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JOURNAL of DONALD ANDERSON, USN

October, 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.

October 1, 1942 Thursday
In Christobal till noon. Got underway to look for subs.

WAR NEWS BULLETIN:
Advanced Group, Amphibious Forces, Atlantic Fleet, was today redesignated as Amphibious Forces, Europe, under the Commander United States Naval Forces Europe (Admiral H. R. Stark).

October 2, 1942 Friday
At sea looking for subs. Got word this evening to steam to port.

WAR NEWS BULLETIN:
US Marines today occupied Funafuti, Ellice Islands.
German submarine sunk:
U-512, by Army aircraft, off French Guiana,06 d. 50' N., 52 d. 25' W.

October 3, 1942 Saturday
Arrived in Christobal this A.M. Went ashor this afternoon to get my glasses. Payday this A.M.

October 4, 1942 Sunday
In Christobal. Went ashore today.

October 5, 1942 Monday
Underway this noon with convoy for Gtmo. Have A.P. reporter on board.

WAR NEWS BULLETIN:
Carrier-based US aircraft under direction of Rear Admiral G. D. Murrary today bombed the Buin-Tonolei area and Faisi, Bougainville, Solomon Islands.

October 6, 1942 Tuesday
Enroute to Gtmo. Working in aft. hold - got sick from acetylene torch.

October 7, 1942 Wednesday
Still on Sick List - enroute to Gtmo.

October 8, 1942 Thursday
Enrote to Gtmo. with convoy.

October 9, 1942 Friday
Arrived in Gtmo this afternoon; 8-12 watch tonight.

October 10, 1942 Saturday
Tied up in Gtmo. Shifted berths today. Had liberty but I stayed aboard.

October 11, 1942 Sunday
Tied up in Gtmo. Had duty today.

WAR NEWS BULLETIN:
Battle of Cape Esperance commenced tonight and continued through tomorrow, 12 October.
Surface forces under Rear Admiral N. Scott attacked enemy cruisers and destroyers headed for Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, on the "Tokyo Express."

Two United States cruisers and two destroyers were damaged. One Japanese destroyer was sunk; two cruisers and one destroyer were damaged.

United States naval vessels damaged:
Heavy cruiser SALT LAKE CITY (CA-25), by naval gunfire, Battle of Cape Esperance.
Light cruiser BOISE(CL-47), by naval gunfire, Battle of Cape Esperance.
Destroyers DUNCAN (DD-485), by naval gunfire, Battle of Cape Esperance.
FARENHOLT (DD-491), by naval gunfire, Battle of Cape Esperance.

Japanese naval vessel sunk:
Destroyer FUBUKI, by surface craft, off Savo Island.

October 12, 1942 Monday
Enroute to Panama.

WAR NEWS BULLETIN:
United State vessel sunk:
Destroyer DUNCAN (DD-485), by naval gunfire, off Savo Island.

Japanese naval vessels sunk:
Cruiser FURUTAKA, by surface craft, off Savo Island.
Destroyer NATSUGUMO, by Naval and Marine aircraft, off Savo Island.
Destroyer MURAKUMO, by Naval and Marine aircraft, off Savo Island.

October 13, 1942 Tuesday
Enroute to Panama.

WAR NEWS BULLETIN:
Today the US 1st Marine Division was reinforced by 164th Infantry Regiment of Americal Division, United States Army; this is the first major unit to reach Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands.

October 14, 1942 Wednesday
Enroute to Panama.

WAR NEWS BULLETIN:
Motor torpedo boats today engaged Japanese destroyers screening battleships and cruisers bombarding Henderson Field, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands.

October 15, 1942 Thursday
Enroute to Panama.

WAR NEWS BULLETIN:
The United States Submarine Base, Fremantle-Perth, Australia, was established today.

Patrol Wing 14 is commissioned at San Diego, Calif., for operations in Western Sea Frontier.

United States naval vessel sunk:
Destroyer MEREDITH (DD-434), by aircraft torpedo, off San Cristobal, Solomon Islands.

October 16, 1942 Friday
Arrived in Christobal with convoy. Went ashore tonight.

WAR NEWS BULLETIN:
A US carrier task force, under Rear Admiral G. D. Murray, today struck Japanese troops on Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, and enemy seaplanes at Rekata Bay, Santa Isabel, Solomon Islands.

The US submarine THRESHER (SS-200) laid mines today in northern Gulf of Siam.

United States naval vessel damaged:
Seaplane tender MCFARLAND (AVD-14), by dive bombers, Solomon Islands area, 09 d. 24' S., 160 d. 02' E.

Japanese naval vessel sunk:
Destroyer OBORO, by Army aircraft, Aleutian Islands area.

October 17, 1942 Saturday
Got underway at 1300 for Gtmo. Bay.

October 18, 1942 Sunday
Enroute to Gtmo. with convoy.

WAR NEWS BULLETIN:
Vice Admiral W. F. Halsey relieved Vice Admiral R. L. Ghormley today as Commander, South Pacific Area and South Pacific Force.

October 19, 1942 Saturday
Enroute to Gtmo. with convoy. Wrote letters today to Rose and Doris.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Rose was Donald's sister. Doris later became Donald's wife, and my mother.

WAR NEWS BULLETIN:
US Submarine GAR (SS-206) laid mines in the northern Gulf of Siam.

United States naval vessel sunk:
Destroyer O'BRIEN (DD-415), en route to United States for battle repairs, by breaking in two, off Samoa, 13 d. 30' S., 171 d. 18' E.

October 20, 1942 Sunday
Enroute to Gtmo with convoy. Off of Jamaica all day today.

WAR NEWS BULLETIN:
United States naval vessel damaged:
Heavy cruiser CHESTER (CA-27), by submarine torpedo, between San Cristobal, Solomon Islands and Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides,13 d. 31 S., 163 d. 17' E.

October 21, 1942 Monday
Arrived in Gtmo with convoy. Left Gtmo and went to Santiago for liberty. Had duty 20-24 watch. Went ashore at midnight AWOL. Mucho bessimo liberty!

WAR NEWS BULLETIN:
United States naval vessel damaged:
Destroyer GRAYSON (DD-435), by collision, Solomon Islands area, 12 d. 08' S., 161 d. 04' E.

October 22, 1942 Tuesday
Underway again this A.M. Slept til noon. Arrived in Gtmo. this afternoon.

WAR NEWS BULLETIN:
Today the US Navy established a Naval Air Facility at Otter Point, Alaska.

October 23, 1942 Wednesday
Underway this A.M. with convoy to Panama.

October 24, 1942 Thursday
Enroute to Panama.

October 25, 1942 Friday
Enroute to Panama.

WAR NEWS BULLETIN:
The US submarine WHALE (SS-239) laid mines off Honshu, Japan, at the entrance to the Inland Sea today.

The US submarine AMBERJACK (SS-219), today landed Army personnel and supplies at Tulagi, Solomon Islands.

United States naval vessel sunk:
Tug SEMINOLE (AT-65), by naval gunfire, off Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands.

United States naval vessels damaged:
Destroyer HUGHES (DD-410), accidentally by United States naval gunfire, Solomon Islands area, 08 d. 38' S., 166 d. 41' E.
High speed minesweeper ZANE (DMS-14), by naval gunfire, Sealark Channel off Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands.

Japanese naval vessel sunk:
Light cruiser YURA, damaged by Naval, Marine, and Army aircraft, off Santa Isabel, Solomon Islands, and sunk by own forces.

October 26, 1942 Saturday
Convoy entered harbor but we stayed out. Got contact at quarter of 12 - dropped 6 charges. Believe to have either sunk or disabled sub.

WAR NEWS BULLETIN:
The Battle of Santa Cruz Islands was joined today as carrier task forces under Rear Admiral T. C. Kinkaid and Rear Admiral G. D. Murray closed a numerically superior Japanese force; heavy damage was inflicted on United States forces but immediate Japanese movement toward Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, was checked.

Battle of Henderson Field, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, ended today as US Marines repulsed Japanese land and air attacks. United States naval vessels damaged, Battle of Santa Cruz Islands: Carrier ENTERPRISE (CV-6), by dive bomber. Carrier HORNET (CV-8), by air attack. Battleship SOUTH DAKOTA (BB-57), by dive bomber. Light cruiser SAN JUAN (CL-54), by dive bomber. Destroyer PORTER (DD-356), by submarine torpedo, and sunk by United States forces. Destroyer SMITH (DD-378), by suicide bomber. Destroyer HUGHES (dd-410), by collision.

October 27, 1942 Sunday
Entered port this A.M. Tied up to Pier 6A Christobal. Went ashore this afternoon.

WAR NEWS BULLETIN:
United States naval vessel sunk:
Carrier HORNET (CV-8), by dive bombers, torpedo bombers, and destroyer torpedoes,08 d. 38' S., 166 d. 43' E.

United States naval vessels damaged:
Battleship SOUTH DAKOTA (BB-57) and destroyer MAHAN (DD-364), by collision in Solomon Islands area.

October 28, 1942 Monday
Tied up to pier 6A in Christobal. Duty tonight.

October 29, 1942 Tuesday
Underway this A.M. to operate with submarines on practice runs. Back into Christobal tonight.

WAR NEWS BULLETIN:
The US Submarine GRENADIER (SS-210) laid mines today in the Tonkin Gulf, off French Indochina.

October 30, 1942 Wednesday
Operating with BORIE and sub again today.

WAR NEWS BULLETIN:
A US cruiser and destroyer force today bombarded Japanese positions at Point Cruz, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands.

Japanese land second invasion force at Attu, Aleutian Islands.

October 31, 1942 Thursday
Went ashore to celebrate my birthday and Clark's. Took Carman, Clark and myself.

MOVEMENTS OF USS BARRY, OCTOBER 1942

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