This was my second year attending the memorial service for veterans here.  I plan to make it an every year event.  When you are there, it feels right as if this is where you were meant to be at this moment in time paying homage to family who served and people you have never met who put their lives on the line for you.  It was a sunny, cool and beautiful day to honor these men and women.  Our keynote speaker was our Mayor Jim Gray.  Jim spoke about his father who was a PT boat pilot in the Pacific just after WWII.  As a young boy, the elder Gray allowed his son to believe he was right there fighting with his father, even though he had yet to be born.  These stories gave him great joy as a youngster as he imagined the life his father lead while serving in the Navy.  Gray ended his talk by quoting a portion of the Gettysburg Address, which seemed so fitting since my husband and I just returned from visiting the town and battlefield.  Here below is the entire text as it appears on a plaque in the cemetery:

"Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.
Now we are engaged in a great Civil War, testing whether that nation or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure.  We are met on a great battlefield of that war.  We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live.  It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.
But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate - we can not consecrate- we can not hallow this ground.  The brave men, living and dead who struggled here, have consecrated it.  Far above our poor power to add or detract.  The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here.  it is for us the living, rather to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced.  It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us - that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion - that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain - that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom - and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."

To all of you who have visited the site and who have had family in conflicts from the Revolutionary War to present times, I salute you and wish you the best of Memorial Days. 

Tammi

In checking the USS Strong DD 467/758 site today, I see the venue has been chosen!  Details and reservation forms can be found here:  http://www.uss-strong.com/1reunions.htm

We will be meeting at the Holiday Inn at 7813 North Davis Highway in Pensacola.  It's not on the beach, but we're just a few miles north of the Gulf and west of Escambia Bay.  Check the link above for downloading reservation forms and for who to send checks to. 

I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible there!  There will be much to discuss this time around, and lots of wonderful people to meet. 

Tammi

Early in May, Strong along with DESRON 21 and some other companion vessels went through the Blackett Strait southeast of
Kolombangara Island laying mines.  The Japanese Vila Express had been using the strait to resupply their troops in the Kula Gulf area.  These mine laying efforts were somewhat successful, bringing down a few Japanese ships, and crippling others. The allies, alerted by the Australian coast watchers, would send out planes the next day to finish off any crippled ships.  The next mine laying operation would take place near Kolombongara, the coast of which the allies predicted the enemy would use as an alternate route for transport.  On the evening of May 13th and 14th, Strong was again involved in laying mines in the waters off shore of Kolombangara.  Some of the escort ships themselves had difficulties, such as a turret explosion aboard the Nashville, St. Louis lost an anchor and it punched a hole in the bow and Strong lost steering capacity for a while.  Japanese mine sweepers cleared this area before it could do much damage to their ships, however.  Seems there was a lot of playing cat and mouse among the participants in the Pacific version of this war and we're just lucky in the end that we were the cat.  

During this time, Gus kept up the easy and carefree banter in his letters home.  He could not tell his wife of their activities or the danger involved.  His brother Al was a frequent companion, and I can imagine for anyone far from home having family nearby was a comfort that most didn't enjoy.  Gus was a truly fortunate man in that respect.  Just a few excerpts from his letters around this time:

May 4th, 1943
 “There has been no mail the past few days but I cannot complain because my darling has been very sweet about writing and after all it is too much to expect daily mail in the Pacific.  We have a lot of fun kidding about mail.  Donald & Grimes plus Curran are the leaders now that Doctor Laughlin has left. However I come a very close second.  I therefore think I am very fortunate because two of them have still to catch their girls and the other is a newlywed – although a prospective father.  

Al has been aboard each night for dinner and the movies.  It surely is good to see him again.  He has a big job starting another
unit up here but he loves it.  The rascal is getting fat on it.  Incidentally your little boy is on a diet to reduce at least 5-7 lbs. 
 
My cold is much better.  I really believe I had a touch of the flu.  I am still taking things easy and will continue to do so for another week or so.  Did I tell you the doctor prescribed whiskey – Sooo – I had a pint of scotch in my medicine cabinet and I had a “tot”
before lunch and dinner. It seemed so funny to be drinking aboard ship – Also quite a few times I forgot to take my “tot” - can you imagine it.”

May 8th
 “All is well here in the Pacific.  Perhaps things are too quiet.  We have (had) considerable discussions aboard ship trying to
figure out the grand strategy.  I honestly believe that the European and African theater will continue to be the primary front.  Todays' reports indicate that the final drive for Bizerte and Tunis has started.  We will have to push the axis out of Africa before we can start anywhere else.  Apparently we have enough equipment and men to do the job.  My guess is that this operation should be completed by the end of May at the latest.  After Africa??  We will have to do something in Europe this summer.  Just where is anyone's guess.  Italy would fold up quickly – if the Germans were not too strong in Italy.  Turkey seems to
be more friendly recently.  If they could be persuaded to come in on our side, a drive up through the Balkans would seem an ideal move.  Oh well – Lets leave these questions to the experts.”

May 16th
 “Today is Sunday and we are in port.  This morning I went to mass on board the Relief and afterwards had coffee with
Pete Moncy – who is captain of the Relief.  He is the same old Pete – Remember the officer whose ship was across from the Strong when we were commissioned.  

Tomorrow morning I am going outside for a little target practice and Pete is coming with us to see if all the news he hears about
these new destroyers is true.  I hope my boys have a good day because I want Pete & Al, if he can come to see a darn good shooting team in action even if it is target practice.

I am sorry that I have not written so often the last few days.  We were a little busy – no not any shooting – Although we were
looking for trouble which did not develop.  I promise to make up for lost time during the next few days.”

 May 17
 “Well my pet, all is well again in the Strong –  We received our first mail for ten days.  I received four letters from the
sweetest of all girls – No 21-24.  No. 24 was dated 5 May.  Gosh what a difference to me and my officers and the arrival of mail has on morale.  Mail is the only thing we have to look forward to – except an occasional trip to the club for an hour or two when we are in part and not attending conferences, fueling, getting supplies etc.  It seems I spend half my time in port attending
conferences or visiting.

First of all about this so called victory.  I don't know (?) where you got the information but please don't spread it around
in the first place.  I could deny any you may have heard, but I believe you will be happy to know that we were lucky and did a good job in very short order without any trouble to the ship or crew.  However we are far from heroes and
still have a lot to learn. Incidentally I don't know how much you know but please keep it quiet.  This (is) supposed to be confidential and will not be published.  We all had a thrill and it did my ship a lot of good.  The Strong is a good ship but I am not boasting.  Old lady luck plays an important part.  I still play the old percentage game and feel that it is on our side with great
odds (in our favor) that all will continue to be well.

Now in regards to my letters about swimming etc. they are the truth and I am not trying to deceive you.  We do roam around in
areas that are potentially dangerous but we also have periods in port when all is quiet and serene with visits to other ships, the club and movies under a tropical sky and moon to entertain us at night.  We actually have seen very little shooting.  Of course the mental strain is always present underway and once in awhile we do get tired from lack of sleep.  However I still adhere to
taking things easy.  Fred continues to run my ship with me setting the policy and the “executive” decisions.”

And later in the day, another letter with rememberances of the doctor who had just left the ship for other duties, and
more mention of brother Al:

 “I am happy that Dr. Laughlin remembered to call you on the phone, even though I gave him the money to make the call.  He surely was glad to get away and I suppose you can't blame him.  His relief came aboard about an hour before we were due to sail on a special operation.  I told the Dr. (Laughlin) that I would keep him aboard until after the trip in order to break
the new Dr. (Horne) in with destroyer work.  The Dr. took it like a good sport although I know he was anxious to get away.   This was the trip in which we had a little excitement.  When we returned to port the Dr. said he would not have missed the trip for the world.  I did give him a letter of commendation because I felt as though he did an excellent job and should be rewarded (I don't mean on the trip because no one was even scratched).
 
Al is rapidly getting settled here at our base.  He has some wonderful stories about getting his outfit organized in this area. 
He comes over all the time.  He stayed so late (2400) the other night that I put him up on board, gave him a good breakfast and sent him on his way.  It surely is fun having him around.” 

They're in port for a while, catching some rest and hanging out at the beach.  With the coming actions, these are the times of
rest and restlessness on the part of the men.  There was little danger in port, but too much down time to suit them. They were either in the thick of it, or had too much time on their hands.  

Tammi


 

We just got back from a week in Gettysburg and soaking up a little Civil War history.  Being in a place where history shed in the blood, sweat and tears of men is literally soaked into the soil is indescribable.  I imagine it must be the same at any battlefield anywhere in time, anywhere in the world including gulfs, bays and coves of island chains in the south Pacific.  To have the experience of being on a boat in the Kula Gulf where so much violence and tragedy occurred – it could be one of the few times in my life that I'll be rendered speechless.   


 

Just because I took 260 photos of the battlefield and monuments, I thought it might be nice to include one, so enjoy.  I have more on Facebook and if anyone wants to see them just contact me for the link or friend me.   

Things with the project have been quiet for a while, but there has been some recent and encouraging “activity”, so to speak.  Some spikes in hits on the website had me happily flummoxed and I believe now I know the cause of said spikes.  At present I can't reveal anything at the risk of having to eat my words or back track later if nothing happens.  I can just say that an email received over the weekend gives me hope that something amazing may be in the works.  It would be an honor to reveal awesome news here on the blog, and I have my fingers crossed that the chance for this will come.  Some very accomplished people have taken this project to heart, and I can't express enough how much this means to me.  In time, I hope all of this proves fruitful for them and is worth the time and effort they have invested.   

In early May of 1943, Gus Wellings was mostly recovered from a bout of the tropical flu that had his men down and out.  He also got a very nice surprise.  He was fortunate enough that one of his brothers was stationed on an island nearby, and for the first time he was able to pay a visit to the ship and spend some time together:

 “Sweetheart:
This afternoon I was sleeping peacefully when I heard a loud voice “Get up, do you want to sleep all day” 
opening one eye slowly then both eyes widely here was Al.  He had just flown in from his base on an inspection trip which may last quite some time.  Needless to say a huge session began immediately over two cups of coffee.  The time was 1545.  He stayed until after dinner – raining so no movies on deck – and then returned to the tender where he will make his headquarters.

 It was the first time I had seen him since the Strong passed through his home port on the way out here. I just
didn't have any luck getting the ship down his way.  He looks grand - putting on extra weight.  I sent to sick bay and got our bathroom scales after we plus Fred had a discussion of weight.  I told them our scales were wrong because I weigh
myself when I had my cold.  However they both swore the scales were right after weighing themselves.  Al weighed 192 in uniform with heavy Army shoes, Fred 144 and your little thin ….....(bottom of page cut off) 180 lbs.  Boy oh boy!  I
immediately decided to go on a diet of course.  I have had no exercise the past week but one doesn't put on 10 lbs in a week.  Guess I will have to start working.  It wasn't beer because I haven't been to the club for ten days.  Sooo
– I am on a diet and no fooling.”

Al was able to hang around for a couple of days in this May 4th letter, as Gus laments his weight:

“Al has been aboard each night for dinner and the movies.  It surely is good to see him again.  He has a big job
starting another unit up here but he loves it.  The rascal is getting fat on it.  Incidentally your little boy is on a diet to reduce at least 5-7 lbs. “

Al's being close by becomes important to Gus as July grows near.  When you are sick or wounded it's nice to
have family around.

Tammi

  Before I update the blog for this time, I want to pay respects to a loss in my family. I have, or had two male cousins who were namesakes for my great uncle Billy. Last week I lost one. My cousin Billy who lived outside of Chicago, was only 57 years old, too young to die of a heart attack. These things happen, but it's hard to accept losing people near my own age. Definitely reminds you of the mortality of us all. Godspeed and peace, Billy.

April of 1943 was a very interesting time for Strong. Early on, they sunk one sub and were instrumental in sinking another. Back in port, they had some time for beer, swimming and baseball. Wellings writes on April 19th:

“All is well out here in the Pacific.  Things have been rather quiet the past few days.  We have been in port and have taken advantage of the opportunity to do a million and one things that can’t be done underway.  In addition it has given us an opportunity to send some of our men ashore in the afternoon on recreation parties.  It is the only chance they have to get off the ship.  Believe me they appreciate the opportunity.  A swim – a ball game plus two bottles of beer (rationed) really appeals to the men.  Now they realize how fortunate they were to have had all that time in New York.  However morale is good.  Some of our class who have been out here longer than we have, have made trips to Australia or New Zealand for overhaul and liberty.  The idea being to give the boys a chance to see civilization again and get off the ships – Purely morale.  Apparently the boys have a grand time.  I only hope our turn comes around before I am detached because I would like to see something of Australia or New Zealand- preferably the former, while I am in the Pacific.  Incidentally I have not heard anything from Bev of Personnel.  I should be getting an answer to my letter within a few days.  Mail has slowed down – none arriving during the past four days.”

But all of this togetherness in port has consequences. Some strain of a tropical flu was making the rounds, and in a port where you have men and ships coming in from areas all over the south Pacific, a warm humid environment and all that closeness makes for a great breeding environment. By the time the ship got underway again, the men of Strong were not immune to the illness, as he writes on April 25:

“Happy Easter to my little girls.  Yes, here it is Easter Sunday and guess what – Instead of an Easter parade proceeded by mass here I am propped up in my bunk getting over a cold which gave signs of developing into the flu.

Our three day holiday was only a rest period for me.  I began to cough a little plus a “plugged up” nose about noon of my birthday.  We were conducting exercises outside the harbor and didn’t get secured until 2000 (8 am) when I promptly turned in, in order to avoid a bad cold or the flu – Tem normal yesterday, my sweethearts birthday found your little boy in his bunk all day drinking orange juice all day, taking his favorite APC pills and a good hot brandy prescribed by the doctor before going to sleep temp 100.0.  At least I wrangled a drink out of the doctor and celebrated your birthday in addition to helping me get well.  I have been in the bunk all day today (time 1500) but felt much better.  Temp was normal this morning and the same at noon.  I intend to take things easy and if my temp is normal again tomorrow I will get up for an hour or two.  However I am going to take things easy at least for a few days.  Gosh!  I wish you were here to be my nurse.  Remember what a poor patient I was?  I am not really sick this time, I just thought I would try and prevent a real case of the flu.  Apparently it has worked.

One reason for taking early and adequate precautions is that we have had what almost amount to an epidemic of flu on board during the past two weeks.  Jetton, Hedrick, Trost, Fred Purdy and Wheeler all had mild cases within a period of two-three weeks.  Jetton was in the bunk for a whole week.  Wheeler is still in bed.  He was a very sick boy.  In addition at one time I had 14 of my enlisted men turned in with the flu.  I isolated one of my small compartments, checked and rechecked the sterilization of all dishes and cooking utensils, aired bedding every day and held “field day” every day.  We stopped it from spreading.  We now have only three enlisted men on the sick list – out of 320.  I guess in order to play no favorites it hit the captain.  Incidentally it was the first cold I have had since leaving New York.”

In this letter, my uncle is mentioned by Wellings as one of the poor sufferers. The next time I see his name in anything written by the captain, is when he's written his account of sending Billy and Jetton below to destroy sensitive documents and equipment, and then never seeing either of them again. So I enjoy the references to his life at sea.

Hubby and I will be visiting Gettysburg soon, so it may be a couple weeks until I post again. We've always wanted to go to this historic place, and the time has presented itself. Really looking forward to getting steeped in the history there.

As always I am open to ideas and contributions from the families and others.

Tammi

Not every day in the south Pacific is filled with danger.  There were times in port at Espiritu Santo in the New Hebrides, that there was some fun to be had.  The letter below written on April 14th, 1943 tells about one of those times:

 "First let me say that the Strong is still Strong and getting better each day.  My crew and officers have developed the team work necessary for a good ship.  I now feel that I can take them anywhere and be sure that they can do a good job.  No – we haven’t been through a big battle.  It is just that I notice the way they do their work plus grand performances at the various practices. 
Incidentally and confidentially we are getting a good reputation as a snappy good shooting and alert ship.  I only hope – that when and if the time comes to prove we are good that we will exceed our reputation.

 Life out here never changes.  Every day is the same as far as work is concerned.  We are in port once in a while but there is nothing to do.  We do now have an officers’ club where the boys can get some beer – very seldom do we have hard liquor at the club (transportation problems).  All hands are aboard by 1800.  After dinner we have the movies and then to bed.  Movies of course only when we are in port.  Last night we had "Road to Morocco" – Bing Crosby, Dorothy Lamour, Bob Hope – it was the "nuttiest" show I have ever seen, but funny.

 I must tell you a good story.  The night before we sailed on our last trip,  we received a message from a ship which had just arrived from Al’s home port that they had 30 cases of Ale (qt. bottles) for us.  We thought it was a joke but investigation confirmed the message.  We didn’t know what to do as it was 2200 and we were sailing early in the morning and of course we couldn’t take it aboard.  Sooo – at 0500 we had a big motor launch from the tender with our working party and removed it from the ship to the recreation center (enlisted men) ashore.  They stored it for us.  Yesterday my boys certainly had a party
and today there will be another.

 I still have no idea who sent it or payed for it but I suspect Al very strongly.  I must write to him tonight and include congratulations on again becoming a father.

 Saw Rod Smith ashore yesterday.  His stories were better than ever.  He told a long story about telling you as a new Navy wife about your duties in connection with finding out when and where I would be transferred and the future movements of my (your) ship.  He really was a scream.  His eyes rolled better than ever.  Guess what?!  Charles Wollen came aboard yesterday.  He is assigned to a ship in this area.  We spent all afternoon talking over Wash. – the Navy and the war.  He is doing a splendid job – (a darn important one).  I will see him tomorrow morning when I go to his ship to attend a "bull session" on aviation intelligence."

 The next day on the 15th, he indicates that he's still hoping to get a change-up in duty:

 "I still think I have a good chance of getting home in June although I have not heard from the detail officer.  However you know only too well that there is always a chance of the best of promises going wrong in the Navy – Look at Boot –  he should have been home long ago.  If you and Betty get a chance to get a good place for a couple of months by all means take it.  If I get back in time and get a little leave which I probably will – a good rest or change of scenery in the country or seashore will be most welcomed.

 Talking about getting relieved – I wonder what kind of a job I will get.  Chances are that I will have to put a new destroyer in commission.  I will not relish the job – particularly now that the new boats have even less personnel with experience than I had.  Also I would try to train my executive officer to take over before we go west.  I say this because if I had to do any fighting I
would prefer to do it in the Strong – now that my crew and officers are all well trained.  However I know that due to the terrific expansion I will lose at least 50% of my officers within the next nine months so perhaps it is just as well for me to leave.  Another thing is that command duty spoils you for any other type of duty.  As one officer said "from now on I want to work for myself".

 He's hoping at this point that he'll be able to turn his command over to Fred Purdy, his right hand man. Retirement and reassignment, spending more time with his wife and daughter, those are uppermost in his mind.

 Tammi

On the Memories of Strong page, I've loaded a document that tells you what the Strong was up to this time 70 years ago, including sinking their very first Japanese sub.  Most of this was carried out in the night, so when Captain Wellings wrote this letter home to Dolly, it had not yet happened:

"7 April, 1943

 Sweetheart:
 I see by the news that Guadalcanal area has had an air attack and that one destroyer was damaged – reported lost in another bulletin.   I know my sweetheart will wonder if it is the Strong.  Rest your pretty head and mind to rest.  The Strong is still living up to its name.  In fact we are getting better all the time.  This letter may be a little late in reaching dear old Boston –
but remember as always – no news is good news.

 As I said in my previous letter, Dr. Laughlin’s relief is on board and in a few days the doctor will be homeward bound.  I doubt if he will arrive before the first of May.  However he has sufficient money from me to phone you for more than three minutes and tell you how much I love you and that I am well and happy as anyone can be under these war conditions.

 Incidentally will you please purchase a silver baby cup and send it to Mrs. Laughlin.  If you do not have her address  send it to U.S. Naval Hospital, Bethesda Md. – Have inscribed on it "To Constance Ann from the Captain and officers of the USS Strong."  Let me know what it costs and I will have the mess pay you back – sometime.

 I will be looking forward to receiving mail again.  The mail service is getting better all the time.  However I have never seen any mail buoys at sea.

 How are my two little girls??  Now that this is the 7th of April weather in Boston should be approaching the ideal.  How about a trip to Washington for Easter??  Betsey & Bill & Virginia would be happy to put you up for a few days.  The change in scenery would be good.

 Now as always and forever,

 Your little boy,

 Harold"

I've also added a couple more images of Strong as she leaves berth at the Bath Iron Works in Maine, August of 1942.  Until the next installment of adventures of the USS Strong DD 467.........

Tammi

  By the end of March 1943, the Japanese were making their presence known in the western Solomons after being pushed from Guadalcanal. They were concentrating on building up their forces in the Solomons and New Guinea. Japanese submarines abound, having been pulled in from actions in the Indian Ocean and Fiji to cruise “The Slot”, the area between New Georgia Island and the Santa Isabel Islands (see map). Once called the “Tokyo Express”, intensified destroyer activity by the Japanese caused the coining of a new term, now calling the patrolling Japanese the “Vila Express”. The Vila Express traveled from the Blackett Strait, via Vila Plantation on southern Kolombangara Island where they had built an air strip:

From the official write up of the USS Strong DD-467 documents:

“The Vila Express generally was made up of two or more destroyers routed through the 'Slot' or through Vella Gulf and Blackett Strait to off-load supplies and troops as reinforcements for the Japanese forces in the Kula Gulf and other areas.”

In mid-March, Strong, Nicholas, Radford and Taylor began bombarding targets in the Kula Gulf. They made several runs up the Slot chasing the Vila Express and at times bombing the airstrip at Vila Plantation. The next month shows a heating up of hostilities with the Americans and Japanese in the area.

I give you this information to catch you up on what was going on with Strong and with Captain Wellings at this point in time. He is not allowed to discuss their movements or actions, but is still regaling his wife with more tame and friendly tales of hanging out with both American and English compatriots, including another meeting with Gelzer Sims of the USS Maury.  Letter dated March 28, 1943:

“Yesterday and today have been very pleasant.  First of all I was secured next to Gelzer Sims which of course called for another session – with Gelzer doing 90% of the talking.  He has received a letter stating that he will shortly return to Charleston to put another boat in commission. I am all for it because it means one more old timer returning so that my turn will come just that much sooner.

Next I went over and paid an official call on an English ship.  While none of my friends were aboard, never the less they knew several of my friends.  Gosh it was like a dream to see them carry on.  I say a dream because it seems centuries ago since I was with the British fleet.  In addition what do you suppose I had for a liquor?  Yes you guessed it.  None other than Drambuie.  Sweetheart with every sip I thought of you.  I dragged out that drink for at least a half hour – and I might add that it was the last drink of the evening.  Remember our last drink of Drambuie with Capt. Madden and Ken Hartman.  Oh Sweetheart those were the happy days.  We did know it and make the best of our time in Washington in our own quiet way.  Never mind better days are coming and we will be even happier.

 After dinner last night we adjourned to anteroom (bar) while they cleaned off the table.  Then one of the officers sat down at the piano and we had a grand sing song.  The English officers did all their special Russian and Scottish dances – but none of their free for all.  I still say that we can learn a lot from the British on how to relax.  I was back aboard at 2230.

 This morning I was on one of the large ships for mass at 0845.  You would be surprised at the large attendance.  The boys get religion in wartime.  When I returned Gelzer was waiting for me.  This meant a cup of coffee and an hours “bull” session with once again “Admiral” doing most of the talking.  I finally got down to work at 1115 and worked until 1530 with time out for lunch.  At 1600 I attended a short conference and then called on Pop Shaw – A mustang who helped to bring Boot and I up in the Florida.  He has his own ship (cargo) and is he proud of her – as he should be.  After the call more paper work (fitness reports – the end of March) and then the final touches on a letter to the detail officer telling about my officer personnel – and also including the proposition of Fred relieving me sometime in May or the first part of June.  I am not counting the chickens before they are hatched but I thought I had better get the ball rolling.

 After a fine dinner we had Ginger Rogers in “The Major and the Minor”.  It was a riot – one of the best pictures I have seen – Now here I am writing to my sweetheart and then to bed.

 The newspapers started to arrive about two weeks ago and are they welcomed.  I think I received about 60 in the first lot.  I pass them on to Donald, Jackie Fulham and Curran.  I save them, just reading about 3 per day.  I have one with my breakfast.  I like them even if the news is old.  Bill Cunningham never gets old – at least his column doesn't.  I was surprised to read all the headlines about Guadalcanal during the early part of February.  Gosh the papers can make good stories.”

Though he values his career, his men and his ship, the captain is hoping for a change in duty, such as is happening for some of his contemporaries. Being closer to his family at this point in his career is paramount. He gets his wish, but not quite in the way he would have hoped, as we know.

Stay tuned for more of the actions leading up to the events of July 1943.

Tammi

One of the neatest things I've discovered in reading through Gus Wellings' letters is pulling names of various people that were his friends during his time serving in the south Pacific, and then finding these names in published books.  One name that stands out is that of Captain Gelzer Loyall Sims of the USS Maury DD-401.  In the letter excerpt below, Wellings discusses a wonderful meeting of Sims as they come up alongside then in port on March 18th of 1943:

"Guess what?? The other day I noticed as we  steamed into port that Gelzer Sims' destroyer was at anchor.  I immediately sent
a message (1000) and asked Gelzer over for lunch.  He arrived at 1030 and talked until 1500 when I had to go to a conference – this included all during meal  time.  He is the same old Gelzer and his old and new stories are gems.  He kept all my wardroom officers spellbound all during lunch.  He has been out here from the beginning – as he said he arrived here in the Mayflower –it has seemed that long since he has been home.  He reports all well with Sue and the family.  He really looks fine – but says he would not turn down an offer for a few days rest.  Notice the improved ink– my yeoman just cleaned and refilled my pen."

South Pacific Destroyer was written by a man who served aboard the Maury, Russell Sydnor Crenshaw, Jr.  In the book, Crenshaw gives intimate daily details of the people who served on the destroyer class ships in the south Pacific and there are serveral references to Strong, to Wellings and other officers as well.  Reading a book such as this gives a person insight into the day to day operations, trials and tribulations and the sometimes raucous times during their time of service in the Solomon Islands and beyond.  I highly recommend it as a book that will take you back to the time of our relatives when they were in a position to change the world. 

Reference to this book can be found on my Navy Links and Resource page. 

Tammi

Reminder:  J.H. Wellings and USS Strong DD 467 were part of DESRON 21 at the time she was lost.  Here the mystery begins.

     Back when I first made contact with Anne, daughter of Gus Wellings, she told me about a flag that she believed her father rescued from the Strong as it was sinking.  She had held on to the flag for personal reasons, even though the bulk of his collection of personal items and documents is at the Naval War College in the library and museum archives there.   Until recently, I had not seen the flag and assumed it was either an American flag or something indicating it came from Strong itself.  A couple of weeks ago, Anne sent a photo of the flag and it came with a mystery. 

As you see in the image above, the flag has a large number “2” on it.  Strange, but I couldn't see how this flag was connected to the ship.  When I have questions about things such as this, I turn to Dave McComb of the Destroyer History Foundation (see links page) for answers.  And as usual, Dave had came through with a little more information than we had before.  I sent the photo image to Dave, and his explanation was thus:

“Tammi,

It’s a “broad command pennant”—one that a squadron commander’s flagship would fly from the masthead of any ship in which he was embarked (in place of the ship’s own commissioning pennant) (see

       http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/vxt-dvb4.html#broadcommandpennant and

       http://navyaviation.tpub.com/14243/css/14243_199.htm) .

I see two questions here:

1.       When Strong went down, why would then-Commander Wellings have had in his possession a broad command pennant from Destroyer Squadron 2? Whatever the reason, we understandably attached great importance to it.
2.       Why is the number stitched on the opposite side of the pennant than what one usually sees?”

So now we know it's a command pennant, but for DESRON 2.  Thus a new mystery – what connection does Wellings have to DESRON 2?  Strong was part of DESRON 21, so where does this flag fit in?  I decided to do a Google search using the term “J.H. Wellings and DESRON 2”, and bingo!  I love Google.  I've solved more mysteries using Google.  And Google gave me this link.  Read the story for more detail:

http://destroyerhistory.org/goldplater/index.asp?r=41700&pid=41710

In short, after rehabilitation and rest from his ordeal with Strong, Wellings was sent back to the south Pacific, something I was not aware of until now.  During the later part of 1944, he was given command temporarily of DESRON 2, as stated here:

“More than a month passed before the next move was made against the enemy in this theater, but on 15 September, Morris escorted ships up the coast to Morotai Island and rendered close fire support in this operation. Commanding the Morris was Commander R.V. Wheeler, Jr., U.S. Navy, who relieved Commander G.L. Caswell. Captain J.H. Wellings, U.S. Navy, was now commander DesRon Two.”

To read more about DESRON 2 and it's operations in New Guinea, refer to the link above.  This narrative solves the mystery of the flag with the big number 2.  The flag never was on Strong, but something he saved from the USS Morris and his time in command of another destroyer squadron.  Now Anne has answers to questions she didn't realize needed answers.

Many thanks to Dave McComb and Google!

-Tammi