Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989, April 11, 1963, Image 30

Historic Oregon Newspapers

Medford mail tribune., April 11, 1963, Image 30

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Newspaper Page Text- j THURSDAY, APRIL 11. 3 Signalman riRE BRINGS HORROR - Everyone recalls the 1941 tragedy at Pearl Harbor, but a few remember the disaster that rocked the naval bate two and a half year later. Here, seven landing ship tanks were destroyed by fire. (Editor's notai During World War II, that ware two disasters at Pearl Harbor, Thirty months altar the Japa nese bombs tell in 1941, seven Tassels were destroyed in a aeries of explosions and lirei ot unknown origin. The fol lowing account of this second, Htlle-publiclsed disaster was written by a UPI correspon dent who witnessed It. He was at the time a Navy signalman aboard LCT 35S which was damaged during the incident). By NEAL CORBETT United Press International San Francisco -flJPH- Every adult American remembers the 1941 tragedy of Pearl Portland Crash Kills Two Men Portland (UPD - Two men, including a racing driver, were killed and another rac ing driver was injured when a sports car struck a power pole in north Portland Wednesday night. The dead were Wilbcrt T. Hyde, 36, and Oran Caul, 22, both of Portland. Hyde was a racing car driver. Injured was Robert Gregg. 42, Camas, Wash., who was in fair condition at a hospital with head injuries and facial lacerations. Gregg was the 19til Northwest sprint car champion and drove both midget and regular type rac ing cars here. Witnesses said the small car went out of control on a curve and slammed into the utility pole. Electric power in the immediate area was knocked out for a time. Police said all three were thrown from the car and it was not known Immediately who was driving. Children Coddled, Eisenhower Says Indlo, Calif. -HOT- Former President Dwigin d. Elsen hower, recalling the days lie sold milk door to - door for five cents a quart, says par ents coddle their children with soil living." "Todav's lender .,,1,1 n.,.. . I papers and did other chores to Help their parcnls. ' he said Wednesday, but today's youths j grow up "In apartments or i fine homes and are not called on 10 do even Siull minor chores as mowing lawn.-. Sneaking at a Bov f Illtich, Eisenhower called lor development of ICaoersilip qualities' and said the Bov bcout.s gives the greatest promi!.c of doing the job." Medford Student Gets On Seattle Honor List Fredrich F Burich of Med ford It among 303 students on the winter quarter honor roll at Seattle university. Honor status is reserved to students who achieve a 3 5 , grade point average or better, They were jammed to the railings with com bat troops and civilians. The fire on one of the craft, pictured here, sends up black smoke while a fireboat tires to extinguish flames on another LST. (UPI) Harbor, but how many recall a disaster which rocked the Pacific naval base 30 months after the attack by Japanese bombers? Some remember - because they were there when 127 young fighting men were kill ed and 380 others Injured In a single Incident 3,000 miles from the battle lines of World War 11. A brief military news re. lease, restricted by the so curlty censorship of those crlfr leal days, noted only that seven landing craft were des troyed by fire in one of the watery fingers of Pearl Har bor on May 21, 1944. There was no mention that Court Records JUSTICE COURT dolt Hill District Donald Edward Kelly, violation of bailc rule, 925. Richard Merle Ware, violation of bailc rule. 933. David C.ayle Coinbi, violation of basic rule. 910. Wayne Ncal Green, diaoheyed atop sign. 910. Robert Theodore Van Slrkle failure to dim hcHdtishta. 97. SO suspended. Alva Edtson Mansfield, violation of basic rule. 913. Lawrence Mllon Swaanngen. no operator'a license, 9.V Kenneth Wayne .arson viola tion of basic rule. 910 Robert Moore, no signaling de vice, 9)13. Carson Henry Vebrs. violation of basic rule. 923. Joseph Anthony Schunk. viola tion of basic rule, 923 Virginia Lucille Crulkshank. dis obeyed stop sign. 913. Edward Mack Perkins, no opera tor's license. 93. William Doyle Pennington, int. proper muffler. 910. rred James LaBarre Keith, ex cessive notse. 110 Larry Douglas Ownhy. disobeyed slop sign. 920. Fred Hansen, failure to obtain Oregon operator's license. 93 Linda Diane Thames, no opera tor's license. 93. Terry Ernest Conner in.i ent roadway clearance. 910. Douglas Norton Simmons, truck speeding. 910 Paul Lew Harper, violation of basic rule. 920 Tsmnra Kay Mars, four in dri ver's seat. 913. Anthony Ganinn. violation ol basic rule. 910. Kenneth Virgle Warner, truck spredlng. 910 Martha Ester Smith, violation of basic rule. 923. John Willard Doyle Jr . violation ol hai.u- rule. $10 Martin Crystle Periled, violation of basic, rule, 923. James Edwin Sharp, truck spredlng. 9J3. William Janssrn Harms, failure lo operate on right side of high way. 93 Jacqueline Leah (Itllospey. viola tion of basic rule. 923 James Raymond llnderhlll. vto- latlon of haalc nil ITS 'is" S""ub d"obt'"d i-ienda Maxme wood, violation '" coff: Coffniau. disobeyed traffic , g oc YlTJ.V fi,Jr',h"r(1- violation Wealry John Mpndrnh.ll. viol.- "i of hMMr rule 13. l u. ,,.,.. ... I ny rnn ny motNJ Griffith. di nhi--l ..... a,n m-herl rrtward McLean, viola- tion of banc rule. $2.1 UHLAND MUNICIPAL COURT Herhert nrnehoiw Roblruon 44 tWda. Calif. . driving while under the influence of intoxicating li quor. oo. 30-day j.)) sentence uinended Ronald Loren Whtllock. violation of baaic rule tlV Ken Lae toper, violation of b atc rule w- Doloret -Belle Soota traffic alpal. Linda uukt Lorton diobe ed duobeed iranir Final Mlc ri VanBroclt. iv g p,. m itMay curfew. 'on oIUMq'u,r!',i3VJ,!,,n;,l:i.: MEDFORD MAIL TRIBUNE. MEDFORD, OHEGHn Describes Second Pearl Harbor Disaster .. ., ...h ,h. iTir.fi l,.n.l down nn too of. Another marine, attempting , behind him on the ground. I phibious ducks" sped back, brought under control the Jol- the vessels, (landing ship tanks), were jammed to the railing with combat troops and a few civilians making final preparations for an as sault on the Marianna Islands. No Report Given There was no indication that the fire was touched off by a violent explosion - nor that the flames were fed for nearly 24 hours by shuttering blasts of ammunition and high octane gasoline. And there was no report of the grim toll, which included men from all branches of the service and some civilian workmen. The Initial explosion oc curred on a humid mid-after- pended, 20-day curfew. John Shelley Rogers. Illegal pos session of liquor. 923 fine suspend ed,. 30-day curfew. CIRCUIT COURT Beryl Juanita Bowen va Robert Moore Bowen. divorce decree . Norma R. Pitman vs. Marlon G. Pitman, divorce decree. Mildred D. Parr vs. Rov B. Parr, divorce complaint Mary Elisabeth Fallon vs. Bucky Francis Fallon, annulment decree. MARKI.MiK LICENSE APPLICATION Arthur Georie Pech. box 343. Lake Creek, and Bonnie Lee Smith, box 134. Shady Cove. 3lEIIrOH.il MUNICIPAL COURT James Evan Dorland. disobeyed slop sign, 910 Miry Heih iiuusc, violation of basic rule. 910. Theodore Guneren Thompson, improper lane usage. 910 Mary Pores. Jones, violation of basic rule. 913. Fay Harvey Unruh. violation of basic rule. 923 Robert Calvin Windham, exces sive noise. 913. Charles Bryant Sanies, failure to leave Information at the scene of an accident. 923. Robert Selhy. vlolalion of basic rule, 910. Myeue las Tvun right turn. 310. Improper John Elmer Fraiee. dlsobeved slop sign, j3 William Corcoran. disobeyed traffic signal. 93 ieve uexter Root, violation of bash rule. I in James Gordon While of basic Milt tin violation Michael rulton G add is alto w'v on onewav William Arthur Corhln Hon of haHc rule. $10 viola. Loretta Rose NeNon, violaluu of bailc rule, sao Lorraine Fdlth Learn. Viola II Ol of batc rule, $10, dlioheved lrf lie Mgnel $3. Leonard Talma-lee Harrli. dis Miaron Lyn Plcard. violation of1 MUdVed'sftn Widmer, diaobev- 1 ed traffic mkm.ii $io William Hodney Speece, no on- ; erator a llcenae. $3. Georje Leslie Wataon. violation of hasir rule. $0. Clarence Walter Slr.Smn tit. 110 viiiuin excesMir Wallace Emenen rru-kirn, vto. w" V 5.!?' i -7 "... " vnw rme nil Jean Nealt , . nt ammv ruir. iu Ford Mnrru Patteraon. violation of banc rule. $10 Ralph Alexander McKay, futed lo leave information at tcene of accideni. $10. impended Thonij. Leroy bchoonover vio lation of baktc rule. $10 lXMicla Dean Harsriharier. fail UP to obtain Oregon operator's lifcnte, $0 MiMended. violation ol basic rule. Dellef Joseph Eiinann expired operator a hcenae $2 Dennis Fred Troxel improper left turn $10 Samsel Cibaon Walter, nnprop- r iop,"i,"r,,ior" LC" aitob,,'i i Berrv Jean Mom vioi .:n: .w basic rule $10 Leland Dentin Wiihima. disobc - ed traffic Minai io Jack Tvereit Dunlap. violation f banc rule $10 noon. It shattered the LSI 353, which was moored with a half dozen other vessels at Pilings about 100 yards from the beach at West Loch. The force of the blast knocked men from their feet on adjoining ships and jarred a group of other LSTs moored about 300 yeards away in the anchorage and ammunition loading area. Some carried LCTs (landing craft tanks) loaded in preparation for the 4,000-mile voyage to the Japa nese stronghold of Saipan. View Flames Off-duty navy men joined the marines and soldiers who crowded to vantage points aboard the vessels to stare at the smoke and flames billow ing from the shattered "353." I watched at first like you would watch a neighbor's house burning. Ships were side by side at their moorings and we could go from one to another. I started getting as close to shore as possible About 100 yards from shore I was among some non-swim mers who jumped into the water and grabbed a raft. Some got aboard it. I hung onto the side and we kicked and paddled it about 100 yards to shore. The troops were billeted on cots almost shoulder to should er aboard the landing ships, and any distraction offered a break in the monotony of close quarters. But their curiosity turned to horror as the survivors of the stricken vessel began pouring across the decks of the adjoining ships. Bodies Scorched Some, bleeding from jagged wounds, staggered in their ef forts to reach the ship nearest to shore - and the safety of sugar cane fields which lay beyond the beach. Others-many of whom had been working in shorts or swimming trunks - stalked stiffly by, their bodies scorch ed by the fierce heart of the blast. The marines and soldiers, who had ndt as yet been as signed emergency stations, fled for the railings. Most of the navy men were swept up in the panic. A handful of sailors aboard the LST 225 remained cool in the face of disaster - and proved that much of the hor ror that was yet to come might have been avoided. Free Ship They ran to their stations when the emergency alarm sounded, cut their ship free from the vessels on either side and ran her hard aground away from the danger area. Flames swept the main decks, but they were kept clear of the gasoline barrels on her bow and the ammunition in her tank deck. It's possible that similar action on other ships might have prevented further ex plosions - but the vast ma jority of men were concerned only with self-preservation. They fought their way to the railings and plunged into the water for the 100-yard swim to shore. Panic Grows At this point, the second LST was shattered by ex ploding ammunition. The flee ing men tumbled for cover as pieces of jagged steel rained over an area nearly 1,000 yards in diameter. The panic increased, and the surging crowd pushed swimmers and non-swimmers alike into the water. A marine sergeant shoved his way through the mass of men, toss ing reluctant non-swimmers bodily over the railing. He knew their chances of survival were better if they reached the beach than if they remained on the ship with the threat of more blasts in creasing. Some managed to hold their own in the water, but others panicked and drowned. 1 saw one man in khaki fatigues scramble to the top ot a large life raft to pull the pin which would topple it into the water. A navy officer, vainly attempting to restore order, pushed his way through Ilie crowd and warned that no abandon ship order had been ' given. ! Kicks Officer The young man in khaki Riencn me omcer In the (ace, P"I,ed thc Mn d plummeted into the water The heavv , Petition Seeks to Enlarge EP Board Eagle Point - A petition has been filed to increase the school board membership in tile Eagle Point district from five to nine members. The annual election at w hich this proposal will be ; considered and a board mcm hcr elected to (ill the one va cancy on the existing board, will be May 6 Tour people have filed (or the one position, which is for a five-vear lerm Thev r- Merlon" Bradsh.w. who was unnninlr-l lit cArvn a . ..,.-. ... , , 'unexpired term: Edmund S. Armitagc, John E. Barton and . L jrrank P. Hopewell. raft plunged down on top of him - and he never came up. His determined bid for sur- vival had failed, but the raft gave courage to many non ?...il" "Z the Jater and climbed aboard, The blast through the which tore third vessel: matched those which had come before It, and added to the terror. It sprayed nam ing gasoline, which spread swiftly across the water over taking swimmers before they could reach shore. Men who had completed the swim dived four or five deep beneath a line of amphibious tanks parked on the beach and clung to each other in terror as a wide area was again rip ped by jagged pieces of metal. The frightened men now faced another moment of de cision. The sleep path leading upward from the beach to the cane fields was just 20 yards from the tanks. But chances of survival were slim if a man was caught by the next ex plosion either in that 20 yards or on the face of the embank ment. Finally, a few sprinted across the sand and scrambled up the steep path - but there was no certainty of safety among the stumps of cane which lay before them. The field was dotted with men who had been among the first to reach the cane, but had been cut down by the flying metal of the explosions. A marine lay on his back a few yards Into the field gro tesquely kicking the stumps of his legs, which had been rip ped away by the flying re mains of a jeep engine. . Another marine, attempting I to struggie to hi, feet, couldn't understand why he had fallen. A sliver of metal about 18jfarmin2 villages in the area. ! inches long was protruding from his back. Two men half carried and half dragged a third man I through the cane stubbles. The ' entire calf of his leg flopped Dennis the Menace i m WJW VWsT? The newspaper advertiser bids for business from strength. Here are some of his trump cards. Audience: 90 million adults read a newspaper on an average day-about 86.4 of all U.S. households. Attention: people like to read advertising in liie newspaper, feel lost without ft, overwhelm ingly prefer a newspaper with advertising. Confidence: people believe in newspaper advertising, consider it factual, accurate, and trustworthy. Advertiseis agree, and last year had the contidence to invest $3.6 billion in newspaper space. If you're an advettiser, why not deal yourself a strong hand? Use newspapers. MORE PEOPLE 00 MORE BUSINESS THROUGH NEWSPAPERS , behind him on ine grouno I By now, word o he di, Harhor and the small 1 Sugar workers and their 1 families fanned out through i " VK,C"' oanaages. Ambulances and huge am- ICWT WWNA YA ANYHOW.' 1 r trump hand MEDFORDfiWTRIBUNE P"'"' " the beach. Some went out of I control and rolled down the I steep banks ; Regardless of how desper ately the men along the roads needed medical care, tnere was no chance of flagging down the speeding emergency vehicles. They were jammed with casualties from t h e beach, and any delay might cost men their lives. Fire Spreads Meanwhile, the fire had spread to the other group of ships moored far behind those shattered by the earlier blasts, and fire boats from Pearl Harbor had moved into the holocaust. The fire-fighting crews dis played unbelievable courage. One boat pushed its bow right between two flaming vessels and sprayed water on both -without regard for the danger that all three might be blown to bits at any time. Another crew put a line aboard a blaz ing ship and towed it out of the area. But more than seven hours after the original explosion, there was little evidence of the valiant efforts of the fire crews. Losses Listed Shortly after 9 p.m., anoth er ship erupted like a Ha waiian volcano, lighting the entire disaster area. Survivors who had returned from the farm communities to watch the fiery night display fought for cover amid the coral - al though well out of range of the blast. The fires finally were brought under control the fol lowing day. But seven LSTs were destroyed, two others were burned, the merchant ship Joseph B. Francis was scarred by flames - and 407 men were dead or injured. There were only rumors and speculation among the survivors as to what may have : caused the tragedy Some claimed the acetylene torch of a civilian welder came into contact with ex plosives aboard the "353." But, there were no civilians among the dead, and it's un likely that the welder would have survived the original blast in that case. Others said Tokyo Rose, in her propaganda broadcasts from Tokyo, recently had mentioned that an American assault force was building up in Hawaii - and warned that it might never leave Pearl Harbor. Not Sabotage Official Navy Department reports describe the incident as "an explosion of undeter mined origin." However, they add that the blast "was not caused by sabotage." But there is no doubt as to the toll. The navy list shows: Killed - 27 (8 army, 11 navy and 8 marine corps). Missing and declared dead - 100 (53 army, 21 navy and 26 marine corps). Injured - 380 (56 army, 143 navy, 159 marine corps, 3 coast guard and 19 civilians). And the men and ships which survived? They were hastily reorgan ized, reamed and refitted -and stormed ashore at Saipan on schedule 23 days later. hi.