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Eccles, WV (Raleigh County) - A Selected History Early 1900s Through Present Day - |
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Military Page 3 of 4 |
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Left to Right: Bobby Daniels, L. G. Ballard and Boyd Ballard Weisbauden, Germany 1952.
Submitted by Boyd Ballard September 5, 2004
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CSM Joseph N. "Jesse"Ellis, Ret., who was born and raised at Eccles. Served: USMC 1950-1954 (served in Korean War) US Army 1954-1974 (Served in Vietnam)
Photo submitted by Shirley Maloney Ellis - August 27, 2004
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Letter #1 for the Bronze Star awarded to Corporal George E. Gialdella, USMCR issued June 15, 1944
Letter submitted by Evelyn E. Carter - June 6, 2004 |
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Letter #2 for the Bronze Star awarded to Corporal George E. Gialdella, USMCR issued June 15, 1944
Letter submitted by Evelyn E. Carter - June 6, 2004 |
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"VERNON J. BAYS, born Feb. 21, 1923, Eccles, WV. joined the USN Dec. 20, 1940, and was assigned to the USS Washington in March 1941. Station/job while on ship was carpenter mate, damage control. He achieved the rank of damage control mate first class. While at sea he participated in the Murmansk/Archangel runs; third battle of Save Island; collision with USS Indiana and many bombardments and numerous air attacks. His memorable experiences include. (1)Atlantic convoys receiving Bluenose Certificate April 30, 1942. (2) The loss of Adm. Wilcox March 27, 1942. (3) The loss of the HMS Punjahi May 1, 1942. He was on 01 level and watched half of ship and numerous men float by him. (4) Their first burial at sea - two seamen, their cause of death unknown. (5) Entering Pearl Harbor after the Japanese attacked and seeing the men with cutting torches retrieving the dead and knowing they were the only capital ship left in the South Pacific. (6) Receiving his subpoena and summons extraordinary and finally becoming a shellback - a story in this. (7) The Third Battle of Savo Islands Nov. 15, 1942 - his battle station was directly behind #2 turret on the main deck and someone had left the door improperly dogged down. They tied two lines to it and fought the door all night not knowing whether the Japs would sink them or the concussion from their 16" guns would. Was he scared? Hell, yes! (8) The bombing of Nauru in December 1942 - they bombarded this island two or three times with 5" guns. The mystery was how could they get their radio towers back up so quickly. (9) The bombardment of Kwajalein. (10) The collision between the USS Washington and the USS Indiana - their admiral's orders were to change course and for some unknown reason the USS Indiana failed to do so and the results were disastrous! (11)The ship returned to Pearl Harbor for temporary bow work and they returned to Seattle, WA after 34 months of continuous combat. He was transferred from the USS Washington to Seattle, WA. He and other crew members were in need of R&R. He was told he could put in for two air stations near his home. He put in for Bainbridge, MD and Jacksonville. FL - orders came in for Norman, OK. He was in charge of four crash crews and was told he would get nine months flight for trying four hours a month. He was even more scared of flying with the cadets than he was in Guadalcanal - if this was R&R he did not want any more! He was honorably discharged from the USN personnel separation center as a carpenter mate first class USN Norman, OK Feb. 23, 1946 He stayed in the USNR and was recalled to active service July 4, 1950. His rating by this time was changed from CM 1/c to DCW 1/c. He was sent to Little Creek, VA and was told he could send for his family in a month. One week later he got his orders to report aboard the USS Missouri BB-63. He knew he was in for more R&R" |
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Source: Archives of the Battleship USS Washington BB56 |
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