenced firing, really pouring it on, but Sullivan, the guy that manned the bars was sleeping and was locked in the watertight compartment down below, the Captain, Francis P. Old, hollered down, "Where's the man on those guns?" As the loaders on the main deck were hollering up to me, "let's go","let's go, they're coming in" - Commander Morse, the communication Officer called down to me, "you there, get on the guns", Hell, I didn't know what to do, so I got on them and held a steady trigger without letting up. I also did not know how to lead the bubble in the sight so I just followed the tracers from the side of the sight. Well, let me tell you, the well on the main deck was three feet high in 40 mm shell casings, could hardly turn. I burned the barrels out, etc.
After it was all over 14 guys came looking for me, "who the Hell was on the bars?" I got Hell from the Captain, Commander Morse chewed me out for an hour, and the guys on the mount (loaders) were about to lynch me; they worked two days getting the mount all straightened out. I guess you know what they did to me - two weeks learning all about the 40 mm, loading, changing barrels, etc. My ears are still ringing from the chewing out I got. The finale came from Chief Signalman Lucas. I won't even tell you about that, but what did they expect from an eighteen year old farm boy from Long Island. To this day I still think I was the one that shot one of the planes down.
Albert Joseph Vicarelli, Signal Man 3c, CS Division

I Remember
After 45 days on a troop ship and 2 months in the holding station in New Caledonia, I boarded the Indiana in May 1943. Immediately after boarding the ship we left for gunnery practice for 5 days. After a couple of weeks in port we went to sea escorting carriers on raids. Being in the "R" Division my biggest job was fixing the teak deck after shell casing marked it up. Pay days weren't too much as a second class made only $108 a month, and since I was married with a wife expecting, almost everything went home.
My first shore leave was a beer party on one of the islands. I never spent any time in Newport News as I boarded the ship later in the Pacific as stated. Was never big for boxing and never got involved in the sport. But, I'll never forget crossing the equater. Crawled the slop chute and all. I am very proud of the beautiful certificate given to me after the ceremony and have it on the wall of my shop with other reminders of life's highlights.
Only one officer and I never saw eye to eye as I wouldn't play his type of cards on Damage Control Central watch. As for liberty, Mr. Schweers was very lienient in issuing passes. Oh, there were characters on board. I wouldn't comment too much on them as they probably think the same about me.
My job was the easiest of all during battle. I was stationed in Sick Bay to see that the air conditioning was never turned off. One man on earphones and everyone else just waiting to fill in where needed top-side. Chief Ameika was in charge of our group. There weren't too many places in foreign lands or islands to visit as I came aboard in May 1943 and was transferred in August 1945. Missed all the good ports including Tokyo Bay. Being in the "R" Division I never had to scrape barnicles but while in dry dock we had a lot of work to do, we were the ship's firemen and repair crew. We set up the fire watches for the welders and helped with the repairs.
I missed the big accident as I was below decks and went to battle stations which was around barbett #2. After things calmed down we had to shore up the hole in the mess hall. All air was turned off and we all ended up with heat rash. It took about forty mattresses and ten mess tables plus a alot of 4 x 4's to hold out the sea. Then our welders went over the side and cut off the jagged pieces of metal hull hanging there. Then it was slowly back to Pearl for repairs. About that time my wife was expecting and they wouldn't let us say where we were so, when I got to Honolulu I wired flowers to her but the baby wasn't born until six weeks later and we were back to sea so I didn't hear until after the first of the year (1944) when the mail caught up with us.
Came aboard as Patternmaker 2c and one year later was made first class. Became duty P.O. so life was easy. No watches and my biggest job was running the Carpenter Shop which was a pleasure, as I am still dabbling with wood.
My only recreation and rest came at Camp Andrews on the east coast of Ohahu. Spent one full week doing nothing but sun bathing and watching movies.
Had shore patrol once while in Hawaii. As we walked the streets I ducked the local ploice as they wanted us to identify Indiana personnel in trouble and take them back to the ship. At about mid-night we finally got stuck with the job about the same time as supplies were at the gang plank so the Master-at-Arms told everyone to grab a box and take it aboard. Somehow one was dropped at the top of the gangway - it turned out to be the Captain's Scotch.
Dale Dwight Cady, Patternmaker 1c, R Division

Rough Weather
I reported aboard ship as a Baker 3c several months before commissioning as part of the outfitting crew. There were lines and hoses and equipment all over the decks. Our shakedown cruise was to Portland, Maine in the Casco Bay area. The first day out we had rough weather with waves coming over the bow. We had a baptism in the bake shop. Our Chief Commissary Steward was McDermott. We had pumpkin pie on the dinner menu. These were to be individual nine inch pies. I hope you can imagine pouring that pumpkin pie mix into pie shells in the ovens. We made it after much struggle and then had to clean the ovens. After arriving at our destination I stood my one and only Shore Patrol duty in Portland, Maine.
Glenn Lee Winburn, Baker 1c, S Division

Short Story
You asked for a short story that happened aboard the USS Indiana, well here goes.
I recall the bombardment of Kwajalein, and the anouncement that Captain Steele made prior to entering the lagoon. These are the remarks and quotations as I remember.
"Good morning men, this is the Captain speaking. We are entering the lagoon at a speed of nine knots, and we will bombard this small atoll called Kwajalein. There are X number of Japanese on this island, we should be able to kill these Japs in fifteen minutes, that is all".
Another incident that I shall never forget, was the collision with the USS Washington; and Captain Steele's remarks after the USS Indiana arrived back at Pearl Harbor. Quote from Captain Steele, "My god, I have lost my command and I have also lost my beautiful ship", and as he departed down the gang plank, tears were rolling down his cheeks.
William Joseph Quinlan, Electrican Mate 2c, E Division

Life In The Flag
I was standing watch on the Oklahoma when the first wave of Japanese fighters came in low over the horizon. We thought they were our guys dropping practice bombs, until the first one went off.
I trained my binoculars on the planes and saw "the meatballs" painted on their sides - the red ball of Japan's rising sun.
Then the torpedo bombers came in and we saw them dropping fish. Torpedoes slammed into the Oklahoma, causing it to capsize. I remember diving into the black, oily water as the mast tipped into the water. I swam through blood and fire and body parts to the USS Maryland.
It was more horrible than you could imagine. By the end of the Japanese attack, 21 ships were sunk or damaged, roughly 200 aircraft were destroyed and 2,403 Americans were dead, almost 500 from the Oklahoma.
Maybe that's why I didn't talk about it for nearly 45 years. None of us talked for a long time. Now, you can't shut us up.
For days after the bombing they stacked the bodies up on a pier and had us walk past to see if we recognized anybody.
It was a month before my family learned I was OK. It was six weeks before I officially was back in the Navy. All of my records were gone, along with many friends.
As you may know I was a nonentity after the Pearl Harbor attack. For weeks we could not even get in the mess hall on Ford Island. We stold our food, clothes, etc. A truck we did not steal, only borrowed on a no return basis. I finally got back on the payroll in April. And, do you know to this day I have not been paid for 01 December to 06 December 1941. Although I had over $100.00 on the book, which I lost along with everything else I owned. The paymaster squelched my questioning his deduction of $12.00 with, "How do I know you didn't draw advance money?" How can a SM3c answer that???
Immediately I was on the payroll and back in the good graces of the US Navy. I was assigned to the USS Indiana. I remember my orders were to the Commissioning and Fitting Out detail. But because I had no uniform, and also transportation problems I did not report aboard until about a week after commissioning. So I missed being a plank owner. But, I did survive the ordeal of the Newport News Ship Yard. I recall there were about 225 fleet men, the rest were all recruits. We tried to hold class all over the ship, but with yard men working all over, the difficulties were prodigious. We finally got permission to take the signal gang to the office the captain had just vacated in the ship yard. Thank god we had two conscientious men, who shouldered the responsibilty the rest of us should have done. But we had a good time. Yes, I remember Casco Bay, and how the liberty boat went aground one midnight. You know, of course, that William Howard Mann, John Albert McGinty, Sidney Allyn Sherwin Jr., Lt (jg) John Loy Bishop, and Lt (jg) James Albert Boorman Jr., were also from the USS Oklahoma.
Shortly after we arrived in Noumea, and by the way, I still have a complete set of pictures of the shellback initiation. As you recall Admiral Glenn B. Davis came aboard and formed COMBATDIV8. I made the mistake of stomping on his feet one day on the signal bridge and shoved him with my elbow. My "penalty" was to be assigned on 16 December 1943 to his flag. It was good duty. But we never got out of the war zone. We just rotated between the Indy, the Mass, and occasionally the Alabama.
The flag was aboard the Indiana when we had the collision with the Washington. I recall it as happening at the conclusion of General Quarters the night we had bombarded Kwajalein. "Operation Porcelain", D minus 3. We had received orders to leave the fleet at the conclusion of GQ and head south and refuel destroyers !! at night. At that time refueling at sea was relatively new, but a night refueling was even newer, and riskier. I was in flag plot, we had two tables about 30 inches in diameter for radar plotting. As Admiral Davis executed his orders to his command to leave the formation and join up for exercises. We could just see the collision develop right there on the plotting board before our eyes. The time was about 2230. We received orders from OTC to proceed south, but delay refueling and take the Washington with us. After the collision and very early in the AM we were ordered to proceed to Majuro.
That morning the marines went in and secured the island from a small Japanese garrison. When I pulled the chart of Majuro from the log, (Although I was a signalman the flag had no quartermaster so I was the flag quartermaster), we were all shocked to note on the lower right corner of the chart the notation "Captain ------- of his Majesty Ship --------- June 14, 1894". Just exactly the information you need to take two crippled battleships into uncharted waters.
One thing I still recall is the chart only delineated one landmark that was at all useful on that whole island. A palm tree was noted on the starboard side of the channel. Now the question we were all asking, when our approach brought us close enough to observe that there was indeed a tree on the starboard side, would it be the same tree that was noted in 1894???
As you recall we arrived at sunset, with a rapidly disappearing tropical day. We had to go in the channel, pass the palm tree, and make about an 80 degree left turn and proceed about 3 miles down a very narrow channel in the coral. Or, so said the 1894 chart. We made it. By the time we dropped the hook it was totally dark.
The next morning divers were able to ascertain the damage to both ships. We also held burial services for our killed, I believe it was about nine men. Naturally, the flag was transported by destroyer back to the fleet, probably to the Massachusetts, while you went east for repairs. Such was life in the flag.
Paul Albert Goodyear, Signalman 1c, CS Division

Webmaster Note: Paul Albert Goodyear was born 06 May 1918. He enlisted in the navy at Detroit, MI on 21 Sept 1940. After the Pearl Harbor Attack he was assigned to the USS Indiana, and came aboard on 11 May 1942. He left the Indiana as a Signalman 1c on 06 Dec 1943 to join the staff of Battleship Division 8. After the war he was a Tool & Gauge Designer. He now lives with his wife Jean in Casa Grande, AZ.

Reunion (Verse)
The time draws near when we will gather about
To share with each other, to dance, sing and shout.
We'll share a small story: that is now perhaps tall
Recalling again PEARL for she started it all!

From far and near paths shall cross without end,
Proof of one's loyalty and willingness to defend,
Together we will come to laugh, even cry
Reflecting on past years so quickly gone by.

Gather we will as long as we may
With trust in our God who wilt bless each new day.
For freedom it is that fills us with pride
Our friendship entwined with peace far and wide.

Once more we will meet from mountain and shore
Reaffirming again life's worth fighting for.
For alive with the Spirit of God and His Son
Is our Star Spangled Freedom so gallantly won.
Lewis Frank Capriotti, Store Keeper 2c, S Division

Many Ships
I spent 4 1/2 years on the USS Indianapolis (CA-35) from 1938 until we could commission the BB-58. I think I left it sometime in 1943, I don't remember the date. On December 16, 1943 I put the USS Wilhoite (DE-397) in commission and left it in Pearl Harbor and went into hospital in San Diego, and was discharged on October 25, 1945.
I think I spent all of 1944 and the early part of 1945 until Germany surrended in the North Atlantic aboard DE-397 where we almost froze to death fighting subs and the weather.
Elbert --- Adkins, Boatswain Mate 1c, 01 Division

Fishing
I was on the USS Northampton (CL-26) from June 1938 to March 1942. She was on her way to Pearl on December 07, 1941 when the stuff hit the fan. We laid out and came in on Monday. Whether we were considered Pearl Harbor Survisors I'm not sure-I've heard we were and I've heard we were not. Now at my age 73(1944) I only worry about my own survival.
I served on the Indiana, I put her in commission, till February, 1944. I then put the USS Flint (CL-97) in commission on August 31, 1944. Back out and finished the clam bake. I was in Tokoyo when the treaty was signed. From there to civilian life. I now own and operate the fishing vessel "Bottom Line" out of Half Moon Bay, CA.
John Edgar Risinger, Boatswain Mate 2c, 03 Division

Early Days
Went through boot camp at Newport, RI - August 26, 1942 to September 16, 1942, assigned to the USS Indiana BB-58. Boarded her at Casco Bay, Maine during the shake down cruise. Tour of duty September 30, 1942 to August 12, 1944 in the CR Division. I'll never forget that experience.
From Casco Bay to Norfolk. Bugs ironed out. The call on speaker, prepare to shift berths - Ha! Ha!. Shift berths alright - south through the canal at Panama to Balboa on Pacific side - mad dash to South Pacific to join Task Force. etc. etc.
Frank Thomas Sherman, Radio Man 3c, CR Division

Rememberances
How I arrived on the Indiana is a story in itself. I had served aboard the destroyer USS McDougal DD358 for about 3 1/2 years. When we pulled into the Brooklyn Navy Yard in September 1944, I was immediately transferred to Portland Maine for duty aboard the destroyer USS Warrington, the same class as the McDougal. The ship had left port before I arrived in Portland; so I was waiting for its return. While waiting, the ship sank in a hurricane off Cape Hatteras with very few survivors. I was then transferred to Treasure Island, San Francisco for reassignment. I was assigned to the Indiana which was in Bremerton, Washington.

Events I remember most about duty aboard the Indiana:

I remember the solid feel of the deck under my feet. No more motion alongside the dock. I had never been that close to a ship of that size before, I was very excited. With the help of Bill Reeves, I quickly learned my way around. I was assigned to the FA Division and stood my watches and battle station in the antiaircraft plotting room.

Standing watch in the plotting room and having spam sandwiches served to us on the mid watch was something new to me. I thought it was great, other guys were not so enthusiastic.

Going ashore in the landing craft to Mog Mog was an experience. Some of the guys got seasick. We were given two cans of beer and a sandwich for our recreation. I traded my beer for a sandwich because I didn't like beer. I remember that was the place where I left my sheath knife which I carried on my belt ever since I had boarded the destroyer. The guys in charge took it away from me when I landed on the island and I forgot to retrieve it when I went back to the ship.

I remember the bombarding of Iwo Jima, Okinawa, and the coast line of Japan. The typhoon where we lost one of our scout planes along with other damage. The Kamikaze attack on one of our carriers at night while we were watching a movie on the fantail. While anchored in San Pedro Bay, Leyte I was able to catch a ride over to the Missouri to visit a friend. After spending several hours on the Missouri I was ready to return to the Indiana but found there was no boats running; so I ended up staying over night. The next morning I tried again and was told there was no boats going to the Indiana but I could take a boat to the beach and take a chance on catching a ride to the Indiana. That I did. Lucky for me the Indiana had a boat at the beach when I arrived.

I remember the excitement when the first atom bomb was dropped. Very few of us knew what an atom was let alone an atom bomb. Sending the landing party ashore to Japan and delousing them with DDT on the fantail when they came back. Anchoring in Tokyo Bay and taking aboard the emaciated men from the prisoner of war camps. Returning to San Francisco in September, 1945.and seeing the Goldengate bridge. What a beautiful sight that was.

After the war ended I still had about 18 months of enlistment left to complete. When the ship settled in Bremerton, Washington, we put it out of commission then started to put it into mothballs. I remember the gunners mates dismantling the 40 MM guns. Then the Fire Controlmen dipping them into a tank of cosmoline (sp.) and wrapping them in heavy duty wax paper.What a mess!!!.
Albert Browne, Fire Controlman 1c, FA Division

Last Updated 07 January 2002

All the world's a stage