Comments on: USS Laffey: Attacked Off Okinawa in World War II http://www.historynet.com/uss-laffey-attacked-off-okinawa-in-world-war-ii.htm From the World's Largest History Magazine Publisher Sat, 21 Nov 2009 23:31:52 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: mark weaver http://www.historynet.com/uss-laffey-attacked-off-okinawa-in-world-war-ii.htm/comment-page-1#comment-123696 mark weaver Wed, 23 Sep 2009 18:55:36 +0000 #comment-123696 Craig, The name of the movie based loosely on the Laffey was "Away All Boats", Starring Jeff Chandler. I have the movie and it did come out in 1956 or 57. Craig,

The name of the movie based loosely on the Laffey was “Away All Boats”, Starring Jeff Chandler. I have the movie and it did come out in 1956 or 57.

]]> By: Barbara Thompson http://www.historynet.com/uss-laffey-attacked-off-okinawa-in-world-war-ii.htm/comment-page-1#comment-36736 Barbara Thompson Sat, 28 Feb 2009 00:52:10 +0000 #comment-36736 I was very saddened to read about the Laffey's deteriorating condition. My father, Henry Thompson, Carpenter's Mate was proud of his ship and his service. He attended many reunions and had hoped that I would carry on membership in the USS Laffey Association after his death in 1995. I regret that I did not but at least I can contribute to the care of this ship. My family would like to visit the Laffey in April. Will she even be there? I have never seen her,but now feel the pressure of time closing in. I guess I assumed that she would always be maintained because of her historical importance. I strongly hope that enough donations are made to save THE SHIP THAT WOULD NOT DIE I was very saddened to read about the Laffey’s deteriorating condition. My father, Henry Thompson, Carpenter’s Mate
was proud of his ship and his service. He attended many reunions
and had hoped that I would carry on membership in the USS Laffey Association after his death in 1995. I regret that I did not but at least
I can contribute to the care of this ship. My family would like to visit the Laffey in April. Will she even be there? I have never seen her,but
now feel the pressure of time closing in. I guess I assumed that she
would always be maintained because of her historical importance.
I strongly hope that enough donations are made to save THE SHIP
THAT WOULD NOT DIE

]]> By: Robert Dockery http://www.historynet.com/uss-laffey-attacked-off-okinawa-in-world-war-ii.htm/comment-page-1#comment-33849 Robert Dockery Fri, 13 Feb 2009 19:33:12 +0000 #comment-33849 Sadly, the ship that would not die may be facing her final hours. This from the official website of the U.S.S. Laffey: USS Laffey Needs Immediate Repairs Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina – Dec 12, 2008 In the early hours of Monday morning, December 1st, staff personnel at Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum noticed the last remaining Sumner class destroyer in existence, the USS Laffey, sitting lower than usual in the water. When staff personnel arrived, they discovered five feet of water in the lower section of the ship. As emergency procedures began and pumping commenced, water was entering the ship at a rate of 2,000 gallons per hour. After over 90,000 gallons of sea water were pumped from the ship, the location of the leak was determined late Wednesday evening. Environmental personnel were called to oversee the operations to ensure that all procedures were being conducted in a safe and efficient manner. There were no hazardous materials released into the outside water. Survey teams and divers were on the scene Thursday morning to attempt temporary repairs and assess the extent of the hull’s deterioration. By late afternoon Thursday, the leak was stopped with an epoxy patch, thereby allowing a marine survey to be conducted. Three weeks ago, five holes were discovered in the aft section of the ship and 4,600 gallons of seawater were pumped out before repairs could be made. The breach in the ship’s hull discovered December 1 is unrelated to the earlier discovered holes. The USS Laffey was last in dry dock 14 years ago when she underwent repairs. At that time, extensive repairs were made to the hull by welding metal plates over the deteriorated areas. The leak discovered December 1 is located along a weld that began rusting, causing a crack approximately 12 inches by one fourth of an inch. As of Thursday morning, December 11, the epoxy patch was holding and all water had been removed from the ship. Unfortunately, during the day Thursday, staff personnel at the Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum discovered the USS Laffey was again taking on water through three holes that developed since the December 1 leaks were repaired. Patriots Point’s pumps and a private contractor’s pumps have been removing water from the Laffey. Divers started patching the holes Thursday afternoon to stabilize the leaks. This morning, the divers are continuing to work on the patches. A boom has been deployed around the ship to prevent any possible contamination. The US Coast Guard representatives have been on site to assist Patriots Point. The December 11 holes are not connected with the holes discovered three weeks ago or those discovered on December 1, but they highlight Patriots Point Development Authority’s challenges with the cost and the need for constant maintenance of its aging fleet of four naval museum vessels. An early estimate of the cost to tow the USS Laffey to a repair facility and repair her is $3.5 million. Patriots Point is weighing its alternatives to deal with the Laffey given her deteriorated hull condition. In addition to this early estimate of $3.5 million needed for the Laffey, the aircraft carrier Yorktown, submarine Clamagore and Coast Guard Cutter Ingham collectively need approximately $50 million of maintenance and repairs. This need is not unique to Patriots Point's fleet. The aircraft carrier museum ship Intrepid moored in New York recently received over $120 million of repairs and maintenance. Please make checks payable to: Patriots Point Development Authority make notation for SAVE THE LAFFEY on check and envelope. Mail checks to: Patriots Point Development Authority 40 Patriots Point Road Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 Attn: C.F.O. Thanks for your help. Sonny Walker, President USS LAFFEY ASSOCIATION Sadly, the ship that would not die may be facing her final hours. This from the official website of the U.S.S. Laffey:

USS Laffey Needs Immediate Repairs
Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina – Dec 12, 2008

In the early hours of Monday morning, December 1st, staff personnel at Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum noticed the last remaining Sumner class destroyer in existence, the USS Laffey, sitting lower than usual in the water.

When staff personnel arrived, they discovered five feet of water in the lower section of the ship. As emergency procedures began and pumping commenced, water was entering the ship at a rate of 2,000 gallons per hour. After over 90,000 gallons of sea water were pumped from the ship, the location of the leak was determined late Wednesday evening. Environmental personnel were called to oversee the operations to ensure that all procedures were being conducted in a safe and efficient manner. There were no hazardous materials released into the outside water.

Survey teams and divers were on the scene Thursday morning to attempt temporary repairs and assess the extent of the hull’s deterioration. By late afternoon Thursday, the leak was stopped with an epoxy patch, thereby allowing a marine survey to be conducted.

Three weeks ago, five holes were discovered in the aft section of the ship and 4,600 gallons of seawater were pumped out before repairs could be made. The breach in the ship’s hull discovered December 1 is unrelated to the earlier discovered holes.

The USS Laffey was last in dry dock 14 years ago when she underwent repairs. At that time, extensive repairs were made to the hull by welding metal plates over the deteriorated areas. The leak discovered December 1 is located along a weld that began rusting, causing a crack approximately 12 inches by one fourth of an inch.

As of Thursday morning, December 11, the epoxy patch was holding and all water had been removed from the ship. Unfortunately, during the day Thursday, staff personnel at the Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum discovered the USS Laffey was again taking on water through three holes that developed since the December 1 leaks were repaired. Patriots Point’s pumps and a private contractor’s pumps have been removing water from the Laffey. Divers started patching the holes Thursday afternoon to stabilize the leaks. This morning, the divers are continuing to work on the patches. A boom has been deployed around the ship to prevent any possible contamination. The US Coast Guard representatives have been on site to assist Patriots Point.

The December 11 holes are not connected with the holes discovered three weeks ago or those discovered on December 1, but they highlight Patriots Point Development Authority’s challenges with the cost and the need for constant maintenance of its aging fleet of four naval museum vessels. An early estimate of the cost to tow the USS Laffey to a repair facility and repair her is $3.5 million. Patriots Point is weighing its alternatives to deal with the Laffey given her deteriorated hull condition. In addition to this early estimate of $3.5 million needed for the Laffey, the aircraft carrier Yorktown, submarine Clamagore and Coast Guard Cutter Ingham collectively need approximately $50 million of maintenance and repairs. This need is not unique to Patriots Point’s fleet. The aircraft carrier museum ship Intrepid moored in New York recently received over $120 million of repairs and maintenance.

Please make checks payable to: Patriots Point Development Authority make notation for SAVE THE LAFFEY on check and envelope.

Mail checks to:

Patriots Point Development Authority
40 Patriots Point Road
Mount Pleasant, SC 29464

Attn: C.F.O.

Thanks for your help.

Sonny Walker, President
USS LAFFEY ASSOCIATION

]]> By: mac gi;kerson http://www.historynet.com/uss-laffey-attacked-off-okinawa-in-world-war-ii.htm/comment-page-1#comment-21784 mac gi;kerson Sun, 14 Dec 2008 05:28:09 +0000 #comment-21784 my grandfather was arthur bredy and was on the lcs-51 at okinowa he never told me why he had hated japs so much but after reading this report and other info I understand now and also him being a christian how hard it was to forgive the japanese air core . I wish many people today with things seeming so bleak these days to sit back and reflect on what our forefathers went thru to keep us free arthur h bredy was a gunner on that ship my grandfather was arthur bredy and was on the lcs-51 at okinowa he never told me why he had hated japs so much but after reading this report and other info I understand now and also him being a christian how hard it was to forgive the japanese air core . I wish many people today with things seeming so bleak these days to sit back and reflect on what our forefathers went thru to keep us free arthur h bredy was a gunner on that ship

]]> By: james w mylott http://www.historynet.com/uss-laffey-attacked-off-okinawa-in-world-war-ii.htm/comment-page-1#comment-20804 james w mylott Mon, 08 Dec 2008 14:36:44 +0000 #comment-20804 my uncle lawrence kelley was killed in this attack he was a radioman and i am looking for anyone who might have known him. his brothers (my uncles mike and bill) faught the VA for many years and finally got him a grave marker at calverton nat'l cemetary on long island in 2002 i grew up hearing so much about him and how much i am like him i was just hoping someone might have a story or two about him james mylott us army (ret) jimsoldier@comcast.net my uncle lawrence kelley was killed in this attack he was a radioman and i am looking for anyone who might have known him. his brothers (my uncles mike and bill) faught the VA for many years and finally got him a grave marker at calverton nat’l cemetary on long island in 2002
i grew up hearing so much about him and how much i am like him i was just hoping someone might have a story or two about him
james mylott
us army (ret)
jimsoldier@comcast.net

]]> By: Quin Johnson http://www.historynet.com/uss-laffey-attacked-off-okinawa-in-world-war-ii.htm/comment-page-1#comment-16463 Quin Johnson Fri, 07 Nov 2008 02:42:49 +0000 #comment-16463 After reading this i think that the people that lived through the attack on the USS Laffey must have been verry brave consitering the amount carnage and damage the people and the people on the ship must have faced that day. And those that survived and are alive today that read this i want you to know that you have my complete respect. After reading this i think that the people that lived through the
attack on the USS Laffey must have been verry brave
consitering the amount carnage and damage the people and the
people on the ship must have faced that day. And those that
survived and are alive today that read this i want you to know
that you have my complete respect.

]]> By: Lawrence M. Hinsley EM1/c http://www.historynet.com/uss-laffey-attacked-off-okinawa-in-world-war-ii.htm/comment-page-1#comment-5750 Lawrence M. Hinsley EM1/c Thu, 14 Aug 2008 20:23:35 +0000 #comment-5750 I was a crew member aboard the USS Preston DD795 On April 16, 1945 and witnessed the Laffey being towed by the DMS-23 from RP #1,north of IeShima to Kerama Retto. The Preston took aboard 16 survivors from the LCI's and 6 died aboard the Preston.The USS Lange DD399 came alongside about 1730 and took aboard the live survivors.The Preston then remained on RP #1 until relieved the next morning about 0700. Burial services were held for the dead during the hours of 2000-2300 within sight of IeShima. I was a crew member aboard the USS Preston DD795 On April 16, 1945 and witnessed the Laffey being towed by the DMS-23 from RP #1,north of IeShima to Kerama Retto. The Preston took aboard 16 survivors from the LCI’s and 6 died aboard the Preston.The USS Lange DD399 came alongside about 1730 and took aboard the live survivors.The Preston then remained on RP #1 until relieved the next morning about 0700. Burial services were held for the dead during the hours of 2000-2300 within sight of IeShima.

]]> By: John Dimitri http://www.historynet.com/uss-laffey-attacked-off-okinawa-in-world-war-ii.htm/comment-page-1#comment-318 John Dimitri Sun, 22 Jun 2008 23:23:43 +0000 #comment-318 Dear Craig, I think you may be thinking of an episode of the TV series, "Navy Log", which ran during the 50's and was 30 minutes long. The account posted here seems to parallel the essence of what I remember about that particular episode. My Dad was a WWII minesweeper gunnery officer, and he let my brother and me stay up a little late whenever "Navy Log" came on. I may be wrong, but I seem to recall getting tearful after watching the story, because it seems as if it ended with the ship locked in a circling movement and most of the crew seemingly dead. Dear Craig, I think you may be thinking of an episode of the TV series, “Navy Log”, which ran during the 50’s and was 30 minutes long. The account posted here seems to parallel the essence of what I remember about that particular episode. My Dad was a WWII minesweeper gunnery officer, and he let my brother and me stay up a little late whenever “Navy Log” came on. I may be wrong, but I seem to recall getting tearful after watching the story, because it seems as if it ended with the ship locked in a circling movement and most of the crew seemingly dead.

]]> By: Craig W. Conover http://www.historynet.com/uss-laffey-attacked-off-okinawa-in-world-war-ii.htm/comment-page-1#comment-54 Craig W. Conover Sat, 14 Jun 2008 13:13:23 +0000 #comment-54 When I was growing up in the 1950's I recall seeing a movie that I think was based on this story. Does anyone know the title of that movie and the cast members? When I was growing up in the 1950’s I recall seeing a movie that I think was based on this story. Does anyone know the title of that movie and the cast members?

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