SHIP TAKEN OVER BY US

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 -

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

Asiatic Fleet Reuion - Washington DC

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

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

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

The Battle of The Java Sea

Return to the Philippines

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

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

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

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

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

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)