Welcome to the home page for Project USS STRONG DD-467! (Updated 5/23/2013)
The 2013 reunion of the USS Strong DD467/758 Association is September 10-14th in Pensacola, Florida. The venue is the Holiday Inn at 7813 North Davis HWY.
This project began as a labor of love, to honor my great-uncle William "Billy" Clay Hedrick, Jr., an Ensign and Junior Communications Officer aboard the USS STRONG DD-467. Billy died in performance of his duties on July 5th, 1943. STRONG and her Task Force 36.1, including DESRON 21 were bombarding targets at Kula Gulf of the Solomon Islands, in between Kolombangara and New Georgia, when a long lance torpedo shot from over 11 nautical miles away by a Japanese destroyer cut through the middle of the ship, breaking her back. Billy and 45 other officers and shipmates lost their lives that night. I've seen over the years that more needs to be done, and not just for the sake of Uncle Billy. The larger goal of this project is to see that the sacrifices of these men are not forgotten, that history gets re-written to include the loss of these men and their ship in a major battle, and to hopefully to bring proper and long-overdue recognition to the most remarkable survivor of the Strong, Lt. Hugh Barr Miller, Jr., who was recommended for, and should have received, the Nation's highest award for valor, the Congressional Medal of Honor.
I've spent decades researching the ship, her men, the life of Uncle Billy, the Naval Reserve and deep sea exploration. The result of which is, the beginnings of a book, a long list of USS STRONG DD-467 family members, research partners, and a man who has shown serious interest in our quest to find STRONG and tell her story, David Mearns of Blue Water Recoveries, LTD. Check his web site for more information: http://www.bluewater.uk.com/contact.htm
David has a proven history of finding hard to find or impossible to find sunken ships. He is also an accomplished author and producer of documentary films that accompany the finds. The desire is to bring together in some organized fashion the surviving members of the ship's crew and their families, friends and relatives, and thereafter, with "strength in numbers," begin to raise the funds it will take to return to Kula Gulf, find the Strong, and put her final report on film. Once organized, David will pitch the story to an entity (National Geographic for example) that will consider funding the documentary. We have much work to do.
One thing I need to make perfectly clear for this possible expedition. The goal is to film and document the wreck in order to better understand how the torpedo caused her destruction, and to finish her historical report. NO RECOVERY of remains or artifacts will be conducted. I think because I have a group interested with the word "recovery" in their name may have caused some confusion. The site is a Naval military war grave site and will not be disturbed by anything other than an ROV with camera attached for filming. No other recovery or disturbance is allowed, necessary or planned at this time.
The reunion of the USS STRONG DD-467/758 Association and families for 2013 will be in Pensacola, Florida and I look forward to meeting those who couldn't make it this past year. The date and venue have been set, see the blog entry for May 23rd for a detailed link, or go to the Strong Association Reunions web page at: http://www.uss-strong.com/1reunions.htm
*Anyone wanting to join the USS Strong Association can contact Joe Monza or Jim Kelly from the web site, or email me for their phone numbers or mailing addresses. Cost is $10.00 for one year or $100.00 for a lifetime membership in the organization. Anyone planning to attend the reunion this year can join before you go, or while you are there.
This web site is a tool for finding and informing other family members of sailors who served on STRONG DD-467. It will eventually be a place to meet and greet other family members, exchange information and to post a historical sketch of your loved one, be they a survivor or one who was lost. All who are interested are welcome to share information.
Other ships involved in the engagement that night including the Japanese vessels were:
Fletcher-class destroyers: Light cruisers: Japanese destroyers:
USS CHEVALIER DD-451 USS HELENA CL-50 IHJ Yunagi
USS O'BANNON DD-450 USS ST. LOUIS CL-49 IHJ Niizuki - believed responsible for Strong's demise
USS NICHOLAS DD-449 USS HONOLULU CL-48 IHJ Nagatsuki
IHJ Satsuki
Any information or stories from sailors who served aboard these ships is welcome, also. I've spoken with a few men from HELENA, NICHOLAS and CHEVALIER who have shared their stories of the sinking and rescue of the survivors following the event.
Welcome to the site. Any comments or suggestions on content or presentation are welcome. I also welcome help with content, Including individual contributions to the blog page. If you would like to write something and have it posted, please send it to me. I intend for this to be a forum for others interested in these ships and their crews, not just for myself. I've currently added a mailbox specifically for inquiries related to the project, it's listed below. Please contact me there for more information.
Tammi Hedrick Johnson
Lexington, KY
projectstrongdd467@insightbb.com (*email to change soon, will update ASAP)
P.S. Many thanks to Andy Hoder (son of Stanley Hoder) for his helpful suggestions on content, and for his never wavering support!
*Now on Facebook!!! Share the page with friends to get the word out about Project USS Strong DD 467!
https://www.facebook.com/ProjectUssStrongDd467?ref=hl
I've spent decades researching the ship, her men, the life of Uncle Billy, the Naval Reserve and deep sea exploration. The result of which is, the beginnings of a book, a long list of USS STRONG DD-467 family members, research partners, and a man who has shown serious interest in our quest to find STRONG and tell her story, David Mearns of Blue Water Recoveries, LTD. Check his web site for more information: http://www.bluewater.uk.com/contact.htm
David has a proven history of finding hard to find or impossible to find sunken ships. He is also an accomplished author and producer of documentary films that accompany the finds. The desire is to bring together in some organized fashion the surviving members of the ship's crew and their families, friends and relatives, and thereafter, with "strength in numbers," begin to raise the funds it will take to return to Kula Gulf, find the Strong, and put her final report on film. Once organized, David will pitch the story to an entity (National Geographic for example) that will consider funding the documentary. We have much work to do.
One thing I need to make perfectly clear for this possible expedition. The goal is to film and document the wreck in order to better understand how the torpedo caused her destruction, and to finish her historical report. NO RECOVERY of remains or artifacts will be conducted. I think because I have a group interested with the word "recovery" in their name may have caused some confusion. The site is a Naval military war grave site and will not be disturbed by anything other than an ROV with camera attached for filming. No other recovery or disturbance is allowed, necessary or planned at this time.
The reunion of the USS STRONG DD-467/758 Association and families for 2013 will be in Pensacola, Florida and I look forward to meeting those who couldn't make it this past year. The date and venue have been set, see the blog entry for May 23rd for a detailed link, or go to the Strong Association Reunions web page at: http://www.uss-strong.com/1reunions.htm
*Anyone wanting to join the USS Strong Association can contact Joe Monza or Jim Kelly from the web site, or email me for their phone numbers or mailing addresses. Cost is $10.00 for one year or $100.00 for a lifetime membership in the organization. Anyone planning to attend the reunion this year can join before you go, or while you are there.
This web site is a tool for finding and informing other family members of sailors who served on STRONG DD-467. It will eventually be a place to meet and greet other family members, exchange information and to post a historical sketch of your loved one, be they a survivor or one who was lost. All who are interested are welcome to share information.
Other ships involved in the engagement that night including the Japanese vessels were:
Fletcher-class destroyers: Light cruisers: Japanese destroyers:
USS CHEVALIER DD-451 USS HELENA CL-50 IHJ Yunagi
USS O'BANNON DD-450 USS ST. LOUIS CL-49 IHJ Niizuki - believed responsible for Strong's demise
USS NICHOLAS DD-449 USS HONOLULU CL-48 IHJ Nagatsuki
IHJ Satsuki
Any information or stories from sailors who served aboard these ships is welcome, also. I've spoken with a few men from HELENA, NICHOLAS and CHEVALIER who have shared their stories of the sinking and rescue of the survivors following the event.
Welcome to the site. Any comments or suggestions on content or presentation are welcome. I also welcome help with content, Including individual contributions to the blog page. If you would like to write something and have it posted, please send it to me. I intend for this to be a forum for others interested in these ships and their crews, not just for myself. I've currently added a mailbox specifically for inquiries related to the project, it's listed below. Please contact me there for more information.
Tammi Hedrick Johnson
Lexington, KY
projectstrongdd467@insightbb.com (*email to change soon, will update ASAP)
P.S. Many thanks to Andy Hoder (son of Stanley Hoder) for his helpful suggestions on content, and for his never wavering support!
*Now on Facebook!!! Share the page with friends to get the word out about Project USS Strong DD 467!
https://www.facebook.com/ProjectUssStrongDd467?ref=hl
Ensign William C. Hedrick, Jr.
Billy Hedrick, class #8 Midshipman's School V-7 or the 90 day wonder program (see Navy Links & Research page for more info) at Northwestern University, Chicago. This photo was taken outside of Abbott Hall after graduation and receiving his commission papers at the end of October of 1942. He was 23 years old in this photograph.
He was born in the community of Wyoming in Bath County, Kentucky on February 12th, 1919. Billy was the 12th of 14 children. Three of those children died before age 14, and only a handful finished secondary school. Billy graduated from Mount Sterling City High School in 1936, and went to college on a full scholarship to Transylvania University in Lexington, Kentucky, graduating with "high distinction" and honors in 1940.
In March of 1942, he signed his enlistment papers in Louisville, KY. After training, he was assigned to the Pacific fleet headed for duty in South America. Once they reached the Panama Canal in early January of 1943, the captain got orders to proceed west through the canal and on to the south Pacific. He served aboard STRONG from December 25th, 1942 until she sunk on July 5th, 1943. He was 24 years old at his death.
Project PRIAM Memorial: http://projectpriam.com/priam/view_profile.asp?id=4237
He was born in the community of Wyoming in Bath County, Kentucky on February 12th, 1919. Billy was the 12th of 14 children. Three of those children died before age 14, and only a handful finished secondary school. Billy graduated from Mount Sterling City High School in 1936, and went to college on a full scholarship to Transylvania University in Lexington, Kentucky, graduating with "high distinction" and honors in 1940.
In March of 1942, he signed his enlistment papers in Louisville, KY. After training, he was assigned to the Pacific fleet headed for duty in South America. Once they reached the Panama Canal in early January of 1943, the captain got orders to proceed west through the canal and on to the south Pacific. He served aboard STRONG from December 25th, 1942 until she sunk on July 5th, 1943. He was 24 years old at his death.
Project PRIAM Memorial: http://projectpriam.com/priam/view_profile.asp?id=4237
The Saga of Lt. Hugh Barr Miller, Jr.
The son of Hugh Barr Miller, Jr. has written a book about his father and the horrors he endured following the sinking of STRONG on July 5th, 1943. The cover summary reads:
“Shipwrecked and wounded, U.S. Navy Lieut. Hugh Barr Miller, Jr. remained on lonely Arundel Island in the Solomons for 39 days....a one man Army spreading death and destruction behind Jap lines!!
In a series of amazing adventures, the former star quarterback of Alabama's chanpionship football team proved himself a modern Robinson Crusoe by cunning ingenuity of his swift sudden attacks against the Nips!”
There is a link to Amazon.com for this book on the Navy Links & Research page in the book listing. Feel free to email Landon if you have questions or comments about his father's story.
This cover displayed by permission from the author, Landon C.G. Miller.
“Shipwrecked and wounded, U.S. Navy Lieut. Hugh Barr Miller, Jr. remained on lonely Arundel Island in the Solomons for 39 days....a one man Army spreading death and destruction behind Jap lines!!
In a series of amazing adventures, the former star quarterback of Alabama's chanpionship football team proved himself a modern Robinson Crusoe by cunning ingenuity of his swift sudden attacks against the Nips!”
There is a link to Amazon.com for this book on the Navy Links & Research page in the book listing. Feel free to email Landon if you have questions or comments about his father's story.
This cover displayed by permission from the author, Landon C.G. Miller.
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