Victor Hooper wrote on 2007-07-23 21:08:55.0
Comments: Piecing together information from the book and things that my father told me:
My dad was known as Stars and Bars Hooper (or the old man) because he joined the Marine Corps anticipating US involvement in WW II, so was highly experienced. He served as Judo instructor's instructor at the Marine Corps Institute in Washington, DC, among other things, teaching them how to hold heads up during practice to avoid injuring those whom they instruct.
He believed that the whole ship would be lost if someone didn't bravely man the guns. That is what kept him at his post during severe assaults, and he urged others to follow his lead.
Luckily he only sustained a splinter of aluminum in his thumb as a Kamikaze hit the ship deck. Regulations forbade him from taking a piece of it. At the end of the war, he had many ribbons and medals and many who served with him came up to congratulate his wife for his courage and commitment. Like most soldiers and sailors, he spoke little of the war.
December, 1944, three US destroyers were capsized by a typhoon, but the Biloxi survived. My dad was nominated for a Silver Star for securing a large gun which was almost swept off the ship by 100 foot waves. . . he timed his dash. He was only awarded the Bronze Star for that.
http://www.antiqbook.com/boox/ver/030161.shtml
The website above shows the dark blue USS Biloxi book ( circa 1946)for sale for $85. Though the ship was a very small part of history, it is part of my family history, and I would not part with the book that was presumably handed out to each crew member at the end of the war.
Pronounced Bee-lux'-ee, (named for the Mississippi city) it was built by the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock company and commissioned in Portsmouth, Virginia, August 31, 1943. It's delayed entry into the war is deceiving, since it earned the name "Busy Bee" by being so active.
The first battle of the Biloxi was at Japanese held Wotje Island, January 30, 1944. A 5 inch (diameter) shell struck the communications tower. The Department of the Navy had selected the Biloxi for pictures of ship life, so it recorded the battle on film.
The ship then became a member of Task Force 58 in the spring of 1944.
The ship was not supposed to travel in a "predictable" straight path, so it zigzagged. At the Admiralty Islands this zigzag caused them to cross the equator 14 times. There is a ceremony for those who cross the equator (men dress up as women--see book for picture). (I have some unpublished pictures of that at home, too).
The crew were largely young men on their own for the first time, and they partied hard when they could. All around them, there were temptations. The island of Chichi Jima was double hills (Chichi means breasts).
The Biloxi shot a submarine just before it was able to sink another light cruiser (they were cited for saving it).
February 16, 1945, the Biloxi attacked Tokyo, Japan. Then, on February 19 through February 22, 1945, it fired on Iwo Jima. My father was a Gunnery Sergeant, manning one of the 5 inch guns, so he had to keep his eyes on the island. He saw the first US flag go up, then he saw the 2nd flag (publicity pose) go up.
Rear Admiral Morton L. Deyo, said that it was "the crew with the most spip's spirit I've ever seen."
It was called the "Mighty B" in a poem by Sebastian Skaboodle.
During WW II, the Biloxi sunk 3 ships and 8 planes. It was struck by a suicide bomber with a 1200 pound bomb, and struck another time, as well (hence, the name, "Double Lucky)."
The Biloxi was scrapped for metal off of the coast of Medford, Oregon after serving in WW II and the Korean War. A piece of it was taken to the National Archives where it remained until North Carolina's Senator Byrd melted it down with several scraps from very famous battleships to form the "Statue of the Lone Soldier." The Biloxi, though a mere light cruiser, was chosen for this distinguished recent honor because of it's outstanding and distinguished service. I suspect that the crew was originally picked to be the very best (for the camera crew that was to film it).
Keywords: Nyle Hooper, USS Biloxi, 1943 to 1945, Iwo Jima, Japan, Marshall Island (Wotje), Truk Island II, Marianas, Admiralty Islands, Saipan II, Philippines (Philippine Sea II), Chichi Jima, Formosa, Surigao Straits, China Sea, Tokyo, Iwo Jima II, Okinawa I and II (Okinawa was called "Indian Country"), Roi-Namur, Emirau, Palau II, Yap III, Woleai, Wadke (Wake?), Sawar, Hollandia, Ponape, Tinian, Guam, Bonins II, Indo China. Busy Bee, Double Lucky, mighty b, torpedo, kamikaze. WW II, Korean War. Stars and bars.
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