|
USS William D. Porter
DD 579 (Fletcher class)
Builder: Consolidated Steel, Orange Tx.
Laid Down: May 7, 1942
Launched: September 27, 1942
Commissioned: July 6, 1943
Fate: Fate Sunk by a Japanese Kamikaze
Aircraft off Okinawa June 10, 1945
|
We are seeking information on the USS William D. Porter and her crews.
Files and photos may be E-mailed to us and we will incorporate them into these pages.
The E-mail:
Greetings
My father server aboard the USS William D Porter, DD 579. He never spoke much about his time
on the ship, I know that he was a gunner's mate, think he may fired the 5 inch guns. I get
that idea from what he did tell, thought he may have also worked with some of the smaller
guns onboard, wish he was still alive to ask now that I have an interest. I know that my
younger sister got the most info out of him when she needed to interview a WWII vet for
a high school paper. That morning the ship was hit by the plane he was asleep in his bunk,
the explosion lifted the ship and knocked the other bunks above down onto him. He said he
knew he was in trouble when he threw the bunks off and sat up, his bare feet felt oil,
he grabbed a life jacket and headed topside.
Attached is a photo of my father
and other shipmates, I assume taken shortly after they were rescued, transferred to another ship.
My father's name is Arthur L "Red' Craven, he is the only fellow wearing a life jacket, and has
bear feet in the photo. I thought this would be a nice photo to share, I have others of the ship
going down, have seen some of the ones I have online, but never have I seen one of the shipmates
close up.
After my father passed away in May of 93 I found a folder of ship related items stashed in
the back of a closet. Hope you enjoy the photo and maybe someone can put names to the
others pictured.
Thanks
Robert Craven
Luray Kansas
Many Thanks to NavSource
|
|