Ship of Ghosts (70 page)

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———. “Estimate of the Situation, Far East Area,” November 18, 1941. NARA II.

Rose, Jim. “Diary of Death, Agony Written in POW Camp” (Frank Fujita),
Fort Worth Press
, August 16, 1968, p. 8. Texas Military Forces Museum, Camp Mabry, Austin, Tex.

Rowland, Robin. “Sugamo and the River Kwai,” paper presented to Encounters at Sugamo Prison, 1945–52, Conference on the American Occupation of Japan and Memories of the Asia-Pacific War, Princeton University, May 9, 2003.

Rundle, Walter. “Survivors Describe Sinking of Cruiser
Houston
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, Bay Area Radio Museum, San Francisco, 1997.

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Faith at Work
, March 1962, p. 5. Collection of Otto Schwarz.

———. “Burma-Thailand Death Railroad,” unpublished, June 1982. Collection of Charley L. Pryor Jr.

Seattle Post-Intelligencer
. “Gallant Ship Goes Down With Guns Blazing: Sinking of the Houston,” undated, ca. 1945. HRR.

Seattle Times
. “Misdated Cable Gave Wife of Capt. Rooks False Hope,” undated, ca. 1942. HRR.

———. “Medal of Honor Awarded to Captain Rooks,” June 25, 1942. HRR.

Seiker, M. F. “The Thai-Burma Railway and Beyond, 1942–1945.” CHC.

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,”
Our Navy
, mid-July 1944, p. 24.

Sharp, John C. (ed.). “Japanese Documentary: Being a Collection of Papers from Japanese Sources Relating to Prisoner of War Camps in the Far East,” translated and transcribed by James Whittaker at POW camps in Chungkai and Phet Buri, Thailand, 1945. USS
Houston
(CA-30) Survivors Association.

Sheeler, Jim. “The Enemy Was ‘All Around Us,’” (Paul Papish),
Denver Post
, July 31, 2000, p. 1A. CHC.

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Houston
Fought 100 Ships Told,”
Chicago Tribune
, April 22, 1945, p. 6. CHC.

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, Issue 30, April 1997.
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(last visited by the author on February 27, 2006).

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Houston
’s Loss Approaches,”
Ft. Worth Star-Telegram
, February 13, 1992, p. A22.

———. “Survivors Remember WWII Sea Battle, Capture by Japanese,”
Ft. Worth Star-Telegram
, February 20, 1992, p. A18.

Smith, Virgil. “Where Is the Crew of the Ghost Cruiser
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?”
The Oregonian
, undated, ca. 1944, p. 2. Collection of Lloyd and Dorothy Willey.

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The West Australian
, January 22, 1977. CHC.

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” (comic book), Navy Combat Series, No. 2, May 1955, Melbourne, Aus.: Gordon and Gotch. CHC.

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. “World Battlefronts: Battle of the Pacific,” January 26, 1942, p. 18.

———. “World Battlefronts: Battle of the Pacific,” February 2, 1942, p. 23.

———. “World Battlefronts: Battle of Java,” March 9, 1942, p. 16.

Timmons, B. N. “18 Texans of 131st Fly to Capital,”
Ft. Worth Star-Telegram
, September 14, 1945, p. 1. Texas Military Forces Museum, Camp Mabry, Austin, Tex.

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(last visited by the author on February 23, 2006).

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Houston
Went Down Fighting,”
Houston Chronicle
, March 1, 1992.

———. “Despite the Years, Sailors Can’t Forget USS
Houston
’s Last Fight,”
Houston Chronicle
, March 1, 1992, p. 27A.

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Houston,
”
Long Island Daily Press,
April 24, 1942. CHC.

———. “
Houston
Men Jap Captives?” dateline Sydney, Australia, July 1, 1942.

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Houston
—A Story in Courage and Survival,”
Katy Times
, February 24, 1999, p. 1.

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Military History Quarterly,
Vol. 10, No. 4 (Summer 1998), p. 76.

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Houston
(CA-30),” July 1983. USS
Houston
(CA-30) Survivors Association.

Weller, George. “Writer Tells How Moon Betrayed Allies in Java Sea Battle,”
Seattle Daily Times
, March 19, 1942, p. 1. HRR.

———. “Battle of Java: U.S. Sailors Tell of Action; Their Rescue Was a ‘Miracle,’” Chicago Daily News Foreign Service, dateline March 27, 1942. HRR.

———. “Sailors Braved Fiery Death, Saved
Houston
, Her Gun Turret Ablaze,” Chicago Daily News Foreign Service, dateline April 13, 1942. HRR.

———. “Luck to the Fighters,”
Military Affairs
, Vol. VIII (Winter 1944), p. 259.

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Houston
,”
Seattle Star,
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“Wife Retains Hope
Houston
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U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings
, Vol. 75, No. 552, February 1949, p. 155.

———. “Survivor Tells of Last Bloody Minutes of the USS
Houston,
”
Houston Chronicle
, February 27, 1972, Section 4, p. 1.

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, September 1959, p. 61. USS
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(CA-30) Survivors Association.

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, February 11, 1973, p. 1. Texas Military Forces Museum, Camp Mabry, Austin, Tex.

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.

Epigraph translation by Victor Davis Hanson of
Forsan et haec olim meminisse iuvabit

The account of the
Houston
’s ordeal on February 4
is built from interviews with survivors; Morison,
History of United States Naval Operations
, Vol. 3, 298; Prados,
Combined Fleet Decoded
, 266; Schultz,
The Last Battle Station
, 79–91; William J. Weissinger to Robert J. Cressman, Sept. 8, 1977; ONI,
The Java Sea Campaign, 1943
. “
He handled that ship
…”: H. Robert Charles, UNT interview, 21.
Captain Rooks as second coming of Mahan
: “Families Here Hold Hope for 22 Local Men,”
Seattle Daily Times
, undated. “
The pilot found himself sitting on a picked chicken
…”: Hamlin, “The
Houston
’s Last Battles,” 26. “
Mad as scalded dogs
”
and dud AA projectiles
: Otto Schwarz interview with the author; Winslow,
The Ghost That Died at Sunda Strait
, 90.
Damage to USS
Marblehead
: ONI,
Battle of the Java Sea
, 29–30.
Damage to
Houston
’s after turret
: Charles D. Smith narrative, Sept. 18, 1945, 2; Weissinger to Cressman, Sept. 8, 1977, 6; Weissinger to Otto Schwarz, Jan. 22, 1983; James Huffman interview with the author; Jack D. Smith, e-mail to the author, Sept. 2, 2003. “
I’m convinced they were never the same
…”: E. Miles Barrett, “My Greatest Adventure,” 2. “
War came to us in a real way
…”: Charley L. Pryor Jr., UNT interview, Nov. 4, 1972, p. 73. “
I’m telling you, it was spooky
”: John E. Bartz, interview with the author.

“
The spit and polish of the U.S. Navy was ingrained in us
”: Donald Brain, UNT interview, 12.
FDR’s 1938 cruise
: “Presidential Cruise, 1938,” by Red Reynolds.

Construction of the USS
Houston
(CA-30):
Bernrieder, “Port Houston’s Latest Asset: The USS
Houston
,” 2, 5. “
No detail, however small, was overlooked
…”: Bernrieder, KPRC radio address, Oct. 11, 1930.
Houston
’s tenure as Asiatic Fleet flagship
: Kemp Tolley, foreword to Winslow,
The Fleet the Gods Forgot
, xi. “
Seagoing fire departments
”: Tolley,
The Yangtze Patrol
, 170. “
Like their officers, the men were regulars
…”: Thomas C. Hart, “Supplementary of Narrative,” 19.
Nimitz on
Augusta
: Potter,
Nimitz
, 189–200. “
We want the brawn of Montana
…”: Cdr. Francis H. Higginson, quoted in Spector,
At War at Sea
, 128.
John H. Wisecup’s journey to the
Houston
: Wisecup, UNT interview, 6–9.
Background of James W. Huffman and Melfred L. Forsman
per their interviews with the author.
Shipboard culture of “officers’ country
”: Spector,
At War at Sea
, 135–136. “
Marines were never slow
…”: Tolley,
The Yangtze Patrol
, 170. Charley L. Pryor Jr. to his parents, July 1940, p. 2. “
Everyone hates the Japs
…”: “
The first sting of winter
…”: Tolley, 273.
Training of
Houston
personnel
: William J. Weissinger to Robert Cressman, Sept. 8, 1977, 3, 4.
Clymer, “a real tough old
bird”:
Otto Schwarz, interview. “
Other ships were struggling
…”: Robert B. Fulton, interviewed by Joe Kollmyer.
Prewar posture of U.S. Pacific Fleet:
Morison,
History of United States Naval Operations
, Vol. 3, 4–7, 33–43. “
Japan was the only important nation
…”: Morison,
History of United States Naval Operations
, 5.
Japan’s China policy
: Bix,
Hirohito
, 306–307.
Natural history of Indonesia:
Taylor,
Indonesia
, 1.
Prewar U.S. Army
: War Department,
United States Army in World War II
, 16.
U.S. attitudes toward Japan
: Bix, 334; Spector, 9; Morison,
History
, Vol. 3, 14. “
About as hopeful as lighting a candle
…”: Tolley,
Yangtze Patrol
, 278–279. “
He said the power of the Japanese was far greater
…”: Harold R. Rooks interview with the author. “
It’s a shame to wish away time at our age
…”: Albert H. Rooks to Edith Rooks, Aug. 29, 1941. “
My opinion of the Jap situation keeps changing
…”: Rooks to Edith Rooks, Sept. 6, 1941. “
Few Allied naval officers other than Captain Rooks
…”: Morison, 164. “
Day after tomorrow it will be one month
…”: Rooks to Edith Rooks, Sept. 28, 1941. “
The longer they keep from striking
…”: Rooks to Edith Rooks, Oct. 5, 1941. “
They are really in what must be for them a very unsatisfactory position
…”: Rooks to Edith Rooks, Oct. 19, 1941. “
The Jap situation is sizzling this week end
…”: Rooks to Edith Rooks, Oct. 18, 1941. “
It is an interesting fact to me
…”
and
“
I have a feeling that fate is going to be kind to me
…”: Rooks to Edith Rooks, Oct. 19, 1941.

Houston
stripping down at Cavite
: William J. Weissinger Jr., interviewed by Samuel Milner, August 12, 1989, and Charley Pryor, UNT interview, Nov. 4,
1972, 53.
Houston
’s movements as war loomed
: Ship’s log, Dec. 1941.
U.S. Navy strategy in the Far East
: Hart, “Supplementary of Narrative,” 2–3, and Morison,
History of United States Naval Operations
, Vol. 3, 153–54. “
What did that thing say
?”: David C. Flynn, interview with the author. “
Japan started hostilities. Govern yourselves accordingly
.”: Thomas C. Hart, narrative, 36. “
A two-ocean war to wage with a less than one-ocean Navy
…”: Morison,
History of United States Naval Operations
, Vol. 3, 209.
Allied withdrawal from Philippines and setup of ABDA
: ONI, “The Java Sea Campaign,” 6–14; Morison, Vol. 3, 281–82; Spector,
Eagle Against the Sun
, 123–125, 127–130; Schom,
The Eagle and the Rising Sun
, 252–59; and Leutze,
A Different Kind of Victory
, 262–263.
ABDA’s internal conflicts
: Thomas C. Hart, “Supplementary of Narrative,” 3–4; Hart, “Narrative of Events,” 2; ONI, “The Java Sea Campaign,” 14; Morison,
History of United States Naval Operations
, Vol. 3, 281–282; Spector,
Eagle Against the Sun
, 131. “
The Americans have held out on the Bataan Peninsula
…”: Wavell as quoted in Parkin,
Into the Smother
, 15.
Sketch of Admiral Helfrich
: Pratt,
The Navy’s War
, 16.

Houston
convoy duty
: Cdr. Arthur Maher, narrative, 3. “
It got to be so bad
…”: Winslow,
The Ghost That Died at Sunda Strait
, 58.
Life at Darwin
: Howard E. Brooks, interview with the author; Schultz,
The Last Battle Station
, 61–62. “
S
turgeon
no longer virgin
”: Morison,
History of United States Naval Operations
, Vol. 3, 283.
Battle of Balikpapan
: USS
Pope
(DD–225), “Night Destroyer Attack off Balikpapan, January 24, 1942, January 25, 1942,” p. 1; ONI Combat Narrative, 18–21; Morison, Vol. 3, 285–290; Pratt,
The Navy’s War
, 21.
Admiral Hart’s
“
exaggerated ideas of Japanese efficiency
”: Leutze,
A Different Kind of Victory
, 273, quoting Wavell’s letter to Churchill. “
A movement toward youth in all sea commands
”: Thomas C. Hart, “Supplementary of Narrative,” 37. “
A worrier who never could sit back
…”: Hart’s diary, quoted in Leutze, 321–323. “
I did not like to be commanding Admiral Helfrich on his own home ground
”: Hart, “Supplementary of Narrative,” 37. “
I was scared of the old devil
…”: D. A. Harris, skipper of
Bulmer
, quoted in Leutze, 284. Admiral King to Admiral Hart: An “
Awkward situation
”: quoted in Leutze, 275. “
It’s all on the laps of the gods
”: Hart, Feb. 5, 1942, diary entry, quoted in Leutze, 277. “
An island which was ours, but belongs to us no more
…”: Rooks, “Sound Military Decision,” Part I, 60, 62.

Repairs to
Houston
: Charles D. Smith, narrative Sept. 18, 1945, 2; Quentin C. Madson, “The Story of the USS
Houston
,” 10. “
Oh, don’t bother with me
…”: Howard E. Brooks, interview with the author. “
Suddenly, I had the weird impression
…”: Winslow,
The Ghost That Died at Sunda Strait
, 97. “
A weird silence enveloped the ship
…”: Winslow, 96. “
Well, the big news is that we have been in action
…”: Rooks to Edith Rooks, Feb. 9, 1942 (the letter is misdated Feb. 9, 1941). “
When it comes to judging the ability of men as cruiser
captains…. Rooks still had perfect poise
…”: Thomas C. Hart to Edith Rooks, March 25, 1942.
Rooks
“
didn’t want our folks to accuse him of manslaughter
…”: George D. Stoddard, “The Sinking of the USS
Houston
and Life in Japanese Prison Camps,” 2. “
I think they looked at him as just another god
”: Gus Forsman, UNT interview, 16. “
Admiration for the Captain bordered on worship
”: USS
Houston
, untitled report, Zentsuji Prison Camp, 1. “
Everybody believed that the Good Lord
…”: Paul E. Papish, UNT interview, 10. “
He always knew who he was
…”: Frank E. Gallagher, interview with the author. “
After telling me that he would take his ship out again
…”: Hart, “Supplementary of Narrative,” 19.

“
I am going out into the troubled zone this evening…May God protect and strengthen you
”: Rooks to Edith Rooks, Feb. 14, 1942.
Admiral Hart’s farewell
: Leutze,
A Different Kind of War
, 277. “
Well, boys, we all have a busy day tomorrow
…”: Ibid., 278. “
Oh it was hard
…”: Hart diary, quoted in Leutze, 278.
Houston
convoy to Timor
: ONI, “The Java Sea Campaign,” 36; Winslow,
The Ghost That Died at Sunda Strait
, 100–101. “
I see the USS
Houston
is escorting four transports
…”: John E. Bartz, interview with the author.
Air attacks on
Houston
: USS
Houston
, “Action Report of the USS
Houston
(CA-30) in Defense of Convoy off Darwin, Australia, 16 February 1942.” “
She was a wonderful sight
…”: E. L. Cullis, “Vale
Houston
,”
The Blue Bonnet
, newsletter of the USS
Houston
Survivors Association, Sept. 2001, 5.
Rooks’s seamanship under air attack
: John D. Lamade,
USS Houston: December 8, 1941, to February 28, 1942
; Lloyd Willey, UNT interview, 22. “
They dropped them so close to us
…”: Charley Pryor, UNT interview, 78. “
I’d often wondered and worried
…”: Griff L. Douglas, UNT interview, 16–17. “
You could just see them rocking up there
”: Lloyd V. Willey, UNT interview, 22. “
All the sea boiled up and
Houston
was gone
”: E. L. Cullis, “Vale
Houston
,” 5. “
It was a proud moment
”: William J. Weissinger, interview with Samuel Milner, 4.

The collapse of ABDA
: ONI,
The Java Sea Campaign
, 44; British Admiralty, “The Battle of the Java Sea: 27th February 1942,” 13; Prados,
Combined Fleet Decoded
, 257; Morison,
History of United States Naval Operations
, Vol. 3, 336. “
I am afraid that the defense of the ABDA area has broken down
”: Prados,
Combined Fleet Decoded
, 257.
The
Houston
at Tjilatjap:
Winslow,
The Ghost That Died at Sunda Strait
, 108; Charles D. Smith, “USS
Houston
(CA-30) and Experiences in Jap Prison Camp,” 4. “
In a fatherly way, he draped his arm around my shoulder
…”: Winslow, 108. “
Say, didn’t I just hear a gate clang shut behind us
?”: Paul E. Papish, UNT interview, 29; see also Hamlin, “The
Houston
’s Last Battles,” 10. “
With all the confusion going on around us
”: Winslow, 109. “
If this [naval force] is divided
…”: Wavell quoted in Payne,
HMAS Perth: The Story of the Six-Inch Cruiser
, 62.
Background on the Seventeenth Pursuit Squadron
: Craven and Cate,
The Army Air Forces in World War II: Plans & Early Operations, January 1939 to August
1942, 383–87, 397–402; see also Edmonds,
They Fought with What They Had
, 288–290; U.S. Army Air Force, Historical Division,
Summary of Air Action in the Philippines and Netherlands East Indies
, 239–240; and Ingram,
A Worm’s Eye View
, 13. “
It was the first time we’d ever fired at anchorage
”: Charley L. Pryor, UNT interview, 82–83. “
At the end of three or four days of this
”: Otto C. Schwarz, in “Death Becomes the Ghost,” video.
Gathering of Combined Striking Force
: Hamlin, “The
Houston
’s Last Battles,” 10; Mullin,
Another Six Hundred
, 205–206; Thomas,
The Battle of the Java Sea
, 156. “
There is a possibility in this action we may have some fighter protection
”: Payne,
HMAS Perth
, 64. “
You must continue attacks till enemy is destroyed
”: Helfrich to Doorman.