CREW'S STORIES
RETURN TO:
Chalmers Reuter
Pharmacist mate 3rd. Class 1944-1946
from Birmingham, Alabama.
Lonnie:
This is the picture I spoke of.
The date on the back of the picture is August 28, 1943.
This must be a "just out of bootcamp" picture.
I added my dad's name to the crew list just recently.
He was in the hospital division and rated a Pharmacist mate 3rd. class.
He told me that during the battle of Okinawa, his place during any action was on the
left stern anti aircraft gun just below the flight deck.
He has told me several other interesting stories.
If you are interested, let me know.
Bob Reuter
Lonnie:
My dad asked that I pass these two stories along to you.
Here are the two stories.
I remember, and everyone who saw this got a good laugh from it.
A shell was fired from the Bennington at to low of an angle and went below the flight deck on the Handcock.
It hit a container that had mops, brooms, toilet paper, brushes, etc. in it.
They flew everywhere when the shell exploded.
It probably wasn't funny for the guys on that ship.
The second story takes place about 2 to 3 days after the peace was signed.
When the Bennington entered Tokyo harbor, he had been told the Japanese were required to place a white flag on every gun position above a certain caliber.
This was to be done around the entire harbor.
Needless to say, the hills were covered with white flags from one end to the other.
It would have been a blood bath if they had opened up on our ships.
There are several other things I am getting together for you.
Robert Reuter, Son of Chalmers Reuter
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