What Navy Life was like for the Sailor's Wives Left Behind!

I am the widow of one of the electricians that served aboard the "Fighting Lady" from the commissioning until the end of World War Two.  

  When the Yorktown came into Bremerton Washington for repairs in August of 1944, my husband Joseph Hugh Keenan and I were married in Chicago while he was on leave.  He was lucky enough to be in the first group of men to get leave so I went back to Washington with him and we set up housekeeping in East Port Orchard. 

 The accommodations [provided by the US Navy] for petty officers and their wives were a challenge.  A big city bride staring at a wood stove that she had to learn to cook on...especially this bride who didn't know how to cook even on a gas stove.

  There were seven wives all facing the same problems...all ecstatic about being with our loved ones but facing each day knowing that our men would soon be leaving to return to active duty [out to sea and combat].  Would it be today?  We lived each day to the fullest...sharing our hopes and fears...our joys and tears.

  The dreaded day finally did come and the "Fighting Lady" went out to sea once again to leave us behind.  In less than a month we seven wives had developed an unbelievable bond...we have shared so much in so little time.  We packed our belongings and said we must keep in touch.  Knowing how difficult it would be to stay in touch with seven individuals, I suggested we start a "Round Robin Letter"...we sat down and planned the rotation the letter should follow...we gave each other hugs and said our goodbyes and took our heavy hears back to seven different states.

  As soon as I returned to Chicago I wrote the first letter and BELIEVE IT OR NOT the Round Robin letter is still making its rounds.  We have followed each others lives for 52 years...from the birth of our children to the birth of our great grandchildren.  Shared out joys and heartaches (including the deaths of four of the husbands.)

  We have never been all been together...we tried to get everyone to the 1985 Yorktown reunion but three were unable to join us in Mt. Pleasant at that time.  It would be a dream come true if we could once again share a day together.  

signed Mrs. Joan Kennan-Schaefer Winter 1996

The seven wives Mrs. W.L. Whetham, Niagara Falls NY; Mrs. Floyd McKee, Columbia TN; Mrs. M.E. Kincaid, Holiday FL; Mrs. John Francis, Natchez, MS; Mrs. Ivy LeBlanc, Baton Rouge LA; Mrs. Joan M. Kennan-Schaefer, Oak Park IL;  


Robert E. Taylor 
   
Sea Story: Served aboard the CV-5 from Norfork, VA through Midway. Rank was Seaman on deck division and manned port bow 5" anti-aircraft gun. 

Gave my life vest to another sailor while we were abandoning ship. This was the most incredible experience of my life since I was only 17 years old. 

God Bless You All Who Served and still serve today.


Paul Walton Jr. 
   
 I served aboard from 1954 to 1955.  It was with pride that I served on the Lady. 
 I recall one early morning around 2 A.M. we had general quarters man your battle stations this is no drill. Most of us were still in our skivvies pushing aircraft from hanger deck on to elevators to the flight deck to be launched. At 19 years old it will make an old man of you. 


Richardson, Edward E. 
E-Mail:   
 556 South 6th St. -Jesup, Georgia 31545 
Comments: I'm trying to find out information as to the next reunion dates and location for the Yorktown CV-5, on which I served, December 10, 1941 to sinking, when I exited the ship. 
Sea Story: I went aboard as a fireman, mid December of 1941. Served thru all battles until abandonment June 3, 1942. I was in the Number 8 Fire Room, later Forward Generator Room. My nickname was "Richie". 

 When I abandoned the ship, I came down the anchor chain into the clear blue water, got afraid of sharks, headed for the oil field.

 I was afraid of being strafed by Jap planes. I was about an hour in the water, and was picked up by U.S.S. Balch DD-343. Hallelujah!! I then assisted cameraman load battle films on life raft.

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