Naval History - The Panay

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

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

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)

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

POWs bombed by the US Air Corps

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Asiatic Fleet Remembered

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.