The Naval Battle of the Komandorski Islands with special guest Admiral Sam Cox-Episode 223

This week Bill and Seth are joined once again by Naval History and Heritage Command Director, Rear Admiral sam Cox, to discuss the little-known and often-forgotten naval battle of the Komandorski Islands. The trio break down the 4-hour long old school naval gunnery duel in the frigid waters of the North Pacific during the Aleutian Islands campaign of 1943.
#wwii #worldwarii #ww2 #pacific #usa #usnavy #usmc #saipan #wwii #wwiihistory #ww2 #usnavy #usa #usarmy #medalofhonor #enterprise #aircraft #aircraftcarrier #cv6 #halsey #admirals #admiral #general #indianapolis #submarine #aleutians

[@garymackey850]

Welcome back Capt. Bill....//

[@dougm5341]

Gotta tell you Seth and Bill, I love these nighttime drops for me in Australia….. once again, thank you for your hard work in putting these podcasts together.

[@jeffreymartin8448]

From one nocturnal creature (US) to another, I agree.

[@UnauthorizedHistoryPacificWar]

Glad you like them!

[@Antmann71]

Hey mate. When do they post these. I'm Australian too and never get the notifications. When do they post Oz time. Cheers

[@dougm5341]

I just go online usually as a last thing and rummage around. As I subscribe, it is usually one of the first things I see. I know they drop around 9:00 pm Melbourne time, which is 7:00am east coast US

[@joebombero1]

Agreed. We love them in the Philippines as well.

[@user-ed9uc7tc2c]

There is an excellent display of the Battle of the Kormandorski Islands at the Hill Air Force Base Museum in Clearfield, Utah, located thirty miles north of Salt Lake City.

[@richardbennett1856]

And I drove past it twice, about 3 years ago, not knowing that it was there. Maybe next time...

[@frankbodenschatz173]

Glad to see you back Captain Toti! Admiral, we sunk every pip!

[@sneakerset]

Thanks to the Admiral for the Bronze Star info. at 51:00. My dad (US Army) got the Bronze in the Aleutians. He rescued a Navy man who was in the water.

[@robertmoffitt1336]

Another great episode. I've just recently finished the audiobook Thunder Below, and it was an amazingly good book. Just 5 minutes ago I finished the audiobook Race of Aces, the author of which you had on as a recent guest. I'm not embarrassed to say that book left me in tears at the end of it. I will pay special tribute to the P-47 represented as Neel Kearby's "Fiery Ginger" on my next visit to The National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton Ohio. We all stand on the shoulders of Giants, no truer words were ever spoken. Never Forget 💝

[@sethneumann7400]

both excellent books, and good audio books!

[@lt.petemaverickmitchell7113]

I LOVE this podcast! The information, the manner in which it’s presented and the knowledge of it’s hosts and their personalities is simply second to none.

[@mikeat2637]

There is no other site of this type on KZbin. There are other supposed "historical" channels, but outside of Drachinifel, the USS Texas and USS New Jersey sites, there aren't too many places to find accurate information, let alone be presented in such a perfect way that anyone could understand it in a coherent manner. Seth and Bill do a magnificent job in relating the information at their disposal and have a whole host of guests appear who are experts in their own right, like Dave Holland for USMC-related situations, Adm Cox and other retired USN flag officers for more detailed information on the Navy. There are also several award-winning authors and historians like Jon Parshall and John Bruning who are very highly regarded for their knowledge about the war in the PTO. One person who would have been a perfect resource for Seth and Bill for their podcast is the late, great James D Hornfischer, the dean of naval historians and a genuinely good guy, who we lost in June of 2021. I came into this podcast pretty much midstream and I'm now going back to the beginning to start from scratch, so to speak. I would suggest that's a good move for you also. These podcasts are literally priceless because you will find the truth about everything and also learn things that you never knew existed.

[@birddog7492]

I agree with you 100 percent. These guys talk about battles I've never heard about. You don't get history like this in school.

[@bruceday6799]

Glad to see Bill back. A relatively unknown 4 hour gunnery duel, wow! Thanks for sharing your knowledge Adm. Well done again.

[@UnauthorizedHistoryPacificWar]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@JohnDoe-ff2fc]

Knowing that the waters are so cold is a great motivater to get one's ship repaired. Sheer genius for doing that bogus aircraft message.

[@UnauthorizedHistoryPacificWar]

Indeed. Changes your tactical approach.

[@moo5289]

Having been a public-school student in the US and taken all of the offered history classes, I had never heard of the Aleutian campaign at all. In my early working career in the 1970s I found myself working with veterans whose stories made me shudder. One was a member of the invasion force on Attu. I've been to Dutch Harbor and Fort Glenn and seen the seen the war memorials, the WWII cemetery at Dutch and the remains of fortifications. All of that and it's my first-time hearing of this battle.

[@craigjones3846]

Almost all veterans are forgotten and once the Mule can’t Mule anymore it’s time to shitcan IT.

[@Jakal-pw8yq]

​@@craigjones3846sad but very true.

[@Ralph-yn3gr]

Gotta admire the physical endurance of the men involved. Given how much manhandling goes into loading those guns they must have been in great shape to keep it up for that long. Also, bringing up that this was a four hour battle made me think that time is probably one of the most difficult things to convey after the fact. People (and especially documentaries and movies) tend to skip to the exciting parts and time-compress the rest so battles seem to last only a few minutes or so.

[@kemarisite]

The largest guns that would see significant manual shell and charge handling is about 6", including the German 15 cm guns and Japanese 155 mm guns. Above that everything really has to be powered because the shells are just too heavy. Even the 100-130 lb 6"-ish shells were starting to see more powered handling and ramming, although the British still rammed their 6" shells manually. The 8" shells are 250-300 lb and are way too heavy to do anything manually beyond "walking" them across the deck in the shell rooms.

[@Jakal-pw8yq]

No thanks to handling any of those ammunitions thank you! Really makes you appreciate the effort the Soldiers and Sailors put out. And then to think that in particular the soldiers and the Marines on Shore were pretty much on starvation rations much of the time. Fear and adrenaline are great painkillers and motivators.

[@richardbennett1856]

Two great American heroes and a great storytelling historian is a big treat. The lesser known battles are very interesting. Thank you, Admiral Cox.

[@stevewaldschmidt4344]

Its amazing how our mind works. I don't believe the long lance can travel that far; therefore, I refuse to believe the evidence of my eyes and the reports of my crew and call a torpedo a dolphin. I simply can't believe the Japanese could produce something that good - therefore, it must not exist. Our racist view of the Japanese at that time kept us from seeing what was right in front of our eyes! Thanks so much for all your work bringing these stories to us.

[@Jakal-pw8yq]

Indeed. The racist approach and the arrogance of our Armed Forces was inexcusable and many people died due to that.

[@gregtheredneck1715]

I've really enjoyed the last two episodes on the Aleutian campaign. It has always one of the campaigns that most interested me and frustrated me that it hasn't gotten more attention. It wasn't until I read The Thousand-Mile War: World War II in Alaska and the Aleutians by Brian Garfield, that I began to appreciate just how taxing it was for the United States soldiers, sailors and airmen to regain control over the two islands that the Japanese had occupied. Good job guys.

[@christopherslaughter2263]

Destroyermen ducking rule!

[@WillArtie]

I love Bill!! Good to have him back. 😊

[@UnauthorizedHistoryPacificWar]

Thanks

[@richardbennett1856]

Thanks, Seth, Captain Todi, and Admiral Cox.

[@pagejackson1207]

I've previously written on an earlier episode about my father's experiences as a scout pilot on the USS Indianapolis during 1943 and 1944. He ended the war as an instructor at Pensacola which he described as the most dangerous assignment he had during all of WWII. But he also said that flying in the Aleutians was the second most dangerous assignment he endured. He said that the pilot's chances of finding the Indianapolis again once one took off was very "iffy". Flying conditions were always very poor and failing to find your ship would be a death sentence.

[@waynesmith8431]

Absolutely my favorite history podcast! This is 5 star quality.

[@UnauthorizedHistoryPacificWar]

We thank you.

[@icewaterslim7260]

Never even heard of this sea battle before. That's why I like this channel . . . for the comprehensive history.of sea battles that you don't find anywhere else on the Tube.. Hell in winter you're going to freeze to death in Lake Superior in a lifeboat before they even start searching for you. If you're directly in the Bering Sea you might as well kiss your frozen ass goodby.

[@ColinFreeman-kh9us]

These men that went through such battles like this deserve to be recognized as the heroes that they are. From Australia

[@jamesa702]

One pilot recalls seeing his squadron mate splashing just short of the base runway. The plane and pilot came to rest in the cold, clear water and he would salute his friend, still strapped in below the intact canopy, until finally obscured by changing weather. Nothing normal about the conditions in those long forgotten missions. Thanks for your detailed report.

[@Thumpalumpacus]

"Swayback Maru" is USN sarcasm at its finest. Thanks for covering this fairly unknown battle!

[@carlT1986]

It is great to listen to folks that know what they are talking about. Do we know all? I doubt we do. But, there is a lot of excellent scholarship that has been done in the last 80 years that illuminates our understanding.

[@rembrandt972ify]

My father served on the Oklahoma, AKA the Okie Maru.

[@JosephKano]

Thanks again for yet another great episode.

[@theeducatedgrunt2087]

You guys sometimes make me wished id joined the Navy.... As usual excellent... Thank Seth, Commander Toti, And Admiral Cox for educating me...

[@moo5289]

Having been in the Navy, I can tell you that these exciting events they talk about are widely separated by months of tedium and toil. One big advantage is, we always had hot meals.

[@theeducatedgrunt2087]

@@moo5289 I spent 23 years in the Army as an Infantry Nco... guarantee you ate better and bathed more then me lol.

[@jkkung4765]

Thanks for your tremendous effort in providing the details that are merrily glossed over or skipped entirely.

[@williamashbless7904]

Your experience, knowledge and prep are outstanding. In comparing ‘Bailey’ and ‘Johnston’s’ actions: Johnston caused significant disruption and damage in her attack. Further, after Johnston was seriously damaged and should have retired, she made another suicidal charge into the Japanese battle line

[@1BBBbTenor]

I so look forward to these weekly podcasts!

[@Hillhouse1956]

This small gift can contribute to your beer/coffee fund. A great set of videos, thank you.

[@UnauthorizedHistoryPacificWar]

Thanks for that!

[@sundiver137]

Always great to see Admiral Cox.

[@robertfletcher6984]

My father was part of the USMC detachment aboard the SLC during the battle and served as an operator on a 40mm gun.

[@marcbondi8462]

This battle reminds me of something I always thought of during my time at sea. The ship is our home and there is no place to go if she sinks. There is no better motivation than having to fight to keep your home under those conditions. The crew of Salt Lake City had true grit that day.

[@Jakal-pw8yq]

My dad served with the US Navy, South Pacific during World War II aboard the USS Montpelier which was a light cruiser. He always told me there were three enemies of the ship. One was the actual enemy another was fire and the other was incoming water. He said everybody aboard was a quote unquote fireman.

[@F4FWildcat]

I met GM1 Frank Bell. He was on the Salt Lake City. His time on the SLC inspired him to build an eight foot long scratch built model of his ship. Frank and his model on its own trailer, were regulars in parades and Memorial Day services around Wichita, KS as long as he was able. GM1 Bell shoved off on his final voyage in 2011. Fair winds and following seas sailor.

[@billechols7136]

Welcome back Bill. And as always a great show gentlemen.

[@barnentertain]

Again, excellent. So much knowledge. Nice to see Admiral Cox back. Thank you

[@patrickgrove2645]

Thank you for bringing up this almost unknown engagement and for showing the dedication and courage of the crews. I truly enjoy your podcasts and look forward to more.

[@lhartatt]

Never heard of this naval battle. Thanks much for this video. What a destroyer charge!

[@jammininthepast]

Thanks gentlemen, excellent work. Thank you to Admiral Cox. You're appreciated.

[@robertupchurch8088]

Very good, I was clueless on this battle until I saw this. Excellent work.

[@UnauthorizedHistoryPacificWar]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@Titus-as-the-Roman]

Thanks! Good to have Bill Back, sounds if he's done with the opinions on the subject, These venues often become long winded & redundant with reporters jostling for each one's "15 Mins. of Video/audio Fame". How many ways can you say the same thing only differently. Admiral Cox :-), Seth, keep rock'n your bad self, really like your style.

[@BlitherVids]

Yet another fantastic episode. Bill and Seth, we don't get to hear about any of these minor battles anywhere, and they're intensely fascinating. Thanks so much for doing this!

[@RobertPaskulovich-fz1th]

Dining on Drach’s couscous while watching the podcast.

[@jonrolfson1686]

My Dad, who was in High School in Tacoma Washington in 1944-45, also worked an after school swing shift on escort carrier construction at Todd’s Pacific Shipyard there. Dad occasionally mentioned having seen Soviet freighters in Puget Sound waiting to pick up loads for their Vladivostok runs. 🤔It would have made an interesting complication had the Japanese been able to hire the capacity of the Soviets’ ‘neutral’ (for Pacific War purposes) empty eastbound shipping to run supplies past the U.S. Navy in support of Japan’s North Pacific projects. Don’t know if the Soviet shipping was sufficiently established to theoretically do that before the Japanese North Pacific project was liquidated, but it is a nasty idea to play with.

[@Idahoguy10157]

IIRC many of the Soviet ships carrying lend-lease going to Vladivostok were actually reflagged American merchant ships.

[@StylinandProfilinBBsandBBQ]

Outstanding gentlemen!!! Well presented, unknown fight that I personally didn’t know happened. Thank you!

[@51tetra69]

God bless all of the brave sailors and destroyer jockeys who boldly placed themselves in harm's way during WWII! God bless all the courageous veterans with nerves of steel who risked everything and selflessly sacrificed so much to protect our countries and preserve the freedoms we enjoy today! God bless all the souls - military and civilian - that we have lost in times of war! God bless America! God bless us all and grant us peace!

[@henriyoung3895]

Love your videos and work, thanks so much. SGT DOUG in Thailand.

[@steveroberts8090]

Great show as always. I always learn a lot more than I thought I knew and again a really good show. I look forward to your show every week. It’s also nice to have a for real submarine captain in the bullpen. Thanks again see you next week.E

[@johngrose3111]

Thanks

[@davidlavigne207]

This is the first time I have ever seen or heard of this battle, although I haven't read much in depth about the Aleutians campaign. Even some documentaries I've watched never mentioned it as far as I remember. Fascinating story.

[@jonguben47]

Wow! Who knew. Thank you for the work y'all put in to educate us.

[@anthonyquinn9399]

As I said before awesome job

[@jeffholloway3882]

Welcome back captain!!!!!, and a great show.

[@edwinsalau150]

Thank you! Never heard of this battle.

[@seanquigley3605]

There was an excellent book written by one of the Sailors aboard SLC and I can't remember it's title. But follows his service from joining thru the end of the war including this Battle and its aftermath like standing fire guard in the Shipyard during repairs and finding remains while they were cutting and welding.

[@walterrider9600]

thank you

[@jimcaufman2328]

In the mid to late 70s the Navy had a P-3 Ditch into the water off Alaska. Most of the crewmembers survived and were picked up by a Soviate ship 9maybee a fishing vessel) ant taken to the Soviet Union. The crew was released almost immediately and was picked up by a C-141 out of Norton AFB. Might be worth a quick segment. You all do fantastic work. My dad retired 12-7-1949 as a Chief Machinist Mate. Tin Cans during the war. When he retired he only had two shore assignments, Boot Camp and his last 18 months in Bremerton, Washington.

[@Jakal-pw8yq]

Native Seattle here, not far from Bremerton. Boy service on those tin cans sounds like some rough duty! Thank you for your dad's service!

[@buuurrn7290]

Served aboard USS Saratoga CVA 60 late sixties air wing VF 103 morred at Mayport Fla. Word came down if you wanted anything off a destroyer, grab it because it was going to be used as a target. It was USS Bailey DD 492.

[@GenDischarges]

Thanks Guys, Lots of lessons there.

[@mitch8226]

Bill your Robert Frost reference hit home ,as a sub sailor who traveled those same waters

[@gregcollins7602]

Great Torpedo Tuesday. Never heard of this battle. Looking good guys. Keep it up.

[@kemarisite]

I have long wondered why Richmond ceased fired after about half an hour, and I guess the range makes a certain amount of sense. At 20 degrees, the 6"/53 shell can maybe reach out to about 21,000 yards with a flight time of 45 seconds or so, and beyond that an Omaha is down to the two turret guns which can elevate to 30 degrees.

[@MemorialRifleRange]

Thank-you

[@douglasalderman9031]

This podcast is great at supplying "underlying form". (R.P., Zen and the art motorcycle maintenance)

[@davemachoukas6175]

Love you guys!

[@kentiffany8872]

Personal awards were mentioned for the engineering crew of the Salt Lake City. As noted several episodes before by the Captain Toti the ship's commander gets the credit win/lose. Others don't matter. In 32 years in the Navy I never received a personal award but still achieved senior enlisted rank. Awards are sexy and get press but are not really relevant. Back at Guadalcanal 2 the electrical engineer screwed the South Dakota. It was the electrical chief petty officer who ignored him and got things back in order. Never rewarded as far as I can tell.

[@GeekGinger]

Fixing the screwups of officers is in the basic job description of NCOs so he was just doing what was expected. 😁

[@AdmiralYeti8042]

Chiefs are chiefs for a reason. They’ve fixed more O level boo-boos than their contemporaries.

[@grahamstrouse1165]

@@AdmiralYeti8042 My Grandad retired as an E-9. He never really talked about his WWII experience. When I was in grade school I took up a keen interest in the Pacific War & I’d regale him with stories about the engagements I’d read about. He only ever stopped me once to correct an error. Some data I’d come across had significantly under-counted the total USN war dead. Other than that he mostly just listened. Either I was a very good 10-year-old naval historian or maybe he just liked my versions better. After Grandad left the service he enlisted for an even arguably more harrowing second career. Master Chief Petty Officer Roger Kebler became a middle-school teacher & librarian. If you had asked him which foe he considered more daunting, the Imperial Japanese Navy or a class full of unruly, bored, horny twelve-year-old delinquents, I’m honestly not sure which he’d have picked. He did used to say that middle-school students and teachers deserved each other. 🙂 We’re right up on the 10th anniversary since Grandad passed this year. I miss him very much.

[@AdmiralYeti8042]

@@grahamstrouse1165 he sounds wonderful. I had a old former chief machinist who served in Korea as my shop teacher and an ex-nuke submariner who served on the Permit Class subs back in the 60’s as my physics teacher back in high school. If you could get either of them talking their stories were priceless and would last entire class periods and I am really glad I got the chance to hear a few of them before they passed. Your grandad sounds like a treasure.

[@tomcarr1358]

Out with the Times Atlas of the World and turn to plate 39, settle down and follow the action. Best way to spend an hour on a Monday afternoon in the UK.

[@thequintanahomestead3820]

I recently discovered your channel and am friggin loving it. Keep it up

[@annecolumbo8713]

Awesome as usual!!

[@dank5032]

Excellent episode!! I can’t imagine what it was like in the belly of that ship I chest deep Icey water

[@richreed9927]

Another excellent show. Question: Who was in charge of the Bureau of Ordinance and how did the BoA get so much so wrong for so long (esp. torpedoes, ours/theirs)? Was anybody ever held accountable for these fiascos?

[@richardbennett1856]

Rear Admiral "red tape" Blandy. Motto: Nobody's Perferct.

[@gw2058]

👍 Another excellent presentation as we come to expect and wait for weekly. Glenn

[@edwinwiggins3325]

I consider myself well versed concerning the Pacific War, but I never heard of (or had forgotten about) this Naval action. Interesting. Thanks. Edwin "Bruce" Wiggins, LCDR USN (Ret)

[@yatesmassey1535]

Enjoyed it!

[@Fix_Bayonets]

Can you imagine if instead of landing in the Aleutians those troops ended up on Guadalcanal? Even a couple thousand troops more to meet the Marines would have showed the Japanese what they were up against and depleted our ammunition.

[@hansjordan7969]

Great job, on a little known topic

[@kilcar]

I feel like I'm getting a post grad education at the Naval Academy. My deceased uncle would have enjoyed all of your programs. He served on the USS Astoria and the USS Vincennes until 1940, and was approved for Annapolis, but commitments to family nixed that. Great program topic. I've never heard of this naval action. Thank you.

[@73Trident]

Great show as per usual. Thanks

[@cosmasgeaney2463]

Incredible

[@nizguy]

I look forward to you shows, thank you for the hard work.

[@harryfallius7470]

This a great history channel with very interesting details to easy to find.

[@kevinoviatt3958]

Perfect theme music for your show Jethro Tull Living in the past . Lyrics fit really well I think

[@UnauthorizedHistoryPacificWar]

Love the song but kinda partial to our own opening music...

[@kevinoviatt3958]

@@UnauthorizedHistoryPacificWar You have good Dramatic music,for some reason this morning I started thinking of the song and the wars disaster line, consider it a compliment,of course.I have a passion for the show.

[@MrATLfalconfan]

Another great episode! Would love to see an episode where you talk about how the US went about refitting and repairing battle damaged ships.

[@tomneises6178]

This is such great content.

[@jahmanoog461]

Drach does a nice series on naval propulsion from age of sail and the many variations/rapid changes through the turn of the century to WWII warships.

[@jacqueschouette7474]

The USS Salt Lake City, the old Swayback Maru!!

[@rcwagon]

Maru: according to the early chapters of the book JAPANESE DESTROYER CAPTAIN, Hara notes that MARU means round, rotund, or fat. He also notes an early young ruler (I think it was a ruler) in Japan was called his name followed by maru as he was very obese.

[@Wayne.J]

Maru does mean round, as in round trip - from one port to another BUT it's also a suffix meaning good luck or in a ship sense, safe trip. So a Maru leaving port would have a safe round trip literally written into its name to have a safe round trip on whatever course it took.

[@Wayne.J]

Maru in the baby terms means a more cruder term for poo in ye olde days. Superstition was rife and it your boy was named after a poo, it was unlikely anyone or thing would harm such a child as no one wanted to touch a poo, least of all unexplainable diseases. Over time it took on a better meaning as your example states, mainly feudal nobles boys but is basically defunct these days.

[@tgmccoy1556]

"Ask any man off the coast of Japan if they heard of the Trigger Maru".

[@cragnamorra]

The discussion of US knowledge (or lack thereof) regarding the Type 93 "Long Lance" torpedo was quite interesting, and ties into a similar discussion in the previous Kula Gulf installment. It casts a slightly different light now on RAdm Ainsworth's ignorance of the Type 93 mentioned in that episode. Rather than an isolated and inexplicable instance, perhaps Ainsworth was actually typical of US seagoing commanders, even in 1943, with only the vaguest knowledge of the Long Lance, or even none at all? Has anyone ever done a focused study to "connect the dots" on the timeline and details of USN intelligence, assessment, and tactical/technical response specific to the Type 93 (as opposed to a more general "gee, these IJN guys are really good with torpedoes" sort of thing.)? A rather "in the weeds" topic I suppose, but now I'm genuinely intrigued. One thing that occurs to me: as has been mentioned so often in this podcast by now, Solomons waters are quite constricted, the battles were almost all confused affairs at night, it would have been very unlikely to actually see or accurately assess when and from where Japanese torpedoes were launched, and often the ranges were quite close in any case. Even after so many encounters with the Type 93, I can see that it may still not have been at all clear to the USN just how far the RANGE really was on this superb weapon. As was also covered in this series, Niitake's 11nm Long Lance shot on USS Strong just a few days before Kula Gulf was also completely mis-assessed by the USN...I inferred from that episode that it wasn't known until after the war that it had been fired from a surface vessel at such range, rather than an assumed much-closer submarine.

[@johnhepburn8474]

The book "Secret Naval Investigator" by Cdr Ashe Lincoln QC RNVR. Chapter 11, covers an account where the US Navy, was unaware for 12 months that they had 8 Long lances in their possession, and only examined and tested them in early 44 ?

[@klsc8510]

Very interesting. We finally got the long range gun battle we trained for. Like you say, with luck, a bit of daring, and a lot of hard work deep inside the St. Louis, we got away with a victory by rights we shouldn't have.

[@Steve-dg3md]

Bill is The Warrior Poet 😅

[@UnauthorizedHistoryPacificWar]

Thank you

[@ph89787]

20:00. Specifically an SBD Dauntless from USS Enterprise's VB-10. Speaking of which. Does anyone find it odd that the US Fleet in the Aleutians is designated Task Force 16 and it's not led by Enterprise?

[@FranciscoClark-jp4fc]

Love your shows. Learning so much .Personally I would have letthem freeze on the vine

[@carterhorn4736]

By uncle served on board the USS Bailey DD492. He was in the battle. Fuse setter in the number 3 turret. I was named after him. He survived the battle but not the War. KIA 1 Oct 44 Peleliu

[@williamlyerly3114]

Amazing action. Actually thought the Salt Lake City was toast - totally.

[@garyrunnalls7714]

❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@orlandofurioso7958]

The U.S.S. Indianapolis, commanded by Captain McVay, was sunk July 30, 1945, 4 days after delivering critical parts for Little Boy to Tinian. When Captain McVay committed suicide in 1968, he was holding the toy sailor his dad gave him when he was a child. They hounded that man to death, but they actually killed him with his court martial. Perhaps in the future you might have an episode featuring the authors of the 2019 best selling book on the Indianapolis.

[@DirtyDrawers-kp3jm]

I'm sure one day they will have an episode on it. But that would probably be like a 2-3-4 part special alone. Captain Toti was also involved with getting Captain McVays name cleared. Props to him.

[@orlandofurioso7958]

@@DirtyDrawers-kp3jm I was unaware of that.

[@DirtyDrawers-kp3jm]

@@orlandofurioso7958 O yeah. If you ever get the time look it up. I knew about it because I've seen him on several shows specifically about the USS Indianapolis and read the book you mentioned.

[@UnauthorizedHistoryPacificWar]

Sorry the bit about him holding toy sailor is a myth. See this: www.ussindianapolis.com/research

[@teamshaboobalu2887]

"Ice Bucket Engine Room Challenge accepted!" - U.S.S. Salt Lake City

[@strydyrhellzrydyr1345]

Poor Bill... He just seems crestfallen... Or not really upset... But just... Maybe sad. Maybe someday... We might get to hear him talk about the Sub. Just because if their is any person.. on Earth. That i know... That i would wanna hear their opinion. It would be Bill's

[@Chounubis]

Kind of retrospective and behind in the timeline... But can you do one on Java Sea? One fascinating, if confusing, fight to the very end (especially for the Houston).

[@UnauthorizedHistoryPacificWar]

It’s in the plans for the future

[@timborchers6303]

Cox was a nice addition to the team. My question - why was McMorris flying his flag on Richmond? SLC was the primary vessel, had more room for an admiral and staff, presuming better communications and radar having just come out of the yard, and would be the focal point of any battle. Command from Richmond complicates communications. SLC’s captain Rogers was properly commended after as he was in effective command with Richmond and screen conforming to her movements. Was there any criticism of McMorris for this decision? He was known as Soc due to his smarts but this seems to be an error. Hosagaya was retired, but McMorris didn’t hold another sea command. Nimitz kept him as COS and in plans, but no salt air.