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JOURNAL of DONALD ANDERSON, USN

December, 1942

Below is the journal my father kept during the years of 1941/42. I found it in his effects after his death in April of 1998, along with a series of photos that he took during that time period. I am publishing this account on the Web because it is a wonderful way to get to know the man who was my father, and the hundreds of men like him who manned the ships known as Four Stackers. Words in black type are transcribed directly from the journal. Where I deem it useful and appropriate I will include background data in other colors, and photos from his collection.

December 1, 1942 Tuesday
In sick bay.

WAR NEWS BULLETIN:
The US NAVY's Fleet Air Wing 15 was commissioned today at Norfolk, Virginia, for service at Port Lyautey, French Morocco.
United States naval vessel sunk:
Heavy cruiser NORTHAMPTON (CA-26), as result of torpedo damaged received at Battle of Tassafaronga yesterday, 09 d. 12' S., 159 d. 50' E.

December 2, 1942 Wednesday
In sick bay.

WAR NEWS BULLETIN:
United States Naval Operating Base, and United States Naval Air Facility, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, were established today.

December 3, 1942 Thursday
In sick bay.

WAR NEWS BULLETIN:
Japanese destroyers, en route to Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, were attacked today by US aircraft from Henderson Field, Guadalcanal; one destroyer is damaged.

December 4, 1942 Friday
In sick bay.

December 5, 1942 Saturday
In sick bay.

WAR NEWS BULLETIN:
United States naval vessel sunk:
Ocean tug GREBE (ATO-134), by grounding,south of Fiji Island, 19 d. 49' s., 178 d. 13' W.

December 6, 1942 Sunday
In sick bay.

December 7, 1942 Monday
In sick bay.

WAR NEWS BULLETIN:
Today is the one-year anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

Japanese destroyers, carrying reinforcements to Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands,were attacked by US aircraft from Henderson Field, Guadalcanal today; two destroyers were damaged.

December 8, 1942 Tuesday
In sick bay.

WAR NEWS BULLETIN:
US PT (motor torpedo) boats attacked and turned back Japanese destroyers attempting to reinforce Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands.

December 9, 1942 Wednesday
In sick bay.

WAR NEWS BULLETIN:
US Aircraft from Henderson Field, Guadalcanal, today began what will become virtually daily attacks on Japanese installations at Munda Point, New Georgia, Solomon Islands.
Japanese submarine sunk:
I-3, by PY-59, off Cape Esperance, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands.

December 10, 1942 Thursday
In sick bay.

WAR NEWS BULLETIN:
German submarine sunk:
U-611, by naval land-based aircraft (VP-84), North Atlantic area, 58 d. 09' N., 22 d. 44' W.

December 11, 1942 Friday
In sick bay.

WAR NEWS BULLETIN:
Japanese destroyers today were attacked north of New Georgia, Solomon Islands, by US Naval aircraft from Henderson Field, Guadalcanal.

December 12, 1942 Saturday
In sick bay.

WAR NEWS BULLETIN:
US PT (motor torpedo) boats attacked Japanese destroyers off Cape Esperance, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands; one Japanese destroyer is sunk.
United States naval vessel sunk:
PT-44, by naval gunfire, Guadalcanal area, Solomon Islands, 09 d. 10' S., 159 d. 45' E.

Japanese naval vessel sunk:
Destroyer TERUTSUKI, by motor torpedo boats, off Cape Esperance, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands.

December 13, 1942 Sunday
In sick bay.

December 14, 1942 Monday
In sick bay.

WAR NEWS BULLETIN:
US Naval Fleet Air Command, Noumea, New Caledonia under Rear Admiral Mark A. Mitscher, was ordered established today.
The US submarine SUNFISH (SS-281) laid mines today in the entrance to Iseno Umi, Japan.

December 15, 1942 Tuesday
In sick bay.

WAR NEWS BULLETIN:
German submarine sunk:
U-626, by Coast Guard cutter INGHAM (PC-35), North Atlantic area, 56 d. 46' N., 27 d. 12' W.

December 16, 1942 Wednesday
Sick Bay

WAR NEWS BULLETIN:
Japanese submarine sunk:
I-15, by naval land-based aircraft (VS-55), Solomon Islands area, 09 d. 10' S., 159 d. 30' E.

December 17, 1942 Thursday
Sick Bay

WAR NEWS BULLETIN:
US Submarines DRUM (SS-228) and SUNFISH (SS-281) today laid mines in Japanese home waters.
United States Coast Guard vessel sunk:
Converted trawler NATSEK (PG-170), foundered, Belle Isle Strait, Newfoundland, Canada.

December 18, 1942 Friday
Sick Bay. Transfer back to ship today. Ship is in Mt. Hope for a few repairs. Duty.

WAR NEWS BULLETIN:
Japanese naval vessel sunk:
Light cruiser TENRYU, by submarine ALBACORE (SS-218), Bismarck Sea, 05 d. 11' S., 145 d. 57' E.

December 19, 1942 Saturday
First day's work for the last 20 days. In Mt. Hope till 1600. Moved to fuel dock, Christobal. Had duty.

December 20, 1942 Sunday
Underway this AM with convoy.

WAR NEWS BULLETIN:
The US submarine TRIGGER (SS-237) laid mines today in Japanese home waters.
United States naval vessel damaged:
Gunboat TULSA (PG-22), by grounding, eastern New Guinea area, 10 d. 15 S., 149 d. 27' E.

Japanese submarine sunk:
I-4, by submarine SEADRAGON (ss-194), New Britain area, 05 d. 02' S., 152 d. 33' E.

December 21, 1942 Monday
Enroute to Gtmo.

December 22, 1942 Tuesday
Enroute to Gtmo.

WAR NEWS BULLETIN:
Japanese naval vessel sunk:
Patrol boat No. 35, by submarine GREENLING (SS-213), Solomon Islands area, 05 d. 05' S., 156 d. 04' E.

December 23, 1942 Wednesday
Enroute to Gtmo.

December 24, 1942 Thursday
Arrived off Gtmo. Saw convoy into harbor then went to Santiago. Went on liberty tonight.

WAR NEWS BULLETIN:
Japanese troop-laden barges today were attacked heavily by aircraft from Henderson Field, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands.
United States naval vessels sunk:
Transports FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE (AP-70) and THURSTON (AP-77), by collision, North African area, 34 d. 41' N., 07 d. 25' W.

December 25, 1942 Christmas Day, Friday
Tied up in Santiago till 1400. Underway to Gtmo. Fueled and provisioned ship.

I can't help but notice that there is absolutely no mention of Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, or Christmas in the 1942 Journal entries. These were always special days on ships that I served on, and apparently some notice was taken on BARRY in 1941. As you can see, however, the operational pace at this time, and the constant awareness of the war, pushed these holidays into the background. There was work to be done, and one day was the same as any other for doing it.

December 26, 1942 Saturday
Underway this AM for Panama with convoy of 8 ships.

WAR NEWS BULLETIN:
Japanese transports at Wickham Anchorage, New Georgia,Solomon Islands, were attacked by naval aircraft; strike is to be repeated on 29 December.

December 27, 1942 Sunday
Enroute to Panama.

December 28, 1942 Monday
Enroute to Panama.

December 29, 1942 Tuesday

WAR NEWS BULLETIN:
United States naval vessel sunk:
High speed minesweeper WASMUTH (DMS-15), by explosion of two of her own depth charges, during gale in Aleutian Islands area.

December 30, 1942 Wednesday

WAR NEWS BULLETIN:
The US Submarine SEARAVEN (SS-196) landed agents on the southern coast of Ceram Island, Netherlands East Indies today.

December 31, 1942 Thursday

WAR NEWS BULLETIN:
The US Aircraft Carrier ESSEX (CV-9) was commissioned at Portsmouth, VA today.

MOVEMENTS OF USS BARRY, DECEMBER 1942

I'll continue to add an entry to the journal everyday. Please bookmark this site and visit again to read what develops.