THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, September 13, 1995 TAG: 9509130423
SECTION: MILITARY NEWS PAGE: A10 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MELISSA GUNDEL, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 53 lines
Who was the USS Whitehurst named after?
I answered a question a couple of weeks ago concerning the Whitehurst and received this follow-up question concerning the destroyer escort. The Whitehurst was named after Henry Purefoy Whitehurst Jr., born in New Bern, N.C., in 1920. Whitehurst served as a junior watch and division officer for the heavy cruiser Astoria as that ship participated in the Battles of the Coral Sea and Midway. Astoria was destroyed in the Battle of Savo Island on Aug. 9, 1942. Ensign Whitehurst died in the battle. The destroyer escort's keel was laid down on March 21, 1943, by the Bethelehem Steel Co. in San Francisco.
Is there a publication that lists ships reunions?
Yes. The most widely circulated magazine listing ship reunions is All Hands Magazine. It's an internal Navy publication designed for sailors worldwide. Another magazine listing reunions is the Navy Times, which has a worldwide circulation. It is put out by Army Times Publishing in Washington, D.C. It's available by subscription for $52 per year. It is also available in the Navy Exchange.
What city and state is the Army Aviational Training School located?
I assume you are talking about the larger of the two schools - the U.S. Army Aviation Center. The center is located in Fort Rucker, Ala. The Aviation Logistics School is another training center and is practically at our back door - Fort Eustis.
How do you get a hold of the master chief petty officer of the Coast Guard to write him a letter or call him?
Write to the master chief petty officer at the U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters, 2100 2nd St. S.W., Washington, D.C., 20593-0001. Or call 202-267-2397.
I was wondering if I could get some information about the ship my brother was on. It was the USS O'Brien. It was torpeded in the 1940s. We would appreciate any information.
The destroyer O'Brien was laid down at Boston Navy Yard on May 31, 1938, and was commissioned March 2, 1940. Throughout 1940 and 1941, the ship operated along the eastern seaboard. She earned one battle star during World War II. On Sept. 15, 1942, while performing escort duty and acting as patrol and plane guard at Pearl Harbor, a torpedo hit the ship's port bow. The explosion did little local damage, but set up severe structural stresses through the ship. Repairs were made and she continued to sail. The ship's leaking worsened and on Oct. 19, the bottom gave way and the ship went down. The crew was saved. The ship managed to travel close to 3000 miles after being torpedoed. by CNB