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Aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Taney
My father, who died in his seventies back in 1996, served during most of the Second World War aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Taney, now one of the half dozen ships preserved as floating museums in Baltimore Harbor. I only asked him about the War a few times. He just didn’t like to talk about it. He told a few funny stories readily enough — once when the Taney was in port in San Diego, he and a shipmate hopped from the deck onto the dock, then strolled off to spend the day enjoying themselves, but when they returned that evening they found that the tide had come in, lifting the deck far above their heads, and the only way they could get back aboard was by hauling themselves up the ratlines. But talk about combat? The warfare part of the War? All I ever got out of him was a story about Okinawa.
He was on deck one day as an American plane approached a nearby aircraft carrier, preparing to land. Although the Navy issued its pilots frequent new approach patterns, my father explained — they had to make it impossible for the Japanese to use captured American aircraft to stage kamikaze attacks — and this pilot was using the wrong pattern. How my father knew this, I can no longer recall — were all the ships able to listen in to a single radio frequency? — but he described a long several minutes as the entire American fleet seemed to freeze, silent, as the aircraft carrier signaled to the pilot again and again to correct his approach … and finally shot him down. “We never learned what had happened,” my father said, “but you couldn’t get the idea out of your mind that it was one of our guys who just got confused. It made us all sick to our stomachs.”
One story, and that was about it.
Just this morning, though, my brother Don sent me a link. Here’s what the USCGC Taney did while our father was aboard:
From December 1941 until the fall of 1943, USCGC TANEY operated from the west coast of the US through the Central Pacific carrying out anti-submarine patrols, convoy escort duties as well as special assignments. In July 1943 the cutter fought off an attack by a Japanese “Mavis” patrol bomber while delivering a US Navy survey party to Baker Island along the Equator.
After a major refit in the fall of 1943, during which the ship lost her older 5”/51s and 3”/50s and received four 5”/38 caliber dual purpose guns, TANEY was transferred to the Atlantic Theater where she served as Flagship of Task Force 66, US Atlantic Fleet. During this Atlantic stint, TANEY was the command vessel for six convoys of troop and supply ships between the US and North Africa. On the evening 20 April 1944, TANEY narrowly dodged several torpedoes while fending off a large scale attack by German aircraft against Convoy UGS-38. Three ships were lost in the attack including the ammunition ship SS PAUL HAMILTON and the destroyer USS LANSDALE.
In 1945, TANEY returned to the Pacific after a dramatic reconfiguration as an Amphibious Command Ship (AGC). During the battle for Okinawa, the cutter was the Flagship for Rear Admiral Calvin Cobb, USN, who commanded a variety of naval operations off the island of Ie Shima, immediately northwest of Okinawa. During April and May 1945, at the height of the campaign, TANEY was under frequent attack and was credited with destroying four Kamikaze planes and 1 “Betty” bomber during 119 separate engagements in which her crew stood to battle stations. Immediately after the end of the Pacific war in September 1945, TANEY steamed into Japanese home waters where she assisted with the evacuation of Allied prisoners of war.
The Pacific, the Atlantic, and then the Pacific once again — in time for 119 engagements in just two months during the Battle of Okinawa. My father, about the same age as my oldest daughter today, down in the boiler room, tending the burners — and hearing general quarters 119 times in just two months.
Sixteen million Americans served in uniform during that War — and of course millions more in other conflicts. It is right and fitting and important to pause, to remember what they went through, and to honor them.
Published in General, Military
That is a magnificent history piece Peter. We think about wars too often from the point of view of the leaders and the main participants. Rarely do we see it from the combat soldier or sailors pov. Brilliant history too. God bless your father aswell.
I love personal stories like this – better than any history book. Thanks for sharing it with us Peter.
We need to change the name of that ship.
Peter I’m always amazed by those who answered the call to serve after suffering through the Great Depression. I’m also amazed by those in later generations that lived in much more comfortable circumstances that also answered their nations call to serve. There may be many things that are wrong in America today but I prefer to focus on what is right. The constant is we still find those that are willing to serve. We are fortunate indeed to still have those that answer the call.
On a road trip through Kansas, last summer, my dad shared a lot of stories about friends and family. He pointed out one house near his old home, in Salina, telling me about a WWII vet who lived there, who’d landed on the beach at Normandy, fought his way inland, and lived to tell about it – – “but he never did,” said Dad. “And every Fourth of July, he’d get up before dawn and head out for a fishing trip, staying away until the following morning.”
I didn’t get it, right away. “Did he regret his time in the service?” I asked.
“Not at all. It was the constant firecrackers. They were too much, for him.”
I keep thinking about that guy, every time I hear these addled idiots whining about their “triggers” and “safe spaces.” Every loud noise for the rest of his life was a “trigger” for this man but Dad said that he never complained, never seemed bitter, just knew it was best for his peace of mind that he slip quietly away that time of year and let the rest of the town have their holiday.
I was in Charleston, South Carolina last weekend, and toured the USS Yorktown (CV-10) and the USS Laffey at Patriots Point. Amazing to walk all throughout that carrier, but what really hit me was the Laffey, which took 5 kamikaze hits and three bomb strikes – in one day – and walking around in the engine compartment, etc., just brought it home, a little bit, what it must be like to serve in combat.
It must be horrifying. Thanks for the story, Peter, and the reminder how easy we all have it because other Americans are willing to defend those of us who don’t serve.
Thanks for this moving story. Both of my grandfathers were WWII vets, Navy and Army. Both have passed now and I miss them. They never talked about combat, only told the funny stories. My grandpa in the army told one story in which he and a buddy climbed up into the back of a truck during a long slog through part of France. I got the feeling they weren’t supposed to be there. Opening a crate they found cases of champagne one of the officers had picked up. My grandpa, a 19-year-old kid from Oklahoma had never tasted it. His friend assured him, “It’s good, tastes just like lemon pop.” So they each chugged down a bottle and then, feeling pretty good, tossed the empties out the back flap of the truck … where they smashed off the hood of a colonel’s jeep. They were digging latrines for a long time. Whenever he told this story or others my grandpa would laugh hard, then he would pause and his eyes would tear up – only time I ever saw him cry was when he told the funny stories of his war experience. The horrors he experienced and the buddies who never made it home all stayed right there with him his whole life. I’m grateful for all those who have given so much to give us freedom and security. May we be worthy.
Peter,
May your father have an aliyah. That is a very Jewish wish that your departed loved one has an elevation in Heaven.
I think he just got his aliyah.
Regards,
Thanks for this. Very moving, and these men went on with life without complaining.
Wonderful story, Peter. For every sailor working topside who can see what’s happening, there are probably 10 others below decks who have no idea what’s going on. They’re just doing their jobs and praying that their number isn’t next.