As for the Sand Pebbles look? We looked great in our chokers, but we were always jumpy as hell, moving carefully to avoid smudges and stains. Those things are a bear to keep clean.
Our Navy has such an incredible tradition of valor, sacrifice, and devotion. I hope I’m alone in that I find it difficult to read stories such as the Asheville’s without feeling shame at what these men’s descendants (myself included) allowed the service to become. All we can do is to rededicate ourselves to the cause of restoring our navy and our military to a condition worthy of the sacrifice of those who came before us.
That is exactly my concern, because the White House (of whichever party) and a nearly mindless JCS will preposition ships like the Puller class and the Impeccable class without sufficient escorts, and Americans will be SHOCKED that those ships were sunk or captured. Remember the Pueblo.
The Nowaki suffered a similar fate after Samar. She was delayed in the retreat ordered by Kurita to pickup the survivors of the about to sink Chikuma in the San Bernardino Strait.
She was overhauled by elements of TF 34 that had raced south to support the Taffy's. The Vincennes engaged her (Vincennes did not know the identity) just after midnight, 26 October and put her to the bottom. All hands of the Nowaki, and all but one survivors of the Chikuma were lost.
The Arashi met her end in the Battle of Vella Gulf, 6-7 Aug. 1943, after being engaged by Moosebrugger's ambush force, and eating 4 torpedoes which resulted in a magazine explosion...
I watched "Sandpebbles" for the first time as a kid and it made a lasting impact on me, too. It was one of the first, if not the first, military movies I can recall watching, and I consumed a steady diet of war movies, starting around age 5 (and to this day). The present article's illustrative photo made me think immediately of "Sandpebbles."
The movie is great, mainly because it closely follows the book, but the book is -much- better...
FYI, McKenna was a retired Chief taking a Lit class on the VA Bill in the 50's when he wrote an essay that eventually blossomed into the (significantly autobiographical) novel:
The book was absolutely fantastic! Sadly, Richard McKenna died shortly after the book was published. Loved the book and the film (McQueen's only Oscar nomination, by the way).
Also read "Sons of Martha and Other Stories," a book of short stories by McKenna.
That book contains some of the best sea stories ever, some of them might even be true.
After the Navy, he married a librarian, and devoted several hours every day to writing.
If I remember correctly, his widow edited and published "Sons of Martha and Other Stories" after he died.
While writing this, I realized I had not read "Left-Handed Monkey Wrench: Stories and Essays," another McKenna book.
I wikied McKenna, looks like I will be reading (or re-reading) his entire opus this winter:
The Sand Pebbles (1962)
"The Secret Place" (1966)
Casey Agonistes and Other Science Fiction and Fantasy Stories (1973, collection)
The Sons of Martha (1973, collection)
The Left Handed Monkey Wrench (collection)
New Eyes for Old (collection of non-fiction writings)
Most important, I continually use the phrase, "That's his rice bowl," or more commonly "Don't break his rice bowl," when Steve McQueen said he shaves himself, and his Sand Pebble shipmate said, "That's his rice bowl" to explain why McQueen should pay for a shave.
And the mysteries of saturated steam, down in the humidity of the engine room of that not-so-pretty Spanish built, cum USS gunboat. "Live stim/ded stim"....."roundy-go-thump." And the loyalty of a mentored - then tortured - young man put paid by a round from that iconic Springfield '03, fired in anger and sadness by his teacher, himself an abandoned grain of sand, an awkward, solitary, man who found a bunk and a square in the China Fleet of the nineteen-thirties.
USS Augusta performing her "Presence" mission moored on the Yangtze at Shanghai, while the Japanese were engaged with the Chinese ashore just a few hundred yards away...
"Who wouldn't want to lead your Sailors in battle with your sword in one hand and a pistol in the other, wearing the same?" OK, sword in one hand, M1917 revolver in the other. While my preference would be starched and pressed wash khaki's the choker's heavy linen might be helpful against a dull sword ("Linennecks"?) but I always got light-headed wearing choker whites. Would need to pop the clasps at the neck.
Sure wish I'd had access to FBF articles to read to the division as inspirationals after reading aloud the POD.
I hate reading stuff like this. Repeatedly, we've neglected to properly assess the imminent danger and failed to properly prepare and equip ourselves. And, we have 'heroic' stories that basically amount to trading American lives for time and space.
Will we have the gumption to fully stand down Putin and Hamas? Did Putin's prematurity give us the time to rebuild military and it's necessary industrial support in time. Will we have the hulls and the creditable, believable accompanying deterrence to stop the Chinese. Or will grandson-Salamander be writing of the Asheville's of our era.
We missed the anniversary of the sinking of the real USS Panay on Dec 12, 1937. Here's to nearly forgotten heroes of an undeclared war.
As for the Sand Pebbles, The timing of the movie was such that it was delayed a year, monsoon rains etc. The studio gave the director, Robert Wise a side gig, to film Sound of Music. He was busy filming Pebbles when SoM won him best director and best film...
Apparently Pebbles meant more to him because:
Trivia
Director Robert Wise was so proud of this movie that he held yearly parties with surviving cast members to celebrate it.
And yes, I saw the "Sand Pebbles" in a theater (back when movies had "intermissions") several times; it and "They Were Expendable" made a huge impression on me - and had a deleterious effect on my career.
I read McKenna's book and even have a copy of his later (somewhat post-mortem) collection of stories "The Left-Handed Monkey Wrench". Might even have a biography of him in the shelves somewhere.
As for Asheville, I think I first read of her in Walter Winslow's outstanding 1982 book "The Fleet The Gods Forgot" published by N.I. Press. Can't recommend that book highly enough. Also published by N.I.Press was Kemp Tolley's "Yangtse Patrol" (1971). If they're out of print somebody at USNI needs to get on the stick and run some more off.
Talk about "Full Bore"? Kemp Tolley's "Cruise of the Lanikai" qualifies. Same with Morrill's escape in a 36' motor launch.
These stories of heroism in defeat are inspirational; and might just be prescient as well.
One wonders when you cross that long bridge and cross thru the Pearly Gates will you see a pantheon of "heroes" - who don't consider themselves heroes, just sailors doing their duty for God, Country, and Ship. If so, the crew of the Asheville will be standing proud.
Full Bore Brothers. Until then. Merry Baby Jesus' Birthday.
Full bore (presumably).
As for the Sand Pebbles look? We looked great in our chokers, but we were always jumpy as hell, moving carefully to avoid smudges and stains. Those things are a bear to keep clean.
Well, it's okay for the CDR, he had S-3/S-5 to dry clean, press and take care of his whites.
Full fucking bore.
Our Navy has such an incredible tradition of valor, sacrifice, and devotion. I hope I’m alone in that I find it difficult to read stories such as the Asheville’s without feeling shame at what these men’s descendants (myself included) allowed the service to become. All we can do is to rededicate ourselves to the cause of restoring our navy and our military to a condition worthy of the sacrifice of those who came before us.
I suspect we will have a number of stories like Asheville’s when the war with China begins.
That is exactly my concern, because the White House (of whichever party) and a nearly mindless JCS will preposition ships like the Puller class and the Impeccable class without sufficient escorts, and Americans will be SHOCKED that those ships were sunk or captured. Remember the Pueblo.
The Nowaki suffered a similar fate after Samar. She was delayed in the retreat ordered by Kurita to pickup the survivors of the about to sink Chikuma in the San Bernardino Strait.
She was overhauled by elements of TF 34 that had raced south to support the Taffy's. The Vincennes engaged her (Vincennes did not know the identity) just after midnight, 26 October and put her to the bottom. All hands of the Nowaki, and all but one survivors of the Chikuma were lost.
http://www.combinedfleet.com/TullyLeyte.pdf
The Arashi met her end in the Battle of Vella Gulf, 6-7 Aug. 1943, after being engaged by Moosebrugger's ambush force, and eating 4 torpedoes which resulted in a magazine explosion...
https://destroyerhistory.org/actions/index.asp?r=4340&pid=4348
I watched "Sandpebbles" for the first time as a kid and it made a lasting impact on me, too. It was one of the first, if not the first, military movies I can recall watching, and I consumed a steady diet of war movies, starting around age 5 (and to this day). The present article's illustrative photo made me think immediately of "Sandpebbles."
The movie is great, mainly because it closely follows the book, but the book is -much- better...
FYI, McKenna was a retired Chief taking a Lit class on the VA Bill in the 50's when he wrote an essay that eventually blossomed into the (significantly autobiographical) novel:
https://www.amazon.com/Sand-Pebbles-Richard-McKenna/dp/0899668577
https://www.thesandpebbles.com/mckenna/richard_mckenna.html
Sid: Done! Just put the book in my Amazon cart. I know I've considered the book before, but, now's the time to read it.
Ditto. $6.44 for a used cop
The book was absolutely fantastic! Sadly, Richard McKenna died shortly after the book was published. Loved the book and the film (McQueen's only Oscar nomination, by the way).
Also read "Sons of Martha and Other Stories," a book of short stories by McKenna.
That book contains some of the best sea stories ever, some of them might even be true.
After the Navy, he married a librarian, and devoted several hours every day to writing.
If I remember correctly, his widow edited and published "Sons of Martha and Other Stories" after he died.
While writing this, I realized I had not read "Left-Handed Monkey Wrench: Stories and Essays," another McKenna book.
I wikied McKenna, looks like I will be reading (or re-reading) his entire opus this winter:
The Sand Pebbles (1962)
"The Secret Place" (1966)
Casey Agonistes and Other Science Fiction and Fantasy Stories (1973, collection)
The Sons of Martha (1973, collection)
The Left Handed Monkey Wrench (collection)
New Eyes for Old (collection of non-fiction writings)
Most important, I continually use the phrase, "That's his rice bowl," or more commonly "Don't break his rice bowl," when Steve McQueen said he shaves himself, and his Sand Pebble shipmate said, "That's his rice bowl" to explain why McQueen should pay for a shave.
I saw it for the first time in the wardroom at the Academy, probably youngster year. great movie
And the mysteries of saturated steam, down in the humidity of the engine room of that not-so-pretty Spanish built, cum USS gunboat. "Live stim/ded stim"....."roundy-go-thump." And the loyalty of a mentored - then tortured - young man put paid by a round from that iconic Springfield '03, fired in anger and sadness by his teacher, himself an abandoned grain of sand, an awkward, solitary, man who found a bunk and a square in the China Fleet of the nineteen-thirties.
I missed it all. Now 87, my brush with the Navy long enough to get my shellback card, afloat on the Iowa in 1957.
"Proto-War" Ops 1937...
USS Augusta performing her "Presence" mission moored on the Yangtze at Shanghai, while the Japanese were engaged with the Chinese ashore just a few hundred yards away...
https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/OnlineLibrary/photos/images/h78000/h78379.jpg
She suffered what is arguably the first USN casualty of WWII later that evening:
https://agslibraryblog.wordpress.com/2015/06/29/tragedy-on-deck-of-the-uss-augusta-first-american-military-casualty-of-world-war-ii/
(these pics havent been rediscovered for all that long...)
https://collections.lib.uwm.edu/digital/search/searchterm/forman%20augusta/field/all/mode/all/conn/and/order/title/ad/asc/cosuppress/0
And, on the Yangtze a few hundred miles upriver at Nanking a few months later...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsFSoYKtro0&t=128s
Sand Pebbles is a great film.
Great Post.
Merry Christmas
"Who wouldn't want to lead your Sailors in battle with your sword in one hand and a pistol in the other, wearing the same?" OK, sword in one hand, M1917 revolver in the other. While my preference would be starched and pressed wash khaki's the choker's heavy linen might be helpful against a dull sword ("Linennecks"?) but I always got light-headed wearing choker whites. Would need to pop the clasps at the neck.
Sure wish I'd had access to FBF articles to read to the division as inspirationals after reading aloud the POD.
I hate reading stuff like this. Repeatedly, we've neglected to properly assess the imminent danger and failed to properly prepare and equip ourselves. And, we have 'heroic' stories that basically amount to trading American lives for time and space.
Will we have the gumption to fully stand down Putin and Hamas? Did Putin's prematurity give us the time to rebuild military and it's necessary industrial support in time. Will we have the hulls and the creditable, believable accompanying deterrence to stop the Chinese. Or will grandson-Salamander be writing of the Asheville's of our era.
These posts always bring home the courage and sacrifice of those who served before so that we could continue to be free.
Merry Christmas to all!
[if that doesn't apply then have a great holiday weekend!]
We missed the anniversary of the sinking of the real USS Panay on Dec 12, 1937. Here's to nearly forgotten heroes of an undeclared war.
As for the Sand Pebbles, The timing of the movie was such that it was delayed a year, monsoon rains etc. The studio gave the director, Robert Wise a side gig, to film Sound of Music. He was busy filming Pebbles when SoM won him best director and best film...
Apparently Pebbles meant more to him because:
Trivia
Director Robert Wise was so proud of this movie that he held yearly parties with surviving cast members to celebrate it.
Great FBF!
And yes, I saw the "Sand Pebbles" in a theater (back when movies had "intermissions") several times; it and "They Were Expendable" made a huge impression on me - and had a deleterious effect on my career.
I read McKenna's book and even have a copy of his later (somewhat post-mortem) collection of stories "The Left-Handed Monkey Wrench". Might even have a biography of him in the shelves somewhere.
As for Asheville, I think I first read of her in Walter Winslow's outstanding 1982 book "The Fleet The Gods Forgot" published by N.I. Press. Can't recommend that book highly enough. Also published by N.I.Press was Kemp Tolley's "Yangtse Patrol" (1971). If they're out of print somebody at USNI needs to get on the stick and run some more off.
Talk about "Full Bore"? Kemp Tolley's "Cruise of the Lanikai" qualifies. Same with Morrill's escape in a 36' motor launch.
These stories of heroism in defeat are inspirational; and might just be prescient as well.
One wonders when you cross that long bridge and cross thru the Pearly Gates will you see a pantheon of "heroes" - who don't consider themselves heroes, just sailors doing their duty for God, Country, and Ship. If so, the crew of the Asheville will be standing proud.
Full Bore Brothers. Until then. Merry Baby Jesus' Birthday.
Amen!
Love these sea stories. Thanks.