US NAVY WORLD WAR II
Machinist's Mate 1st. Class, Paul C. McCord MIA/KIA
Hometown: Mississippi
Ship: USS Aaron Ward (DD 483)
Service # 2951721
Awards: Purple Heart
Captain: LtCdr. Frederick J. Becton
Mission: LCT Escort
Mission Date: 7-Apr-43
Location: Tinete Point, Florida Island.
Cause: Japanese dive bombers
Crew: 7MIA/KIA 20KIA
USS Aaron Ward DD-483 had only been in commission for one year, one month and three days when on April 7, 1943 she became the target of a Japanese air attack. The ship was escorting several LCTs which were en route from Russel Island to Tulagi, she went ahead to provide anti-aircraft cover when she was ordered to detach and provide escort to USS LST-449 which was off Togoma Point, Guadalcanal.
At 1505 (ship time) the two vessels joined up and were zig-zagging with Aaron Ward ahead of the LST. Some Japanese aircraft were involved in a dogfight near Savo Island, others were looking for targets and at 1512 three of them began an attack against Aaron Ward.
Under fire from the destroyer the Japanese did not waver in their attack. Bombs began to fall around the ship, some close by and some direct hits, the bombs that fell close did as much damage as the direct hits. After the attack the damage assessment was as follows. Both firerooms flooded to within 6" of main deck level, after engine room flooded from a direct hit, forward engine room taking on water. Living quarters aft of after engine room flooded and contaminated with oil, 40mm magazine flooded by fire suppression system along with other damage.
At 1530 USS Ortolan AM-45 came alongside and took Aaron Ward in tow, the ship was settling fast, now only 6" of freeboard remained amidships and 12" at the stern. At 1630 water started coming in to the forward mess, at first a bucket brigade kept it down, but 20 minutes later USS Vireo AM-52 came alongside and passed over a suction line and began pumping the room down.
Hours went by and the damage control teams (and everyone else) did all they could to keep the ship afloat, but at 2135 the list became too great and the ship went down by the stern just off Tinete Point, Florida Island. Twenty men were killed, seven missing and the year old ship was at the bottom of Iron Bottom Sound.
Visit the virtual cemetery of USS Aaron Ward Crew
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Machinist's Mate 1st. Class, Paul C. McCord MIA/KIA
Hometown: Mississippi
Ship: USS Aaron Ward (DD 483)
Service # 2951721
Awards: Purple Heart
Captain: LtCdr. Frederick J. Becton
Mission: LCT Escort
Mission Date: 7-Apr-43
Location: Tinete Point, Florida Island.
Cause: Japanese dive bombers
Crew: 7MIA/KIA 20KIA
USS Aaron Ward DD-483 had only been in commission for one year, one month and three days when on April 7, 1943 she became the target of a Japanese air attack. The ship was escorting several LCTs which were en route from Russel Island to Tulagi, she went ahead to provide anti-aircraft cover when she was ordered to detach and provide escort to USS LST-449 which was off Togoma Point, Guadalcanal.
At 1505 (ship time) the two vessels joined up and were zig-zagging with Aaron Ward ahead of the LST. Some Japanese aircraft were involved in a dogfight near Savo Island, others were looking for targets and at 1512 three of them began an attack against Aaron Ward.
Under fire from the destroyer the Japanese did not waver in their attack. Bombs began to fall around the ship, some close by and some direct hits, the bombs that fell close did as much damage as the direct hits. After the attack the damage assessment was as follows. Both firerooms flooded to within 6" of main deck level, after engine room flooded from a direct hit, forward engine room taking on water. Living quarters aft of after engine room flooded and contaminated with oil, 40mm magazine flooded by fire suppression system along with other damage.
At 1530 USS Ortolan AM-45 came alongside and took Aaron Ward in tow, the ship was settling fast, now only 6" of freeboard remained amidships and 12" at the stern. At 1630 water started coming in to the forward mess, at first a bucket brigade kept it down, but 20 minutes later USS Vireo AM-52 came alongside and passed over a suction line and began pumping the room down.
Hours went by and the damage control teams (and everyone else) did all they could to keep the ship afloat, but at 2135 the list became too great and the ship went down by the stern just off Tinete Point, Florida Island. Twenty men were killed, seven missing and the year old ship was at the bottom of Iron Bottom Sound.
Visit the virtual cemetery of USS Aaron Ward Crew
" Click Here "
US NAVY WORLD WAR II
Machinist's Mate 1st. Class, Paul C. McCord MIA/KIA
Hometown: Mississippi
Ship: USS Aaron Ward (DD 483)
Service # 2951721
Awards: Purple Heart
Captain: LtCdr. Frederick J. Becton
Mission: LCT Escort
Mission Date: 7-Apr-43
Location: Tinete Point, Florida Island.
Cause: Japanese dive bombers
Crew: 7MIA/KIA 20KIA
USS Aaron Ward DD-483 had only been in commission for one year, one month and three days when on April 7, 1943 she became the target of a Japanese air attack. The ship was escorting several LCTs which were en route from Russel Island to Tulagi, she went ahead to provide anti-aircraft cover when she was ordered to detach and provide escort to USS LST-449 which was off Togoma Point, Guadalcanal.
At 1505 (ship time) the two vessels joined up and were zig-zagging with Aaron Ward ahead of the LST. Some Japanese aircraft were involved in a dogfight near Savo Island, others were looking for targets and at 1512 three of them began an attack against Aaron Ward.
Under fire from the destroyer the Japanese did not waver in their attack. Bombs began to fall around the ship, some close by and some direct hits, the bombs that fell close did as much damage as the direct hits. After the attack the damage assessment was as follows. Both firerooms flooded to within 6" of main deck level, after engine room flooded from a direct hit, forward engine room taking on water. Living quarters aft of after engine room flooded and contaminated with oil, 40mm magazine flooded by fire suppression system along with other damage.
At 1530 USS Ortolan AM-45 came alongside and took Aaron Ward in tow, the ship was settling fast, now only 6" of freeboard remained amidships and 12" at the stern. At 1630 water started coming in to the forward mess, at first a bucket brigade kept it down, but 20 minutes later USS Vireo AM-52 came alongside and passed over a suction line and began pumping the room down.
Hours went by and the damage control teams (and everyone else) did all they could to keep the ship afloat, but at 2135 the list became too great and the ship went down by the stern just off Tinete Point, Florida Island. Twenty men were killed, seven missing and the year old ship was at the bottom of Iron Bottom Sound.
Visit the virtual cemetery of USS Aaron Ward Crew
" Click Here "
Machinist's Mate 1st. Class, Paul C. McCord MIA/KIA
Hometown: Mississippi
Ship: USS Aaron Ward (DD 483)
Service # 2951721
Awards: Purple Heart
Captain: LtCdr. Frederick J. Becton
Mission: LCT Escort
Mission Date: 7-Apr-43
Location: Tinete Point, Florida Island.
Cause: Japanese dive bombers
Crew: 7MIA/KIA 20KIA
USS Aaron Ward DD-483 had only been in commission for one year, one month and three days when on April 7, 1943 she became the target of a Japanese air attack. The ship was escorting several LCTs which were en route from Russel Island to Tulagi, she went ahead to provide anti-aircraft cover when she was ordered to detach and provide escort to USS LST-449 which was off Togoma Point, Guadalcanal.
At 1505 (ship time) the two vessels joined up and were zig-zagging with Aaron Ward ahead of the LST. Some Japanese aircraft were involved in a dogfight near Savo Island, others were looking for targets and at 1512 three of them began an attack against Aaron Ward.
Under fire from the destroyer the Japanese did not waver in their attack. Bombs began to fall around the ship, some close by and some direct hits, the bombs that fell close did as much damage as the direct hits. After the attack the damage assessment was as follows. Both firerooms flooded to within 6" of main deck level, after engine room flooded from a direct hit, forward engine room taking on water. Living quarters aft of after engine room flooded and contaminated with oil, 40mm magazine flooded by fire suppression system along with other damage.
At 1530 USS Ortolan AM-45 came alongside and took Aaron Ward in tow, the ship was settling fast, now only 6" of freeboard remained amidships and 12" at the stern. At 1630 water started coming in to the forward mess, at first a bucket brigade kept it down, but 20 minutes later USS Vireo AM-52 came alongside and passed over a suction line and began pumping the room down.
Hours went by and the damage control teams (and everyone else) did all they could to keep the ship afloat, but at 2135 the list became too great and the ship went down by the stern just off Tinete Point, Florida Island. Twenty men were killed, seven missing and the year old ship was at the bottom of Iron Bottom Sound.
Visit the virtual cemetery of USS Aaron Ward Crew
" Click Here "
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