Follow up story for the Battle of Savo Island

Aug 13

Posted by

Eric Geddes and his crew

With thanks to Pierre Lagacé for finding this information.  [Should anyone require research on WWII, especially the ETO, this is the man to know!]

Battle of Savo Island in art

 

 

Bloody Savo Revisited – Sole survivor fights to clear WWII shadow

Battle of Savo Island

Sole survivor fights to clear WWII shadow

For the follow-up video….

https://www.abc.net.au/7.30/sole-survivor-fights-to-clear-wwii-shadow/4468200

Eric Geddes WINS!!!

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-10-27/raaf-veteran-wins-fight-to-clear-crews-name/5844958

CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE.

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Military Humor – 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Farewell Salutes – 

Donald Arnold – Des Plaines, IL; US Army, WWII, ETO

Shirley Hugh Barker (104) – Beloit, WI; US Army, WWII, 82nd Airborne Division

Raymond Dietrich – Muscatine, IA; US Army, 11th Airborne Division

Ira Edmondson – Texarkana, AR; US Army, WWII, 42nd “Rainbow Division”

Jack Frisch – Colorado Springs, CO; US Army, German Occupation, 547th Ordnance / NFL running back

Philip A, Goddard – Morrisville, VT; US Army, Medical Unit/82nd Airborne Division, doctor

Carl Humpfer Jr. – St. John, IN; US Navy, WWII / US Army, Korea

Kenneth Kokrine – Tanana, AK; US Army, Vietnam, radioman

Charles Mirachi – NYC, NY; US Navy, WWII, PTO, USS Enterprise / Civilian, US Navy

Ronald Perry – New Haven, CT; US Army, Vietnam, 1st Calvary, Col. (Ret.), Silver Star, 2-DFC’s, 3 Bronze Stars, Purple Heart

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About GP

Everett Smith served with the Headquarters Company, 187th Regiment, 11th A/B Division during WWII. This site is in tribute to my father, "Smitty." GP is a member of the 11th Airborne Association. Member # 4511 and extremely proud of that fact!

Posted on August 13, 2020, in Current News, First-hand Accounts, Uncategorized, WWII and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink. 81 Comments.

  2. BBYCGN, Tamara | October 13, 2020 at 3:47 PM

    LOL… on featured photo. 😃

    Like

    Reply
  4. Equipping Site | September 11, 2020 at 7:05 PM

    Thanks for your like of my post, ” Israel In Acts, 1:1-11, 33 A.D., Notes ;” you are greatly appreciated.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  5. Equipping Site | August 29, 2020 at 2:06 PM

    Thanks for your like of my post, “End Times 22, The Antichrist;” you are very kind. Please keep up your own good work.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  6. aussieian2011 | August 25, 2020 at 11:29 PM

    Excellent story and footage gp, you never fail in your posts, always outstanding historical research and presentation.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  7. Lavinia Ross | August 16, 2020 at 7:03 PM

    That is some story, and some footage! I am glad Geddes kept up the fight until he was vindicated.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  9. jcalberta | August 15, 2020 at 11:18 AM

    The first casualty is truth. Isn’t that what they say? and sometimes the last.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  10. SCLMRose | August 14, 2020 at 3:35 PM

    I wondered how many more stories of WWII are not exactly what happened and been covered up to save the skin of someone higher up. Amazing! Now you got my interest to read more of Guadalcanal. I just checked my book “The Pacific War” by William B. Hopkins and saw Chokai played a role in that battle.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    • GP Cox | August 15, 2020 at 6:40 AM

      I am so thrilled with your interest in this history, but then again, it is Your history! “Infamy” by John Toland has some useful info, despite not being a very new book.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      • SCLMRose | August 15, 2020 at 9:10 AM

        Thanks for the recommendation. I’ll check it out. I just started reading “Lucky 666 – The Impossible Mission” by Bob Drury and Tom Clavin. It’s another of those untold stories of WWII about a solo reconnaissance flight into the heart of Japanese empire that will lay the groundwork of the invasion of Bougainville.

        Liked by 2 people

        Reply
  12. cigarman501 | August 14, 2020 at 6:48 AM

    For some reason, I am not allowed to like your post. Like the video.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply
  13. Aditi♥️ | August 14, 2020 at 3:26 AM

    Heyy!! Your posts are awesome and this post is soo fascinating!!! His bravery is commendable; I’m fairly new here (I’ve just been blogging for a month now) and it would be really nice if you could check out my site and let me know some feedback (or follow it if you like it 😂) so that I can make it better!! Your experience can help me make my site better! https://whatareuuptoduringthelockdown.wordpress.com/
    Thank you sooo much 😊

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    • GP Cox | August 14, 2020 at 6:48 AM

      I see nothing wrong. You are using Tags, your layout is clean, posts short enough to keep readers’ interest and your content is useful. All I can suggest is going on as many other sites as you have time for, as you did mine. We can’t just expect people to find us in the midst of billions of other blogs.

      Like

      Reply
  14. Dennis N. O'Brien | August 13, 2020 at 10:08 PM

    I wasn’t aware of this. Thanks GP.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  15. deplorablesunite | August 13, 2020 at 9:50 PM

    I am glad that Eric Geddes was vindicated

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  17. Liz Gauffreau | August 13, 2020 at 7:27 PM

    I watched the Geddes video and read the updated news story. I’m so glad the vindication came while he was still alive. What a horrible burden to carry for so many years.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  19. Pierre Lagacé | August 13, 2020 at 5:38 PM

    One sailor said…

    “I Will Never Forget the Sound of those Engines Going Away”

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  20. padresteve | August 13, 2020 at 5:09 PM

    He shared that with me as well. Very good information. He is an excellent source.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  21. equipsblog | August 13, 2020 at 3:37 PM

    Love the story GP and the cartoons. Keep up the good work.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  22. John W. Howell | August 13, 2020 at 2:37 PM

    This Geddes story is remarkable. I’m glad it came to light. Thanks, GP.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  23. coupleofbees | August 13, 2020 at 1:40 PM

    Thank you for honoring our military! ❤️

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  24. 56PackardMan | August 13, 2020 at 12:38 PM

    I own and have read all 15 volumes of Morison’s History of US Naval Operations in WWII.
    Save Island isn’t the only thing Morison got wrong. It can be reasonably assumed that some of Morison’s conclusions were based on his need to please Roosevelt or Roosevelt’s posthumous shadow looking over Morison’s shoulder as he completed the mammoth undertaking of this history. (Note that Morison didn’t write the History alone. Roosevelt had granted him a staff and in many cases Morison acted at Editor-In-Chief rather than the actual author.)

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  25. Jacqui Murray | August 13, 2020 at 11:07 AM

    Good video. Thanks, GP.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  26. beetleypete | August 13, 2020 at 9:57 AM

    Well done to Eric, for never giving up.
    Best wishes, Pete.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  27. Pierre Lagacé | August 13, 2020 at 9:25 AM

    No one will ever know where the Navy historian got his source for this. The Navy had to find someone to blame. There were so many cover-ups during the war putting the blame elsewhere…not only in the Navy I am sure. One would be the sinking of HMCS Athabaskan who could have been hit by a second torpedo. The first was fired from the German T24…the second might have been from a British MTB.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    • GP Cox | August 13, 2020 at 1:57 PM

      Do you think that mystery will ever be solved?

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      • Pierre Lagacé | August 13, 2020 at 5:15 PM

        No it won’t be solved.
        I know one sailor told that he saw a speeding boat going by the destroyer. No German E-boats were on the scene that faithful night.

        Some sailors said there was a second torpedo that hit the Athabaskan. By that time the T24 was on its way back and the T27 ran aground.

        There is something written about it in the book Unlucky Lady. There was also a research done by someone explaining how some British MTBs were there along with British minesweepers. The two Canadian destroyers were there for support. I will try to find the link GP.

        Liked by 2 people

        Reply
        • Pierre Lagacé | August 13, 2020 at 5:37 PM

          Excerpt from the research done by Michael Whitby cited in Canadian Military History Volume 5 Issue 1

          The E-boat mystery has been put to rest by Michael Whitby, in his article “‘Fooling Around The French Coast’: RCN Tribal Class Destroyers in Action, April 1944.” He cites the German record
          of the action and states that the only German vessels involved were T-24 and T-27. This has resulted in the British inquiry being deemed officially correct, with credit for the sinking being
          attributed to T-24. Yet this confusion is compounded by the statement in the inquiry’s report that the members of the board: “did not consider [whether] any other ships were present. ”

          This is a curious statement. It is quite likely that another ship was indeed present. Unfortunately, it may have been the British Motor Torpedo Boat (MTB) 677 (commanded by Lieutenant A.
          Clayton, RNVR).

          Liked by 2 people

          Reply
        • GP Cox | August 14, 2020 at 6:32 AM

          Thank you, Pierre.

          Liked by 1 person

          Reply
      • Pierre Lagacé | August 13, 2020 at 5:20 PM

        I sent you a personal copy GP.

        Liked by 2 people

        Reply
      • Pierre Lagacé | August 13, 2020 at 5:56 PM

        Another excerpt to close the case… How could the Athabaskan be raked by small arms fire and hit by a second torpedo while the T24 was escaping and the T27 had run hard ashore ?

        Excerpt

        Even while Haida was maneuvering to lay smoke, her guns kept firing, scoring their first hit on T-24 at 0418 hours, and another at 0420 hours. At 0422 hours T-27 was observed broad on Haida’s starboard bow and fire was shifted to her. T-24 disappeared into smoke to the east. Haida altered course to keep T-24 ahead and T-27 on the starboard bow. Haida’s gunnery was superb as hit after hit was observed. T-27 attempted to head inshore to evade. Hit repeatedly by Haida. a large fire broke out behind her forward gun making it difficult for her Captain to conn the ship. Blinded and ablaze, T-27 ran hard ashore. The crew abandoned ship while still being hit by Haida’s salvoes. Stopped and on fire. Athabaskan had only minutes to live. The torpedo from T-24 had crippled her. but the
        damage was not fatal. She began to settle by the stern and preparations were made to rig for tow by Haida. The 70-ton
        pump was being maneuvered aft to control the flooding. As the flooding increased, Athabaskan ‘s Captain, Lieutenant Commander John Stubbs, DSO, ordered “Stand by to Abandon Ship.” Athabaskan’s Radar Officer. Lieutenant Commander Dunn Lantier requested permission to clear “B” Gun of star shell. Permission was granted. After Athabaskan fired her last round. “B” Gun was raked by small arms fire, killing Able Seaman Hubert J. Peart. 22 Seconds later, at the break of the foc’sle on the port side, a second torpedo struck. As the Canadian Naval Mission Overseas narrative states: “If there had been any doubt among survivors as to the nature of the
        first hit there could be no difference of opinions in their minds that this was a torpedo.

        Liked by 2 people

        Reply
  28. Pierre Lagacé | August 13, 2020 at 9:18 AM

    Thanks for sharing GP.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  29. oldmainer | August 13, 2020 at 8:42 AM

    This is fascinating. Bravo to Mr Geddes. You have proved your bravery once again.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  30. OIKOS™-Publishing | August 13, 2020 at 7:26 AM

    We really have to honour him, for clearing this task. Horrible how long it can take for the truth coming to the light. Michael

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply
  31. GP Cox | August 16, 2020 at 5:57 AM

    Thank you for sharing, Steve.

    Like

    Reply

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