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| Back to The Beginning |
| Back to February 1942 |
JOURNAL of DONALD ANDERSON, USN
MARCH, 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. |  |
March 1, 1942 Sunday
Still in bed and can't get up. Have bad headache today.
WAR NEWS BULLETIN:The Battle of Sunda Strait which commenced shortly before midnight 28 February 1942 continued today. After the Battle of the Java Sea (see 27 February 1942) Allied vessels heading for Sunda Strait were attacked by a superior Japanese surface force. One United States cruiser, 1 Australian cruiser, and 1 Netherlands destroyer were sunk. Four Japanese transports were destroyed.
The American-British-Dutch-Australian Command was dissolved today.
United States naval vessels sunk:
- Heavy Cruiser HOUSTON (CA-30), by torpedoes and gunfire, Sunda Strait, Java Sea, 05 d. 50' S., 105 D. 55' E.
- Destroyer POPE (DD-225), by dive bomber, and surface gunfire, Java Sea, 04 d. 00' S., 111 d. 30' E.
- Destroyer EDSALL(DD-219) and PILLSBURY (DD-227), by naval gunfire, south of Christmas Island, 14 d. 30' S., 106 d. 30' E.
- Oiler PECOS (AO-6), by dive bomber, south of Christmas Island, 14 d. 27' S., 106 d. 11' E.
German submarine sunk:
- U-656, by naval land-based aircraft (VP-82), south of Newfoundland, 46 d. 15' N., 53 d. 15' W.
March 2, 1942 Monday
Feeling better today, but can't get up yet.
WAR NEWS BULLETIN:03/02 Mon. Today the Navy established the Antisubmarine Warfare Unit, Atlantic Fleet, at Boston, Mass. Japanese troops land at Zamboanga, Mindanao, Phillipine Islands
March 3, 1942 Tuesday
Still in bed at Coco Solo. French went back to duty today.
WAR NEWS BULLETIN:
United States naval vessels sunk:
- Submarine PERCH (SS-176), damaged by depth charges and surface gunfire, scuttled by crew in Java Sea.
- Gunboat ASHEVILLE (PG-12), by naval gunfire, south of Java, Netherlands East Indies area, 12 d. 33' S., 111 d. 35' E.
March 4, 1942 Wednesday
In dispensary at Coco Solo. Survey patients are getting ready to leave. C.T. Yuken from Camden Reserves is going back.
WAR NEWS BULLETIN:Today aircraft from a US carrier task force under Vice Admiral 'BULL' Halsey bombed Japanese installations on Marcus Island in the Pacific.
Japanese seaplanes raided Oahu, Territory of Hawaii; but no damage was suffered.
March 5, 1942 Thursday
Still in bed but feeling pretty good.
March 6, 1942 Friday
Still in bed. Received a letter from Doris today and wrote an answer to her.
March 7, 1942 Saturday
Still in bed. Should get up tomorrow.
WAR NEWS BULLETIN:United States naval vessels sunk:
- Submarine SHARK (SS-174), Pacific Ocean area, reported as presumed lost.
March 8, 1942 Sunday
Got up today, had stitches removed from operation. Received two cards - one from Doris and one from Walter.
WAR NEWS BULLETIN:Japanese forces today invaded Lae and Salamaua, New Guinea.
The Japanese now occupy Rangoon, Burma.
March 9, 1942 Monday
Up and around now but not feeling like myself. Gall??? came in today with broken foot.
WAR NEWS BULLETIN:US Naval Air Transport Service Squadron (VR-1) was commissioned today at Norfolk, Va., for operations in Atlantic area.
Java surrendered to the Japanese.
March 10, 1942 Tuesday
Feeling better today. Still in Hospital.
WAR NEWS BULLETIN:Today aircraft from US carriers LEXINGTON (CV-2) and YORKTOWN (CV-5) bombed Japanese shipping at Salamaua and Lae, New Guinea.
The Japanese invaded Finschhafen, New Guinea.
March 11, 1942 Wednesday
Still in hospital. Feeling better. Had incision cut open again to get blood out.
WAR NEWS BULLETIN:General Douglas MacArthur and Rear Admiral Rockwell left Luzon, Phillipine Islands, by motor torpedo boat for Mindanao, Phillipine Islands.
March 12, 1942 Thursday
Still at dispensary, Coco Solo. "Camel Caravan" at Sub base today. Got haircut this afternoon, then went for a walk.
WAR NEWS BULLETIN:United States forces arrived in New Caledonia to establish a base at Noumea.
President Roosevelt, by executive order, today combined the duties of Commander in Chief United States Fleet and Chief of Naval Operations.
March 13, 1942 Friday
Still in dispensary at Coco Solo. Deen, Hamel, Weber and Fritch came in to see me tonight.
WAR NEWS BULLETIN:United States naval vessel sunk:
- PT-32, by scuttling, Philippine Islands area, 10 d. 58' N., 121 d. 12' E.
March 14, 1942 Saturday
In dispensary at Coco Solo. Can go to mess hall for chow now. BARRY went to sea this morning.
WAR NEWS BULLETIN:Amphibious Force, Atlantic Fleet (Rear Admiral R. M. Brainard) was established today.
March 15, 1942 Sunday
At dispensary in Coco Solo. Ready to go back to duty but they won't let me go yet.
WAR NEWS BULLETIN:United States Coast Guard vessel sunk:
- Tender ACACIA (AGL-200), by German submarine, south of Haiti.
German submarine sunk:
- U-503, by naval land-based aircraft (VP-82), North Atlantic area, 46 d. 50' N., 48 d. 50' W.
March 16, 1942 Monday
Still in Dispensary. BARRY is supposed to go to New Orleans and I'm afraid I won't get back in time.
March 17, 1942 Tuesday
Discharged from dispensary today to go to duty. Went to Section Base, Christobal to wait till BARRY comes in.
WAR NEWS BULLETIN:The United States Naval Forces, Europe was established today.
The United States, in agreement with Allied governments, assumed responsibility for the strategic defense of the entire Pacific Ocean.
March 18, 1942 Wednesday
At Section Base waiting for BARRY. Left Section Base at 1900 to go back to BARRY. Wrote letters tonight to Dot, Doris and Rose. Payday.
WAR NEWS BULLETIN:A US Naval force under Rear Admiral J. W. Wilcox, USN, including 2 battleships, 1 carrier, 2 cruisers, and 8 destroyers was ordered to Great Britain to join British Home Fleet.
March 19, 1942 Thursday
Went ashore at 2 O'clock his afternoon. Got back to the ship at 10 O'clock.
March 20, 1942 Friday
Got underway this A.M. on Pan. Nav. Coast. Frontier Patrol. Are in Sea Lanes - E. Coast to Panama.
WAR NEWS BULLETIN:The Battleship South Dakota (BB-57) was commissioned today at New York, N. Y.
March 21, 1942 Saturday
Patrolling sea lanes to P.C. Weather is pretty rough, a good many are seasick.
March 22, 1942 Sunday
On patrol off Panama Canal. Went into station ship and turned around to go back out on patrol again. Fairly calm today.
March 23, 1942 Monday
Heading N.E. on Patrol off Panama Canal.
WAR NEWS BULLETIN:The Japanese today occuped the Andaman Islands in the Bay of Bengal.
March 24, 1942 Tuesday
On patrol.
March 25, 1942 Wednesday
On patrol. Sunk large oil tank floating in water. Passed very near St. Andrew's Island where Grandfather Battle was buried.
March 26, 1942 Thursday
Came into Christobal this A.M. and tied up to pier 6A. Duty today.
WAR NEWS BULLETIN:Today Admiral E. J. King relieved Admiral H. R. Stark as Chief of Naval Operations. Admiral King is now Commander in Chief United States Fleet and Chief of Naval Operations. His principal assistants are Vice Admiral F. J. Horne, Vice Chief of Naval Operations, and Vice Admiral R. Willson, Chief of Staff.
The Commander Eastern Sea Frontier is given operational control of certain Army Air Force units for antisubmarine patrol duty in the Atlantic.
United States naval vessel sunk:
- Miscellaneous auxiliary ATIK, by submarine torpedo, 36 d. 00' N., 70 d. 00' W.
March 27, 1942 Friday
In Christobal at Pier 6A. Went ashore tonight, went to movies at Christobal Clubhouse, and to sick bay at Coco Solo.
March 28, 1942 Saturday
In Christobal. Duty today. Stayed aboard and wrote to Doris, Ruth Abik and Mrs. Newel.
March 29, 1942 Sunday
Got underway this morning to pick up convoy.
WAR NEWS BULLETIN:Marines today arrived at Efate, New Hebrides.
March 30, 1942 Monday
Enroute to relieve Bittle and Sturtevant on Convoy escort from Orleans.
WAR NEWS BULLETIN:The Joint Chiefs of Staff today ordered the Pacific Ocean divided into two commands: Pacific Ocean Areas under Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, and Southwest Pacific Area under General Douglas MacArthur.
A Pacific War Council representing United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Netherlands, and China was established today in Washington, D. C., to plan war policy.
Christmas Island is now occupied by Japanese forces.
March 31, 1942 Tuesday
Picked up convoy this afternoon and headed back for Panama.
WAR NEWS BULLETIN:Commander of All Forces Aruba and Curacao, Netherlands West Indies, is established under Rear Admiral J. B. Oldendorf, USN.
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This page, and all contents, are Copyright (C) 2000 by Kenn Anderson,Sr., Scranton, PA. (USA)