Battle of Empress Augusta Bay Part III

At dawn when the two FOOTE Torpedomen, Jim Delaney and Hayden Sensenig, left their Battle Station in the “blast shield” on the No. 2 Torpedo Mount they noticed the ship’s flag down on the Torpedo Tubes and realized there was a body wrapped in it. On investigation they discovered the body of Harvard S. Mix, Radar Technician 2/c. Mix had been blown from his Battle Station on the fantail over 5-inch Gun #5, #4 and #3 (approx. 160-ft.) and landed on the flagstaff on the No. 2 stack. The staff bent down leaving him lying on the No. 2 Torpedo Tubes wrapped in the flag. He was put in a standard green fire-resistant mattress cover and placed in the ship’s “reefer” for burial later. Mix was the first and only victim found until the ship reached Purvis Bay, Florida Island, Solomon Islands.

Mix had reported aboard the FOOTE at Purvis Bay on October 23rd - just three days before Task Group 39 sortied for the prelude to the Battle of Empress Augusta Bay. He had been aboard only eight days - hardly anyone knew him, but he may have been the only individual in WW-II to have died in battle literally wrapped in the flag. Too bad those who, 60-years later, choose to burn the flag could not witness that scene at dawn on November 2, 1943.

At 0625 the THATCHER moved in close alongside to starboard and took the FOOTE in tow.

The CHARLES AUSBURNE and CLAXTON commenced patrolling around the ship. The THATCHER towing cable was secured to the FOOTE’S Starboard anchor chain, veered to 20-fathoms and stopped on deck at the two towing pads. Slack was out of the tow-line and the tow was underway at 0638 - forward speed was 4-knots.

At 0750 the Radar screen broke out in a rash of aerial pips. It looked like a blizzard coming down from the Jap fortress at Rabul. Fifteen friendly planes showed up from the “Cactus Air Force” in response to a call for CAP (Combat Air Patrol). At 0800 the enemy aircraft were visible and consisted of an estimated 60-80 aircraft. The attacking group of Japanese aircraft were identified as VALS (Dive Bombers), Bettys (Twin Engine Bombers) and Zeros (Fighters). Several VALS headed for the FOOTE and her escorts and the THATCHR, CLAXTON, AUSBURNE and FOOTE opened fire with their Main Batteries (two forward 5-inch only on the FOOTE) - the FOOTE fired 20-rounds of 5”AA Common - seventeen 5-inch guns discouraged the Japs from pressing their attack and they veered away and joined in the effort against the main body of the Task Force with the four Cruisers about two miles ahead of the FOOTE and her group. The CAP splashed five Japs, but the bulk of the defense fell to the ship’s weary gun crews and they did very well. Of the sixty or so planes that actually attacked the main group perhaps two dozen were shot down (17-confirmed) and the Japs landed only two hits on the Cruiser MONTPLIER with light damage and wounding only one man.

The Battle of Empress Augusta Bay and the aerial epilogue was over. On the sea and in the air the Japs had taken a colossal thrashing.

The USS SIOUX AT-75 (a 1,450-ton, 3,000 H.P. Sea-Going Tug) approached the FOOTE from the starboard beam with orders to take the tow from the THATCHER. At 0903 the tow line was unshackled from the THATCHER and she joined the other patrolling destroyers. The tow line was secured to SIOUX at 0928. The damaged area of the ship was observed very closely as the towing speed was increased to 9-knots. The FOOTE’S head remained parallel to the SIOUX, but the ship stayed about 10-degrees on the port quarter of the tug. This is probably due to the underwater irregularly of the ship’s skin in the damaged area. The ship secured from G.Q. at 0940; set Condition II Mike; material Condition Baker.

Pumping was continued on the flooded compartments with considerable difficulty due to the pump suctions being stopped up with floating bedding and clothing. A screened intake was devised from the expanded metal holders of the Floater Nets. Bedding and clothing that could be reached and pulled out was dumped overboard.

Making good headway. At 1650 the Shortland Island is abeam to port - distance 30-miles. The USS CHARLES AUSBURNE left the FOOTE escort group to rejoin Task Group 39. Passed Mono Island, abeam to port, at 2018 - distance about 5-miles.

After midnight on November 2nd the seas and wind increased. By dawn on the 3rd the seas were about condition two with the wind about 8-knots. There was a definite increase in the ship’s motion so the course was changed to proceed through Blanche Channel in smoother waters. While in the channel, advantage was taken of the placid water conditions to burn away about 75 square feet of the up-turned main deck, including the top-side ventilation motor and duct at frame 195 starboard.

In response to a routine radio signal - usually sent to a ship returning after battle damage - from the base at Purvis Bay in preparation for FOOTE’S arrival was : “ What do you require?” The reply was, “SLEEP”.

At 0359 the FOOTE tow passed Simbo Island to port - distance 5-miles. Boiler No. 1 and No. 2 are on line for auxiliary purposes. Passed Russell Island at 0415 abeam to starboard - distance 8-miles. Made daily inspection of magazines, ready boxes and smokeless powder samples. All aft magazines are flooded - conditions in the forward magazines are normal. Passed Savo Island at 1015 abeam to starboard - distance 3-miles..

Two miles from the entrance to Purvis Bay the towing cable was made slack and disconnected from the SIOUX - they took the cable in. She then came about to the port side of the FOOTE and made lines fast for handling the ship in the harbor. This maneuver took only 17-minutes before FOOTE was underway again. The SIOUX sailors know their business. Passed through the submarine nets at 1355 and tied up starboard side to THATCHER nested with the CONY and WHITNEY in Berth # 20, Purvis Bay, Florida Island. Although there were many doubts in the past two and a half days - FOOTE will live to fight again.

The remains of Harvard S. Mix RT/2c was transferred to the U.S. Naval Base Hospital No. 7 in preparation for burial ashore.

With help of specialist from the Destroyer Tender USS WHITNEY and an all hands effort from the FOOTE crew, the salvage and battle damage repairs reached a feverish pitch. The primary objective was to recover any casualties that remain in the flooded compartments. With additional pumps from the WHITNEY, the methodical process of removing debris, ammunition, powder canisters and savable materials so leaks could be stopped with wooden wedges, where practical, was moving forward on a 24-hour schedule. Compartments were tightened until leakage did not exceed 50-gallons an hour. Only two additional identifiable men were found: Dennis E. Bleasdale F3/c and Aaeon J. Blue Stm2/c. They, like Mix, were removed to U.S. Naval Hospital No.7 at Tulagi to prepare for internment ashore. Lt. Edgar H. Forrest was in charge of the burial detail on the beach.

On November 6th five torpedoes were removed and the barrel from 5-inch gun No. 4 and No. 5 was removed. All unsafe ammunition recovered was thrown over the side and any ammunition that appeared in salvageable condition was turned over to the Naval Advanced Base, Tulagi. Both of the 5-inch gun barrels were used to replace damaged barrels on the Cruiser COLUMBIA.

Divers from the WHITNEY used under-water carbon-arc torches to cut off the starboard shaft - the stern rose six inches. On November 11th the USS ARISTAEUS (Repair Ship - Battle Damage in forward areas) came alongside and cutting off the port shaft was commenced just aft of the port stuffing box. The shaft broke and a shackle on the lifting gear snapped. The shaft was too heavy for the remaining suspension and fell to the bottom of the bay - the stern rose five inches. The ARISTAEUS removed 5-inch Gun Mount #5 for transportation back to the states - the stern rose another six inches.

The compartments were cleaned with diesel oil and all electrical wiring removed in preparation to shore-up bulkheads. On November 14th workers commenced welding bulkhead stiffeners to make the ship seaworthy.

By the middle of November it was obvious no additional casualties would be found, so the Captain scheduled a Memorial Service on board for all hands at 1600 on November 20th. All hands but those on watch attended.

Salvage and repair work continued, but with more consideration for the crew. With the battle damage and flooding of all the aft crew berthing compartments, 189 of the crew had only the clothes they were wearing when the ship was hit - no personal razor, tooth brush or soap. These problems were solved by the Ship Service on the FOOTE or aboard the Destroyer Tender WHITNEY. The matter of not having a bunk didn’t bother those displaced, because it was too hot below for comfortable sleeping, so they just found a favorite spot topside on the deck - using their life jacket for a pillow. With the proximity to land and the ship not underway, the mosquitoes and other unknown insects from the island were in abundance and very bothersome. When a rain squall appeared there was considerable scurrying about for cover, but most everyone already had their foul-weather spot picked out. During a shower there were sleeping bodies on the mess tables, Fire Room and Engine Room grates, Main Battery Director Barbet or the deck in any space where they would not be disturbed.

Salvage and repair continued until November 22nd. All compartments that had been flooded were cleaned and all material removed. The main deck and sides as well as athwartships bulkheads had been stiffened. Preparations were being made for a tow to Espiritu Santos, New Hebrides for further battle damage repairs in drydock before braving the Pacific for the return trip to the United States. The FOOTE departed Purvis Bay on November 23rd towed by the USS BOBOLINK ATO-131 in company with the destroyer SELFRIDGE.

The USS SELFRIDGE DD-357 (a Porter Class Destroyer) had everything blown off forward of the bridge in a running battle with some Jap destroyers. What an odd sight - an old WW-I auxiliary tug towing the FOOTE and a crippled destroyer for an escort. Guess it made sense - the FOOTE still had working Sonor with her bow undamaged and the SELFRIDGE had her depth charge racks and K-guns in case of a submarine contact. At least, that was the Navy’s logic.

(USS FOOTE War Diary, USS FOOTE Deck Log and USS DENVER War Diary) .