children;
Diana Lynn Frank Smith b. 7/29/1952 Watsonville Ca
Tara 8/19/1971
s Lou Gorewitz 10/29/1956 10/05/2013
Trista 12/18/1973
s Gilbert Moreno
Brie 19
Brooke 15
Jerry Allen Frank b 1/6/1955 Watsonville CA
Jill Adair Hamperle 2/15/1954
Rebecca Ann 1/28/1978
Eric Allen 3/9/1984
US Navy WW II
USS Chevalier DD 451 built by Bath Iron Works delivered 30 April 1941, Boston Mass. Captain: Lt Comdr Ephraim Rankin McLean Jr commanding. 10/20/1903 11/22/1985 retired a Vice Admiral.
For the first few months the ship escorted convoys in the Atlantic. Then she went directly to the South Pacific via Panama. This would indicate that John went to the San Diego boot camp on the west coast then met his ship on the east coast.
.
1/22/1943 arrives New Hebrides. 20 July 1942, operates in Solomon Islands area. 29-30 Jan 1943 Battle of Rennell Island; 28 June Battle Kula Gulf; 4 July bombardment of Vila and Bairoko Harbor; 5 July USS Strong is struck by torpedo's from three Japanese destroyers. Chevalier came to Strong's assistance. She rams her port bow into Strong and saves 7 officers and 232 men.
6 Oct 1943 the battle of Vella Lavella. US destroyers Chevalier,(LT Com. George R Wilson) O'Bannon and Selfridge under the command of Captain Frank R Walker intercept nine Japanese destroyers. The America destroyers launch half of their torpedo's and stay on a steady course, at 32 knots on a pitch black night, to engage with their guns. At about 2205 hours Chevalier is struck in the port bow by a Japanese "long lance" torpedo detonating the forward magazine. The explosion blows her bow off back to the bridge. The ship is out of control and swerves out of line. O'Bannon, following in her wake, rams "Chevy" in the engine room. The two ships are locked together for some time. The Captain launches the rest of his torpedo's and orders abandon ship. John was a gunner, GM, manning a 20 mm AA cannon on the fantail. He was thrown overboard when the ships collided. He and the other survivors were picked up by O'Bannon's boats. 54 dead 36 wounded.
He had just turned 18.
John is stationed on Tulagi Island and trained to be a radar operator. The custom in the Navy was when a ship is sunk the crew were given a 30 day leave. John didn't get the leave and he was still bitter about it 50 years later.
Transferred to USS Langley CVL 27; Radar operator
Light Aircraft Carrier
The ship arrived in the Pacific in Late 1943
Captain Wallace M Dillon 1895-1965 1946 Rear Admiral
Battles or operations:
Marshall Islands Jan. Feb. 1944
New Guinea
Philippine Sea
AKA Marianas Turkey Shoot Jun, 19-20 1944
Palaus
Raids; Philippines, Formosa & Ryukyus Islands
Leyte Gulf Jan. Feb. 1945 The largest naval battle of all time. Attacked by Kamikaze aircraft for the first time.
South China Sea
Home Islands
Iwo Jima
Okinawa
Operation Magic Carpet. Transporting American troop home.
Tranfered to the French Navy post war
When he came home from the war he moved from Fresno to Watsonville Santa Cruz Co Ca where he worked as a teamster and maintenance man for S. Martinelli & Co. Cremated; Ashes scattered on Monterey Bay where he loved to fish.
Personal information came from conversations with John about the ships he was on and the sinking of the Chevalier. He is in a photo of the Langley's radar team in the book,"Angeles on the Yardarm", about the Langley's service
Diana Lynn Frank Smith b. 7/29/1952 Watsonville Ca
Tara 8/19/1971
s Lou Gorewitz 10/29/1956 10/05/2013
Trista 12/18/1973
s Gilbert Moreno
Brie 19
Brooke 15
Jerry Allen Frank b 1/6/1955 Watsonville CA
Jill Adair Hamperle 2/15/1954
Rebecca Ann 1/28/1978
Eric Allen 3/9/1984
US Navy WW II
USS Chevalier DD 451 built by Bath Iron Works delivered 30 April 1941, Boston Mass. Captain: Lt Comdr Ephraim Rankin McLean Jr commanding. 10/20/1903 11/22/1985 retired a Vice Admiral.
For the first few months the ship escorted convoys in the Atlantic. Then she went directly to the South Pacific via Panama. This would indicate that John went to the San Diego boot camp on the west coast then met his ship on the east coast.
.
1/22/1943 arrives New Hebrides. 20 July 1942, operates in Solomon Islands area. 29-30 Jan 1943 Battle of Rennell Island; 28 June Battle Kula Gulf; 4 July bombardment of Vila and Bairoko Harbor; 5 July USS Strong is struck by torpedo's from three Japanese destroyers. Chevalier came to Strong's assistance. She rams her port bow into Strong and saves 7 officers and 232 men.
6 Oct 1943 the battle of Vella Lavella. US destroyers Chevalier,(LT Com. George R Wilson) O'Bannon and Selfridge under the command of Captain Frank R Walker intercept nine Japanese destroyers. The America destroyers launch half of their torpedo's and stay on a steady course, at 32 knots on a pitch black night, to engage with their guns. At about 2205 hours Chevalier is struck in the port bow by a Japanese "long lance" torpedo detonating the forward magazine. The explosion blows her bow off back to the bridge. The ship is out of control and swerves out of line. O'Bannon, following in her wake, rams "Chevy" in the engine room. The two ships are locked together for some time. The Captain launches the rest of his torpedo's and orders abandon ship. John was a gunner, GM, manning a 20 mm AA cannon on the fantail. He was thrown overboard when the ships collided. He and the other survivors were picked up by O'Bannon's boats. 54 dead 36 wounded.
He had just turned 18.
John is stationed on Tulagi Island and trained to be a radar operator. The custom in the Navy was when a ship is sunk the crew were given a 30 day leave. John didn't get the leave and he was still bitter about it 50 years later.
Transferred to USS Langley CVL 27; Radar operator
Light Aircraft Carrier
The ship arrived in the Pacific in Late 1943
Captain Wallace M Dillon 1895-1965 1946 Rear Admiral
Battles or operations:
Marshall Islands Jan. Feb. 1944
New Guinea
Philippine Sea
AKA Marianas Turkey Shoot Jun, 19-20 1944
Palaus
Raids; Philippines, Formosa & Ryukyus Islands
Leyte Gulf Jan. Feb. 1945 The largest naval battle of all time. Attacked by Kamikaze aircraft for the first time.
South China Sea
Home Islands
Iwo Jima
Okinawa
Operation Magic Carpet. Transporting American troop home.
Tranfered to the French Navy post war
When he came home from the war he moved from Fresno to Watsonville Santa Cruz Co Ca where he worked as a teamster and maintenance man for S. Martinelli & Co. Cremated; Ashes scattered on Monterey Bay where he loved to fish.
Personal information came from conversations with John about the ships he was on and the sinking of the Chevalier. He is in a photo of the Langley's radar team in the book,"Angeles on the Yardarm", about the Langley's service
children;
Diana Lynn Frank Smith b. 7/29/1952 Watsonville Ca
Tara 8/19/1971
s Lou Gorewitz 10/29/1956 10/05/2013
Trista 12/18/1973
s Gilbert Moreno
Brie 19
Brooke 15
Jerry Allen Frank b 1/6/1955 Watsonville CA
Jill Adair Hamperle 2/15/1954
Rebecca Ann 1/28/1978
Eric Allen 3/9/1984
US Navy WW II
USS Chevalier DD 451 built by Bath Iron Works delivered 30 April 1941, Boston Mass. Captain: Lt Comdr Ephraim Rankin McLean Jr commanding. 10/20/1903 11/22/1985 retired a Vice Admiral.
For the first few months the ship escorted convoys in the Atlantic. Then she went directly to the South Pacific via Panama. This would indicate that John went to the San Diego boot camp on the west coast then met his ship on the east coast.
.
1/22/1943 arrives New Hebrides. 20 July 1942, operates in Solomon Islands area. 29-30 Jan 1943 Battle of Rennell Island; 28 June Battle Kula Gulf; 4 July bombardment of Vila and Bairoko Harbor; 5 July USS Strong is struck by torpedo's from three Japanese destroyers. Chevalier came to Strong's assistance. She rams her port bow into Strong and saves 7 officers and 232 men.
6 Oct 1943 the battle of Vella Lavella. US destroyers Chevalier,(LT Com. George R Wilson) O'Bannon and Selfridge under the command of Captain Frank R Walker intercept nine Japanese destroyers. The America destroyers launch half of their torpedo's and stay on a steady course, at 32 knots on a pitch black night, to engage with their guns. At about 2205 hours Chevalier is struck in the port bow by a Japanese "long lance" torpedo detonating the forward magazine. The explosion blows her bow off back to the bridge. The ship is out of control and swerves out of line. O'Bannon, following in her wake, rams "Chevy" in the engine room. The two ships are locked together for some time. The Captain launches the rest of his torpedo's and orders abandon ship. John was a gunner, GM, manning a 20 mm AA cannon on the fantail. He was thrown overboard when the ships collided. He and the other survivors were picked up by O'Bannon's boats. 54 dead 36 wounded.
He had just turned 18.
John is stationed on Tulagi Island and trained to be a radar operator. The custom in the Navy was when a ship is sunk the crew were given a 30 day leave. John didn't get the leave and he was still bitter about it 50 years later.
Transferred to USS Langley CVL 27; Radar operator
Light Aircraft Carrier
The ship arrived in the Pacific in Late 1943
Captain Wallace M Dillon 1895-1965 1946 Rear Admiral
Battles or operations:
Marshall Islands Jan. Feb. 1944
New Guinea
Philippine Sea
AKA Marianas Turkey Shoot Jun, 19-20 1944
Palaus
Raids; Philippines, Formosa & Ryukyus Islands
Leyte Gulf Jan. Feb. 1945 The largest naval battle of all time. Attacked by Kamikaze aircraft for the first time.
South China Sea
Home Islands
Iwo Jima
Okinawa
Operation Magic Carpet. Transporting American troop home.
Tranfered to the French Navy post war
When he came home from the war he moved from Fresno to Watsonville Santa Cruz Co Ca where he worked as a teamster and maintenance man for S. Martinelli & Co. Cremated; Ashes scattered on Monterey Bay where he loved to fish.
Personal information came from conversations with John about the ships he was on and the sinking of the Chevalier. He is in a photo of the Langley's radar team in the book,"Angeles on the Yardarm", about the Langley's service
Diana Lynn Frank Smith b. 7/29/1952 Watsonville Ca
Tara 8/19/1971
s Lou Gorewitz 10/29/1956 10/05/2013
Trista 12/18/1973
s Gilbert Moreno
Brie 19
Brooke 15
Jerry Allen Frank b 1/6/1955 Watsonville CA
Jill Adair Hamperle 2/15/1954
Rebecca Ann 1/28/1978
Eric Allen 3/9/1984
US Navy WW II
USS Chevalier DD 451 built by Bath Iron Works delivered 30 April 1941, Boston Mass. Captain: Lt Comdr Ephraim Rankin McLean Jr commanding. 10/20/1903 11/22/1985 retired a Vice Admiral.
For the first few months the ship escorted convoys in the Atlantic. Then she went directly to the South Pacific via Panama. This would indicate that John went to the San Diego boot camp on the west coast then met his ship on the east coast.
.
1/22/1943 arrives New Hebrides. 20 July 1942, operates in Solomon Islands area. 29-30 Jan 1943 Battle of Rennell Island; 28 June Battle Kula Gulf; 4 July bombardment of Vila and Bairoko Harbor; 5 July USS Strong is struck by torpedo's from three Japanese destroyers. Chevalier came to Strong's assistance. She rams her port bow into Strong and saves 7 officers and 232 men.
6 Oct 1943 the battle of Vella Lavella. US destroyers Chevalier,(LT Com. George R Wilson) O'Bannon and Selfridge under the command of Captain Frank R Walker intercept nine Japanese destroyers. The America destroyers launch half of their torpedo's and stay on a steady course, at 32 knots on a pitch black night, to engage with their guns. At about 2205 hours Chevalier is struck in the port bow by a Japanese "long lance" torpedo detonating the forward magazine. The explosion blows her bow off back to the bridge. The ship is out of control and swerves out of line. O'Bannon, following in her wake, rams "Chevy" in the engine room. The two ships are locked together for some time. The Captain launches the rest of his torpedo's and orders abandon ship. John was a gunner, GM, manning a 20 mm AA cannon on the fantail. He was thrown overboard when the ships collided. He and the other survivors were picked up by O'Bannon's boats. 54 dead 36 wounded.
He had just turned 18.
John is stationed on Tulagi Island and trained to be a radar operator. The custom in the Navy was when a ship is sunk the crew were given a 30 day leave. John didn't get the leave and he was still bitter about it 50 years later.
Transferred to USS Langley CVL 27; Radar operator
Light Aircraft Carrier
The ship arrived in the Pacific in Late 1943
Captain Wallace M Dillon 1895-1965 1946 Rear Admiral
Battles or operations:
Marshall Islands Jan. Feb. 1944
New Guinea
Philippine Sea
AKA Marianas Turkey Shoot Jun, 19-20 1944
Palaus
Raids; Philippines, Formosa & Ryukyus Islands
Leyte Gulf Jan. Feb. 1945 The largest naval battle of all time. Attacked by Kamikaze aircraft for the first time.
South China Sea
Home Islands
Iwo Jima
Okinawa
Operation Magic Carpet. Transporting American troop home.
Tranfered to the French Navy post war
When he came home from the war he moved from Fresno to Watsonville Santa Cruz Co Ca where he worked as a teamster and maintenance man for S. Martinelli & Co. Cremated; Ashes scattered on Monterey Bay where he loved to fish.
Personal information came from conversations with John about the ships he was on and the sinking of the Chevalier. He is in a photo of the Langley's radar team in the book,"Angeles on the Yardarm", about the Langley's service
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