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JOURNAL of DONALD ANDERSON, USN

JANUARY, 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.

January 1, 1942 Thursday
Came into Balboa this morning and tied up to Oil dock. Had duty today.

WAR NEWS BULLETIN:
Admiral R. E. Ingersoll today succeeded Admiral E. J. King as Commander in Chief Atlantic Fleet.

January 2, 1942 Friday
Tied up to oil dock at Balboa. Went ashore this afternoon. Fueled ship tonight.

WAR NEWS BULLETIN:
Manila and Cavite, Phillipine Islands, fell to the Japanese today.

January 3, 1942 Saturay
Alongside of fuel dock. Went to dentist's this morning and had two teeth filled.

January 4, 1942 Sunday
At dock all day until about 1800. Got underway and went on patrol off Nicaraugua and Guatemala. Old man was so drunk he could hardly walk when he came back.

January 5, 1942 Monday
On patrol. Saw San Margarita today.

January 6, 1942 Tuesday
On patrol off Nicaragua and Guatemala.

WAR NEWS BULLETIN:
A Japanese amphibious force today occupied Brunei Bay, Borneo.

January 7, 1942 Wednesday
En route to Balboa on patrol.

WAR NEWS BULLETIN:
Today the Navy's was authorized by Congress to increase its aircraft strength from 15,000 to 27,500.

January 8, 1942 Thursday
En route to Balboa on patrol.

January 9, 1942 Friday
Arrived in Balboa. Took on fuel and supplies, equipment for advance base at Galapagos Islands and 24 passengers and then got underway for Galapagos.

January 10, 1942 Saturday
En route to Galapagos Islands with workmen to build advance base there.

January 11, 1942 Sunday
En route to Galapagos.

WAR NEWS BULLETIN:
Naval Station, Pago Pago, Samoa, was shelled by a Japanese submarine today.

Japan today declared war on the Netherlands.

The Japanese today begin an invasion of Netherlands East Indies by making landings at Tarakan and Jesselton, Borneo; Menado and Kema, Celebes.

United States naval vessels damaged:
Carrier SARATOGA (CV-3), by submarine torpedo, 500 miles southwest of Oahu, Hawaian Territory

January 12, 1942 Monday
Arrived at Galapagos this A.M. and unloaded stores for advance base. Swimming party. Got underway about 1900. Old man was drunk again.

WAR NEWS BULLETIN:
Today an Act of Congress authorized the enlisted strength of the Navy increase to 500,000.

January 13, 1942 Tuesday
En route to Balboa.

January 14, 1942 Wednesday
En route to Balboa today. Saw freighter and challenged them.

January 15, 1942 Thursday
Arrived in Balboa and tied up to Pier 15. Stayed aboard and stood by for G.L. Miller.

WAR NEWS BULLETIN:
Today the American-British-Dutch-Australian Supreme Command was established. Field Marshall Sir Archibald Wavell, British Army, assumes supreme command of all forces in area; Admiral T. C. Hart, USN, has command of naval forces under Field Marshall Wavell.

January 16, 1942 Friday
In Balboa at 15. Went ashore tonight with Johnny Fritsch.

January 17, 1942 Saturday
In Balboa at Pier 15. Went ashore again today. Bought Algebra book today.

January 18, 1942 Sunday
Got underway from Balboa at noon today for Colombia to escort a Grace liner to Panama.

WAR NEWS BULLETIN:
Today Germany, Italy, and Japan signed a new military pact in Berlin.

January 19, 1942 Monday
Arrived at Buenaventura this morning and laid to all day in wait for "Santa Lucia"

January 20, 1942 Tuesday
Laid to all day today, anchored for the night off of Buenaventura Harbor.

WAR NEWS BULLETIN:

United States naval vessels sunk:
PT-31, damaged by grounding and sunk by United States forces, Philippine Islands area, 14 d. 45' N., 120 d. 13' E.

Japanese submarine sunk:
I-124, by destroyer EDSALL (DD-219) and three Australian corvettes, off Port Darwin, Australia.

January 21, 1942 Wednesday
Got underway at noon for Panama with Santa Lucia. Sent armed guard aboard her to bring her in.

WAR NEWS BULLETIN:

United States naval vessels sunk:
Submarine S-36, damaged by grounding 20 January 1942 and sunk by United States forces, Makassar Strait, Netherlands East Indies.

United States naval vessels damaged:
Light cruiser BOISE (CL-47), by grounding, Sape Strait, Netherlands East Indies.

January 22, 1942 Thursday
Arrived in Balboa about 8AM and tied up to TRENTON at pier 18. At 3 o'clock changed berth to Pier 15 alongside TALBOT.

WAR NEWS BULLETIN:
Japanese reinforcements landed in Subic Bay area, Phillipine Islands today.

January 23, 1942 Friday
Alongside of J. FRED. Went to Band Concert in evening. - Had 00-04 watch tonight.

WAR NEWS BULLETIN:
The Japanese landed at Balikpapan, Borneo.

The Japanese now occupy Rabaul, New Britain, and land at Kieta, Bougainville, Solomon Islands.

United States naval vessels sunk:
Oiler NECHES (AO-5), by Japanese submarine torpedo, off Hawaiian Islands21 d. 01' N., 160 d. 06' W.

January 24, 1942 Saturday
Alongside of J. FRED TALBOTT. Had Captain's Inspection today. Shore patrol this afternoon.

WAR NEWS BULLETIN:
Battle of Balikpapan (Battle of Makassar Strait): Japanese Borneo invasion convoy undergoes night torpedo attack off Balikpapan, Borneo, by destroyer division (Cdr. P. H. Talbot) composed of PARROTT (DD-218), POPE (DD-225), JOHN. D. FORD (DD-228), and PAUL JONES (DD-230); four enemy transports and a patrol craft are sunk.

Today the Japanese landed at Kendari, Celebes; Kavieng, New Ireland; Subic Bay, Phillipine Islands

United States naval vessel sunk:
Submarine S-26, by collision with submarine chaser PC-460, Gulf of Panama.

United States naval vessel damaged:
Destroyer JOHN D. FORD (DD-228) by naval gunfire, Netherlands East Indies area, 12 d. 00' S., 117 d. 01' E.

Japanese naval vessel sunk:
Patrol boat No. 37, by surface craft, Makassar Strait, Netherlands East Indies, 00 d. 10' N., 118 d. 00' e.

January 25, 1942 Sunday
Alongside of J. FRED till about 0200. Got underway to look for sub the Elda rammed. Picked up message buoy - 36 men alive in middle compartment. Oil slick noticed.

US SUBMARINE S-26
PC-460 ELDA
The ELDA (PC-460) was a 173' yacht converted to a Patrol Craft for war duty. When operating with a number of submarines to guard the entrance to the Gulf of Panama, ELDA signaled that she was leaving the formation. Only one submarine received the signal, however, and when the PC turned she rammed S-26 (SS-131) in the forward torpedo room, starboard side. This incident left a very strong impression on my father, and he mentioned it several times to me, including once less than a month before his death. WAR NEWS BULLETIN:
Today a Japanese submarine shelled Midway Island.

January 26, 1942 Monday
Still trying to find exact location of sub. Picked up one more message buoy last night. Men are most likely dead by now.

WAR NEWS BULLETIN:
Today the first United States Expeditionary Force to Europe in World War II arrived in Northern Ireland.

January 27, 1942 Tuesday
En route to Balboa this afternoon after covering the territory once more. Leaving the MALLARD, WOODCOCK, SAMPSON, WARRINGTON to continue the search. Arrived in Balboa - 0200.

WAR NEWS BULLETIN:
The US Submarine SEAWOLF (SS-197) today delivered ammunition to Corregidor, Phillipine Islands, and evacuated Naval and Army pilots.

The Naval Air Station, Puunene, Maui, Hawaiian Territory, was established today.

Japanese submarine sunk:
I-173, by submarine GUDGEON (SS-211), Central Pacific area, 28 d. 24' N., 178 d. 35' E.
vb

January 28, 1942 Wednesday
In Balboa at Pier 18. Had the duty today. MALLARD located sub today but could not reach it because it was too deep.

WAR NEWS BULLETIN:
The Japanese today landed troops on Rossel Island off New Guinea.

January 29, 1942 Thursday
In Balboa at Pier 18. Went ashore and to (???) Theatro to see "Sun Valley Serenade".

WAR NEWS BULLETIN:
Japanese landed troops today at Badoeng Island and Mampawan, Celebes.

United States Coast Guard vessel sunk:
Cutter ALEXANDER HAMILTON (PG-34), sunk by German submarine torpedo, off Iceland.

January 30, 1942 Friday
In Balboa at Pier 18. Duty today.

January 31, 1942 Saturday
In Balboa, moved from Pier 18 to Pier 15 for upkeep - 2 weeks. Went ashore tonight, Payday today.

WAR NEWS BULLETIN:
Japanese land at Amboina Island, Netherlands East Indies.

MOVEMENTS OF USS BARRY, JANUARY 1942

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