January 13, 2007
Gratuitous Historickal Posting - Close To Home Division
I always knew in a vague way that my mother's elder brother was a naval flyboy in the Korean War, but I just recently found out that, in fact, he served aboard the U.S.S. Antietam.
Here's a summary of Antietam's role in the war:
The Antietam remained in reserve at Alameda, Ca. until communist forces from the north invaded South Korea in the summer of 1950. She began reactivation preparation on December 6th and went back into commission on January 17, 1951 with Captain George J. Dufek in command. Initially the carrier conducted shakedown training and carrier qualifications along the California coast, first out of Alameda and then out of San Diego. She made one voyage to Pearl Harbor and back to San Diego in July and August before departing the latter port on September 8th and heading for the Far East. The Antietam arrived in the Far East later that fall and by late November began the only combat deployment of her career. During that tour she made four cruises with Task Force 77 in the combat zone off the coast of Korea. In between fighting assignments she returned to Yokosuka, Japan. During each of those periods her air group carried out a variety of missions in support of United Nations forces combatting North Korean aggression. Those missions included combat air patrol, logistics interdiction (particularly against railroad and highway traffic,) reconnaissance antisubmarine patrols and night heckler missions. Between late Novermber 1951 and mid March 1952 the Antietam's air group flew nearly 6,000 sorties of all types. She returned to Yokosuka on March 21, 1952 at the conclusion of her fourth cruise with TF 77 to begin preparations for her voyage back to the United States.
This meshes with family lore which says that Uncle's plane (he was a rear-seater of some sort) blew up a North Korean ammunition train one time. Later, he was injured when he had to bail out and spent a fair amount of time in a Japanese hospital.
Posted by Robert at January 13, 2007 10:16 AM | TrackBackMy father once had to spend a fair amount of time in a Japanese hospital too. But it wasn't for anything so noble. He has long suffered from a James Bond complex and one day it finally almost got him. He was commuting from his home to his office in downtown Tokyo (in his mid-50's I might add) when he was pancaked by a taxi cab going 70 miles per hour through the Ginza shopping district. We were hoping at the time, his next wife would be a demure Japanese nurse but the hospitals don't really allow the nurses to care for the patients. The unmarried girls from his office kept a constant vigil, bringing food and whatnot. Unfortunately for us, he drew from one of them.
Tell you Missus, she's lucky you only drive a Wrangler....
Posted by: Mrs. Peperium at January 13, 2007 10:57 AMI'm sorry. I left out that he was commuting on his motorcycle to his office in downtown Tokyo. The motorcycle was his preferred method as traffic was so congested in Tokyo and he is so impatient that it allowed him to wiggle through the shoulders of the road and up on to the sidewalks if need be.
Posted by: Mrs. Peperium at January 13, 2007 11:01 AMMy dear Mrs. P, I've noticed an interesting theme in your postings of late, namely the role of modes of travel in wooing the attentions of the opposite sex.
Perhaps you should consider writing a book. May I suggest the title, "Transports Of Passion"?
Oh, I slay me.
Posted by: Robbo the LB at January 13, 2007 07:21 PMRobbo, this is quite interesting. My father served as one of Antietam's USMC detachment. My mom recently received a number of photos dad took on board Antietam from his sister, including one that may be of James Michener, who dad was assigned to as a sort of minder while he was aboard to research what eventually became "The Bridges at Toko-Ri." Dad had some interesting stories about Michener. There is also a pretty neat picture of what I think is the ship's CO in the Marine mess on the occasion of the USMC Birthday in 1951 or 53. He eventually went on to become a US Navy officer. I'm trying to get all this stuff from my mother to scan. When I do, I'll get them up and post them. I'll let you know.
Posted by: Chef Mojo at January 14, 2007 01:05 AMSpooky. This might interest you.
http://chefmojo.typepad.com/chef_mojo/2007/01/forever_young.html
Posted by: Chef Mojo at January 14, 2007 01:53 AM
Image courtesy of the lovely and talented 