| Also on the 5th of June the Verio arrived on the scene to tow the Yorktown away. On June 6th, the destroyer U.S.S. Hammann DD-412 was now along side the Yorktown for salvage. I was standing watch on the starboard wing, I noticed torpedo wakes heading for both ships. I ran to the pilothouse to warn the destroyer over the TBS, but a call was already going out warning them of the torpedoes approaching. I rushed back to witness the hits. The Hammann's crew was prepared for such an emergency, but the alarm came too late. I watched as a crewman on the focs'le was chopping away at a mooring line. The destroyer must have gone into emergency astern, reacting to the call. With some mooring lines still attached to the carrier, this caused the stern to dig in, creating a backwash of water onto the stern, giving the appearance of sinking stern first. The destroyer did not go down stern first at any time. When she tilted bow down for the plunge, it was immediate. Gone. We were in so close to the Hammann that when her depth charges went off, it raised our stern. The Hughes was part of the attacking group on the Japanese submarine I-168 whose Commander was Tanabe. The submarine, damaged from the depth charges, had to surface for a second time. The sub had smoke pouring from it. Our captain said, "It is getting dark. We better get back to the group." Disgust took over the bridge. We made a cowardly retreat, leaving a damaged Japanese submarine to survive. Commander Tanabe brought the damaged sub back to Japan and was given a hero's welcome. Later, getting a new command, he damaged a U.S. Navy cruiser, putting it out of commission for over a year. |
| I have read some of Mr. Tanabe's writings on this incident. He questions the fact that the U.S. Naval surface ships left his damaged submarine. |
| Copyright 2000 - Peter E. Karetka |
| As we were making this cowardly retreat back to the group, I answered a call by light from the carrier group. The message said, "Stay with the carrier. Do not let it fall into enemy hands. Sink her if necessary. Good luck." At this point I said to myself, "Thanks a lot you bastards, another night alone with the carrier." During this time period of June 4th - June 7th, we received two separate messages on two separate days, worded differently, to stay with the carrier. On June 7, 1942 at 06:59 the U.S.S. Yorktown slid gracefully, like a lady, beneath the waves. No dive, no gurgle, no foamy froth, no plume of water or screws showing. A sad but proud moment for me. The battle flag of my country, was fully unfurled, proudly showing her colors, as she picked up speed in her final moments. At this point, tears flowed down my cheeks. I looked around and thought to myself, "This is a God damn big ocean." |
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| TABLE OF CONTENTS |
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| GUESTBOOK |
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| Credits: Thank You |
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