My father was on a nearby ship and witnessed the entire incident. He almost accidentally got on the Paul Hamilton, but was saved when he unit noticed him on the wrong ramp since he was coming out of the stockade. He said all the soldiers walking up the plank looked like ghosts. It was only one of two odd/paranormal experiences he ever had. He was in the bottom of a nearby ship on the steps...but they did not know how to open the door. so they got a navy guy up to the top.
Thank you for writing, and I'm always glad to hear from those who were affected. My aunt lost two of her four sons, one on Normandy Beach, the other in the Pacific. My best friend from school died just two weeks before the war's end in the Philippines. So many tragedies, personal ones, from those days.
Hi Pat, I am new to utube. I wanted to share with you that my uncle (dad's brother) was cpl Meyer Selon and was aboard the SS Hamilton. He was 26 years old. In the last six months or so, I was able to locate the information about the sinking etc. I have filled out the forms to have a headstone laid at Arlington. My uncle did not have any children when he died. My best to you, Sheryl
WE HAD A VERY STRONG "ISOLATIONIST" movement in the US in thos days, much like the anti-war movement today. They were strong in Congress and prevented the build-up of military strength that we needed, so yes, we were quite unprepared. Thd 3,000 miles between us and Eugope, and 5,000 miles to Japan prevented them from bombing our factories, so that we became the arsenal for the Allies. And, it was not as clear to everyone that we were going to war.
Maybe your are right, but the lend lend lease act, had been in affect 9 months prior to pearl harbor. Its weird that Roosevelt could wage a phony-war in China, sell weapons and ships to Britain, but not increase training and supplement of the navy..
According to various sources, US had pilots i Britain already in 1940. US navy where ecorting convoy (half the way)a long time before dec 6 1941.
You and I have made and continue to make mistakes in our personal lives. During every war men of all rankings make mistakes, from the private who gets drunk and goes AWOL, on up, and those mistakes often cause the loss of life. Admiral King had a distinguished wartime career, in spite of this error in thinking early in the war. That was tragic. But thank God he was in place for other stratigic moves, which helped bring about final victory. In wartime, that's what counts.
Post War Analysis of ADMIRAL KING's role in not protecting the Merchant Fleet off the Eastern Seaboard for the first 6 month's of the war is not very favourable. What is Your take on the whole, not eastern seaboard lights not being blacked out and convoys organized soone, albeit with bare minimum available escort at the time...
A friend who "shipped out" two days after Pearl Harbor said they saw bodies floating in the water directly after dropping off the Pilot leaving NY. Minimum escorts? There were none, NONE in those days. We had given the British 50 four stack destroyers the year before, but they could not help us. King, obviously, had no feeling for the Brits nor the merchant marine. thanks, HEM
Just a quick note of thanks for sharing your stories with the YouTube community. On a personal note I wanted to let you know that my grandfather James Shurrie was also a merchant marine. He was an ERA from 1944-45 aboard the St. Thomas, a Canadian vessel. Your stories have made me wish I could have had the chance to sit and chat with him about his experiences during the war. Hearing your stories have allowed me to better understand what those men encountered. Thank you!!
The best experience you can get is to be on deck during a storm in the North Atlantic. Not on today's monstrous liners, like floating hotels, but a ship that feels alive under the soles of your shoes. One moment in a trough and all you can see are huge waves all around you, the next on top of the wave and all you can see the the rushing seas below you, and gray skies. He could not answer you any betterthan that.
My father was on a nearby ship and witnessed the entire incident. He almost accidentally got on the Paul Hamilton, but was saved when he unit noticed him on the wrong ramp since he was coming out of the stockade. He said all the soldiers walking up the plank looked like ghosts. It was only one of two odd/paranormal experiences he ever had. He was in the bottom of a nearby ship on the steps...but they did not know how to open the door. so they got a navy guy up to the top.
JPPolachek 1 year ago
Enjoying your clips. Your in good shape for 85 years old. Happy New Year 2009 Howard.
Bob - Retired radio operator U.S. Merchant Marine
332453231TAC 3 years ago
Thanks so much.
Howard128eM 2 years ago
Thank you for your eyewitness comentary about the sinking of the Paul Hamilton
My father was aboard that ship. I was born November of 1944. A classic war baby.
He was, SSgt Dillard Debs Harris,32nd Photographic Squadron, 5th Reconnaissance Group.
Thank you,
Pat Harris
np2opat 3 years ago 2
Thank you for writing, and I'm always glad to hear from those who were affected. My aunt lost two of her four sons, one on Normandy Beach, the other in the Pacific. My best friend from school died just two weeks before the war's end in the Philippines. So many tragedies, personal ones, from those days.
Howard128eM 3 years ago
Hi Pat, I am new to utube. I wanted to share with you that my uncle (dad's brother) was cpl Meyer Selon and was aboard the SS Hamilton. He was 26 years old. In the last six months or so, I was able to locate the information about the sinking etc. I have filled out the forms to have a headstone laid at Arlington. My uncle did not have any children when he died. My best to you, Sheryl
socoloff49 3 years ago
He faced a very strong Isolationist group in Congress, which took alarm at anything that they thought might be construed as a warlike act.
Howard128eM 4 years ago
WE HAD A VERY STRONG "ISOLATIONIST" movement in the US in thos days, much like the anti-war movement today. They were strong in Congress and prevented the build-up of military strength that we needed, so yes, we were quite unprepared. Thd 3,000 miles between us and Eugope, and 5,000 miles to Japan prevented them from bombing our factories, so that we became the arsenal for the Allies. And, it was not as clear to everyone that we were going to war.
Howard128eM 5 years ago
Maybe your are right, but the lend lend lease act, had been in affect 9 months prior to pearl harbor. Its weird that Roosevelt could wage a phony-war in China, sell weapons and ships to Britain, but not increase training and supplement of the navy..
According to various sources, US had pilots i Britain already in 1940. US navy where ecorting convoy (half the way)a long time before dec 6 1941.
Wollemand 4 years ago
Admiral King was an idiot. A lot of pople died because he wouldnt learn the most common antisubmarine tactics from the British.
For two years before it was clearly known to Roosevelt that US was going to join the war.. Why was the navy so ill prepared?
Wollemand 5 years ago
Admiral King was an idiot..
Got a lot of people killed because he wouldnt learn from the Brits..
Wollemand 5 years ago
You and I have made and continue to make mistakes in our personal lives. During every war men of all rankings make mistakes, from the private who gets drunk and goes AWOL, on up, and those mistakes often cause the loss of life. Admiral King had a distinguished wartime career, in spite of this error in thinking early in the war. That was tragic. But thank God he was in place for other stratigic moves, which helped bring about final victory. In wartime, that's what counts.
Howard128eM 5 years ago
Post War Analysis of ADMIRAL KING's role in not protecting the Merchant Fleet off the Eastern Seaboard for the first 6 month's of the war is not very favourable. What is Your take on the whole, not eastern seaboard lights not being blacked out and convoys organized soone, albeit with bare minimum available escort at the time...
mastersteamtug 5 years ago
A friend who "shipped out" two days after Pearl Harbor said they saw bodies floating in the water directly after dropping off the Pilot leaving NY. Minimum escorts? There were none, NONE in those days. We had given the British 50 four stack destroyers the year before, but they could not help us. King, obviously, had no feeling for the Brits nor the merchant marine. thanks, HEM
Howard128eM 5 years ago
Hi Howard:
Just a quick note of thanks for sharing your stories with the YouTube community. On a personal note I wanted to let you know that my grandfather James Shurrie was also a merchant marine. He was an ERA from 1944-45 aboard the St. Thomas, a Canadian vessel. Your stories have made me wish I could have had the chance to sit and chat with him about his experiences during the war. Hearing your stories have allowed me to better understand what those men encountered. Thank you!!
Surester32 5 years ago
The best experience you can get is to be on deck during a storm in the North Atlantic. Not on today's monstrous liners, like floating hotels, but a ship that feels alive under the soles of your shoes. One moment in a trough and all you can see are huge waves all around you, the next on top of the wave and all you can see the the rushing seas below you, and gray skies. He could not answer you any betterthan that.
Howard128eM 5 years ago