Having actually gone " Missing " on the above date, he was not officially declared by the military as being dead until November 14, 1943, 1 year and 1 day after he went missing as was the custom.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Charles served as a Mess Attendant Second Class, U.S.S. Laffey ( DD-549 ), U.S. Navy during World War II.
He resided in Alabama prior to the war.
On November 13, 1942 the " Laffey " was placed in the van of a column of eight destroyers and five cruisers under " Admiral Daniel J. Callaghan ".
Early in the mid-watch, the radar operator reported contact with the enemy. The " Naval Battle of Guadalcanal " was just about to begin when the Japanese force, a group of two battleships, one light cruiser, and 14 destroyers, under Vice Admiral Hiroaki Abe, appeared on the horizon. The " Laffey " lashed out at the enemy with gunfire and torpedoes.
At the height of the violent battle, the Japanese battleship Hiei came through the darkness and both ships headed at full speed for the same spot. They missed colliding by 20 feet (10 m).
The " Laffey " unleashed her torpedoes and, using all her firepower, raked the battleship's bridge, wounding Admiral Abe, and killing his chief of staff.
With a battleship on her stern, a second on her port beam, and two destroyers on her port bow, " Laffey " fought the Japanese ships with the three remaining main battery guns in a no-quarter duel at point-blank range.
She was hit by a 14-inch shell from Hiei. Then, a torpedo in her fantail put the " U.S.S. Laffey ( DD-459 ) " out of action. As the order to abandon ship was passed, a violent explosion ripped the destroyer apart and she sank immediately with heavy loss of life.
Of the 247 crew members aboard, " 59 " were Killed or Missing In Action, including the commanding officer Lt. Commander William Edwin Hank, and 116 were wounded in the engagement.
Charles was declared "Missing In Action in this sinking.
He was awarded the Purple Heart.
Service # 2728527
( Bio by: Russ Pickett )
In the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, which was considered a United States strategic victory, the Navy lost 2 light cruisers, 7 destroyers, and 36 aircraft for a total of 1,732 killed in this four day battle.
" U.S. Light Cruisers Lost : "
U.S.S. Atlanta ( CL-51 )
U.S.S. Juneau ( CL-52 )
" U.S. Destroyers Lost : "
U.S.S. Barton ( DD-599 )
U.S.S. Benham ( DD-397 )
U.S.S. Cushing ( DD-376 )
U.S.S. Laffey ( DD-459 )
U.S.S. Monssen ( DD-436 )
U.S.S. Preston ( DD-379 )
U.S.S. Walke ( DD-416 )
" Japanese losses included : "
2 battleships
1 heavy cruiser
3 destroyers
11 transports
64 aircraft
( Historical Notes By: Russ Pickett )
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Charles served as a Mess Attendant Second Class, U.S.S. Laffey ( DD-549 ), U.S. Navy during World War II.
He resided in Alabama prior to the war.
On November 13, 1942 the " Laffey " was placed in the van of a column of eight destroyers and five cruisers under " Admiral Daniel J. Callaghan ".
Early in the mid-watch, the radar operator reported contact with the enemy. The " Naval Battle of Guadalcanal " was just about to begin when the Japanese force, a group of two battleships, one light cruiser, and 14 destroyers, under Vice Admiral Hiroaki Abe, appeared on the horizon. The " Laffey " lashed out at the enemy with gunfire and torpedoes.
At the height of the violent battle, the Japanese battleship Hiei came through the darkness and both ships headed at full speed for the same spot. They missed colliding by 20 feet (10 m).
The " Laffey " unleashed her torpedoes and, using all her firepower, raked the battleship's bridge, wounding Admiral Abe, and killing his chief of staff.
With a battleship on her stern, a second on her port beam, and two destroyers on her port bow, " Laffey " fought the Japanese ships with the three remaining main battery guns in a no-quarter duel at point-blank range.
She was hit by a 14-inch shell from Hiei. Then, a torpedo in her fantail put the " U.S.S. Laffey ( DD-459 ) " out of action. As the order to abandon ship was passed, a violent explosion ripped the destroyer apart and she sank immediately with heavy loss of life.
Of the 247 crew members aboard, " 59 " were Killed or Missing In Action, including the commanding officer Lt. Commander William Edwin Hank, and 116 were wounded in the engagement.
Charles was declared "Missing In Action in this sinking.
He was awarded the Purple Heart.
Service # 2728527
( Bio by: Russ Pickett )
In the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, which was considered a United States strategic victory, the Navy lost 2 light cruisers, 7 destroyers, and 36 aircraft for a total of 1,732 killed in this four day battle.
" U.S. Light Cruisers Lost : "
U.S.S. Atlanta ( CL-51 )
U.S.S. Juneau ( CL-52 )
" U.S. Destroyers Lost : "
U.S.S. Barton ( DD-599 )
U.S.S. Benham ( DD-397 )
U.S.S. Cushing ( DD-376 )
U.S.S. Laffey ( DD-459 )
U.S.S. Monssen ( DD-436 )
U.S.S. Preston ( DD-379 )
U.S.S. Walke ( DD-416 )
" Japanese losses included : "
2 battleships
1 heavy cruiser
3 destroyers
11 transports
64 aircraft
( Historical Notes By: Russ Pickett )
Having actually gone " Missing " on the above date, he was not officially declared by the military as being dead until November 14, 1943, 1 year and 1 day after he went missing as was the custom.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Charles served as a Mess Attendant Second Class, U.S.S. Laffey ( DD-549 ), U.S. Navy during World War II.
He resided in Alabama prior to the war.
On November 13, 1942 the " Laffey " was placed in the van of a column of eight destroyers and five cruisers under " Admiral Daniel J. Callaghan ".
Early in the mid-watch, the radar operator reported contact with the enemy. The " Naval Battle of Guadalcanal " was just about to begin when the Japanese force, a group of two battleships, one light cruiser, and 14 destroyers, under Vice Admiral Hiroaki Abe, appeared on the horizon. The " Laffey " lashed out at the enemy with gunfire and torpedoes.
At the height of the violent battle, the Japanese battleship Hiei came through the darkness and both ships headed at full speed for the same spot. They missed colliding by 20 feet (10 m).
The " Laffey " unleashed her torpedoes and, using all her firepower, raked the battleship's bridge, wounding Admiral Abe, and killing his chief of staff.
With a battleship on her stern, a second on her port beam, and two destroyers on her port bow, " Laffey " fought the Japanese ships with the three remaining main battery guns in a no-quarter duel at point-blank range.
She was hit by a 14-inch shell from Hiei. Then, a torpedo in her fantail put the " U.S.S. Laffey ( DD-459 ) " out of action. As the order to abandon ship was passed, a violent explosion ripped the destroyer apart and she sank immediately with heavy loss of life.
Of the 247 crew members aboard, " 59 " were Killed or Missing In Action, including the commanding officer Lt. Commander William Edwin Hank, and 116 were wounded in the engagement.
Charles was declared "Missing In Action in this sinking.
He was awarded the Purple Heart.
Service # 2728527
( Bio by: Russ Pickett )
In the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, which was considered a United States strategic victory, the Navy lost 2 light cruisers, 7 destroyers, and 36 aircraft for a total of 1,732 killed in this four day battle.
" U.S. Light Cruisers Lost : "
U.S.S. Atlanta ( CL-51 )
U.S.S. Juneau ( CL-52 )
" U.S. Destroyers Lost : "
U.S.S. Barton ( DD-599 )
U.S.S. Benham ( DD-397 )
U.S.S. Cushing ( DD-376 )
U.S.S. Laffey ( DD-459 )
U.S.S. Monssen ( DD-436 )
U.S.S. Preston ( DD-379 )
U.S.S. Walke ( DD-416 )
" Japanese losses included : "
2 battleships
1 heavy cruiser
3 destroyers
11 transports
64 aircraft
( Historical Notes By: Russ Pickett )
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Charles served as a Mess Attendant Second Class, U.S.S. Laffey ( DD-549 ), U.S. Navy during World War II.
He resided in Alabama prior to the war.
On November 13, 1942 the " Laffey " was placed in the van of a column of eight destroyers and five cruisers under " Admiral Daniel J. Callaghan ".
Early in the mid-watch, the radar operator reported contact with the enemy. The " Naval Battle of Guadalcanal " was just about to begin when the Japanese force, a group of two battleships, one light cruiser, and 14 destroyers, under Vice Admiral Hiroaki Abe, appeared on the horizon. The " Laffey " lashed out at the enemy with gunfire and torpedoes.
At the height of the violent battle, the Japanese battleship Hiei came through the darkness and both ships headed at full speed for the same spot. They missed colliding by 20 feet (10 m).
The " Laffey " unleashed her torpedoes and, using all her firepower, raked the battleship's bridge, wounding Admiral Abe, and killing his chief of staff.
With a battleship on her stern, a second on her port beam, and two destroyers on her port bow, " Laffey " fought the Japanese ships with the three remaining main battery guns in a no-quarter duel at point-blank range.
She was hit by a 14-inch shell from Hiei. Then, a torpedo in her fantail put the " U.S.S. Laffey ( DD-459 ) " out of action. As the order to abandon ship was passed, a violent explosion ripped the destroyer apart and she sank immediately with heavy loss of life.
Of the 247 crew members aboard, " 59 " were Killed or Missing In Action, including the commanding officer Lt. Commander William Edwin Hank, and 116 were wounded in the engagement.
Charles was declared "Missing In Action in this sinking.
He was awarded the Purple Heart.
Service # 2728527
( Bio by: Russ Pickett )
In the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, which was considered a United States strategic victory, the Navy lost 2 light cruisers, 7 destroyers, and 36 aircraft for a total of 1,732 killed in this four day battle.
" U.S. Light Cruisers Lost : "
U.S.S. Atlanta ( CL-51 )
U.S.S. Juneau ( CL-52 )
" U.S. Destroyers Lost : "
U.S.S. Barton ( DD-599 )
U.S.S. Benham ( DD-397 )
U.S.S. Cushing ( DD-376 )
U.S.S. Laffey ( DD-459 )
U.S.S. Monssen ( DD-436 )
U.S.S. Preston ( DD-379 )
U.S.S. Walke ( DD-416 )
" Japanese losses included : "
2 battleships
1 heavy cruiser
3 destroyers
11 transports
64 aircraft
( Historical Notes By: Russ Pickett )
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