Ralph Virgil Bales was one of the 11 children born to Frances Bell Craig Bales and Edgar Bert Bales :
Fred Elmer BALES
Goldie Jewell BALES
Myrtle Eunice BALES
Bert Wilford BALES
Naomi Estelle BALES
Clifford W. BALES
Mildred Frances BALES
Wesley Craig BALES
Clyde William BALES
Ralph Virgil BALES
L. D. BALES
Served on the USS Pensacola during World War II
Here is an account of the Battle of Tassafaronga, Ralph and Brother Wesley Bales were both aboard the Pensacola Wesley was killed during the battle.
In early Nov 1942, Pensacola guarded transports landing Marines on Guadalcanal. At Guadalcanal, she participated in the First Naval Battle of Guadalcanal on 13 Nov and the Battle of Tassafaronga on 30 Nov. In the latter action, among heavy gunfire, she was struck by two torpedoes, causing heavy damage. The torpedoes struck on the port side, flooding her engine room and ripping open the oil tanks, but she continued to fire the guns that remained functional. Despite the heavy damage, the damage control crew of Pensacola saved the ship, pulling into port at Tulagi while still aflame. 125 were killed and 68 injured at the end of the battle. After emergency repairs at Tulagi and Espiritu Santo, she arrived at Pearl Harbor on 27 Jan 1943 to receive proper repairs.
Fred Elmer BALES
Goldie Jewell BALES
Myrtle Eunice BALES
Bert Wilford BALES
Naomi Estelle BALES
Clifford W. BALES
Mildred Frances BALES
Wesley Craig BALES
Clyde William BALES
Ralph Virgil BALES
L. D. BALES
Served on the USS Pensacola during World War II
Here is an account of the Battle of Tassafaronga, Ralph and Brother Wesley Bales were both aboard the Pensacola Wesley was killed during the battle.
In early Nov 1942, Pensacola guarded transports landing Marines on Guadalcanal. At Guadalcanal, she participated in the First Naval Battle of Guadalcanal on 13 Nov and the Battle of Tassafaronga on 30 Nov. In the latter action, among heavy gunfire, she was struck by two torpedoes, causing heavy damage. The torpedoes struck on the port side, flooding her engine room and ripping open the oil tanks, but she continued to fire the guns that remained functional. Despite the heavy damage, the damage control crew of Pensacola saved the ship, pulling into port at Tulagi while still aflame. 125 were killed and 68 injured at the end of the battle. After emergency repairs at Tulagi and Espiritu Santo, she arrived at Pearl Harbor on 27 Jan 1943 to receive proper repairs.
Ralph Virgil Bales was one of the 11 children born to Frances Bell Craig Bales and Edgar Bert Bales :
Fred Elmer BALES
Goldie Jewell BALES
Myrtle Eunice BALES
Bert Wilford BALES
Naomi Estelle BALES
Clifford W. BALES
Mildred Frances BALES
Wesley Craig BALES
Clyde William BALES
Ralph Virgil BALES
L. D. BALES
Served on the USS Pensacola during World War II
Here is an account of the Battle of Tassafaronga, Ralph and Brother Wesley Bales were both aboard the Pensacola Wesley was killed during the battle.
In early Nov 1942, Pensacola guarded transports landing Marines on Guadalcanal. At Guadalcanal, she participated in the First Naval Battle of Guadalcanal on 13 Nov and the Battle of Tassafaronga on 30 Nov. In the latter action, among heavy gunfire, she was struck by two torpedoes, causing heavy damage. The torpedoes struck on the port side, flooding her engine room and ripping open the oil tanks, but she continued to fire the guns that remained functional. Despite the heavy damage, the damage control crew of Pensacola saved the ship, pulling into port at Tulagi while still aflame. 125 were killed and 68 injured at the end of the battle. After emergency repairs at Tulagi and Espiritu Santo, she arrived at Pearl Harbor on 27 Jan 1943 to receive proper repairs.
Fred Elmer BALES
Goldie Jewell BALES
Myrtle Eunice BALES
Bert Wilford BALES
Naomi Estelle BALES
Clifford W. BALES
Mildred Frances BALES
Wesley Craig BALES
Clyde William BALES
Ralph Virgil BALES
L. D. BALES
Served on the USS Pensacola during World War II
Here is an account of the Battle of Tassafaronga, Ralph and Brother Wesley Bales were both aboard the Pensacola Wesley was killed during the battle.
In early Nov 1942, Pensacola guarded transports landing Marines on Guadalcanal. At Guadalcanal, she participated in the First Naval Battle of Guadalcanal on 13 Nov and the Battle of Tassafaronga on 30 Nov. In the latter action, among heavy gunfire, she was struck by two torpedoes, causing heavy damage. The torpedoes struck on the port side, flooding her engine room and ripping open the oil tanks, but she continued to fire the guns that remained functional. Despite the heavy damage, the damage control crew of Pensacola saved the ship, pulling into port at Tulagi while still aflame. 125 were killed and 68 injured at the end of the battle. After emergency repairs at Tulagi and Espiritu Santo, she arrived at Pearl Harbor on 27 Jan 1943 to receive proper repairs.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
