Leaving Tulagi....... target.... stop the Tokyo Express reported sighted at Kolombangara,

Updated 04/26/2015

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Pre-Pearl Harbor
THE "HELENA" CLASS or "ST. LOUIS" CLASS:

     In  nearly all essential characteristics we talk mostly of a two-ship BROOKLYN class. Many naval histories do not separate the HELENA’S and BROOKLYN’S and instead state that the BROOKLYN class had nine units, including HELENA (CL-50) and ST. LOUIS (CL-49).

      Due to the close similarity in dimension, propulsion, armament, protection and overall appearance, this introduction the HELENA class will record only the differences between the HELENA’S and BROOKLYN’S. The most obvious difference distinguishing the HELENA'S from the BROOKLYN'S was the placement of the after superstructure immediately behind the number two stack. Minor differences included the HELENA’S placement of the mainmast just aft of the number two stack and the placement of enclosed twin 5-inch gun mounts.

      The 5-inch gun mounts of the HELENA'S were similar to the design of SAVANNAH and HONOLULU, which were both different from the other five BROOKLYN'S. Authorized in 1935 from the same legislation that authorized the BROOKLYN'S, the HELENA and ST. LOUIS were outstanding fighting ships. ST.LOUIS earned 11 battle stars and HELENA won 7 while becoming the first ship to earn the Navy Unit Commendation.

      Before she was sunk in July 1943, HELENA earned a well-deserved reputation as an effective, courageous fighter. Had she survived the war her fame would have made her a candidate for preservation, but given the disappointing record regarding the preservation of World War II’s most famous ships, HELENA too probably would have been scrapped.

Letter from Joseph W. Grey
1308 Periwinkle Dr. Barefoot Bay, FL 32976

      In reading several letters about activities and shipmates of pre-commissioning and early days of the old "Two Screw Lou" , I feel compelled to tell a couple of tales that perhaps not many of the shipmates who served in her later on, may be aware of.

      I was a member of the pre-commission crew detail berthed in a barrack at the Navy Yard in Portsmouth, VA. We rode a motor launch back and forth to the Newport News ship building and dry dock company (as it was then known) to assist in readying the ship for commissioning.

      A group of five of us including myself (Joe Grey) Claude "Red" Wells, Bob Murray, "Chief Water-Tender" Page and the non-rated fireman was, I believe, named Martin (can’t recall his first name ).

      All had just completed diesel school in New London, Conn. in preparation for assignment to the USS St. Louis and her new diesel motor boats and launches. We were assigned to the "A" division reporting aboard. Our job was to provide service and maintenance to the Buda Diesels in the boats ( as well as provide engineers or part of the boat crews).

      Now it seems that the USS Houston had the old gasoline boats and they had been selected to carry FDR to the waters of San Juan for a fishing expedition. I suppose that the powers who controlled events in those days thought it would be nice to show off the newest in Navy boats to the president on this trip south. So........... it was done.

      We removed the STL off the bow of each boat and replaced it with HOU. Our new boats and engineers reported aboard the Houston and the President was piped aboard in Key West with all due honors.. Upon arrival off San Juan I was assigned to one of the whale boats and our VIP passenger was the presidents’ physician, Dr. MacIntyre, President Roosevelt also had a whale boat and we spent the entire day fishing.

      I don’t know remember who his crew were, but I suspect Page was the engineer, because he was the senior (MM1/c) of our group. As for the catch that day, Dr. MacIntyre had not luck at all. (But he did hand out candy bars to the crew after being out about six hours, as I recall). I don’t know what luck, if any, the president had, but I should know he thoroughly enjoyed his day out and away from the affairs of state.

      Anyhow, after a few more days of fishing we headed back to Norfolk and the boats and engineers were transferred back to the St. Louis. HOU. were removed and StL. were re-installed. I don’t know how many shipmates were aware that the St. Louis boats also had a place in the saga of CL49 history. As for the crew members mentioned above Bob Murray and CW Page have passed on, I saw Claude (Red) Wells at the reunion in Virginia Beach just a few years ago. I have no knowledge of Martin.

      Oh yes, the reason our ship was called "Two screw Lou", before she became Lucky Lou was that on her sea trials she lost two turbines and , though that didn’t stop her, it did slow her down a bit. Now, I’ll have to admit that my memory doesn’t always serve me well, but I seem to recall that it was some time before she was able to proceed with all four turbines and screws operating normally. In the back of my mind I seem to recall the shake down cruise was a two screw operation.

      Anyhow, I have most of these experiences documented in a diary that I kept during those years and hopefully one day I will start looking through old foot lockers and cubby holes and see if I can locate it. If I can come up with it, I would gladly donate it to the proposed St. Louis historical museum if they want or need such items.

      Anyhow, my enlistment was up in April "41" (The St. Louis was then getting ready to go the Pacific)..... I was transferred off the ship in Guantanamo to the USS Harry Lee for return to Norfolk and subsequent discharge...... (re-enlisting after Pearl Harbor)....... Although the "Lucky Lou" was not my only ship, I have felt closer to her and the shipmates that I served with more than any of the others. Also, she was the only ship that I could proudly call myself a "Plank Owner".

      Thank you for keeping me advised of events through the Hubble-Bubble. I appreciate that, though I do not always receive it because I move around quite a bit Best Regards.......

Joseph W. Gray MM1/c, A Div 1939-41

San Jose, Ca., 14 Nov. 2000 Hi Jack,

      Being a life member it's about time that I write you a few lines and give you a short description of my life on the "Lucky Lou" and in the Navy.

      I enlisted in the Navy in 1936, went to Newport R.I. for training. an was assigned to the USS Louisville CA-28 Left her in Aug 1940, (was in the USNH, Bremerton for 10 months with a broken back) was ordered to the USS Nevada BB-36 while she was in the Navy Yard in Bremerton I left her where this story begins, Dec 10^th 1941

      On the USS Nevada I was in charge of the main deck gear locker and by a stroke of luck "Stinky" gave me the gear locker on the St. Louis. Being one of the ninety men that climbed up the cargo net on the starboard side about the 10^th or a little later of Dec.1941, was assigned to the 3rd. Div, "Stinky" Kluseman was the division BM at the time. Our association VP, "Skinny" Walters was also in the 3rd Div. Say hello to him.

      Was S1/c when I came aboard, was working off a deck court martial at the time but made Cox. and BM 2/c while there, perhaps our VP recalls some of the men that was in the 3rd at the time

      To mention a few, Hauter, Bauler, Hubbard who lives in Menlo Park up the road from here, Sorries, Campese, Barnett, Goodhue, Hines, Washburn, Yates, Graf so many more but my memory isn’t as good as it used to be. however I know that Skinny will remember a lot more.

      Left the ship in August 43 at Mare Island after our bow was blown off in the S. Pacific. Got married and am still married to the same gal. Put the transport General J. R. Brooke(AP132) in commission in San Francisco, as 1^st class and made BMC on her later on, There was only seven regular navy men on her when she was put in commission and I was one of them, turned out to be a very good ship and I left on the East Coast, had about 6 months to go on my enlistment, so I put USS Bobolink and an LSM out of commission, and was discharged at Pleasanton Ca.. Had ten years in then so I went back East, shipped over in Philadelphia. and got on an LST, running cargo and all kind of material to the West Indies,

      Got orders to go to Recruiting Duty, and was in Chattanooga TN, for two years, transferred to the West Coast to what I thought was a fleet tug, but turned out of be an attack squadron of aircraft ATA 195, What a low blow it seemed to be at the time.

      But being a CBM, they had no billet for me so they put me on Shore Patrol in Oakland for Two years, Then to the Beach crew in Alameda, launching and beaching those Gull-winged amphibious planes for two more years and then went to fighter group VF-195 at Moffett Field Ca. Was the leading chief of the Air Group

      Had an eight month cruise on the Yorktown and then back to the states to put in for retirement on twenty, Got paid off on Oct, 1956,  There it is, such as it is , and if anyone that was aboard any of the ships mentioned please give me a call or write.

 Clyde C. Baldwin 855 Villa Teresa. Way  - San Jose, Ca., 95123

PS. Excuse the mistakes, but whoever said that a Bosun mate could type.

John Tait February 10. 2001

 Dear Jack,

      I sure appreciate the articles that some of the crew have sent in. So here is one from me as I remember it. I do have fond memories of the Lucky Lou.

      I enlisted in the Navy at San Francisco. in Sept. 1940. Went to boot camp at San Diego company 73. Went aboard the St. Louis about 3 Dec. Slung a hammock at night on the mess deck for a month or so .Stowed it and sea bag in a locker during the day. The morning after boarding we were mustered topside and as our names were call we were assigned to divisions. Clarence Orr and I were assigned to the R div. Orr and I chose the ship-fitter gang.

      Chief Boucher then sent me to the chiefs quarters for compartment cleaning where I swept, mopped and waxed for the next 6 months .Then I followed Henry Bullock around for several weeks before relieving Frame as Potable water King or was it Queen.

      While at the Navy yard at Pearl before the attack the manifold valves for the water tanks were in the machine shop, therefore the water tanks were empty. While the attack was going on I was sent to the machine shop to retrieve the valve parts and reassemble the manifolds in the pump room which was at the forward part of the ship and as deep as you can get. After completing that task I reported to Repair and was told to help Orr in hooking up a hose from the pier and across the Honolulu to start filling our water tanks. With a hose in hand I was about half way between the Honolulu and the dock when Orr came charging up the gangway. he was quite shook-up because a bomb had exploded after piercing the pier not to far from where he had been. Shortly there-after I was told to assist in removing the scaffolding from the foremast while we were underway. Several days later when we returned to port we filled the potable water tanks and the enlisted men could take showers again.

      Many months later while in the south Pacific I had adjusted the manifold valves, reported to the evaporators and the Engineering office the capacity of the tanks for the night. The next morning the pump room was flooded as the evaporators sent more water than the tanks would hold, thus shorting out the pump motors. We rigged several submersible pumps in unison to remove the water. One of the first class ship-fitters probably Godard stopped pumping when the water was just below the deck plates so some of us in the R div had a SPA until an officer found out. It took several weeks to overhaul the motors and reinstall them. So once again the crew could take a shower.     For most of the rest of my time aboard I air tested most of the compartments aboard below the main deck.

      Early Dec. of 43 John Q. Edwards came to a repair locker where I was on watch and said Tait " I am transferring you about 11^th Dec. Myself and a few others boarded the HMS Samalsdyke a Dutch freighter converted to a transport. Cold salt water showers till Dec. 31 when we arrived in SF Bay and was bused to Camp Shoemaker for further transfer.

Excerpts from.....Thomas A. Harriett

Hi Jack,

      I enjoy the personal stories of our shipmates. I have one in regards to the one Jim Womack wrote about the short range battle practice on 1939 (long time ago).

      I too went aboard the tug that was towing the target as part of the fire control crew that logged the hits and misses ( Jim was a part of the target repair crew, he had to ride back and forth from the tug to the target in the whale boat. I am sure he got as wet as it was a rough sea.

      We used a stop watch to time the time between the muzzle flash and the projectile splash. As the target was directly behind us, we had a pegboard to line up the target and the splash, some how this was supposed to tell how many yards the splash was short or over the target, there was a grid on paper involved. That’s kind of dim in my memory but I do recall how rough the sea became.   I think Jim made it back to the ship, but the fire control party had to ride the tug back to N.O.B. I spent the night in a whale boat aboard the tug. I also remember trying to eat fried eel for supper............

Letter from Jay P Mackenzie - Provo. Utah

      I came aboard the St. Louis at Mare Island - we left shortly there after for San Diego and on to Pearl Harbor. I can still remember the Pan American Clipper landing and take offs. From there we sailed for the Philippine Islands.

      Some of my memories of those islands were............the huge flying bats called Fox Bats, the children leading water buffalo around by the nose.   Funny how some things stick in a persons' mind, even after so long a time. Keep up the good work, we are proud of you - see you in San Antonio.

Jay P. Mackenzie

To Help Your Memory: by Paul Haire:

      NOB Norfolk: Liberty but no boats, Captain Morrison liked to anchor out in Hampton Roads, where there was less danger of scratching his ship against tugs against dock fenders. "East Main St" Norfolk YMCA, with sailors in pea coats and white hats sleeping on stairways and everywhere else on Sunday morning.

      The wild trolley ride from NOB to the city. A large bar on East Main with green and brass decor ? Maybe the "Brass Rail"

      Long Beach - San Pedro first time some of us "Dammed Yankees" ever saw palm trees.

      The Battleship line anchored way off in the distance.

      A Japanese training ship on visit with pairs of pudgy Japanese sailors visiting Japanese merchants. Perhaps the internment after December 7^th produced many injustices, but there may have been a shred of justification for suspicion.

      Lettuce as standard ingredient of a ham on rye sandwich. Another novelty for us "Dammed Yankees "

      The string of booths along the beachfront at Long Beach. I spent a half hour arguing the fine points of graphology with a woman practitioner

      Returning by motor launch in the fog and hitting a jetty (bad compass or ill trained coxswain) The warrant boatswain aboard was concerned lest somebody might have been injured, but didn’t have much patience with a seaman who complained of a sore thumb.

      Pearl Harbor - Honolulu: Burning of the sugar cane fields at night on the hills surrounding Pearl.

      The pre-Dec 7^th waters of Pearl. Some medical officers (CINCPAC) issued a formula to be used in disinfecting anyone's uniform that was immersed or splashed by Pearl Harbor water. (Note to wives: they didn’t have any sewage treatment plants for the ships)

      Looking down on Pearl from the surrounding hills. Nuamanu Pali in the old days before the tunnel. I climbed the knife edge above the lookout parking. At least in the old days (like 1941) it was proper for a swain rejected in love to cast himself over the cliff. Most sustained broken ankles and recovered.

      The "Hotels" of Honolulu: the New Senator, The King and "That other one" I didn’t go there, so I don’t remember all of the names.

      The restaurant in downtown Honolulu that was open to the street during business hours. The posh and over decorated Chinese restaurant near Waikiki. The Chinese merchants association protested it, not because every decoration was a travesty on Chinese art and tradition, but because a ceramic portrait of a revered Chinese King was placed on the wall of the men’s room.

      Steaming between Diamond head and Pearl, with every valley jam packed with rainbows.

Letter from Joe Graham

      Just a little sea story you might get a chuckle out of. We had just taken on some new recruits. This one young fellow wanted to be an old salt right away. On his first liberty he came back with two tattoos.  Shortly after that he stopped in a café to eat before coming back to the ship. He met two guys from his division, so he joined them and began talking about getting his ears pierced.

      One of the guys had heard enough of this. He reach down and took his fork, grabbed the fellows ear and shoved the fork tine through it. NO MORE TALK ABOUT EAR PIERCING.