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The Men Who Went Down With a Lost World War II Aircraft Carrier The Men Who Went Down With a Lost World War II Aircraft Carrier
(about 7 hours later)
When The New York Times Magazine published my story about the hunt for the wreck of the U.S.S. Wasp, an aircraft carrier sunk by torpedoes in the Pacific during World War II, I expected a certain amount of correspondence from readers who had a particular connection to the ship. There were 2,248 men on board when it was hit. More than 2,000 of those men survived.When The New York Times Magazine published my story about the hunt for the wreck of the U.S.S. Wasp, an aircraft carrier sunk by torpedoes in the Pacific during World War II, I expected a certain amount of correspondence from readers who had a particular connection to the ship. There were 2,248 men on board when it was hit. More than 2,000 of those men survived.
Dozens of people wrote — either to me, or on the comments below the online article — about the experiences of husbands, brothers, fathers, uncles, grandfathers and great-uncles who had served on board the Wasp. One reader described how the explosions after the torpedo strikes knocked his grandfather’s shoes “clean off.” Another said her father, who swam for 17 hours after the order to abandon ship, spoke of “the water being on fire and the sharks.”Dozens of people wrote — either to me, or on the comments below the online article — about the experiences of husbands, brothers, fathers, uncles, grandfathers and great-uncles who had served on board the Wasp. One reader described how the explosions after the torpedo strikes knocked his grandfather’s shoes “clean off.” Another said her father, who swam for 17 hours after the order to abandon ship, spoke of “the water being on fire and the sharks.”
Jane Pepper from Media, Penn., told me about her late husband, G. Willing Pepper, who served as an officer, and who often told his family the story of the “awful day” the ship was hit. Willing Pepper spent eight hours in the water, without a life vest, before being rescued by a nearby American warship and treated by doctors. The medics, however, did not know Pepper was allergic to the penicillin with which they treated him, and he slipped into a coma. When he awoke weeks later, the first words he remembered hearing were: “Good heavens, he’s going to live.” Pepper died in 2001, at the age of 93.Jane Pepper from Media, Penn., told me about her late husband, G. Willing Pepper, who served as an officer, and who often told his family the story of the “awful day” the ship was hit. Willing Pepper spent eight hours in the water, without a life vest, before being rescued by a nearby American warship and treated by doctors. The medics, however, did not know Pepper was allergic to the penicillin with which they treated him, and he slipped into a coma. When he awoke weeks later, the first words he remembered hearing were: “Good heavens, he’s going to live.” Pepper died in 2001, at the age of 93.
Perhaps the most remarkable exchange I had in the aftermath of the story’s publication was with someone who remembered the Wasp as if it was yesterday. Brig. Gen. Reginald Van Stockum was born on July 8, 1916, exactly one week after his father, an English infantryman, was killed on the first day of the Battle of the Somme — the bloodiest day in British military history. His mother remarried an American, and the family settled in Washington State. In 1937, when he was 21, Van Stockum was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps. In 1941, he boarded the U.S.S. Wasp and took command of the Marine detachment on the ship.Perhaps the most remarkable exchange I had in the aftermath of the story’s publication was with someone who remembered the Wasp as if it was yesterday. Brig. Gen. Reginald Van Stockum was born on July 8, 1916, exactly one week after his father, an English infantryman, was killed on the first day of the Battle of the Somme — the bloodiest day in British military history. His mother remarried an American, and the family settled in Washington State. In 1937, when he was 21, Van Stockum was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps. In 1941, he boarded the U.S.S. Wasp and took command of the Marine detachment on the ship.
In May 1942, he played a part in perhaps the Wasp’s greatest achievement, which was delivering British Spitfire planes in the relief of the island of Malta. During this period, he got to know many of the officers who would feature so heavily in the story of the Wasp’s sinking, 15 months later. My descriptions of the men on board the Wasp were drawn from naval and newspaper reports. Here was a man who had served with those characters, shoulder to shoulder. In May 1942, he played a part in perhaps the Wasp’s greatest achievement, which was delivering British Spitfire planes in the relief of the island of Malta. During this period, he got to know many of the officers who would feature so heavily in the story of the Wasp’s sinking, five months later. My descriptions of the men on board the Wasp were drawn from naval and newspaper reports. Here was a man who had served with those characters, shoulder to shoulder.
Van Stockum fondly remembered John Shea, author of the heart-rending letter to his son, as a fine naval officer who hid his intellectual capabilities from his fellow sailors. He laughed when he spoke about Shea’s superior, Michael Kernodle, a “character” who was known as “the ugliest man in the Navy” — a sobriquet he apparently wore with pride and good humor. Van Stockum recalled that, in the Mediterranean, another officer, Benedict Semmes Jr., had patiently showed him how to steer the ship from the bridge, and had identified the towns of the North African coast that to Van Stockum appeared only as twinkling lights. (Calm and patience appeared to be strong qualities in Semmes: months later, after the Wasp was hit, he chose not to tell a group of fellow swimmers that a shark was circling them, lest he cause a panic.)Van Stockum fondly remembered John Shea, author of the heart-rending letter to his son, as a fine naval officer who hid his intellectual capabilities from his fellow sailors. He laughed when he spoke about Shea’s superior, Michael Kernodle, a “character” who was known as “the ugliest man in the Navy” — a sobriquet he apparently wore with pride and good humor. Van Stockum recalled that, in the Mediterranean, another officer, Benedict Semmes Jr., had patiently showed him how to steer the ship from the bridge, and had identified the towns of the North African coast that to Van Stockum appeared only as twinkling lights. (Calm and patience appeared to be strong qualities in Semmes: months later, after the Wasp was hit, he chose not to tell a group of fellow swimmers that a shark was circling them, lest he cause a panic.)
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When the Wasp transferred back to Norfolk Naval Yards later in 1942, the carrier came under the command of Forrest P. Sherman. Van Stockum recalled that Sherman was a kind and reasonable officer who transformed the atmosphere on board. In June, when the Wasp reached San Diego, shortly to depart for the Pacific theater, Van Stockum was told he would be leaving the ship, bound for other duties with the Marine Corps. He entreated Sherman to let him stay on the Wasp, but the orders had been given.When the Wasp transferred back to Norfolk Naval Yards later in 1942, the carrier came under the command of Forrest P. Sherman. Van Stockum recalled that Sherman was a kind and reasonable officer who transformed the atmosphere on board. In June, when the Wasp reached San Diego, shortly to depart for the Pacific theater, Van Stockum was told he would be leaving the ship, bound for other duties with the Marine Corps. He entreated Sherman to let him stay on the Wasp, but the orders had been given.
Van Stockum was replaced by a Capt. John Kennedy. Some weeks later, Van Stockum received a “very fine” letter from his successor. “We’re still afloat,” it read, “and I hope we stay that way.” On Sept. 15, 1942, Kennedy was killed with nearly 200 other sailors. Throughout the rest of World War II, during which Van Stockum fought with the Marine Corps with distinction in the Pacific theater, he survived many other close calls. But he would never forget his service on the Wasp.Van Stockum was replaced by a Capt. John Kennedy. Some weeks later, Van Stockum received a “very fine” letter from his successor. “We’re still afloat,” it read, “and I hope we stay that way.” On Sept. 15, 1942, Kennedy was killed with nearly 200 other sailors. Throughout the rest of World War II, during which Van Stockum fought with the Marine Corps with distinction in the Pacific theater, he survived many other close calls. But he would never forget his service on the Wasp.
Ed Caesar is a writer in Manchester, England, and the author of “Two Hours: The Quest to Run the Impossible Marathon.”Ed Caesar is a writer in Manchester, England, and the author of “Two Hours: The Quest to Run the Impossible Marathon.”
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