Sidney T. Barras
Machinist's Mate, Third Class, U.S. Navy
Service # 5762540
United States Naval Reserve
Entered the Service from: Louisiana
Died: 18 December 1944, U.S.S. Spence (DD-512), Lost in the Philippine Sea about 240 miles east of the island of Luzon, Philippines
Disposition: Nonrecoverable
Son of H. John & Blanche Barras
Sidney T. Barras enlisted in the United States Navy on 31 October 1942 in Houston Texas. He was assigned to the USS Spence (DD-512), a Fletcher class destroyer and was first received on board on 11 January 1943.
WWII Navy Muster Roll
31 January 1943 U.S.S. Spence (DD 512) - S.2c Sidney T. BARRAS (5762540) Enlisted on 31 October 1942 in Houston Texas; V6 USNR received 11 January 1943 Rec. Sta., Boston, Mass.
31 March 1943, 30 June 1943 U.S.S. Spence (DD 512) - S2c Sidney T. BARRAS (5762540) Enlisted on 31 October 1942 in Houston Texas; Date first received on board 11 January 1943.
30 September 1943 U.S.S. Spence (DD 512) – S2c Sidney Theo BARRAS (5762540) Enlisted on 31 October 1942 in Houston Texas. Date first received on board 11 January 1943. V-6 USNR Change of Rating 01 September 1943, Rate changed from S2c to F3c, BuPers Manual.
30 November 1943 U.S.S. Spence (DD 512) – F3c Sidney Theo BARRAS (5762540) Enlisted on 31 October 1942 in Houston Texas. V-6 USNR Change of Rating 01 November 1943, Rate changed from F3c to F2c, Auth: BuPers C/L 110-43.
31 December 1943 U.S.S. Spence (DD 512) - F2c Sidney T. BARRAS (5762540) Enlisted on 31 October 1942 in Houston Texas; Date first received on board 11 January 1943.
31 January 1944 U.S.S. Spence (DD 512) - F2c Sidney Theo BARRAS (5762540) Enlisted on 31 October 1942 in Houston Texas; V-6 USNR Change of Rating 01 January 1944, Rate changed from F2c to F1c, Auth: BuPers C/L 205-43.
31 March 1944 U.S.S. Spence (DD 512) – F1c Sidney Theo BARRAS (5762540) Enlisted on 31 October 1942 in Houston Texas; Date first received on board 11 January 1943.
31 May 1944 U.S.S. Spence (DD 512) – F1c Sidney Theo BARRAS (5762540) Enlisted on 31 October 1942 in Houston Texas. V-6 USNR Change of Rating 01 May 1944, Rate changed from F1c to MM3c, Auth: BuPers C/L 77-44
30 June 1944 U.S.S. Spence (DD 512) – MM3c Sidney Theo BARRAS (5762540) Enlisted on 31 October 1942; Date first received on board 11 January 1943.
30 September 1944 U.S.S. Spence (DD 512) – MM3c Sidney Theo BARRAS (5762540) Date first received on board 11 January 1943.
*******************************************************************************
1944 - The U.S.S. Spence "screened the carriers in Philippine waters as they launched attacks against Luzon during November and the first part of December.
Lieutenant (jg) Alphonso Stephen Krauchunas, Supply Corps Officer, USNR, U.S.S.Spence narrative (sole surviving officer of the Spence):"…Our first operation was to conduct air strikes on Luzon and they were successful with little loss of personnel and damage. Our next operation was to aid in the support of the invasion of Mindoro on 14, 15 and 16 of December, 1944. Ours was to maintain aircraft over all the airfields on Luzon."
"On 17 December, U.S.S. Spence prepared to refuel and pumped out all of the salt water ballast from her tanks; but rough seas caused the fueling operation to be cancelled. The next day, the weather worsened and the storm turned into a major typhoon (Typhoon Cobra). As the ships wallowed in canyon-like troughs of brine, Spence's electrical equipment got wet from great quantities of sea water taken on board. After a 72 degree roll to port, all of the lights went out and the pumps stopped. The rudder jammed; and, after a deep roll to port about 1100, Spence capsized and sank. Only 24 of her complement survived."
http://destroyerhistory.org/assets/pdf/wilde/512spence_wilde.pdf
One eyewitness account speaks to the conditions that day.
"These destroyers were escorting the carriers, and they came out. We're trying to fuel them, and the seas are choppy; I mean, when I say choppy, they're twenty, twenty-five feet waves... They were going to move to another location and commence fueling in the morning again. Well, instead of taking us out of the typhoon they took us back into it. I'm talking about waves that were fifty and sixty feet high. Sometimes you'd see a destroyer, he'd be sitting up on top of a wave and the next time he would be down so low that you couldn't even see the mast. That's how deep the troughs were. There's no way those destroyers could fuel from the tankers."
"Then, about noon, the wind brutalizes her ..... SPENCE goes about the same time, but again the fleet unknowing. SPENCE is de-ballasted, light in fuel; she rides like a cork and is flung like a cork in the terrible canyon-like troughs. Power fails; the electrical board is shorted from the driven spray; the ship goes over 72° to port -- and stays there. The lights are out; the pumps are stopped -- the ship's heart dead before the body dies; she drifts derelict..." Source: http://www.patriotwatch.com/typhoon.htm
Lieutenant (jg) Alphonso Stephen Krauchunas, Supply Corps Officer, USNR, U.S.S.Spence narrative (sole surviving officer of the Spence):"On the 17th of December, 1944 a rendezvous for fueling was attempted but seas were too rough for the SPENCE to fuel and were ordered to proceed with several tankers and fuel on the 18th. They typhoon began its fury on the next day and it was impossible for an attempt to fuel. Orders were given to ballast at 0900 since the ship had only 12% fuel and was rolling heavily. These rolls exceeded 50°. At 1100, the power was gone due to water seeping into the fire room through vents. The ship was caught in the huge swells. The first huge swell rolled the ship 75° from which it recovered but the next one rolled her over trapping all those below the main deck, passageways, Radio shack, CIC, wardroom, etc. 50 to 60 men managed to get off into the water from their stations topside. They clutched to life rafts, floater nets, life jackets or whatever they managed to get a hold of. The wind blew them out of sight of the ship within a few minutes. No one saw the ship sink and it was last seen floating upside down. The gale lasted for another 8 hours before it subsided and during this time many were downed being in a shocked and dazed condition…"
Three destroyers, the U.S.S. Spence, U.S.S. Hull and the U.S.S. Monaghan and a number of smaller vessels capsized and sank in the Philippine Sea from Typhoon Cobra.
Extensive searches of the area, conducted by many ships and aircraft on the 19th, 20th and 21st of December resulted in picking up few survivors from the lost destroyers: 7 officers and 55 men from the Hull, 1 officer and 23 men from the Spence, and 6 men from the Monaghan. A total of 790 lives were lost.
U.S., Navy Casualties List - Louisiana Dead: Barras, Sidney Theo, Radioman 3c, USNR. Parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Barras, Hackberry
Machinist's Mate, Third Class, U.S. Navy
Service # 5762540
United States Naval Reserve
Entered the Service from: Louisiana
Died: 18 December 1944, U.S.S. Spence (DD-512), Lost in the Philippine Sea about 240 miles east of the island of Luzon, Philippines
Disposition: Nonrecoverable
Son of H. John & Blanche Barras
Sidney T. Barras enlisted in the United States Navy on 31 October 1942 in Houston Texas. He was assigned to the USS Spence (DD-512), a Fletcher class destroyer and was first received on board on 11 January 1943.
WWII Navy Muster Roll
31 January 1943 U.S.S. Spence (DD 512) - S.2c Sidney T. BARRAS (5762540) Enlisted on 31 October 1942 in Houston Texas; V6 USNR received 11 January 1943 Rec. Sta., Boston, Mass.
31 March 1943, 30 June 1943 U.S.S. Spence (DD 512) - S2c Sidney T. BARRAS (5762540) Enlisted on 31 October 1942 in Houston Texas; Date first received on board 11 January 1943.
30 September 1943 U.S.S. Spence (DD 512) – S2c Sidney Theo BARRAS (5762540) Enlisted on 31 October 1942 in Houston Texas. Date first received on board 11 January 1943. V-6 USNR Change of Rating 01 September 1943, Rate changed from S2c to F3c, BuPers Manual.
30 November 1943 U.S.S. Spence (DD 512) – F3c Sidney Theo BARRAS (5762540) Enlisted on 31 October 1942 in Houston Texas. V-6 USNR Change of Rating 01 November 1943, Rate changed from F3c to F2c, Auth: BuPers C/L 110-43.
31 December 1943 U.S.S. Spence (DD 512) - F2c Sidney T. BARRAS (5762540) Enlisted on 31 October 1942 in Houston Texas; Date first received on board 11 January 1943.
31 January 1944 U.S.S. Spence (DD 512) - F2c Sidney Theo BARRAS (5762540) Enlisted on 31 October 1942 in Houston Texas; V-6 USNR Change of Rating 01 January 1944, Rate changed from F2c to F1c, Auth: BuPers C/L 205-43.
31 March 1944 U.S.S. Spence (DD 512) – F1c Sidney Theo BARRAS (5762540) Enlisted on 31 October 1942 in Houston Texas; Date first received on board 11 January 1943.
31 May 1944 U.S.S. Spence (DD 512) – F1c Sidney Theo BARRAS (5762540) Enlisted on 31 October 1942 in Houston Texas. V-6 USNR Change of Rating 01 May 1944, Rate changed from F1c to MM3c, Auth: BuPers C/L 77-44
30 June 1944 U.S.S. Spence (DD 512) – MM3c Sidney Theo BARRAS (5762540) Enlisted on 31 October 1942; Date first received on board 11 January 1943.
30 September 1944 U.S.S. Spence (DD 512) – MM3c Sidney Theo BARRAS (5762540) Date first received on board 11 January 1943.
*******************************************************************************
1944 - The U.S.S. Spence "screened the carriers in Philippine waters as they launched attacks against Luzon during November and the first part of December.
Lieutenant (jg) Alphonso Stephen Krauchunas, Supply Corps Officer, USNR, U.S.S.Spence narrative (sole surviving officer of the Spence):"…Our first operation was to conduct air strikes on Luzon and they were successful with little loss of personnel and damage. Our next operation was to aid in the support of the invasion of Mindoro on 14, 15 and 16 of December, 1944. Ours was to maintain aircraft over all the airfields on Luzon."
"On 17 December, U.S.S. Spence prepared to refuel and pumped out all of the salt water ballast from her tanks; but rough seas caused the fueling operation to be cancelled. The next day, the weather worsened and the storm turned into a major typhoon (Typhoon Cobra). As the ships wallowed in canyon-like troughs of brine, Spence's electrical equipment got wet from great quantities of sea water taken on board. After a 72 degree roll to port, all of the lights went out and the pumps stopped. The rudder jammed; and, after a deep roll to port about 1100, Spence capsized and sank. Only 24 of her complement survived."
http://destroyerhistory.org/assets/pdf/wilde/512spence_wilde.pdf
One eyewitness account speaks to the conditions that day.
"These destroyers were escorting the carriers, and they came out. We're trying to fuel them, and the seas are choppy; I mean, when I say choppy, they're twenty, twenty-five feet waves... They were going to move to another location and commence fueling in the morning again. Well, instead of taking us out of the typhoon they took us back into it. I'm talking about waves that were fifty and sixty feet high. Sometimes you'd see a destroyer, he'd be sitting up on top of a wave and the next time he would be down so low that you couldn't even see the mast. That's how deep the troughs were. There's no way those destroyers could fuel from the tankers."
"Then, about noon, the wind brutalizes her ..... SPENCE goes about the same time, but again the fleet unknowing. SPENCE is de-ballasted, light in fuel; she rides like a cork and is flung like a cork in the terrible canyon-like troughs. Power fails; the electrical board is shorted from the driven spray; the ship goes over 72° to port -- and stays there. The lights are out; the pumps are stopped -- the ship's heart dead before the body dies; she drifts derelict..." Source: http://www.patriotwatch.com/typhoon.htm
Lieutenant (jg) Alphonso Stephen Krauchunas, Supply Corps Officer, USNR, U.S.S.Spence narrative (sole surviving officer of the Spence):"On the 17th of December, 1944 a rendezvous for fueling was attempted but seas were too rough for the SPENCE to fuel and were ordered to proceed with several tankers and fuel on the 18th. They typhoon began its fury on the next day and it was impossible for an attempt to fuel. Orders were given to ballast at 0900 since the ship had only 12% fuel and was rolling heavily. These rolls exceeded 50°. At 1100, the power was gone due to water seeping into the fire room through vents. The ship was caught in the huge swells. The first huge swell rolled the ship 75° from which it recovered but the next one rolled her over trapping all those below the main deck, passageways, Radio shack, CIC, wardroom, etc. 50 to 60 men managed to get off into the water from their stations topside. They clutched to life rafts, floater nets, life jackets or whatever they managed to get a hold of. The wind blew them out of sight of the ship within a few minutes. No one saw the ship sink and it was last seen floating upside down. The gale lasted for another 8 hours before it subsided and during this time many were downed being in a shocked and dazed condition…"
Three destroyers, the U.S.S. Spence, U.S.S. Hull and the U.S.S. Monaghan and a number of smaller vessels capsized and sank in the Philippine Sea from Typhoon Cobra.
Extensive searches of the area, conducted by many ships and aircraft on the 19th, 20th and 21st of December resulted in picking up few survivors from the lost destroyers: 7 officers and 55 men from the Hull, 1 officer and 23 men from the Spence, and 6 men from the Monaghan. A total of 790 lives were lost.
U.S., Navy Casualties List - Louisiana Dead: Barras, Sidney Theo, Radioman 3c, USNR. Parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Barras, Hackberry
Sidney T. Barras
Machinist's Mate, Third Class, U.S. Navy
Service # 5762540
United States Naval Reserve
Entered the Service from: Louisiana
Died: 18 December 1944, U.S.S. Spence (DD-512), Lost in the Philippine Sea about 240 miles east of the island of Luzon, Philippines
Disposition: Nonrecoverable
Son of H. John & Blanche Barras
Sidney T. Barras enlisted in the United States Navy on 31 October 1942 in Houston Texas. He was assigned to the USS Spence (DD-512), a Fletcher class destroyer and was first received on board on 11 January 1943.
WWII Navy Muster Roll
31 January 1943 U.S.S. Spence (DD 512) - S.2c Sidney T. BARRAS (5762540) Enlisted on 31 October 1942 in Houston Texas; V6 USNR received 11 January 1943 Rec. Sta., Boston, Mass.
31 March 1943, 30 June 1943 U.S.S. Spence (DD 512) - S2c Sidney T. BARRAS (5762540) Enlisted on 31 October 1942 in Houston Texas; Date first received on board 11 January 1943.
30 September 1943 U.S.S. Spence (DD 512) – S2c Sidney Theo BARRAS (5762540) Enlisted on 31 October 1942 in Houston Texas. Date first received on board 11 January 1943. V-6 USNR Change of Rating 01 September 1943, Rate changed from S2c to F3c, BuPers Manual.
30 November 1943 U.S.S. Spence (DD 512) – F3c Sidney Theo BARRAS (5762540) Enlisted on 31 October 1942 in Houston Texas. V-6 USNR Change of Rating 01 November 1943, Rate changed from F3c to F2c, Auth: BuPers C/L 110-43.
31 December 1943 U.S.S. Spence (DD 512) - F2c Sidney T. BARRAS (5762540) Enlisted on 31 October 1942 in Houston Texas; Date first received on board 11 January 1943.
31 January 1944 U.S.S. Spence (DD 512) - F2c Sidney Theo BARRAS (5762540) Enlisted on 31 October 1942 in Houston Texas; V-6 USNR Change of Rating 01 January 1944, Rate changed from F2c to F1c, Auth: BuPers C/L 205-43.
31 March 1944 U.S.S. Spence (DD 512) – F1c Sidney Theo BARRAS (5762540) Enlisted on 31 October 1942 in Houston Texas; Date first received on board 11 January 1943.
31 May 1944 U.S.S. Spence (DD 512) – F1c Sidney Theo BARRAS (5762540) Enlisted on 31 October 1942 in Houston Texas. V-6 USNR Change of Rating 01 May 1944, Rate changed from F1c to MM3c, Auth: BuPers C/L 77-44
30 June 1944 U.S.S. Spence (DD 512) – MM3c Sidney Theo BARRAS (5762540) Enlisted on 31 October 1942; Date first received on board 11 January 1943.
30 September 1944 U.S.S. Spence (DD 512) – MM3c Sidney Theo BARRAS (5762540) Date first received on board 11 January 1943.
*******************************************************************************
1944 - The U.S.S. Spence "screened the carriers in Philippine waters as they launched attacks against Luzon during November and the first part of December.
Lieutenant (jg) Alphonso Stephen Krauchunas, Supply Corps Officer, USNR, U.S.S.Spence narrative (sole surviving officer of the Spence):"…Our first operation was to conduct air strikes on Luzon and they were successful with little loss of personnel and damage. Our next operation was to aid in the support of the invasion of Mindoro on 14, 15 and 16 of December, 1944. Ours was to maintain aircraft over all the airfields on Luzon."
"On 17 December, U.S.S. Spence prepared to refuel and pumped out all of the salt water ballast from her tanks; but rough seas caused the fueling operation to be cancelled. The next day, the weather worsened and the storm turned into a major typhoon (Typhoon Cobra). As the ships wallowed in canyon-like troughs of brine, Spence's electrical equipment got wet from great quantities of sea water taken on board. After a 72 degree roll to port, all of the lights went out and the pumps stopped. The rudder jammed; and, after a deep roll to port about 1100, Spence capsized and sank. Only 24 of her complement survived."
http://destroyerhistory.org/assets/pdf/wilde/512spence_wilde.pdf
One eyewitness account speaks to the conditions that day.
"These destroyers were escorting the carriers, and they came out. We're trying to fuel them, and the seas are choppy; I mean, when I say choppy, they're twenty, twenty-five feet waves... They were going to move to another location and commence fueling in the morning again. Well, instead of taking us out of the typhoon they took us back into it. I'm talking about waves that were fifty and sixty feet high. Sometimes you'd see a destroyer, he'd be sitting up on top of a wave and the next time he would be down so low that you couldn't even see the mast. That's how deep the troughs were. There's no way those destroyers could fuel from the tankers."
"Then, about noon, the wind brutalizes her ..... SPENCE goes about the same time, but again the fleet unknowing. SPENCE is de-ballasted, light in fuel; she rides like a cork and is flung like a cork in the terrible canyon-like troughs. Power fails; the electrical board is shorted from the driven spray; the ship goes over 72° to port -- and stays there. The lights are out; the pumps are stopped -- the ship's heart dead before the body dies; she drifts derelict..." Source: http://www.patriotwatch.com/typhoon.htm
Lieutenant (jg) Alphonso Stephen Krauchunas, Supply Corps Officer, USNR, U.S.S.Spence narrative (sole surviving officer of the Spence):"On the 17th of December, 1944 a rendezvous for fueling was attempted but seas were too rough for the SPENCE to fuel and were ordered to proceed with several tankers and fuel on the 18th. They typhoon began its fury on the next day and it was impossible for an attempt to fuel. Orders were given to ballast at 0900 since the ship had only 12% fuel and was rolling heavily. These rolls exceeded 50°. At 1100, the power was gone due to water seeping into the fire room through vents. The ship was caught in the huge swells. The first huge swell rolled the ship 75° from which it recovered but the next one rolled her over trapping all those below the main deck, passageways, Radio shack, CIC, wardroom, etc. 50 to 60 men managed to get off into the water from their stations topside. They clutched to life rafts, floater nets, life jackets or whatever they managed to get a hold of. The wind blew them out of sight of the ship within a few minutes. No one saw the ship sink and it was last seen floating upside down. The gale lasted for another 8 hours before it subsided and during this time many were downed being in a shocked and dazed condition…"
Three destroyers, the U.S.S. Spence, U.S.S. Hull and the U.S.S. Monaghan and a number of smaller vessels capsized and sank in the Philippine Sea from Typhoon Cobra.
Extensive searches of the area, conducted by many ships and aircraft on the 19th, 20th and 21st of December resulted in picking up few survivors from the lost destroyers: 7 officers and 55 men from the Hull, 1 officer and 23 men from the Spence, and 6 men from the Monaghan. A total of 790 lives were lost.
U.S., Navy Casualties List - Louisiana Dead: Barras, Sidney Theo, Radioman 3c, USNR. Parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Barras, Hackberry
Machinist's Mate, Third Class, U.S. Navy
Service # 5762540
United States Naval Reserve
Entered the Service from: Louisiana
Died: 18 December 1944, U.S.S. Spence (DD-512), Lost in the Philippine Sea about 240 miles east of the island of Luzon, Philippines
Disposition: Nonrecoverable
Son of H. John & Blanche Barras
Sidney T. Barras enlisted in the United States Navy on 31 October 1942 in Houston Texas. He was assigned to the USS Spence (DD-512), a Fletcher class destroyer and was first received on board on 11 January 1943.
WWII Navy Muster Roll
31 January 1943 U.S.S. Spence (DD 512) - S.2c Sidney T. BARRAS (5762540) Enlisted on 31 October 1942 in Houston Texas; V6 USNR received 11 January 1943 Rec. Sta., Boston, Mass.
31 March 1943, 30 June 1943 U.S.S. Spence (DD 512) - S2c Sidney T. BARRAS (5762540) Enlisted on 31 October 1942 in Houston Texas; Date first received on board 11 January 1943.
30 September 1943 U.S.S. Spence (DD 512) – S2c Sidney Theo BARRAS (5762540) Enlisted on 31 October 1942 in Houston Texas. Date first received on board 11 January 1943. V-6 USNR Change of Rating 01 September 1943, Rate changed from S2c to F3c, BuPers Manual.
30 November 1943 U.S.S. Spence (DD 512) – F3c Sidney Theo BARRAS (5762540) Enlisted on 31 October 1942 in Houston Texas. V-6 USNR Change of Rating 01 November 1943, Rate changed from F3c to F2c, Auth: BuPers C/L 110-43.
31 December 1943 U.S.S. Spence (DD 512) - F2c Sidney T. BARRAS (5762540) Enlisted on 31 October 1942 in Houston Texas; Date first received on board 11 January 1943.
31 January 1944 U.S.S. Spence (DD 512) - F2c Sidney Theo BARRAS (5762540) Enlisted on 31 October 1942 in Houston Texas; V-6 USNR Change of Rating 01 January 1944, Rate changed from F2c to F1c, Auth: BuPers C/L 205-43.
31 March 1944 U.S.S. Spence (DD 512) – F1c Sidney Theo BARRAS (5762540) Enlisted on 31 October 1942 in Houston Texas; Date first received on board 11 January 1943.
31 May 1944 U.S.S. Spence (DD 512) – F1c Sidney Theo BARRAS (5762540) Enlisted on 31 October 1942 in Houston Texas. V-6 USNR Change of Rating 01 May 1944, Rate changed from F1c to MM3c, Auth: BuPers C/L 77-44
30 June 1944 U.S.S. Spence (DD 512) – MM3c Sidney Theo BARRAS (5762540) Enlisted on 31 October 1942; Date first received on board 11 January 1943.
30 September 1944 U.S.S. Spence (DD 512) – MM3c Sidney Theo BARRAS (5762540) Date first received on board 11 January 1943.
*******************************************************************************
1944 - The U.S.S. Spence "screened the carriers in Philippine waters as they launched attacks against Luzon during November and the first part of December.
Lieutenant (jg) Alphonso Stephen Krauchunas, Supply Corps Officer, USNR, U.S.S.Spence narrative (sole surviving officer of the Spence):"…Our first operation was to conduct air strikes on Luzon and they were successful with little loss of personnel and damage. Our next operation was to aid in the support of the invasion of Mindoro on 14, 15 and 16 of December, 1944. Ours was to maintain aircraft over all the airfields on Luzon."
"On 17 December, U.S.S. Spence prepared to refuel and pumped out all of the salt water ballast from her tanks; but rough seas caused the fueling operation to be cancelled. The next day, the weather worsened and the storm turned into a major typhoon (Typhoon Cobra). As the ships wallowed in canyon-like troughs of brine, Spence's electrical equipment got wet from great quantities of sea water taken on board. After a 72 degree roll to port, all of the lights went out and the pumps stopped. The rudder jammed; and, after a deep roll to port about 1100, Spence capsized and sank. Only 24 of her complement survived."
http://destroyerhistory.org/assets/pdf/wilde/512spence_wilde.pdf
One eyewitness account speaks to the conditions that day.
"These destroyers were escorting the carriers, and they came out. We're trying to fuel them, and the seas are choppy; I mean, when I say choppy, they're twenty, twenty-five feet waves... They were going to move to another location and commence fueling in the morning again. Well, instead of taking us out of the typhoon they took us back into it. I'm talking about waves that were fifty and sixty feet high. Sometimes you'd see a destroyer, he'd be sitting up on top of a wave and the next time he would be down so low that you couldn't even see the mast. That's how deep the troughs were. There's no way those destroyers could fuel from the tankers."
"Then, about noon, the wind brutalizes her ..... SPENCE goes about the same time, but again the fleet unknowing. SPENCE is de-ballasted, light in fuel; she rides like a cork and is flung like a cork in the terrible canyon-like troughs. Power fails; the electrical board is shorted from the driven spray; the ship goes over 72° to port -- and stays there. The lights are out; the pumps are stopped -- the ship's heart dead before the body dies; she drifts derelict..." Source: http://www.patriotwatch.com/typhoon.htm
Lieutenant (jg) Alphonso Stephen Krauchunas, Supply Corps Officer, USNR, U.S.S.Spence narrative (sole surviving officer of the Spence):"On the 17th of December, 1944 a rendezvous for fueling was attempted but seas were too rough for the SPENCE to fuel and were ordered to proceed with several tankers and fuel on the 18th. They typhoon began its fury on the next day and it was impossible for an attempt to fuel. Orders were given to ballast at 0900 since the ship had only 12% fuel and was rolling heavily. These rolls exceeded 50°. At 1100, the power was gone due to water seeping into the fire room through vents. The ship was caught in the huge swells. The first huge swell rolled the ship 75° from which it recovered but the next one rolled her over trapping all those below the main deck, passageways, Radio shack, CIC, wardroom, etc. 50 to 60 men managed to get off into the water from their stations topside. They clutched to life rafts, floater nets, life jackets or whatever they managed to get a hold of. The wind blew them out of sight of the ship within a few minutes. No one saw the ship sink and it was last seen floating upside down. The gale lasted for another 8 hours before it subsided and during this time many were downed being in a shocked and dazed condition…"
Three destroyers, the U.S.S. Spence, U.S.S. Hull and the U.S.S. Monaghan and a number of smaller vessels capsized and sank in the Philippine Sea from Typhoon Cobra.
Extensive searches of the area, conducted by many ships and aircraft on the 19th, 20th and 21st of December resulted in picking up few survivors from the lost destroyers: 7 officers and 55 men from the Hull, 1 officer and 23 men from the Spence, and 6 men from the Monaghan. A total of 790 lives were lost.
U.S., Navy Casualties List - Louisiana Dead: Barras, Sidney Theo, Radioman 3c, USNR. Parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Barras, Hackberry
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from Louisiana.
Family Members
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