| I (Peter) received a phone call from a gentleman named Alvin who is a survivor of the USS Yorktown CV-5. He was rescued by my ship the USS Hughes DD-410. I have no words to describe how I felt when he told me this and we agreed to meet November 26, 2000 at a restaurant in a near by town. Without any input from me he began to tell me his story and what he had witnessed in regards to the Yorktown..He said he was on the main deck, at the break of the focs'le deck on the Hughes, huddled with other shipmates, crying as the Yorktown slid under the sea. He said she went under "bow first", with a slight list to port. I could not believe what I was hearing.I still had not said anything to him and gave him no input, I wanted his memories to be true. |
| Yorktown Survivor's Story |
| When he was done I showed him a picture from the US Navy History Department (NH95575) and asked him if it reminded him of any event that took place during the Battle of Midway. He said "no". |
| I then explained to him that the history department claims this is a picture of the Yorktown, rolled over, before going under. His response was "no way". He commented again, she went under "bow first" with a slight list to port; indicating with his hand how she went under. |
| I then showed him the drawing my grand-daughter (in-law) did for me showing how the Yorktown went under. He said that is how she went under. |
| At this point emotions took over, Alvin broke down and cried, I wiped tears from my cheeks. This was such a momentous moment for me and another affirmation to how I saw the Yorktown go under at the Battle of Midway. (see Two Midway stories...Herbert & Reflections) About a week later Alvin & I went to a notary public to have his written statement of what he saw notarized. |
| Copyright 2003 - Peter E. Karetka |
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| TABLE OF CONTENTS |
| GUESTBOOK |
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| Credits: Thank you |
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