Machinist Mate First Class William Reid Johnson served on the USS Conklin DE 439 in the Pacific in WWII. The ship sank 2 enemy subs at great risk to self. Later in a typhoon in June 1945 the small ship was rolled on her side by a huge wave. All lights and power went out, Men were crushed and swept overboard. Oil and seawater flooded the lower decks. In utter darkness BIll and crewmates got the engines restarted. Otherwise all would have died.
Machinist Mate First Class William Reid Johnson served on the USS Conklin DE 439 in the Pacific in WWII. The ship sank 2 enemy subs at great risk to self. Later in a typhoon in June 1945 the small ship was rolled on her side by a huge wave. All lights and power went out, Men were crushed and swept overboard. Oil and seawater flooded the lower decks. In utter darkness BIll and crewmates got the engines restarted. Otherwise all would have died.
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