We here in Australia are also very proud of the officers and enlisted men of the USS Houston and HMAS Perth. The brave men of these ships fought until the bitter end, against the odds, so that future generations can live in peace. It is people like this that make our countries so great.
My Grandfather was on this ship and lived 3.5 years in a Japanese P.O.W. camp. He made it to 90 years old when we lost him in October of this year. I could not be more proud of him!
My husband's brother John Wesley Edge was 18 years old , he went down with the U S S Houston. God bless each hero and the memory of this great Memorial. 🇺🇸
USS Houston and HMAS Perth. Two ships fighting back to back against a Japanese Fleet until they ran out of ammo. A last stand. Bloody Hero's, by any reckoning.
My father Capt. Walter G Winslow was aboard the USS Houston and wrote two books "The ghost that died at Sunda Straits" and "The fleet the gods forgot" his entire life he worked very hard, researching the history and the names of everyone on board so they could all be accounted for. I have just recently found his last manuscript entitled "heroes from hell", which is a combination of stories from many different aspects some include the Dutch and even local natives warriors I hope to put out a book soon.
Page, I would like to interview you for our new US Navy WWII Living History group in Texas regarding your father, his books and your thoughts. Our group is called "Gulf Coast Bluejackets" and were now up on Facebook. Truly hope to hear back from you as we will be featuring CAPT Winslow's book. ( For the next month there is a USS HOUSTON HMAS PERTH art gallery showing in downtown Houston until the end of July, 2017 ). Mick
I’ve read The Ghost of that Died at Sunda Straits nearly two times now. First was during quarantine in boot camp. That book moved me. He did a fantastic job at detailing everything.
I exchanged a number of emails with Mackenzie Gregory a few years back; he as a young lieutenant stepped off the deck of the HMAS Canberra onto one of our destroyers after the disaster at Savo Island, five months after Sunda Strait. I believe he spoke at your ANZAC day this year, or delivered a broadcast. Was very proud to correspond with the old gentleman. Still active at his website, "Ahoy! Mac's Weblog", last I checked.
These are a special band of brothers. May their banner ever wave. I remember Dutch Kooper telling me of his watching the ship sink - as he treaded water in the dark. The ship was lighted up by many Japanese searchlights and the American Flag still waved from the mast. A marine gunner (who could not swim) in the topmast kept firing at the light sources. Eventually the ship settled and flag fluttered as the water took it under. Dutch said he was never so proud that they fought to the end.
That might be my father's cruiser, the USS Phoenix (CL-46) at 08;43. The Phoenix was a Brooklyn-class light cruiser which mounted three turrets forward and two turrets aft (a pretty unusual configuration, to say the least). When my father was assigned to her in June of 1940 (right after his commissioning from the Naval Academy), Phoenix was operating out of Manila as part of Admiral Hart's Asiatic fleet. Around Thanksgiving, 1941, Admiral Kimmel was certain the Japanese were up to something, so he ordered all his capital warships, including those under Hart's command, back to Pearl Harbor. Hart raised hell about being deprived of his best ships (he only had 4 or 5 cruisers, if I recall correctly) so they agreed to split the difference and left the Houston, the Marblehead and I think one other cruiser with Hart, while the Phoenix and another light cruiser were ordered back to Pearl asap. Phoenix pulled into Pearl Harbor on Friday evening, December 5th and was moored about 1000 yards astern of the Arizona at Charlie 5. Dad's GQ station, as an assistant gunnery officer, was in Sky Forward and from that vantage point he watched the Arizona blow herself apart on the morning of December 7th. Shortly after the attack, after doing convoy duty between San Francisco and Sydney, Phoenix was assigned to accompany a convoy (which included the old USS Langley) from Australia to Ceylon. During the voyage, several of the vessels, including the Langley (which was carrying crated P-40s and their pilots) were retasked to resupply Java (I think their objective was Jakarta). All of the vessels that were assigned to the resupply effort were ultimately lost. Had Dad's cruiser been assigned to that effort, I wouldn't be sitting here boring you with this story.
I couldn't watch this clip without feeling anger and resentment to those who continue to desecrate and violate our heroes war graves. The Dutch ships that sank with the Houston and Perth have totally vanished from the sea bed. Scavenged and sold for scrap by illegal scavengers.and the last time they checked the wreck of the Perth a huge part of it was already missing. Someone somewhere needs to do something.
Where do I donate Musician MUS1 Jose Luna's Navy Good Conduct medal ? Luna, Filipino, was one of the member of the USS Houston's band. He went down with the ship.
Have read multiple accounts of how, as POWs, the Yanks and Aussies stuck together and helped each other out, coming equally to dislike the British for their adherence to rank formalities and reluctance or refusal to share supplies. Struck me as a little odd but was not all that much of a surprise, I suppose.
The wreck of the Houston and Perth has been repeatedly desecrated by scavengers with no respect for the dead. The U..S. gov't.should push the indonesian gov"t.for greater security in the area.otherwise they might completely dissapear like the Dutch wrecks.
We here in Australia are also very proud of the officers and enlisted men of the USS Houston and HMAS Perth. The brave men of these ships fought until the bitter end, against the odds, so that future generations can live in peace. It is people like this that make our countries so great.
My Grandfather was on this ship and lived 3.5 years in a Japanese P.O.W. camp. He made it to 90 years old when we lost him in October of this year. I could not be more proud of him!
My husband's brother John Wesley Edge was 18 years old , he went down with the U S S Houston. God bless each hero and the memory of this great Memorial. 🇺🇸
USS Houston and HMAS Perth. Two ships fighting back to back against a Japanese Fleet until they ran out of ammo. A last stand.
Bloody Hero's, by any reckoning.
My father Capt. Walter G Winslow was aboard the USS Houston and wrote two books "The ghost that died at Sunda Straits" and "The fleet the gods forgot" his entire life he worked very hard, researching the history and the names of everyone on board so they could all be accounted for. I have just recently found his last manuscript entitled "heroes from hell", which is a combination of stories from many different aspects some include the Dutch and even local natives warriors I hope to put out a book soon.
Page, I would like to interview you for our new US Navy WWII Living History group in Texas regarding your father, his books and your thoughts. Our group is called "Gulf Coast Bluejackets" and were now up on Facebook. Truly hope to hear back from you as we will be featuring CAPT Winslow's book. ( For the next month there is a USS HOUSTON HMAS PERTH art gallery showing in downtown Houston until the end of July, 2017 ). Mick
I’ve read The Ghost of that Died at Sunda Straits nearly two times now. First was during quarantine in boot camp. That book moved me. He did a fantastic job at detailing everything.
I exchanged a number of emails with Mackenzie Gregory a few years back; he as a young lieutenant stepped off the deck of the HMAS Canberra onto one of our destroyers after the disaster at Savo Island, five months after Sunda Strait. I believe he spoke at your ANZAC day this year, or delivered a broadcast. Was very proud to correspond with the old gentleman. Still active at his website, "Ahoy! Mac's Weblog", last I checked.
What a story. I loved the book, well worth the read. may they all rest in peace.
they wont rest in peace as all the wrecks have been salvaged this year all have disappeared from the ocean floor ...my Dads ship Exeter is gone
I'm very sorry to hear that. How do we retain these ships as the graves that they are?
These are a special band of brothers. May their banner ever wave. I remember Dutch Kooper telling me of his watching the ship sink - as he treaded water in the dark. The ship was lighted up by many Japanese searchlights and the American Flag still waved from the mast. A marine gunner (who could not swim) in the topmast kept firing at the light sources. Eventually the ship settled and flag fluttered as the water took it under. Dutch said he was never so proud that they fought to the end.
On the 68th Anniversary of the Battle of the Sunda Stait. You are remembered. God Keep You
That might be my father's cruiser, the USS Phoenix (CL-46) at 08;43. The Phoenix was a Brooklyn-class light cruiser which mounted three turrets forward and two turrets aft (a pretty unusual configuration, to say the least). When my father was assigned to her in June of 1940 (right after his commissioning from the Naval Academy), Phoenix was operating out of Manila as part of Admiral Hart's Asiatic fleet. Around Thanksgiving, 1941, Admiral Kimmel was certain the Japanese were up to something, so he ordered all his capital warships, including those under Hart's command, back to Pearl Harbor. Hart raised hell about being deprived of his best ships (he only had 4 or 5 cruisers, if I recall correctly) so they agreed to split the difference and left the Houston, the Marblehead and I think one other cruiser with Hart, while the Phoenix and another light cruiser were ordered back to Pearl asap. Phoenix pulled into Pearl Harbor on Friday evening, December 5th and was moored about 1000 yards astern of the Arizona at Charlie 5. Dad's GQ station, as an assistant gunnery officer, was in Sky Forward and from that vantage point he watched the Arizona blow herself apart on the morning of December 7th. Shortly after the attack, after doing convoy duty between San Francisco and Sydney, Phoenix was assigned to accompany a convoy (which included the old USS Langley) from Australia to Ceylon. During the voyage, several of the vessels, including the Langley (which was carrying crated P-40s and their pilots) were retasked to resupply Java (I think their objective was Jakarta). All of the vessels that were assigned to the resupply effort were ultimately lost. Had Dad's cruiser been assigned to that effort, I wouldn't be sitting here boring you with this story.
I'm pretty sure that's the Boise
"Lest We Forget".
Big Joe, My Grandfather was too! He was also a POW. He passed in 86. I was 11 when he passed away I never got a chance to talk to him about it.
I couldn't watch this clip without feeling anger and resentment to those who continue to desecrate and violate our heroes war graves. The Dutch ships that sank with the Houston and Perth have totally vanished from the sea bed. Scavenged and sold for scrap by illegal scavengers.and the last time they checked the wreck of the Perth a huge part of it was already missing. Someone somewhere needs to do something.
Where do I donate Musician MUS1 Jose Luna's Navy Good Conduct medal ? Luna, Filipino, was one of the member of the USS Houston's band. He went down with the ship.
These guys are true heroes..... long live america.
RougeSniper762
M
.
Have read multiple accounts of how, as POWs, the Yanks and Aussies stuck together and helped each other out, coming equally to dislike the British for their adherence to rank formalities and reluctance or refusal to share supplies. Struck me as a little odd but was not all that much of a surprise, I suppose.
and what about the dutch
My uncle pat Dinan was on the Houston in the boiler room when the first torpedo hit. He went down with the ship.
Great Video, Thanks for Sharing !
The wreck of the Houston and Perth has been repeatedly desecrated by scavengers with no respect for the dead. The U..S. gov't.should push the indonesian gov"t.for greater security in the area.otherwise they might completely dissapear like the Dutch wrecks.
Houston wasn't that old...