USS Northampton

[randys1]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Northampton_%28CA-26%29

My dad was Chief Petty Officer quartermaster when the ship was sunk by a Japanese torpedo.

Herman Wouk wrote "Winds of War" which included this story.

My dad died a couple years ago.

Didnt talk about the war often but when he did he said it was what it was, he did what he did, then he came home and started a family.

He was a good guy.

[Aristus]

1. The miniseries portrayed the sinking very well.

Along with the astounding skill and ability of the sailors who kept it afloat as long as they did. Hats off to your father.

[randys1]

2. Thanks, I had misremembered how long he was in the water

I do recall him saying that he didnt see anybody getting taken by sharks or shot by an enemy,etc.

And that it was rather orderly as the link says.

I wrote a testimonial to him years ago in our local paper as the time he was helping me raise my two sons as a single dad, I recall saying something like:

"At one point this man was treading water to survive in the Pacific while helping to save people all over the world from fascism and now 50 years later here he is saving my ass by helping me raise my boys"

I figured that was the best way to describe his life