China Gunboatman

Cruisng with the Asiatic Fleet

2011-01-17T18:01:00.000-05:00

Gene Schindler Interviews

2010-10-05T15:07:00.000-04:00

http://chinagunboat.blogspot.com/2009/11/paul-jones-veteran-gene-schindler.html
Gene is in fine form here. You'll learn something if you listen.

VERY OLD PHOTO, FOUND IN WALNUT CREEK

2010-06-28T19:55:00.000-04:00

VERY OLD PHOTO, FOUND IN WALNUT CREEK

Great old photo with a sailor and his lady with USS Parrott and USS Francis M. Robinson (in background) appears shot near Walnut Creek in California. IF anyone wants to comment on the photo click the link to the blog (above).

REUNION NOTICE - AUGUST!!

2010-06-25T15:25:00.003-04:00

USAFR, Combined Asiatic Fleet, Leedstown (APA-56) and Marblehead (CL-12) reunion reminder cards will or have been sent by Graylines Branson MO.

To make reservations: call1-800-542-6788, Registration code10097

Reunion package price includes 25-30 August 2010 lodging with breakfast, all shows, attractions and transportation to and from the airport.

Hotel lodging 3 days before and after the reunion is $83 per night, breakfast included.

There will be a reunion in spite of the economic situation.

I hope to see you in Branson.

Be Happy

Ray D Kester

Reunion president-treasurer.

6128 SHERBORN LN

SPRINGFIELD VA 22152-1630

703.451.2520; raykstr@verizon.net

United States Asiatic Fleet - 1902 – 1941

2010-06-13T19:35:00.000-04:00

United States Asiatic Fleet - 1902 – 1941

A GOOD LINK FOR DATA

Mentions of Asiatic Fleet

2010-04-29T15:19:00.001-04:00

US Fleet - Asiatic Fleet, October 1, 1939
The organization of the US Navy's Asiatic Fleet in 1939.
www.fleetorganization.com/1923asiatic.html

The SteelNavy.Com Message Board: Re: The US Asiatic Fleet, 1941
Please contact me off site if you don't mind about Asiatic Fleet,and info! muley46@yahoo.com Thanks! Mac --Previous Message-- : Does anyone know anything, ...
members.boardhost.com/Warship/msg/1271952635.html

Rare 1920s Ticket U.S. Asiatic Fleet in Tsingtao China
Up for auction is a rare 1920s era ticket good for 10 cents in trade from the Commissioned Officers mess in Tsingtao China. This came with a US Asiatic ...
www.worthpoint.com/.../rare-1920s-ticket-u-s-asiatic-fleet-in-t...

Detail: The Asiatic Wild Dog or Dhole Cuon javanicus
United States Asiatic Fleet: The Asiatic Fleet was part of the US Navy. During the World War II era, the fleet protected the Philippines. ...
eurekamag.com/.../asiatic-wild-dog-dhole-cuon-javanicus.php

The SteelNavy.Com Message Board: The US Asiatic Fleet, 1941
"The Fleet the Gods Forgot" W.G. Winslow - Jim Anderson Today, 11:59:04. Re: The US Asiatic Fleet, 1941 books on it - Gerry Today, 10:07:38 ...
members.boardhost.com/Warship/msg/1271866006.html

A Los Angeles class USS Marblehead - Alternate History Discussion ...
with the Pacific Fleet, and then detached to the Asiatic Fleet. ... Fleet at wikipedia atwww.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asiatic Fleet . ...
www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?p...

Videos about fleet - WME3-TV
tags education, wwii, asiatic, fleet, pacific, veteran, marblehead, houston, ... tags education, uss, gwinn, paul, jones, gene, schindler, asiatic, fleet, ...
me3tv.vodspot.tv/tag/fleet

USS South Carolina in World War II - Page 3 - Alternate History ...
The third USS Marblehead, (CL-12), which avoided Japanese bombs and torpedoes, wasn't part of theAsiatic Fleet, but was on loan from the Pacific ...
www.alternatehistory.net/discussion/showthread.php?t...3

Naval Warfare: June 2010
They were used as gunboats with the Asiatic Fleet and in the waters off Central ... Cleveland was part of the Asiatic Fleet for the next three years, ...
navalwarfare.blogspot.com/2010_06_01_archive.html

me3tv Youtube Videos - Save, Download & Watch
Tags: uss gwinn paul jones gene schindler asiatic fleet me3tv pacific war ... The Asiatic Fleet ceased to exist after a three month battle to the death ...
livesteaua.com/tags/me3tv-videos/6/

Tales of the Asiatic Fleet

2010-04-21T16:59:00.000-04:00

Tales of the Asiatic Fleet - Tanknet.org
A blog post on the USS Preston - one of the Asiatic Fleet's tenders.

A Blue Sea of Blood:

2010-04-06T18:28:00.000-04:00

A Blue Sea of Blood: Deciphering the Mysterious Fate of the USS Edsall Book Reviews

Click above for an excellent review of the book by Don Kehn.
Reviewer: Tom Wisker, Host "Weaponry", WBAI, New York Buy it at Amazon.com

Google Alert - "asiatic fleet"

2010-04-04T20:40:00.001-04:00

Google News Alert for: "asiatic fleet"
Recent web entries ... Some are interesting.

Port Hope-born hero honoured on American postage stamp
Northumberland Today
... naval attache in Paris during the Spanish-American War, attache in St. Petersburg, Russia and inspector of target practice for the US Asiatic fleet. ...

Google Blogs Alert for: "asiatic fleet"

port of la – Facil Subasta
By admin
It has a nice Coulthard "Asiatic Fleet in China" cachet. It is franked with stamp "Navy Heroes". This envelope is in good condition, but wrinkled. Member USCS #10385 (I also earned the stamp collecting merit badge as a boy scout!). ...
Facil Subasta - http://www.facilsubasta.com/

Google Web Alert for: "asiatic fleet"

USS MCCORMICK DD-223 Naval Cover 1930 ASIATIC FLEET - eBay (item ...
eBay: Find USS MCCORMICK DD-223 Naval Cover 1930 ASIATIC FLEET in the Stamps , United States , Covers , Event Covers , Naval category on eBay.

Military Christmas Card U.S.Asiatic Fleet TSINGTAO-Navy - eBay ...
eBay: Find Military Christmas Card USAsiatic Fleet TSINGTAO-Navy in the Collectibles , Militaria , Militaria Date Unknown , Navy category on eBay.

Wapedia - Wiki: Philippines Campaign (1941–1942)
The United States Asiatic Fleet and 16th Naval District, based at Manila, provided the naval defenses for the Philippines. Commanded by Admiral Thomas C. ...

Charlie Ankerberg - 2010

2010-03-14T20:52:00.001-04:00

One of the most colorful of the Asiatic Fleet who served with distinction and filled many interviews with a clear perspective of the war and its tragic and human events.
Obituary Is HERE :

Reunion 2010

2010-03-13T21:46:00.000-05:00

Reunion 2010
USS Houston Reunion Photos.

Signalman was 1 of only 2

2010-01-30T15:58:00.000-05:00

Signalman was 1 of only 2 rescued from lifeboat
A USS Marblehead veteran is rescued from the Dutch waship that he served in for the Battle of The Java Sea. It is an amazing story. Most of the US sailors who were "loaned" for signal purposes to the multi national fleet opposing Japan were killed when those ships were sunk. A memorial in Holland notes the names of some of these sailors, a couple of them were USS Houston crew - on loan.

HMAS PERTH memorial regatta

2010-01-26T20:58:00.001-05:00

They are looking for Houston Survivors.

clipped from shaunakinney.wordpress.com

Some Links You Should Have

2010-01-24T19:54:00.000-05:00

http://www.ussmarblehead.com/

http://www.legendinc.com/Pages/MarbleheadNet/MM/Articles/USSMarblehead.html

U.S.S. MARBLEHEAD (CL-2), BOMB DAMAGE - Java Sea, February 4, 1942

http://www.dcfp.navy.mil/cgi-bin/WarGallery.cgi?category=34&cols=3&PgConst=9

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Marblehead_(CL-12)

http://www.navymemorial.org/

Click on the Asiatic Fleet dragon

Links from Ray Kester - USS Marblehead.

1/700 IJN light cruiser

2010-01-18T14:47:00.000-05:00

1/700 IJN light cruiser Jintsu by Fujimi on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
Some model ships and write up on the Java Sea Battle.

Asiatic Fleet News Feed (Google)

2010-01-11T12:48:00.003-05:00

Google Web Alert for: "asiatic fleet"

US Fleet - Asiatic Fleet, November 1, 1940
The organization of the US Navy's Asiatic Fleet in 1940.

United States Asiatic Fleet pdf Ebook Download
Asiatic Fleet were augmented because the political turmoil in the Philippines and China was such as to frequently require the presence of United States . ...

USS BULMER DD-222 Naval Cover 1938 ASIATIC FLEET MANILA - eBay ...
eBay: Find USS BULMER DD-222 Naval Cover 1938 ASIATIC FLEET MANILA in the Stamps , United States , Covers , Event Covers , Naval category on eBay.

The Fleet the Gods Forgot: U.S. Asiatic Fleet in WW II - eBay ...
eBay: Find The Fleet the Gods Forgot: US Asiatic Fleet in WW II in the Books , Nonfiction category on eBay.

H.Con.Res. 186 (ih); Commending all who served with the United ...
186 Commending all who served with the United States Navy Asiatic Fleet throughout the Far East from 1910 to 1942, especially those sailors and marines who ...

Fleet Composition - NOVEMBER - 1940

Spanish American War

2009-11-17T09:29:00.000-05:00

Spanish American War
Lots of information on Dewey's Asiatic Fleet.

The OLD ASIATIC FLEET - models

2009-11-17T09:24:00.000-05:00

attachment.php (JPEG Image, 615x461 pixels)
This link will help you find more discussions of the Asiatic Fleet. Great models!

U.S.S. Houston and H.M.A.S. Perth Marker

2009-11-17T09:14:00.000-05:00

U.S.S. Houston and H.M.A.S. Perth Marker
This particular blog tracks historical markers. Perhaps it would be good to check the site and see if more markers should be added.

Paul Jones Veteran Gene Schindler

2009-11-13T18:49:00.001-05:00

There are several more parts to this video interview made at the Asiatic Fleet Reunion in August 2009.
Part II Part III Part IV See ME3TV.org for MORE!

Institute of WW2 at FSU

2009-11-04T11:33:00.000-05:00

Veterans and family should consider this institute as an option to place archival family memories from WW2. Here are some links that will help you get started.
http://www.fsu.edu/~ww2/
http://www.fsu.edu/~ww2/packet.htm
http://www.fsu.edu/~ww2/brochure.htm

Destroyer Squadron (DesRon) 29 in World War II

2009-10-23T14:35:00.000-04:00

Destroyer Squadron (DesRon) 29 in World War II
A superb blog on this history of this important squadron of destroyers in the early days of WWII. The blog also references several books that cover the topic well.

The lonely ships:

2009-10-16T11:56:00.000-04:00

The lonely ships: The life and death of the U.S. Asiatic fleet
(Hardcover) by Edwin P Hoyt -
Reviews, Discussion, Bookclubs, Lists
...
Of course this one is one of the classics from these events.
If you have read it .. enter a review at the website!

SHIP TAKEN OVER BY US

2009-09-29T13:14:00.001-04:00

British Pathe - JAPANESE SHIP TAKEN OVER BY US
THIS IS FILM FOOTAGE from British Pathe.
USS Stewart was repaired from a destroyed drydock in Java and survived the war as Japanese patrol destroyer.

This film shows the RETURN of the Stewart to US hands. Capt. Wicke Alford wrote and excellent book on this ship (he was one of the team that tried to destroy the ship completely in dry dock). His book is "Playing for Time". It is an excellent read on the whole experience of the Asiatic Fleet.

The link to this footage was provided by Don Kehn, Jr. Author of "A Blue Sea of Blood".

British Pathe -

2009-09-24T14:04:00.000-04:00

British Pathe -
"DISARMAMENT! ... WHO WILL BE FIRST?"
There are some fantastic clips of 4 pipers in here. Enjoy.

Asiatic Fleet Reuion - Washington DC

2009-03-23T12:00:00.006-04:00

August 27 - August 31, 2009 Hyatt Fairlakes in Fairfax VA.
Room Rate $89 - $97 depending on number in room.
RESERVE HOTEL by APRIL 15.

The U S Asiatic Fleet Members and Associate

Members are planning a Reunion in Washington, DC for

27 - 31 August 2009. Points of contact for details are:

Ray Kester 703-451-2520
Charlie Ankerberg 727-867-3891
Let Ray or Charlie know your plans and receive registration payment by 15 April. The following Ships Crews and Associates will also participate:
USS Leedstown [APA-56], USS Marblehead

[CL-12] , USS Catskill [LSV-1] & USS Oakland [CLAA-95]

The cut off date for reservations will be 31 July 2009. The earlier the better for reservations. If you have e-mail, Ray Kester can send you all the details quickly that will include prices and tours and local transportation or open the links to PDF files you can print below:

A SCHEDULE OF EVENTS FOR THE AUG Meeting in DC
A Downloadable form to print and mail in for REGISTRATION.

A full schedule takes into consideration the age of the veterans.

AMBUSHED - New Book

2009-03-23T11:59:00.000-04:00

Ambushed Under The Southern Cross .. New book by George Duffy. The story is intertwined with the USS Houston and the Asiatic Fleet.

Remembering the Panay

2008-12-13T14:42:00.002-05:00

clipped from www.archives.gov

Panay (River Gunboat PG45). Port bow, underway, 08/30/1928 (ARC Identifier: 512989 ); Series: Naval History Photographs (Bureau of Ships), 1883 - 1941; Records of the Bureau of Ships, 1940 - 1966; Record Group 19; National Archives.

Films of Interest

2008-11-26T20:52:00.000-05:00

The Battle of The Java Sea

Return to the Philippines

2008-11-20T06:47:00.000-05:00

This article by RADM McKinnon is a must read for anyone who ever was in port in Subic Bay or Cubi Point.

2008-11-16T14:43:00.002-05:00

USS Houston and POW survivor Stanley Woody ARTICLE. I had the pleasure of knowing “Woody” while I was growing up in Norfolk. He is a wonderful and inspiring person. Submited for this blog by Jim Outland -- Midlothian, Va. -- The Asiatic Fleet was to be supported when Japan attacked by the Pacific Fleet in Pearl Harbor. The support never showed up. www.usshouston.org.
EPITAPH FOR THE ASIATIC FLEET
they have no grave but the cruel
sea. no flowers at their head.
a rusting hulk is their tombstone.
at rest on the ocean floor

Slop Chute on The old Whangpoo

2008-05-07T09:52:00.012-04:00

A recent letter from Denver Keplenger left the above forwarding address for the few remaining sailors of the historic South China Yangtze Patrol- Asiatic Fleet. This blog and websites noted in the index will continue to keep their history available. HERE IS THE LAST LETTER from the organization. Denver Keplinger closes out with the memorable line --- "See You at the Slop Chute on the Old Whangpoo".

I'LL MEET YOU AT THE SLOP CHUTE ON THE OLD WHANGPOO"
tune of "Let Me Call You Sweetheart"

I'll meet you at the slop chute on the old Whangpoo
Bring along your dip net; there'll be enough for two
There'll be beans and carrots and some Irish stew
I'll meet you at the slop chute on the old Whangpoo!

... Also reference the Last Flagship of the Asiatic Fleet.
... Recent Book about the loss of USS Edsall

New River Kwai Book

2008-04-02T07:21:00.000-04:00

More prisoners of war died at Sonkrai than any other camp on the infamous River Kwai Railway. Seven thousand Australian and British POWs were sent by the Japanese to build the toughest section of the railway in the mountains between Thailand and Burma. Three thousand died from slave labour, disease, starvation and exposure the never-ending monsoon rain. After the war, a military tribunal tried five Japanese and two Koreans for those deaths.
In A River Kwai Story you will also find:

For the first time it tells the story of a River Kwai POW camp from both sides Allied and Japanese, based on the investigative and trial records and MORE. See the USS HOUSTON blog for more details from the author. Ordering the book at this point in the USA is problematic but the author is working on it.

News of 2008 USS Houston Dive Team

2008-03-16T21:55:00.001-04:00

Also noted at the USS HOUSTON BLOG.
Ranger's Blog 2008 Dive
Rangers Web for USS Houston

From: William Deertz [mailto:wdeertz@wdeertz.net]
Jerry, saw your write up on your recent dive trip to the USS Houston. Wish I had known a group of you were coming as I would have liked to join the expedition. I am a US expat and have been living in Jakarta for the past 11 years. A group of us dove the USS Houston on the 60^th anniversary of the sinking. You can see a few photos and a short video I put together from this trip at this link As you’ll know from diving it the visibility is poor so in the video its often difficult to make out where you are at. I would have liked to get more wide angle from outside the wreck but the poor visibility makes this difficult.
Here is a 2007 PHOTO Album from another earlier Ranger Dive.

Battle of Badoeng Strait

2008-03-16T15:13:00.003-04:00

Battle of Badoeng Strait: World War II Naval Duel off Bali
The Allied strike force reached Badoeng Strait too late to stop the Japanese invasion -- and the one transport they found was defended by two tenacious destroyers. This article was written by Tom Womack and originally appeared in the February 1996 issue of World War II magazine. For more great articles subscribe to World War II magazine today!
http://www.historynet.com/magazines/world_war_2/3788187.html
Here is another article too: http://smmlonline.com/articles/badoeng.html , another detailed article by: Felipe C. Ramirez. (courtesy Johan VanLeer)

USS Houston 2008 Memorial Service

2008-02-26T11:00:00.003-05:00

This was put together by Tim Joseph (timjjoseph@comcast.net).
http://www.timjoseph.com/USSHouston2008/
Instructions for downloading: When you see one you would like to use click on the small floppy disk icon in the lower right corner of the screen just to the left of the music control icon. A window will open with the same image you are viewing and this new window allows you to Right click over it
and Save Picture As, Email Picture, Print Picture etc.

Love knows no depth

2008-02-26T10:34:00.003-05:00

http://www.srpressgazette.com/news/jerry_2796___article.html/survivors_houst
on.html
This story from the PRESS GAZETTE tells about Jerry Ranger of Milton. I know Jerry well since I continue to work with this group after the DVD about the Houston was completed "LAST STAND OF USS HOUSTON" www.buzzcreek.com (years ago). It will be educatinal to watch Jerry's letters and blogs as he goes through with this dive in Indonesia. If you are aware of people who'd like the hear Jerry talk about the Houston or this dive - he can be reached
in the local phonebook.

It is amazing to me how little known the USS Houston is ... The story of its life and death in battle with the Asiatic Fleet is legendary to serious students of the Pacific War .. but it neer seems to break into the greater public consciousness. Only this year .. in December - for the first time - will a speaker from the Houston organization be honored to talk at the Pearl Harbor memorial services. The curtain of the war dropped down just West of Pearl Harbor for the first 6 months after the war began. The reason is things were not going well.In 3 monts the Asiatic Fleet was on the bottom.

The Houston (Flagship fo the Asiatic Fleet) and the entire fleet as well as fleets of Britain, Australia and Holland were all banded together and nearly all were destroyed after 3 months of horrific fighting. Yet all we hear about is Pearl Harbor. The Asiatic Fleet is lost to the History Channel (I was once told by their people that since few photos and no film survived the battles they could not do a story on it (even more reason to do one -- think of it -- lots of film was shot but all of it went t the bottom - without film we are to forget them?).

I hope you read the article and share it around. Jerry's Dad lived in Milton for years - was an appliance repairman for White's. The man saved the Houston once from a magazine explosion by going down into a burning gun mount to flood the powder. He went up under fire one time (in a big battle - not the last one) and replaced the American Flag that had been shot away.
John Ranger was an amazing man. Walter Winslow who was also in the Houston - later wrote a book called "THE FLEET THE GODS FORGOT". He used to live in Milton.

www.usshouston.org
New book about The USS EDSALL ...Lost without a trace (part of this Asiatic Fleet). Had just picked up survivors from the USS Langley (you know the road in Pensacola? - The navy's FIRST Aircraft Carrier). http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Galaxy/3070/jjedsall.htm
The book ... http://www.zenithpress.com/Store/ProductDetails_39721.ncm

A BLUE SEA OF BLOOD (by my friend = Don Kehn

Mysterious Fate of the USS Edsall

2008-02-08T11:15:00.003-05:00

http://www.amazon.ca/Blue-Sea-Blood-Deciphering-Mysterious/dp/076033353X

A Blue Sea Of Blood: Deciphering the Mysterious Fate of the USS Edsall (Hardcover) by Donald M Kehn Jr. Don is a good friend of the Asiatic Fleet and the USS Houston Associations. This work is bound to be important to every student of the Pacific War - WWII. (vic)

Naval History - The Panay

2007-10-24T08:45:00.002-04:00

http://navalwarfare.blogspot.com/2007/10/uss-panay.html
This is an excellent article about the USS Panay. Other Asiatic Fleet ships are noted int this excellent blog as well. Visit it and enjoy the reading.

USS Trinity Vets

2007-10-04T09:15:00.001-04:00

From the Beaconnewsonline.com ....
The U.S.S. Trinity (AO-13) was assigned to the United States Asiatic Fleet and participated in the early battles of World War II in the Dutch East Indies sector. The ship refueled many of our combat vessels and had a record period of five years at sea before returning to the United States. With the number 13 she proved to be lucky as she avoided and survived Japanese attacks.

Crew members of the Trinity will be honored guests at the weekly Recruit Graduation Review at the Naval Recruit Training Command at Great Lakes on Friday. A special tour of the Naval Station Great Lakes and dining in the sailors' mess deck will highlight their visit, hosted by Capt. Annie B. Andrews USN, Commander of the Naval Recruit Training Command Great Lakes.

Highlighting the reunion will be the ship's banquet on Saturday. Guest speakers will be Lt. Col. Bob Wills, USMC (ret). He is a graduate of Western Illinois University and was commissioned in 1976 and assigned to flight training at Pensacola, Fla. He served 22 years on active duty, covering worldwide assignments, including combat operations in Operation Desert Storm. He is currently a pilot for American Airlines and resides in Frankfort, Ill., with his wife, Debbie.

Fair Winds and Following Seas - Walter Ashe

2007-08-18T22:56:00.000-04:00

Asiatic Fleet Historian: Walter F. Ashe, Lt.SC, USN (Ret) (91) died July 26, 2007. A native of Jacksonville, Florida, he was the son of Walter F. Ashe, Sr. and Genevieve (Ashe) Ross. Walter a decorated Navy Supply Corps Lieutenant served in WWII and the Korean conflict and retired from the U. S. Navy, after 30 years honorable service, in Key West, Fla. on October 1, 1966.

Among the many ships and stations he served, two were his favorites: the USS ASHEVILLE (PG21) and the battle-ship North Carolina (BB-55) 1941-1943. He served in all enlisted ratings, promoted to warrant officer in 1945 and selected for Lieutenant in 1961.

During WW II, he received the Navy Unit Commendation, Combat Action Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, China Service Medal, American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (9-stars), World War II Victory Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation, Korean Service Medal, Korean Presidential Unit Citation, Philippine Liberation Ribbon (2-stars), and United Nation’s Medal.

Upon retirement from the U. S. Navy at NAS Key West, he undertook a career as a professional artist and opened the Key West Guild Hall Gallery. In 1983, he moved his family to Asheville, NC. In 1984, he organized, with the sponsorship of the Asheville Citizen-Times, a reunion for the former USS ASHEVILLE sailors who perished during battle in World War II on March 3, 1942. It became a permanent organization. He established the Naval Exhibit at the City Hall to display artifacts from the four warships named after our city. For these efforts, he received the 1992 Western North Carolina Historical Society Achievement Award. In 1986, then Mayor Louis Bisette appointed him to a committee to achieve a new warship named after our city. With his help, the members of the committee saw the USS ASHEVILLE (SSN-758) commissioned September 28, 1991.

In 1998, he relieved Rear Admiral Kemp Tolley, USN (RET) as editor of the Navy newsletter China GunBoatMan. He held that position until December 2006.

He was a member of the Asheville Fleet Reserve Association, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, a volunteer for the Asheville Police Department, and a member of St. Eugene Catholic Church while in Asheville. He recently moved to Jacksonville, Florida to Fleet Landing to be closer to his daughter and grandchildren.

He is survived by his wife Adelaide Florence Brooks Ashe, one daughter Marilyn Joan (Ashe) Wilson of Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., a son Walter John Ashe, from Canyon Country, Cal., and grandchildren Mark Lewin, Michael Lewin, Jenna Rogers, Jaret Rogers. Ian Ashe, Vernon Ashe, Jada Ashe, Brooke Ashe, Danielle Bernal. Great grandchildren are Alan Lewin, Jessica Lewin, and Matthew Lewin.

The funeral was 11 AM July 30 at Ponte Vedra Valley Funeral Home, 4750 Palm Valley Road, Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. Interment Ponte Vedra Valley Cemetery in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.

Naval Warfare: USS Asheville (PG-21)

2007-06-29T08:42:00.000-04:00

Naval Warfare: USS Asheville (PG-21)This Naval Warfare Blog features the USS Asheville. Excellent resource!

POWs bombed by the US Air Corps

2007-05-25T15:57:00.000-04:00

Click To Play

Three veterans of WW2 talk about an incident that put them all in the same place one day. Two are former POW's who were in Japanese ships being bombed by the other veteran. The story of the POWS is recounted in more detail at www.usshouston.org. A video about the epic story of the USS Houston is available from www.buzzcreek.com .

ABDA not entirely Lost to History

2007-01-27T10:16:00.000-05:00

One blogger out there has a handle on the history surrounding this group and the Asiatic Fleet. Here is a great link for those who'd like to see what is being said.

USS EDSALL - FILMS

2007-01-15T11:30:00.000-05:00

Jim Nix - Grandson of JJ NIX, the Skipper of the doomed USS Edsall now has a DVD for you. The DVD is a collection of films shot on a movie camera by his grandfather in the days before WWII broke out in the Pacific. This is great archieval film! Get a copy. Send him $12. Mail your order to Jim Nix 3010 LBJ Frwy # 1250 Dallas, TX 75234 .

Jade Rooster by R.L. Crossland

2006-12-31T09:32:00.000-05:00

http://dreadnaughts-bluejackets.com/
This is a new book (Fiction) about the Asiatic Fleet about 1913. It could
be an interesting read for people who enjoy historical fiction in the vein
of SAND PEBBLES.

Asiatic Fleet 2006 - Part 4

2006-12-13T10:17:00.000-05:00

Part 4 of 4 - The Asiatic Fleet Veterans meet to remember their history and their fellow sailors and marines. The US Asiatic Fleet had a long history in the waters of Asia, but in the first three months of the Pacific War, the fleet was destroyed as it faced off with the superior Japanese Navy. In time, the US Navy gained superiority, but this fleet was forgotten as war strategies changed to "Europe First" and the bad news for months following Pearl Harbor in the Pacific was carefully controlled. The Asiatic Fleet and Allied Dutch, British and Australian ships combined to fight as a unit, but it was not enough. NOTE: You can get the DVD of this by sending $30 to Buzz Creek at 6 Continental Drive, Sparta, NJ 07871. You will receive either (A) SIX (6) copies of the DVD to watch and share with your friends, libraries and schools. OR (B) TWO copies of the DVD and the DVD "Last Stand of The USS Houston". Specify which you desire (A or B). Audio of interviews taken at the reunion will be available to download from the web as MP3 files in the near future.

Asiatic Fleet 2006-Part 3

2006-12-13T09:09:00.000-05:00

Many of the photos in these clips were provided by Capt. Ken Vasilik who is also the MC. This is part 3 of four parts to this feature. Note the last part is at the top of the page and first parts are posted down the page in typical blog fashion.

Asiatic Fleet 2006-Part2

2006-12-08T13:38:00.000-05:00

This is part 2 of 4 parts from the Asiatic Fleet reunion and remembrance in April.

Asiatic Fleet Remembered

2006-12-02T09:49:00.000-05:00

In May of 2006, survivors and veterans of the US Asiatic Fleet met in Asheville to remember their shipmates. This American Fleet had a long history in the waters of the Western Pacific. The Movie "Sand Pebbles" depicts part of their history. A massive and modern Japanese fleet destoyed the Asiatic Fleet and its allies in early 1942. The Pacific Fleet in Pearl Harbor was unable to come to their aid as planned out in pre-war doctrine. They faught and died with their allies - almost unnoticed by an America that by necessity put its focus on the war in Europe. This is PART1 of the video of the reunion in Asheville. The Mayor of Asheville proclaims Asiatic Fleet Day.

Marine's Marine

2006-10-22T19:59:00.000-04:00

Lloyd Willey of USS Houston and a young Iraq War veteran find a bond. This is also posted at the USS Houston blog.

The Chinese Stewards

2006-08-27T10:44:00.000-04:00

One of the great stories of immigration to America! Here is a note from T.F. Ting.
Thank you for sharing "update" on your project and those photos posted in FLICKR.com. I have since printed one of Captain Eddie L. Daniel, USMC (Retired) of Bethesda, MD, and me, which I will send to him sometime next week (he was not copied in your e-mail).
Since our last meeting in Asheville, NC, I attended a Navy Family Picnic (15 JUL 06) in Berkeley, CA, with close to 150 mostly family members and (a few) interested friends (of China Gunboatmen of Chinese descent). The affair was co-organized by our friend Lt. (SC) James HUEN, USN (SC) of Hayward, CA. I am certain James and Mrs. WOO (see below) will gladly share with you on the festivity should you be interested.
I have taken the liberty of copying Mrs. Nancy DONG-WOO, daughter of late Zing King DONG, SDC, USN (Retired), this e-mail. She is the other co-organizer of this picnic. She resides in Berkeley, CA, and maintains frequent contacts with Yung Ching CHANG, SDC, USN (Retired) of El Cerrito, CA, possibly the last of Chinese US Navy stewards, and the widow of Yun Sheng KOO, of Berkeley, CA, another China Gunboat sailor, among other (Chinese) navy families in the SF-Oakland Bay Area.
Looking forward in hearing from you soon and learn more about your project.
May the Kind and Merciful Lord watch over you and yours, TF (Falls Church, VA)
BTW, I enjoyed going thru that ME3TV.com site and reading your profile. What? San Pebbles was not one of your favorite books

Shore Leave for the Fleet

2006-06-12T06:37:00.000-04:00

All Ashore That's Going Ashore! Charlie Ankerberg and Gene Schindler have passed muster and are shoving off for the beach. The Blackhawk and a nest of four pipers is in the background. Charlie and Gene served in USS Paul Jones which with three other "cans" made the very first surface attack on an enemy of the United States since the Spanish American War at Balikpappan. They also participated in the Battle of The Java Sea. Charlie was, at the time, a signalman and had a very good view of the battle as it unfolded - with devastating results to the combined ABDA fleet. Out of fuel and ammunition, the "cans" were ordered to return to base for fuel and eventually took an Eastward route around Java, thereby escaping the fate of so many of the Asiatic and ABDA ships.

Lem Brigman - Asiatic Fleet

2006-06-08T15:09:00.000-04:00

Lem Brigman (in wheelchair) and Margie Traverso and Lowell Larson are pictured here at the Asiatic Fleet reunion in Asheville this spring. A lot of stories were told here. Some were taped. Digital Photos are being collected to share back with everyone by CD. Recorded interviews will put on the web and on CD as well. In addition, the memorial service was taped and a DVD will be available too. CBM Lem Brigman passed away May 28 - barely a month after this photo. He had retired from the Navy in 1962 after a 30 year career. He built himself a 3 master schooner and lived on it for 21 years!

Tattoo - Chicken and Pig

2006-06-08T15:04:00.000-04:00

This is the PIG tattoo from one of Lem Brigman's feet. Lem is about 86 years old and was a sailor in the Asiatic Fleet, much of which was lost between December 1941 and March 1942. An old Portugese superstition claimed if a sailor went overboard with a chicken and a pig, he would not drown. Alas, it did not work well in practice. A lot of Asiatic Fleet sailors never came back after their battles with the Japanese Imperial Navy.

Book - Playing for Time

2006-06-03T08:48:00.000-04:00

I have finished reading PLAYING FOR TIME. Capt. Alford did a great job here in setting the record straight about a lot of things. I believe he knew every ship involved from every nation. His direct - in your face - account of the sacking of Adm Hart and the damaging results along with so many other observations are a treasure of information for those who want the "real deal" story. PLUS, he flavors the story with the flair of a master writer when he includes such things as the table fare in the wardroom. He brought back a lot of memories for me and my service was 25 years AFTER you folks. That is because the traditions of the Navy and the Asiatic Fleet sort of seeped in deep and stayed around for along time. Maybe some of them are still there! My mouth was watering over his description of curry. I have NEVER had as good a curry meal as I had in the fleet. It ain't the same. These little asides make the book very readable and bring in a human element some authors miss when trying to bring out the statistics and the facts of the times. It is a sad story, but it is one that also should make you all proud. I think he described every battle and parts of battles so thoroughly and so well laid out in a time-line that at last anyone can see the big picture and still zoom in to the fine detail.

I highly recommend his book, "PLAYING FOR TIME - War on an Asiatic Fleet Destroyer" For those who use the web and purchase that way, it is easy to get from Merriam Press ... which by the way is an excellent publisher resource for people with military histories that need to be in print.

Why Forgotten? - Speech from Reunion Dinner

2006-05-17T11:13:00.000-04:00

by Vic Campbell (continued in the "comments section under this post)
I am pleased to be here in such august company. I promise you a good talk, because I placed third in the FFA speech competition at Chumuckla High school in 1965 and later graduated in the top ten of my class of 17 students in 1967. My dad was a Navy chief. He was an airdale, having crewed in PBY's in the war. In the early 1950's he was able to get transferred back to Pensacola, near his family's roots. In that way, my brother and sister and I were consigned to the dual roles of Navy Brats and Farm Kids. His duty stations were either at sea or in Jacksonville or Pensacola, so the farm scenario worked out well for a family. As we kids slaved among aunts, uncles, cousins and ourselves to clear land, plant and harvest crops, and herd cattle, we thought we were in a special hell created by Navy chiefs. Little did we know, we were in Chief's heaven.
Sometimes I was fortunate enough to go to work with dad at the VT-4 hangar in Pensacola where so many student aviators earned their wings. The Blue Angels were based there as well. I reached the pinnacle of awe once when I had my shoes shined by the man who shined the shoes for the Blue Angels. Could life ever get better than that? I later joined the Navy and went to OCS at Newport. My mom and dad came to Newport to be at my commissioning and dad gave me my first salute (though by then he was retired). My naval service was in a destroyer, in Vietnam.
My brother became a Navy corpsman and remained in the reserves after his active tour. Thirty Five years later, and before dad passed away, his captains eagles were pinned on his collar by the old chief. I am proud of my Navy heritage; My Navy family.
Now, I want to talk on the topic of the FORGOTTEN FLEET. (SEE THE COMMENT link BELOW)

Please Read

2006-02-27T14:13:00.000-05:00

Another hoax (Dobson Report on God in TV Programs)
http://www.snopes.com/politics/religion/fcc.asp
Mark Lewin

Asheville,NC - USS Asheville

2006-02-23T16:13:00.000-05:00

When the Asheville was launched in 1918 the sponsoring party consisted of Edith Vanderbilt and her daughter along with all the city rulers at that time. This is what has drawn Bill Cecil into our reunion sponsorship and further has brought one sponsorship from the Rotary Club and should be a reason for the whole city to sponsor it. Secondly: Some time before 1918 Dr. Green from the Rotary Club suggested naming a warship after our city. They aroused the city fathers and politicians and went to the Secretary of the Navy Joseph Daniels and he awarded the gunboat being built at Charleston Navy Yard to be named USS ASHEVILLE-PG21.
The reunion is based on the Memorial to the former Asiatic Fleet for which the USS ASHEVILLE PG21 was a part and the heroic stand they made following the disaster at Pearl Harbor. They were the only U.S.Navy force available to delay the hoardes of modern overwhelming navy from their rush to obtain the oil rich Dutch East Indies. Even though they consisted mostly WWI vintage ships they put up a courages fight in spite of their complete lack of air cover and it is well known now that they were EXPENDABLE without ANY PROMISED REINfORCEMENTS. The lack of any recognition was due to the fact that their outcome was a complete failure, as expected, and due to the Pearl Harbor disaster the navy did not want to throw another blow to the country already reeling from the surprse attack death roll.

SHOWING THE FLAG

2006-02-12T10:22:00.000-05:00

Gunboats of the Asiatic Fleet by Aaron Anderson. Originally posted July, 2005.

E MAIL ADDRESS

2006-01-14T12:32:00.000-05:00

In case I have told you differently I am back on wfashe3@bellsouth.net for my E Mail address. I flirted with Charter for a few days but gave up when they told me that they would put me on the Internet and after that they could not help me....at least Bellsouth helps me when i am in trouble which is OFTEN. Happy New Year...walter

May 2006 Memorial Program

2005-11-16T18:07:00.000-05:00

Pay attention to the registration information in the prior posts. This information is to give you some idea of how the Memorial Service will go. READ THE FULL POST IN COMMENTS section below.

Reunion Registration Information

2005-11-06T19:49:00.000-05:00

see Reunion Info in the COMMENTS Section below

Reunion Information

2005-11-06T19:48:00.000-05:00

Best Western Reservations and more. SEE COMMENTS link under this post.

Reunion Schedule

2005-11-06T19:42:00.000-05:00

SpecialSchedule notes: See Comments link under this post.

Important Links

2005-10-09T09:35:00.000-04:00

NAVY DEPARTMENT LIBRARY
DVD - SAND PEBBLES
Dictionary of Fighting Ships - Villalobos
USS PANAY - History
US ASIATIC FLEET COMMUNITY
US ASIATIC FLEET -HYPERWAR
ASIATIC FLEET MEMORIAL PROCLAMATION
FLEET LOCATIONS ON DEC 7 1941
Book - THE FLEET THE GODS FORGOT
Fleet BIOGRAPHY
WIKIPEDIA - ASIATIC FLEET
USS HOUSTON
USS HOUSTON NEWS

Put Congress on Social Security

2005-09-14T20:31:00.000-04:00

DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU ARE
A Republican or a Democrat
KEEP IT GOING!!!!
2008 Election Issue!!
SOCIAL SECURITY AND CONGRESS
Check out the facts at SNOPES --

http://www.snopes.com/politics/taxes/pensions.asp

Traitor Is About to Be Honored

2005-08-23T09:31:00.000-04:00

RE: JANE FONDA....PLEASE HELP BY SENDING THIS TO EVERYONE IN YOUR ADDRESS BOOK. IF ENOUGH PEOPLE SEE THIS MAYBE HER STATUS WILL CHANGEIts important to read the whole story. Its not exactly all true. http://www.snopes.com/military/fonda.asp SEE THIS LINK FOR THE FULL STORY.

Showing the Flag

2005-07-07T20:12:00.000-04:00

GUNBOATS OF THE ASIATIC FLEET

Our member Aaron Anderson wrote the following for his master's degree in College. It is the first extensive review we have had and it is very appropriate while a lot of us are still here and can enjoy "looking back" on those days we have shared together. It comes in four parts and I will publish the first one, "The Beginning" here, and the second part "The Gunboats". The others will be published in forthcoming newsletters. They are The Men, and last The Mission. We thank him sincerely for allowing us to publish it.

THE BEGINNING
America has long maintained interests in China. American commercial and missionary efforts date back to the late eighteenth century, and the United States maintained a naval presence in China dating back to the pre-Civil War era. By the early twentieth century, however, unstable
conditions in China prompted the U.S.Navy to designate a permanent force of gunboats to patrol the Yangtze River, the Pearl River ( leading to Canton), and the China Coast, forming the Yangtze Patrol and the South China Patrol.
Popularized by the novel and movie Sand Pebbles, the gunboats and China sailors represent an important aspect of the American "Old China Hands" experience in China, and duty aboard a gunboat in China was the most unique the Navy had to offer. Was the depiction of the gunboats and sailors in Sand Pebbles accurate? What did the gunboats really do, and what was the life of
the China sailors really like? The U.S. gunboat patrol and their sailors provided vital protection, transportation, and support for American national and private interests in China, and their primary mission to protect American lives, property, and show the flag, was essential to the American presence in China.

The purpose is not to provide a chronological history of the gunboats and sailors in China, but rather to investigate their equipment, activities, duties and mission during the "heyday" of U.S. Gunboat activity in China (1920-1941). The subject will be further addressed in two main
sections in the future; The Men, and The Mission. It is necessary, however , by way of explanation, to offer a brief synopsis of the themes and attributes contained in Sand Pebbles that will be examined, and the events leading up to our era of study (1920-1941), to provide a background and context for the information investigated in this research.

The San Pablo

Sand Pebbles, the 1962 novel by Richard McKenna, provides a vivid representation of life aboard a U.S. gunboat, and the mission they served, in China during the 1920's. McKenna, a real life China sailor who based his novel on actual experiences, portrays certain themes that this
research will address. The fictional gunboat in the novel, the San Pebble (based on the real Villalobas), is portrayed as an antiquated coal burning vessel that is limited in mobility certain times of year by the water level and its draft The sailor' life was good, with plentiful food, comfortable crew quarters, diversions of liberty, and Chinese laborers who lived onboard

and did a lot of work. But events intervene, and the Sand Pablo and her men were ordered to evacuate American missionaries out of harms way. They battle Chinese revolutionary soldiers and are able to extricate the missionaries; at a cost (the protagonist is killed). But the gunboat and its sailors are portrayed as well armed and capable of engaging superior numbers of
antagonists (Chinese Revolutionaries) successfully in the course of fulfilling their primary mission: to protect American lives, property, and project American presence by showing the flag.

The United States has been involved with China since the eighteenth century, and the first U.S.flagged merchant ship arrived at Whampoa in Canton on August 28, 1784. American merchant activity continued into the nineteenth century, and in 1844, the Treaty of Wanghsia granted American most favored nation status and extraterritoriality. From that point in time on, the American government assumed the right to protect American flagged shipping in Chinese waters, and began to actively participate in China as both a commercial, and a military power. Events in 1853 proved to be a turning point for the U.S.Navy in China as the Plymouth landed marines in Shanghai to assist the British in securing their concessions, and the Susquehanna marked an essential change in American policy in 1854 by ascending the Yangtze River as far a Wuhu, officially opening the Yangtze River to U.S. naval vessels. Although the Susquehanna was a clumsy paddle-wheel steamer, not really a gunboat, it started the Yangtze Patrol, the "longest uninterrupted military operation in U.S. history (at least inname).

The open treaty ports on the Yangtze eventually included (in order going upriver) Shanghai, Chinkiang, Nanking, Wuhu, Kiukiang, Hankow, Shasi, Changsha , Ichang, and Chungking. After the Civil War, the U.S.sent the Monocacy and the Ashuelot to China, products of U.S. riverine experience in the Civil War, and more appropriate to the conditions on the Yangtze. From 1866 to 1941, there is a continuous U.S naval presence on the Yangtze, indicating that the importance of the commercial invovlvement, and the number of American nationals in the region was growing, and the U.S. felt compelled to maintain a military presence to protect these interests. Also, 1867-1941 represents the actual length of the "longest military operation inthe U.S.history.

By 1898, several additional U.S.naval ships had served in China and growing American influence in the Pacific began to change the composition, and the importance of the U.S.naval vessels active in the region. The Spanish-American War in 1898 changed the role of the U.S. Navy in the Pacific. Commodore Dewey's victory over the Spanish fleet in Manila Bay on May 1 thrust the U.S.Navy into a new role of protector of a Far East Empire. Additional trouble in China with the Boxer rebellion of 1900 reinforced the Navy's commitment to protect American interests in China, and in 1903 the U.S. moved several vessels captured from the Spanish in the Philippines to China, including the old coal burning gunboatsVillalobos,Elcano, and Pampanga.???????????

USS ELCANO,
VILLALOBOS
and
PAPANGO

The Pacific Fleet, as the U.S. acknowledged the growing Japanese aims in the region, and the gunboats, were organized into the Second Division, Third Squadron, of the Pacific Fleet in
1908. The Navy commissioned its first specially built shallow draft gunboats in 1914, the Monocacy and Palos (both replaced old China boats of the same name, decommissioned in 1893 and 1904). The ships were built in the U.S.disassembled, shipped to China in pieces, and reassembled in Shanghai. These gunboats essentially completed the early U.S. complement of gunboats in China, and they gave the Navy the ability to operate in the shallow water of Changsha (Tung Ting Lake) and Chungking year-round. World War I also started in 1914, and soon the Americans found themselves the only ones patrolling in China, as other treaty powers (Britain,Russia,Germany, and France) withdrew their gunboat forces or were interned, (the Chinese were still neutral). The U.S.Navy had its own gunboats interned briefly during 1917 as the U.S.entered the war in April and the Chinese did not follow until August. Following the war, the importance of U.S. gunboats in China was even greater (because of the power vacuum created by absent treaty powers and vastly increased American post-war prestige), as China was in constant turmoil and attacks on American interests by war lords and revolutionaries had grown, and would continue for another decade. The U.S. "Dollar Diplomacy" and "Open-Door Policy" in China took the moral high ground, but the fact was, U.S.business was making hundreds of millions in China, and it was the job of the gunboats to protectthese interests.

Due to this increased importance and the growing number of gunboats, on December 28, 1919, the gunboats were organized into the South China Patrol (based in Hong Kong/Canton), and the Yangtze Patrol (based in Shanghai/Hankow). These official designations, and divisions of the
gunboats, would exist for the next two decades, until World War II brought them to an end for good. Thus were the conditions and historical background of the gunboats leading up to our era of study, 1920-1941. This era represents the apex, and swansong, of American gunboats activity in China.

THE GUNBOATS
The first element of this study is the gunboats themselves. The nature and features of the individual gunboats could vary greatly, and this had significant bearing on the kind of experience the crew had, and how effective the boats were in fulfilling their mission. As a general rule,
U.S.gunboats and their crews were well armed, capable of projecting sufficient firepower to prevail in most situations. But the other individual idiosyncrasies and differences between boats deeply affected the lives and moral of the gunboat sailors, where the boats could go, and to a degree determined the level of success they achieved. Some boats were better than others. Consequently, it is necessary to examine the characteristics of the gunboats to provide an understanding and appreciation of these differences.

The gunboats that comprised the early patrols of this era were a decidedly mixed bag. Some were relics captured or purchased in the Philippines during the Spanish-American war; some were manufactured in the States around the turn of the century or during World War I, and were large enough to make the trans-Pacific trip to China, and two, the Palos and the Monocacy, were newertrue river gunboats assembled in Shanghai in 1914.

USS MONOCACAY
USS PALOS
USS PENGUIN
USS PIGEON ASR-6

Many of these gunboats had coal-burning steam engines, while some had been converted or initially fitted with oil burning boilers. Brevity prevents listing all the gunboats used in this early period, but a list for our purposes discussion includes South China Patrol-Helena, Pampanga, Asheville, Pigeon,a 6-1/2 foot draft, was able to cruise the shallow Canton estuary. All were
well armed, however, with main batteries of 4" cannons and machine gun emplacements (the 4" cannon made a distinctive "crack" that terrified the Chinese and could pulverize targets in short order).

But all these ships were primitive relics and none had electrical power, all had to have portable gas generators. They lacked baffles (a component of the firebox/boiler system that trapped heat and could, but this "open flue" stack made the boilers highly not be used with wood because it blocked the flames) and were able to burn wood or coal forfuel .

Inefficient and the engines weak. The crew quarters were cramped and often below decks, (with the exception of the Villalobos, which had light, airy, wooden crew quarters above deck), making these boats very hot in the summer. The Navy squeezed all the use it could out of these boats, however, and some served until the late 1920's. The common view among the officers about this
group of gunboats might have been summed up by a Navy report from 1920, recommending the Elcano and Villalobos should be "condemned, stricken and offered for sale. Another group of gunboats is the larger ocean going boats guilt in the States. This group includes the Helena, Asheville, and Sacramento. The Helena was a steel gunboat built in 1897 and was one of the first gunboats made specifically for service in China. She had large view over the 50-foot dikes and banks of the Yangtze. The Sacramento was a steel gunboat built for tropical service in 1914, and the Asheville was a gunboat built for tropical duty in 1918. Both these vessels could burn coal
or wood, but were later converted to oil burners. All three boats were well over 200 feet long, averaged 12 knots, and were heavily armed (up to 4" cannons and multiple machine guns). These boats also had large crews (150-185 men) and could carry substantial amounts of fuel, making them well suited for coastal patrol, not river patrol, because their draft averaged more than 10 feet.

USS ASHEVILLE PG-21
USS SACRAMENTO PG19
USS ISABEL PY-10
USS OAHU PR-6
USS PANAY PR-5

Three odd-ball (conversion) ships were used during this period: the Isabel, Pigeon, and Penguin. The Isabel was a yacht converted to a destroyer in World War I, and served as flagship for the Commander of the Yangtze Patrol. She was 1probably the fastest of all the gunboats to serve in China: at 26 knots she had blazing speed, but could not go up river past Hankow. The Penguin and the Pigeon were both converted World War I minesweepers. They were capable of 13 knots, but had 133-foot drafts, once again preventing upper-river travel. All of these convertedgunboats carried 3" main batteries and machine gun emplacements.

USSTUTUILA PR-4

The only true shallow draft river gunboats during this period were the Monocacy and Palos. Based on British plans, both were constructed at Mare Island Naval Yard in San Francisco, disassembled, shipped to Shanghai, and reassembled there in 1914. Smaller (165 feet) and lighter (204 tons) that all of the other American gunboats, these boats were true Yangtze gunboats. Able to negotiate the rapids and gorges of the Yangtze to Chungking, they only drew 2-1/2 feet of water, and Far East Commander-in-Chief "fighting Bob:" Evans remarked that they were"almost able to float on wet grass."

These two gunboats were probably the most used and long lived of the early gunboats (used long after their prime), in service until the late 1930's. But even these gunboats had the same and vexing flaw in their designthat plagued other coal burners.

USS GUAM(WAKE)

o Lt. R.C. Sutliff, Executive officer of the Palos in 1926, the combustion took place in the stack The ships boilers were designed to burn wood or coal, and according t .in order to get up enough steam to shift or sight anchor the stack would belch flames four or five feet out of the top of the stacks. Claude Bailey, "George" officer (Lieutenant Jr. Grade) aboard the Monocacy on her final
trip down the Yangtze in 1938, confirms this: "We did not make more than 5 or 6 knots," because "half our energy went out the stacks in flames..we would have to get underway at five o'clock in the morning and steam until seven o'clock at night to catch up with the other people. We did not have any trouble getting underway in the dark, because the flames from the stack
illuminated the banks of the river. The Navy used these vessels until they barely functioned and the Palos was sold in Chungking in 1937, and the Monocacy was sunk by demolition charges off Shanghai in 1939, making these two of the longest serving gunboats of the Yangtze Patrol.

In 1927-1928, the Navy commissioned six new gunboats to supplement and replace the older gunboats, and these would be the last of the China gunboats constructed. They were as follows: Guam,Tutuila, Oahu, Panay, Luzon, and Mindanao.

The fate of this final series of gunboats is representative of the end of the gunboat era in China. The Mindanao (Flagship South China Patrol), Luzon (Flagship Yangtze Patrol), and Oahu were all withdrawn from China to Manila in the Philippines in December 1941, only to be sunk in Manila Bay in May 1942 (the Luzon was salvaged by theJapanese and named the HIJMS Karatsu).

USS LUZON PR-7

Japanese Army planes sank the Panay on the Yangtze near Nanking in 1937.The Tutuila was transferred to Chungking in 1938 with the American Ambassador, and became trapped Japanese blockade of the Yangtze, and was turned over to the Chinese Nationalist government in January 1942. This leaves the Guam, which had the strangest end of all the gunboats (or lack of it). The Navy changed the name to Wake in April of 1941 (the Navy wanted the name Guam for another ship), and it was deemed too small to make the crossing to Manila in December
1941. Consequently, the Japanese captured it in Shanghai on December 8, 1941, and they renamed it the HIJMS Tartara (the Wake was he only U.S. ship captured at the start of World War II). It survived the war and was turned over to the Nationalist, who named it the RCS Tai Juan. When the Nationalist fled the mainland in1949, the gunboat was handed over to the Red Chinese, who put it into service, meaning the boat served under the flag of five different nations.

The gunboats used from 1920-1941 were a mix of a little of everything the Navy could assemble. The South China Patrol and Yangtze Patrol more or less used relics and old coal burning gunboats until 1927-1928, when the newer, much improved oil burning boats were introduced. The old boats were often ill suited to the conditions, particularly where a lot of power and a shallow draft were needed (like the upper Yangtze). The coal burners were susceptible to not only their own idiosyncrasies, but also lack of range due to coal availability. Chinese coal was generally of a low grade and contained many impurities, not ideal for prime boiler efficiency, and half the heat went up the stack on lot of these boats anyway. But the
Patrols did have some very good gunboats for their time.

USS QUIROS PG-40

The Monocacy and Palos, even though coal fired, were good when new and in top shape in 1914, and their 2-1/2 foot draft and three rudders made them the first true upriver gunboats. The whole newer group of gunboats introduced in 1928-1929 were outstanding boats, with powerful engines that could be turned on with the twist of an oil valve. Good crew quarters, and much improved long range radios. All the gunboats that served in China were able to project military power to protect American interests, and they were as unusual as any ships the U.S.Navy has ever used and in a lot of cases, they never saw U.S. waters.

USS MINDANAO PR-8

That's all till next newsletter, and then we will continue with this very interesting review of the gunboats of the United States Asiatic Fleet.

ChinaGunBoatMan

2005-06-30T21:33:00.000-04:00

The ChinaGunboatMan is devoted to perpetuating the history of the Asiatic Fleet. It existed only in the hearts and minds oif those that served in its command. By publishing only true stories of the Philippine-China-Japan area before WWII, that are related to the Asiatic Fleet. we hope to honor only those that served therein. Their good and bad times will make up for future
historians the picture of what happened during those years from 1845 and on in that distant foreign land.

History is made up of these men who served inconspicuously in this far away Asian land, unknown and unheralded by the country they defended. Yet even in their last days, served silently and heroically to the end. The Asiatic Fleet, as we know it, and lived it, is only history. It can never, ever happen again.

We invite all personnel, military or civilian that are interested in, and supportive of, the objectives of the SouthChina Yangtze Patrol to join up with us. You will receive the unique ChinaGunBoatMan newsletter every quarter, you will be qualified to attend our annual reunion and you will enjoy the association with our old "China Hands" that "have been there and done that" duty in the Asiatic Fleet. Welcome Aboard! Send the following information to our Secretary Denver Keplinger, 79 Caesar Circle, Amherst Village, Amherst, OH 44001. Phone (440) 985-2044 or E Mail: Denverkep. Annual dues $18.00 but joining after July lst only $9.00. You will be rewarded with a current ChinaGunBoatMan newsletter when you registration is received.

Some Background

2005-06-25T10:14:00.000-04:00

Walter Ashe is editor for the China Gunboatman's newsletter and served in the USS Asheville. One of the younger members is Kelly Geary whose grandfather was the CO of USS Edsall - Lost without a trace - No survivors. Edsall had just rescued survivors from the USS Langley when it ran afoul of an INJ cruiser. Records do exist from the IJN cruiser that confirm its loss to gunfire. More about the Edsall will be on this blog soon.

History of the Asiatic Fleet

2005-06-25T10:02:00.000-04:00

by Walter Ashe
If you ever wanted a story to stir the hearts, and yes, even the souls of Americans, a story of dedication, beyond and above the call to duty, a story filled with courage, a story crying for recognition. This is that story!
It is a story of the Asiatic Fleet, that since 1854, under different names, had been the protector of American lives and property in the Far East, predominantly the Philippines and China.
Our Combined Forces, U.S.Navy Asiatic Fleet survivors are uniting in an effort to bring a long overdue recognition to the heartbreaking struggles of that great fleet, as it fought, alone, against the overwhelming modern Japanese Navy subsequent to the disaster at Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941. If you have not heard of it, don't worry, you are not alone, not many have.
The Asiatic Fleet, long the peace-keeper in Asia, was the only American naval force available to challenge the onrushing hordes of Japanese forces, hell bent to conquer the oil rich fields of the east Indies, after the disaster at Pearl Harbor. Between this prize, sailed the proud, although overage ships of the Asiatic Fleet. Three cruisers, 13 WW1 vintage destroyers, 29 submarines, auxiliaries, two large gunboats, inshore patrol boats, 6 motor torpedo boats and 36 PBY's. Their orders were to fight the Japanese, to delay their progress. And fight they did!
The U.S. Marines, Navy men and women, also a part of the Asiatic Fleet Command were fighting a fierce delaying action on Bataan and Corregidor, against the Japanese Army sweeping into the Philippines. You have heard of the Bataan Death March? They were in it!
The Asiatic Fleet's only repair facilities at Cavite in the Philippines was destroyed a few days after Pearl Harbor. MacArthur's priceless airforce was wiped out on the ground. That left practically no aircover for the Asiatic Fleet. A disaster for naval vessels as we found out when the mighty British battleships Prince of Wales and the Repulse were sunk by Japanese planes in a few hours. They had no air cover. Also the Houston found out later when they fired at enemy aircraft that a lot of their anti-aircraft shells were defective and would not explode! The submarines had the same heart-breaking results. Some of their torpedoes bounced off the Japanese hulls without exploding! Relief that they thought would be coming momentarily, never came, but fight they continued doing. Sometimes winning, sometimes losing, but gradually falling back to defending new shores. They were more than heroes. They kept fighting when heroes would have stopped!
Little by little, the enemy became stronger and they had to back off. First they defended the American territories and when the Japanese occupied those, they were ordered to join with the Dutch to try and save the oil rich East Indies. The command was turned over to the Dutch and American Commander, Admiral Thomas C. Hart was relieved and returned to the U.S., with deep regret by the officers and men of the Asiatic Fleet. They fought side by side under a command called ABDA (American, British, Dutch and Australians). When there was not any more land to defend and Japanese Fleet had flooded the whole area with ships and planes, they were told to retire to Australia, as best they could, and what was left of them. Some made it, some did not!
If you were to read the story of the "Battle of Balikpapan" in J. Daniel Mullin's book "Another Six Hundred," where four little U.S. World War I vintage destroyers, USS FORD, POPE, PARROTT, and PAUL JONES, undaunted by much superior Japanese naval forces, made a night time attack on a Japanese invasion fleet, miraculously, not only sank several Japanese ships, but escaped to fight another day. You would be very proud of those American sailors. Also and not heralded, as it should have been, this was the first naval engagement against an enemy force since the Spanish American War! That alone should have brought out banner headlines. The lone heavy cruiser, the USS HOUSTON, and destroyers USS JOHN D. FORD and USS POPE had the honor of receiving the Presidential Unit Citation. The USS JOHN D. FORD and USS POPE also were awarded the Philippine, National China, and the US Army Distinguished Unit Citations. The USS HOUSTON died fighting in the Battle of Sunda Strait, wracked by bombs from Japanese planes (The Americans had no air support), punctured by shells, she died firing at the enemy with her decks awash and sinking.
Our light cruiser USS MARBLEHEAD was so badly damaged that she could not carry on and retired from the battle, buried her dead at Tjilatjap and made it back to the United States via India, using pumps all the way to keep from sinking. They saved their ship. The MARBLEHEAD was awarded the Navy Commendation Citation. The destroyers USS POPE,STEWART,PEARY,EDSALL and PILLSBURY fought gallantly but there were just too many against them. They died like the HOUSTON, blasting away at the enemy until the end.
The aircraft carrier USS LANGLEY tried desperately to bring much-needed planes to the American forces, but too late, as by then the Japanese had control of the area, and she too was sunk. The gunboat USS ASHEVILLE, alone, and having fulfilled her duties was heading for Australia and met a large Japanese task force, and was sunk with only one survivor, who later died in the Japanese prison camp in Makassar from inhuman treatment as did many others.
We lost 22 ships, 1,826 killed, 518 placed in prison camps too horrible to describe. Many died there. They were expendable, so it seemed. There were stories (later verified) about sailors being beheaded and others that were doused with gasoline and set on fire. They were beaten, starved and tortured in those beastly prison camps. Some were herded into old rusted Japanese freighters and removed to Japan. Sadly, American planes, not knowing that their comrades were piled into the vessels cargo holds sank many of those ships.
Many of the men who survived the sinking of their ships were left to die in the shark infested waters or were machine gunned while they cried for help. The story of why the crew from the USS POPE were rescued by a Japanese destroyer was an epoch of naval history. When the POPE had been sunk by a Japanese task force and the surviving officers and men were in the water expecting death, a Japanese destroyer approached. The gunnery officer from the POPE , Lt. William R. "Bill" Wilson, had survived and when the destroyer approached he shouted to the Japanese commander in perfect Japanese. He had previously had duty in the Naval Attaché office in Tokyo and had perfected the language. Unbelievable, the Japanese captain happened to have met him in Tokyo and due to that unforeseen coincidence all the surviving men from the POPE were saved. They were taken to a prison camp, but in spite of the misery there, many survived and were released at the end of the war.
The auxiliary ships, held in ports to repair the crippled ships as they limped back from their battles, had no protection from the steady bombing by the Japanese Air Force. They had to cover their ship with palm fronds, and say a prayer as their only means of protection.
The story of the PBY's that flew against the Japanese naval forces was another heartbreaking tale. They dutifully flew bombing raids over the Japanese fleet without any air protection and their big awkward planes, were torn to pieces by the Japanese fighter planes. There were no other planes available and despite the hazards they flew and many died.
And so it happened. It is almost impossible to believe that after all of this heroism, the bitter struggles to obey orders, that not one word of praise or recognition for this fleet was ever given. Can you believe that a display of the combatants in the Pacific during World War II by the National Archives, did not indicate one word in the display that the Asiatic Fleet ever existed ! Can your further believe that in the National Geographic Magazine of December 1991, a fold out map displayed, likewise, all the naval engagements in the Pacific during WWII, and where the Asiatic Fleet fought, died and were imprisoned, there was placed a big Japanese flag, inscribed Java Seas 27 Feb.1942! The day the USS HOUSTON was sunk and other ships met their doom. Is that fair? Did those men die carrying the American flag, only to be remembered as a Japanese victory ? Why? You may ask? Is it because we Americans don't want to illustrate our defeats? Is it because we don't want to be reminded of our losses? Or is it the embarrassment that we allowed it to happen? Did we look the other way when the Asiatic Fleet needed help? Did we only see the problems of Europe or Hitler? Was the conflict in the far, far away Asia mist beyond our cares? Or lastly was it because they did not want to publish such losses after the disaster at Pearl Harbor? History will have the answer, today we can only question it.

A Note from Hancock Website

2005-06-25T09:58:00.000-04:00

From USS HANCOCK web pages.

Recently your Yeoman was reading some of our 'On-Site Memorials' and came upon one entered by Kelley Long. I wrote her what a moving memorial she made to her Grandfather, a sailor who lost his life while serving in the Asiatic Fleet, off of Java in WWII, and received an E-Mail back from her, announcing to me the recent Presidential Proclamation which I am including on this site. I believe knowledge of this, heretofore little-known Fleet be made public and it behooves me, your Yeoman, to make some space for this acknowledgement. Please read Kelley's return Email, and the subsequent History regarding the Asiatic Fleet, and then, the Presidential Proclamation, making March 1, 2002 as "Asiatic Fleet Memorial Day... follow these links; they are very important to all of us...

"Hi Jake,
Thank you for your kind words. I have been truly blessed to have pursued this path and made the discoveries. As up until then, we only knew my grandfather was MIA. We had NO idea the wealth of information that was eventually brought to us. And I think this has helped my mom immensely as she was one month short of being two years old. Her older sister and brother knew their father, but she would never be held by him or hear his voice. She had a hard time mourning someone she never knew, yet was so much a part of her. By divine intervention, I have become acquainted with a number of Asiatic Fleet veterans and invited to the USS Trinity's reunion in San Diego earlier this month. The connection with the Trinity was that the Edsall helped to escort the oiler 1/20/42 off Darwin, Australia when they came under enemy submarine attack. The crew of the Trinity held fond memories of the Edsall and treated my mother so sweetly. Anyway, I have attached quite a bit of information, and you can share it with everyone you know. These brave men did so much for our country, I felt the need to help them get the word out.

On behalf of the veterans of the Asiatic Fleet from WWII, I would like to share this message* with you and anyone else you can share this with. I have attached President Bush's Proclamation, and included in the text below the requested announcement - a letter that one of our surviving Asiatic Fleet veterans had written hoping the government would honor their request to be acknowledged, and the history behind getting the Proclamation. Many people do not even know about the Asiatic Fleet so I hope the attachment and the enclosed letter will help enlighten you on what these brave individuals accomplished for our country.

Sincerely,
Kelley Long (Geary)
(....note by poster (Kelly's grandfather's destroyer the USS Edsall was lost without a trace to Japanese gunfire in early March 1942.)
Mission Viejo, CA"

USS ASHEVILLE 63rd Memorial

2005-06-25T09:56:00.000-04:00

USS ASHEVILLE 63RD ANNIVERSARY MEMORIAL

I want to thank everyone here today for joining us in this Memorial ceremony. It is your support that makes the memory of those 160 sailors, on the good ship USS Asheville PG21, that gave their lives so we could be here today, such a memorable occasion. Your attendance shows the great spirit that prevails in our city. The late navy Admiral Boorda, then Chief of Naval Personnel, said “For a city, without harbor, beach or pier Asheville has truly proven itself a great “Navy Town.”

The gunboat Asheville, built in Charleston shipyard, served in China waters off and on since 1923. She was not a fleet ship but operated independently, giving refuge and protection for American citizens along the 2,000 mile China coast.

I am very proud to have served on the Asheville for 2-1/2 years, from 1936-1939, along the China coast. I must say that of all the ships I served on in my 30 years naval service, the Asheville was the most memorable of all. Fortunately I was not onboard on March 3, 1942 when she was sunk, in battle with a large Japanese force. All hands were lost in the shark infested waters without a hope of rescue, except one who was taken onboard the Japanese warship apparently to identify the ship they had sunk. He died in a Japanese prison camp, enduring 3 years of horrible treatment, from pellagra, dysentery and heart trouble. But like the Grecian legend bird ,the Phoenix, that built its greatness from its own ashes, we have kept the navy ship Asheville high in the navies history and today it triumphantly rises from the ashes of that gunboat to become the new nuclear attack submarine , USS ASHEVILLE SSN758, that today sails majestically throughout the Pacific ocean and our city was instrumental in its commissioning.

In 1984 we organized a reunion here in Asheville for the former Asheville sailors. It was a wonderful occasion. The city turned all out and entertained us royally. A private tour of the Biltmore House was given by Bill Cecil, the merchant businesses gave us an arrival party, the Mayor gave each a gold sealed proclamation, the Rotary Club gave corsages to all that attended the banquet given by the Asheville Industries and Men’s Garden Club put roses in every room we occupied. The banks and the Veteran groups paid for our luncheon at the Deer Park Restaurant. Young’s travel supplied bus service and the Citizen-Times supplied plenty of newspaper coverage. Well, it was so successful we founded a permanent organization called the South China Patrol, later the Yangtze Patrol joined us and now we are the South China Yangtze Patrol. Part of our membership now are “patrons” who joined with us because they wanted to be a part of such a unique group of “Old China Hands” as we are known, and to receive our award winning newsletter called the ChinaGunBoatMan of which I am honored to be the editor. Also during the commissioning of our latest attack nuclear submarine, the USS ASHEVILLE SSN758, we organized a naval display of all the four ships named after our city, with funds supplied by the local Fleet Reserve Association and the Navy League. The North Carolina local department of History and Archives did all the building for us. It is here today, in the city hall, that we also honor the establishment of this naval display.

It was at the Regional Asheville Airport since 1994, but here it will be more assessable to local citizens and school groups to understand their great naval heritage.

We propose, and hope to accomplish, a reunion here in 2006 for all those able to travel; after all the members are all in their 80’s. It will probably be our last reunion and what could be better than to have our first and last reunion right here in our namesake city. So with your blessings we hope to have a memorable reunion as great as we had in 1984. Thanks again for your support and attendance today.

Asiatic Fleet Student

2005-06-25T09:53:00.000-04:00

Maybe we could advertise the ChinaGunBoatMan to gather more subscribers..I feel a lot would like to subscribe to it but don't realize we accept "Sponsors" as well a Asiatic Fleet members. In fact we have a good percentage of them. Maybe even put a sample of one of the better stories on the web...I just received a letter from one of our "pastor" members Steve Bryson...he has made a most extensive study of the Asiatic Fleet...has almost every book publishe pertaining to it and asking for suggtions on more books. He wants any first person story for his files and has asked me to send him my personal history of my 2-1/2 years on the Asheville in China...from 1936 to 1939...I will send it to him.He is going to build a model of the Tutuila and wants plans to build the Asheville PG21 which I have.He is really Gungho and I admire his interest.That is the type of some of our patrons. Thanks for all of your interest too.You and Steve Bryson are jewels as far as I'm concerned. Best wishes. Walter

Letter to National Geographic

2005-06-25T08:34:00.000-04:00

Wednesday, May 25, 2005
Editor National Geographic Magazine
PO BOX 64106
Tampa, FL 33664-4106

Dear Editor:

I am once again subscribing to your magazine. As I have been off and on throughout the years, but this time I have an offer. If I don’t receive a courtesy reply I will never subscribe again. Here is my message:

There are many editors, I know, but hopefully this will find the one who has some historic visions to see the great opportunity in bringing to life a vital part of our history. A part that never can be repeated, a part so little is known about, or cared about by home guards that see only the borders of east and west.

I am talking about the former U.S.Navy Asiatic Fleet, from the first days in 1845 when Congressman Caleb Cushing made treaties with China and to actively establish the Asiatic Fleet, known at that time as the East India Squadron. On and on through the years many dramatic events brought that group to light in military eyes,e.g. The English War with China (we did not participate), the opening of trade with Japan, the Boxer Rebellion, The Battle of Manila Bay in the war with Spain, The Boxer Rebellion. Sinking of the Panay, and certainly by far the battles of the Java Seas, as the poorly equipped, overaged ships, without promised reinforcements, battled to their deaths delaying the modern Japanese Fleet from occupying the oil rich Dutch East Indies.

Certainly the peoples of the United States and specifically the children need to know this vital stage of their heritage. Only the National Geographic Magazine can portray this properly and correct the absence of recognition prevailing in the past.

Please think about this. It has never been told, a sleeping dragon that only needs a sword of revelation to bring it to life and expose it as the exciting history that now lies forgotten.

Walter F. Ashe
Lt. SC, USN (Ret)

The New China Gunboat Log

2005-06-25T08:03:00.000-04:00

This log is provided to manage recorded history and news for the surviving members of the United States River Fleet known as the China Gun Boatmen. Walter Ashe, who lives in Asheville, NC and who was a member of the crew of the USS Asheville PG-21, is the primary designated poster. Features from email and from the association newsletter will find a home here. Look for posts to develop over time. Walter left the USS Asheville only a short time before it was lost in battle with the Japanese Imperial Fleet soon after the Pacific War began. Walter carries the torch for the USS Asheville to this day. Within 3 months of the infamous date of December 7, 1941, the entire US Asiatic Fleet and a combined fleet of Allies were on the bottom of the ocean. More than 20 of these warships were American and at least that many more were Allied warships. The combined allied fleets were pawns, used to delay the progress of the Japanese war machine until adequate forces could be brought to bear on the Japanese. The USS Houston (CA-30) was the flagship of the Asiatic Fleet. Walter says, "My "Fleet that did not Exist" should get more publicity because it states in a nut shell the whole story of the Asiatic Fleet during the period 7 December 1941 to 3 March 1942. Other periods have been fully covered in my many issues of the ChinaGunBoatMan."