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The
personal experience and account of
Adam Kanaskie
(Electrical Dept)
A call to general quarters for a sailor is not an unusual occurrence
for those of us on the Gambier Bay. The call this day however, would
be the last to be made on our CVE-73.
My station was in the generator room in the forward part of the
ship. As I remember it, General MacArthur had predicted that hundreds
of sorties would fly over our ships during the first days of the
Philippine invasion. Nothing of consequence occurred for the first
several days; the early hours of October 25, 1944 would be different.
The time escapes me but it wasn't too long until loud explosions
were heard near and on the ship. In a short time I noticed the carrier
taking on water in the deck below my station. Soon the water became
uncontrollable in that area. At the same time shells were falling
on other parts of the ship. Shipmates from the deck below began
scurrying up the ladders. I quickly transferred power from my generator
to the rear generator and followed the other men up to the hangar
deck. The area seemed to be vacant and before long all hell
broke loose. Not seeing anyone and not knowing what to do we laid
down on the hangar deck near an exit door. A tremendous explosion
went off near me. I quickly got to my feet and found myself alone.
I presume the shipmates to my left were killed in the explosion.
An abandon ship order was never heard in our section of the ship!
As I looked out the exit door I noticed many men already in the
water, most were on life rafts. The ship was listing badly, so I
made a decision to jump into the pacific.
AFTER ABANDONING THE SHIP
After jumping into the water I raised my left arm to wipe blood,
which was flowing rapidly from a wound in my forehead above my left
eye. It was then that I discovered that most of my left hand lad
been blown off. My next move was to inflate the life jacket about
my waist. The Preserver would not inflate and I then realized that
shrapnel had pierced my back and consequently made the life jacket
useless. The ship was listing badly and I knew that I had to get
away quickly. After discarding the life jacket I observed several
life rafts some distance away with men already aboard. I managed
to swim to one of the rafts and was helped aboard by a shipmate.
I took off my white shirt and with the knife issued to us, made
a tourniquet to stop the rapid loss of blood. I remember sitting/standing
in a corner of the raft watching colored shells explode around us.
Planes were flying overhead going into steep dives as they attack
the Japanese. The percussion from exploding shells could be felt
in the water. In a short time we watched as our ship rolled over,
exposed its screws, and sank into the Pacific.
As time went by sharks became a menace; some pushed their noses
right against the raft. Some men tried to stab them with their knives.
Sometime during the first day each of us had the opportunity to
have a small drink of water from a container that was part of the
raft. Some of the men drank the seawater and eventually experienced
hallucinations. Some imagined sights that did not exist and eventually
disappeared.
After the first day things are very sketchy for me. I kind of remember
the deck of the raft stretching or falling so that we had to stand
up and hold on to the flotation rim. Most of the second day is a
blank to me. My last memory before pick up was seeing a bright light
some distance away, which I thought was the moon. Apparently it
was the searchlight from the landing craft that was about to rescue
us. One of the men on the raft asked if I could swim to the ship;
I said "yes" and after about two strokes from a delirious sailor,
someone grabbed me until I could be helped aboard the rescue ship.
I collapsed on the deck and in due time several men helped me down
a ladder to a lower deck. I was given lots of water and that was
my last memory for what must have been several days. I faintly remember
having surgery on another ship. Some time later I was placed on
another ship and was sent to Perth, Australia. From there I was
transported to Treasure Island, California.
I have no idea of my shipmates on the raft. At least I did not
recognize anyone who worked with me in the electrical division.
My life is owed to many people, none of whom I knew or know now.
I am most grateful for all the help given me. Needless to say, I
believe in miracles, guardian angels and, of course, the Creator
of us all. Thanks to all who helped me experience 57 more years
of life.
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