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Lt. Robert C. Loughlin; Engine Room Officer (1945)
Subject:
Lt. Robert C. Loughlin; Engine Room Officer (1945)
Date:
Tue, 22 Aug 2000 23:25:27 -0400
From:
"Thomas Loughlin"
To:
bennington@uss-bennington.org
To Officers and Crew of USS Bennington (1945)
It is with much sadness that I inform you that Robert Cyril Loughlin, a Lieutenant assigned to the engine room of the USS Bennington during World War II, passed away June 6, 1998.
My father was always proud of his service to his country and especially the time he served aboard the Bennington. Occasionally, Dad would tell my brother and me the stories, such as the time when the USS Franklin was almost lost to kamikaze attacks off of Okinawa. But she didn't give up. Later, she was able to stoke up her boilers and make it back to the Brooklyn navy yard. Another story was when he was in the ward room early one morning when he heard the dispatch that the largest bomb ever used in warfare had just been dropped on Japan. When he anxiously told the other officers the scoop, none of the other officers believed him at first.
When Japan surrendered, officers from the ships that comprised the task force were placed in drawings to see who would witness the signing aboard the Missouri. The rest of the fleet had been pulled back--just in case it was a ruse. Dad's name wasn't picked. Later, he would lead a weekly detail of marines by barge to Yokohama and then by train to other destinations. One of the destinations the marines had to guard was the emperor's palace.
There must be other stories, I'm sure. If there are any surviving crew of the Bennington (during the last months of the war), please contact me and tell the stories. My brother and I would really appreciate hearing them.
Thomas M. Loughlin
611 Meade Drive SW
Leesburg, VA 20175
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