Keith - Stay the rising sun : the true story of USS Lexington, her valiant crew, and changing the course of World War II

THE TRUE STORY OF USS LEXINGTON, HER VALIANT CREW, AND CHANGING THE COURSE OF WORLD WAR II

PHIL KEITH

It follows then as certain as that night succeeds the day, that without a decisive naval force we can do nothing definitive, and with it, everything honorable and glorious.

President George Washington to Marquis de Lafayette

November 15, 1781

I can imagine no more rewarding a career. And any man who may be asked in this century what he did to make his life worthwhile, I think can respond with a good deal of pride and satisfaction: I served in the United States Navy.

President John F. Kennedy, Bancroft Hall US Naval Academy

August 1, 1963

Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition!

Lieutenant Howell Maurice Forgy, Chaplain, US Navy USS New Orleans (CA-32)

Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941

Conversations quoted in his book are based upon the firsthand recollections of one participant or the other or notes written down by reporters and other individuals who were actually involved or spoke directly with the participants. They come from some of the books listed in the bibliography, personal diaries, blog entries, and articles written about the events depicted in this book. Since most of the quotations are from the recollections of one party or the other and, as we all know, time has a habit of morphing experiences into shapes that could differ from actual events, it is of course impossible to say if the actual words quoted are 100 percent verbatim. I like to use bits of conversation when they can be reasonably verified, since it tends to inject life into events that would otherwise be a dry recitation of facts. I have tried very hard to ensure that all conversational passages used square with the facts and do justice to the lives and actual experiences of the speakers.

(with rank and responsibilities at the time of the action described in the text)

Names in italics: killed in action, Battle of the Coral Sea

The 1920s

Rear Admiral David W. Taylor, Chief, Bureau of Construction and Repair

Captain Albert W. Marshall, Commanding Officer, USS Lexington (CV-2), December 14, 1927August 22, 1928

Captain Frank D. Berrien, Commanding Officer, USS Lexington, August 22, 1928June 30, 1930

The 1930s

Captain Ernest J. King, Commanding Officer, June 30, 1930May 31, 1932

Captain Charles A. Blakely, Commanding Officer, May 31, 1932June 12, 1934

Captain Arthur B. Cook, Commanding Officer, June 12, 1934April 6, 1936

Captain Aubrey W. Fitch, Commanding Officer, April 6, 1936April 13, 1937

Captain Leigh H. Noyes, Commanding Officer, April 13, 1937June 18, 1938

Captain John H. Hoover, Commanding Officer, June 18, 1938June 17, 1939

Captain Alva D. Bernhard, Commanding Officer, June 17, 1939June 13, 1940

Pearl Harbor to Coral Sea

Admiral Ernest J. King, Chief of Naval Operations, Washington, DC

Admiral Husband E. Kimmel, Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet, February 18, 1941December 17, 1941

Vice Admiral William S. Pye, Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet, December 17, 1941December 31, 1941

Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet, December 31, 1941December 14, 1945

Vice Admiral Wilson Brown, Commander, Task Force 3

Rear Admiral Aubrey W. Jake Fitch, Commander, Task Force 11

Captain Frederick C. Sherman, Commanding Officer, USS Lexington, June 13, 1940June 24, 1942

Lieutenant Edward H. Butch OHare, Fighter Pilot, VF-3, USS Lexington

Lieutenant Junior Grade Marion W. Dufilho, Fighter Pilot, VF-3, USS Lexington

Battle of the Coral Sea

Rear Admiral Frank J. Jack Fletcher, Commander, Task Force 17

Rear Admiral Thomas C. Kinkaid, Commander, Task Group 17.2 (Attack Group), Flag Aboard USS Minneapolis (CA-36)

Lieutenant Howell Forgy, Senior Chaplain, USS New Orleans (CA-32)

Rear Admiral William W. Smith, Commander, Cruiser Escorts

Task Group 17.3 (Support Group)

Rear Admiral John Gregory Crace, Royal Australian Navy, Commander

Captain Howard D. Bode, Commanding Officer, USS Chicago (CA-29)

Task Group 17.5 (Carrier Air Group)

Rear Admiral Aubrey Fitch, Officer in Tactical Command (OTC), USS Yorktown (CV-5)

Commander Harry B. Jarrett, Commanding Officer, USS Morris (DD-417)

Lieutenant Commander John K. B. Ginder, Commanding Officer, USS Anderson (DD-411)

Lieutenant Commander Glenn R. Hartwig, Commanding Officer, USS Russell (DD-414)

Lieutenant Commander Arnold E. True, Commanding Officer, USS Hammann (DD-412)

USS Yorktown

Captain Elliott Buckmaster, Commanding Officer

Lieutenant Commander Oscar Pederson, Commander, Yorktown Air Group

Lieutenant Commander William O. Burch Jr., Commanding Officer, VS-5

Lieutenant Commander James H. Flatley Jr., Commanding Officer, VF-42

Lieutenant Commander Joe Taylor, Commanding Officer, VT-5

Lieutenant John J. Jo Jo Powers, Bomber Pilot, VB-5

Lieutenant Milton E. Ricketts, O-in-C, Engineering Repair Party

USS Lexington

Captain Frederick C. Ted Sherman, Commanding Officer

Commander Wallace M. Dillon, Executive Officer (until January 18, 1942)

Commander Morton T. Seligman, Executive Officer (January 18May 8, 1942)

Commander James R. Dudley, Navigation Officer

Commander Walter W. Gilmore (SC), Chief Supply Officer

Commander George L. Markle, CHC, Senior Chaplain

Commander Wadsworth J. Trojakowski, DC, Chief Dental Officer

Lieutenant Commander H. R. Pop Healy, Damage Control Officer

Lieutenant Commander Alexander F. Junkers, Chief Engineering Officer

Captain Ralph L. Hauser, USMC, Commanding Officer, Marine Detachment

Lieutenant Thomas J. Nixon III, Damage Control Assistant

Lieutenant Charles Williams, Supply Corps, Assistant Supply Officer

John B. Brandt, Chief Boatswains Mate

Corporal Vincent Anderson, USMC, Battery No. 4

Private Jesse Rutherford Jr., USMC, Battery No. 4

Stanley Johnston, Embarked War Correspondent, Chicago Tribune

Admiral Wags, Cocker Spaniel, Captains Mascot

USS Lexington Air Group

Commander William Bowen Bill Ault, Commander, Air Group

Lieutenant Commander Robert E. Dixon, Commanding Officer, VS-2

Lieutenant Commander Weldon L. Hamilton, Commanding Officer, VB-2

Lieutenant Commander Paul H. Ramsey, Commanding Officer, VF-2

Lieutenant Commander James H. Brett Jr., Commanding Officer, VT-2

Lieutenant Noel M. Gayler, Executive Officer, VF-2

Lieutenant (Junior Grade) William E. Hall, Scout Pilot, VS-2

Aviation Ordnanceman 2nd Class Walter Hassell, VT-2

Task Group 17.6 (Fueling Group)

Commander John S. Phillips, Commanding Officer, USS Neosho (AO-23)

Chief Watertender Oscar V. Peterson, USS Neosho

Lieutenant Commander Willford M. Hyman, Commanding Officer, USS Sims (DD-409)

Task Force 16

Vice Admiral William F. Bull Halsey, Commander

From Tarawa to Tokyo

Captain Felix Stump, (First) Commanding Officer, USS Lexington (CV-16)

Captain Ernest W. Litch, (Second) Commanding Officer, USS