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Nicknamed “The Ship that Would Not Die”, the USS Laffey DD-724 fought in both theaters of World War II. Serving on board the Laffey throughout the war, Machinist’s Mate 2/c, Wilbert C. Gauding kept an...
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Joseph Rudolf Kristufek served as a pilot with Torpedo Squadron Five (VT-5) during World War II. Primarily flying a TBF Avenger torpedo bomber, VT-5 made up part of the USS Yorktown’s powerful arsenal...
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“No! I’ll never abandon ship as long as a single gun will fire!” —Commander Frederick J. Becton, commanding officer, USS Laffey (DD-724), 16 April 1945 Commander Becton was already a seasoned Naval...
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“There wasn’t any Betty Grable or Clark Gable in it. It was just men fighting a battle.” -Dwight Long Director and producer Dwight Long captivated American audiences with his films from an early age...
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Arnold McKechnie began his career in the Navy after graduating from the US Naval Academy in 1927. A man of many interests, McKechnie entered Submarine School in 1930. After earning his dolphins...
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Samuel Wingrove was a plank owner and Water Tender aboard the USS Laffey (DD-724) during World War II. Wingrove survived both attacks on the ship during D-Day and the Battle of Okinawa. He would later...
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“Somewhere in my ‘junk’ I still have some pen-ink cartoons and sketches that I made during 1943-1944 during my ‘spare’ time.” –Stephen Fitch A plank owner aboard the USS Yorktown (CV-10) and original...
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“A mortar round hit within 10 feet of me and a piece of shrapnel went through my flak jacket and into my right chest. I thought I had a sucking chest wound but never spit blood, so I put a battle...
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"...We were both knocked off our feet by a terrific explosion. The sound and concussion dazed us. At once all lights went out in that section of the ship. It seemed as though the ship had rammed into...
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“…as long as you remain somewhere in the Pacific, we will always know where to look for some punch in a pinch and we shall always remember ‘Laffey Laughs Last’…” - Captain Frederick Moosbrugger of...
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"Dive bombing is the most thrilling thing in the Navy, also some people say the most dangerous. But why should I worry if I get paid extra for doing it?" --Charles Bonness in a letter to his sister...
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"Ens. William C. Grigsby, Jr...knocked down two Japanese planes and took part in the first and second carrier strikes at Tokyo as a Hellcat pilot with Air Group 12 in the Pacific." -Fleet Home Town...