Return to Survivors Index Page
The
personal experience and account of
Joseph Brown
(Air Dept)
On
the morning of October 25, 1944, we secured from general quarters.
We were going to the mess hall for breakfast when the bell sounded
and the announcement "All men man your battle stations" was given.
Without breakfast, we all ran to where we were supposed to be. I
went to the aft elevator pit. I was in charge of a fire detail.
We
were getting hit from the big guns. We all heard the metallic click
when the shells went off in the water. We knew it was just a matter
of time before our ship would be hit.
I
went to the fire hose, unwrapped the hose, and put the valve on.
No water was coming out. I walked over to the Lt. to see what else
I could do.
We
received a hit on the fantail and I went down. The Lt. was decapitated
and I was hit in my left leg. For some reason, I pushed my butt
up and I was hit again.
Someone
yelled that Brownie was hit. Two guys came running with the wire
stretcher. I did not want to go to the sick bay as it was by the
gasoline storage area. I yelled and ranted until they drooped me
and I crawled over to the sponson.
When
the order to abandon ship was given, I somehow crawled over and
jumped or fell into the ocean without a life preserver. God must
have been looking after me. Someone from the flight deck threw me
a life preserver circle and I sat in it until I was picked up. For
some crazy reason I paddled over to another group when I felt a
large fish pass me. When I got to the other group, two of the group
were pulled down by sharks.
I
met a buddy of mine on the second day. At dusk, we both saw a large
tree that looked like a telephone pole. Prokop said to me, "Brownie,
lets take this into shore." which we saw the out line of. For some
reason I stayed with the group. We never saw him again.
On
the morning of the third day, before sun up, we saw small ships
coming toward us. We thought they were Japanese, but thank God they
were not. Someone put on a search light and said, "Hang on we will
be back." I wasn't going to wait. I paddled to the small boat and
started banging on the side with my fist. They brought me on board.
Trying to play the hero I said, "I'm ok. All I want is water." They
let me go and I fell flat on my face. They gave me a cup of warm
water and a shot of morphine. I did not remember anything for two
days.
When
we pulled in to Leyte Gulf, I was transferred to an LST hospital
ship. From there to the US Comfort, a hospital ship, where I was
operated on.
|
