This is the story of two gun crews...bluejackets who stuck by their guns on June 4, 1942 in the Battle of Midway. I was battery officer on Mount 3, just aft of the Island structure. I was very proud of my crew. I regret now that I never told them so. June 4 came, bringing one of those days that made the war seem so far away. It was clear, crisp and cool and the sun shone brightly; it was hard to believe that such a day was meant for bloodshed.
"General Quarters" (Battle Stations) sounded at about 0800 when we received the report that Midway Island was under air attack. The beginning had come. The Gunnery Officer's voice over the speaks saying, "Enemy planes approaching starboard beam." Far out over the sea we saw the approach of the aircraft. This was the enemy. They were coming in fast and as I saw them silhouetted against a large, fluffy white cloud, they looked like a swarm of bees.
We were ready. We were glad that the waiting was over and the time had come. A few seconds later we were jolted by two explosions. [Yorktown's speed was 15 knots] Almost instantly those precious 15 knots were lost. We listed heavily to port, with our guns still blazing away. We were cutting them to ribbons. The Jap torpedo planes were coming very close, about 200 yards and closing; two were flying parallel to the whip on the port side, afire from nose to tail. One of these turned to fly across the bow, and I saw the rear gunner shaking his fist at us. He didn't shake it for long, neither did he strafe for long. The other one crashed about the same time, for I remember both of them lying burning on the sea together.
The sky was turning black from anti aircraft fire but on they came. I glanced over my crew. It was to be our last fight together but none of us realized it. I saw those faces which I had seen so many times behind the battery. They were grim and determined.
Moments passed. then I heard the word, "Diving attack starboard beam." Yes they were coming straight for us right out for the cloud. From then on it was smoke, flame and tracer bullets. The explosive bullets were blowing our enemy apart. The Japanese bomb came loose from the plane...it fell toward us! The plane that dropped the bomb was gone so we merely shifted our fire to the next plane. We continued firing. Then that bomb hit.
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I don't remember much for the next few seconds. I was stunned, dazed and knocked down. I found myself back up against the splinter shield, my legs tangled beneath me, my helmet and pistol knocked off and my clothes torn open. It seemed that fire was all around me and the smoke made things worse. Finally I was able to regain my senses and stood up. The gun had ceased firing but I heard others faintly. My ears were ringing. The sight that met my eyes was appalling. The complete gun crew was down. It seemed strange and unbelievable to see them in a heap like this. I had never expected to see them that way. One sailor was lying on top of the rest, badly hit. I didn't want to know who he was.
I climbed back up to the mount. The guns were firing again. I saw two men behind the four guns, standing over the fallen crew. Smith was firing one of the guns by himself. His back and legs were bleeding; from the amount of blood I knew he was badly wounded.
Chief Gunner's Mate Noland had been hit in the left wrist and both legs. Still, he was feeding ammunition and was firing the other two guns with his good hand, and even correcting damages to the gun itself. The other gun was out of commission.
As suddenly as it started, the firing stopped and all was quiet again. There wasn't a Jap left. My main concern was to get my men to the dressing station, not from our mount. I tried to lift Johnson, but he proved too heavy for me; so I had to drag him over to the edge of the gun platform and with the help of a bluejacket, brought him down to the flight deck.
I went back to the flight deck. The ship had no speed on her now. She was dead in the water as a result of a direct bomb hit on the intakes.
It was now, for the first time, that I actually know what had happened. I looked around me and in a few seconds saw the entire scene. One bomb had hit about fifteen yards from us on the flight deck, just opposite No. 2 elevator on the starboard side, exploding on contact. Dead and wounded Yorktown crewmen lay everywhere and debris was scattered all about. There was still a fire burning around the mounts.
Eventually we reached 15 knots. We worked cleaning and repairing the guns and getting ready for another attack. We did not have long to wait before it came. Japanese torpedo planes were coming in from the port side. Again, the firing began and once more the familiar cracking and blasting of gunfire filled the air. Only four enemy planes came through that murderous fire and they were all flaming but managed to drop their torpedoes.
The attack was over. There wasn't an enemy plane left. We were listing heavily to port now, and it was thought at the time we could capsize. Captain Buckmaster gave the order "Abandon Ship." It was not long before the sea was a mass of bobbing heads. I found myself in the water hanging onto a plank alongside the Sullivan. I was feeling the effect of the salt water, oil, fatigue, and excitement. I was tired, and was having a hard time making it. My mind was slipping and things were beginning to fade.
I took what was to be my last look at my ship. My heart was heavy and my spirits dimmed as I saw her there a ghostly hulk on the horizon. My eyes were misty. Only those who lose a ship know what it means to abandon her. I loved that ship and the crew. In a few short seconds the happenings of a year and a half passed through my mind. There were all those happy moments--the places we had been and what we had been through. I wished I had never left her. I tried to make myself believe I was still aboard her but the sea told me differently.
We abandoned ship on the afternoon of June 4, 1941.
..this story by the former Lt. John D. Lorenz to Sea Power magazine May 1943 issue. Lt. Lorenz and several members of the crew of the USS Yorktown CV 5 were awarded the Navy Cross for their gallant conduct during the Battle of Midway. He says of it "We wear it, not for any personal achievement but rather as a tribute to a gallant ship and those members of the gun crew that gave themselves that this nation might live." All the power was gone, and thus the hope that she may be saved. Not wanting to risk the crew, Capt. Buckmaster ordered "Abandon ship" at 1455. Screening destroyers moved in to rescue the crew, and fished everyone out. Captain was the last man off the ship, after he made sure there was no one left behind. Read the entire history of the CV 5 USS Yorktown, now at the bottom of the Pacific. click here
USS Yorktown veteran of Battle of Midway honored by US Navy in 2001; pays $3.20 for his Navy lunch click here
The USS Yorktown CV 5 has been found and a sub has been sent down to examine her. click here.
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