"Freedom's
Cost"
By R.C. Moore
About the painting
View USS Gambier Bay and VC-10 Crew List
In memory of
Fred J. Mallgrave, Jr.
Fred departed us on Saturday, 05 April 2008 at 2200 hours. I am happy to report, though, he was at home in South Pasadena, California surrounded by his immediate family. He went quietly and comfortably in his home nearly 64 years after surviving attack by the largest Japanese Naval force ever assembled. Fred is survived by his wife, three children, two grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. He was 87 years old. May he rest in peace.
Never to be forgotten... With shipmates dead or dying and many trapped on board, it was a heart wrenching decision to abandon ship. With men in the water and the USS Gambier Bay sinking, the Japanese Cruiser Tone kept shooting. We did not lower our flag to surrender. That would have been disgraceful for our nation and our US Navy. War time censorship prevented telling the full story Ambushed by the largest Japanese Naval force ever brought together, our small Task Unit was forced to leave us survivors behind, as well as survivors from 3 of our escorts that were also sunk. Pursued by a vastly superior enemy fleet, the coordinates at which the USS Gambier Bay was sunk were not correctly reported. Over a 2 day period, 1,110 men drifted more than 60 miles in shark infested waters without food or drinkable water. Finally, rescuers from Patrol and Landing Craft found the survivors in the dead of night. The rescuers, with spot lights aglow in waters that enemy submarines patrolled, placed their own lives in danger to find and rescue the survivors still floating about at sea. If not for them, we would be modern day "Flying Dutchmen." Our oath...Total commitment to "God and Country." |
Would you like to support our brave troops?
Click here for ways you can help.
http://www.americasupportsyou.mil/
How Mesothelioma Affects Veterans
Asbestos exposure is the leading cause of the rare cancer known as mesothelioma. This cancer affects the protective lining around the lungs called the 'mesothelium.' Asbestos related lung diseases and cancer are not easily diagnosed and unfortunately, are not evident in the body until many years after exposure. There are many individuals who have been exposed to this deadly fiber in their homes and work locations. Typical environments where asbestos was used were shipyards, construction sites, and places where the fiber was used for insulation purposes. What most people fail to recognize, however, is that many US veterans who served in the military were also exposed to the toxic hazards of asbestos in their daily routines
More Info:
Mesothelioma and Veterans
http://www.maacenter.org/veterans/
Kaiser Vancouver Shipyard
http://www.maacenter.org/jobsites/shipyards/kaiservancouver.php
The above painting is by VC-10 fighter pilot Joseph McGraw. The painting depicts the fifth enemy aircraft that he shot down during the Battle of Leyte Gulf. Click here to read the pilot reports by the men who made it happen from the air. (This report is in PDF format - 235 KB) |
USS Gambier Bay and VC10 return to the Philippines A Filipino Honor Guard aboard the Philippines ship RPS Mt. Samat, offers a final salute. On October 12, 1977, survivors of the USS Gambier Bay, VC-10 and their families returned to the Philippines to honor their missing and deceased that vanished during their last battle. Their last battle was one that took on the largest and fiercest of the Japanese Navy. Many men were lost and many swam in the shark infested waters for days before being rescued. From joyous celebrations to painful memories, their journey back to the Philippines was filled with many emotions. Select this sentence to read about their journey |
Arlington National Cemetery and Tomb of Unknown Soldiers
View the faces and names of our brave young military men and women
who gave their lives
while preserving our freedoms in Iraq.
http://www.thefinalrollcall.us/
See the names of others who were killed at Pearl Harbor
aboard navy ships or from their flying decks
during WWII, Korea, and Vietnam.
www.ouroldnavy.com
Support our military and their Commander in Chief.
May God Bless our United States.
|
They gave their lives for our country and freedom. They stood tall to serve what they believed in - The Unites States of America and Freedom. Many who served our country during WWII were just teenagers. Through the passing of time, the sacrifices and memories of these young men are quickly fading. Please take a moment and view the Faces of Our Killed and Missing in Action. Each individual link to these men provides a picture and personal background. If you are a family member or know of a family member of one of our killed or missing in action, please contact Historian Tony Potochniak. |
Visit
www.OurOldNavy.com
For more about our heroes of war.
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9-11-2001 |
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