Volunteer extraordinare Jack Bretherton

Our volunteer profile for November is on Jack Bretherton. Jack was born and raised in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania. His parents signed papers for him his junior year in high school allowing him to join the United States Navy in 1943. After boot camp at Bainbridge, Maryland, he was sent to electrician mates school where he graduated with the rank of 3rd class Petty Officer. Jack didn’t realize that this distinction would keep him out of galley and laundry and other duties normally assigned to junior enlisted personnel.

Leaving school he received orders to the USS Janseen, DE-396, seen at right.

USS Janseen DE-396

Jack served for 14 months on her in the Atlantic theater. Janseen served in several hunter killer groups defending convoys in the Atlantic, attacking and sinking German U-boats.

In 1945 Jack was transferred to the USS Haven AH-12 seen below. Both of Jack’s ships received Presidential Unit Citations (PUCs) during the war and so he is one of very few Navy personnel to have campaign ribbons from Atlantic and Pacific theaters of action and two PUCs from his service.

USS Haven AH-12

After conclusion of hostilities, the Haven received orders to the Japanese port city of Nagasaki to process Japanese prisoners of war (POWs).While there Jack received a tour of the devastated city. He said the images of destruction were truly amazing.

Mushroom cloud over Nagasaki, 09 August 1945

Jack recieved his discharge from the Navy on 21 April 1946, which just happened to be his 21st birthday!

He returned to high school, but didn’t use his GI Bill until he entered the University of Virginia in 1948, graduating with a degree in Economics in 1951. Jack went to work for a large manufacturing company outside Philadelphia, where he eventually became their purchasing agent and manufacturing representative. Jack worked several other jobs and retired several times, before eventually moving south to Mount Pleasant, South Carolina in 1994/5.

He was recruited as a volunteer for Patriots Point in 1994/5 by Don Zieglar and has been a steady and faithful guide for thousands of our guests! Thank you Jack! Patriots Point salutes you!

From 07 November to 14 November there will be a plethora of events to celebrate and commemorate Veteran’s Day at Patriots Point, below is the schedule for Veteran’s Day week.

Saturday, November 7

Living History Groups onboard the ships at Patriots Point

Vintage Vehicles from the SC Military Vehicle Preservation Club on display, landside 9:00am until 4:00pm

VFW and Wando High ROTC will be in the pavilion area for “Buddy Poppies” 10:00am – 1:00pm

Sunday, November 8th

Vintage Military Vehicles from Patriots Point will participate in the Charleston Veteran’s Parade @ 2:00 pm, landside Dress Line Up @ 10:30am at Patriots Point

Tuesday, November 10th

Recognition of the US Marine Corp Anniversary

Wednesday, November 11th

“Welcome Veterans” – Converse with a Curator and Displays on WWI, Hangar Bay III 9:00am until 4:00pm

Submarine Vets Memorial Dedication Ceremony -the new WWII Submarine Veterans memorial will be dedicated at the Submarine Cold War Memorial site on Patriots Point by the United States Submarine Veterans Incorporated (USSVI) Charleston Base at 2:00pm.

Saturday, November 14th

Honor Events – Honor Welcome/Honor Landing/Honor Briefing, Hangar Bay I and Hangar Bay III on the Yorktown.

Invitation Only @ 11:00am

Public @ 12 noon

Patriots Point Living History Detachment & Military Vintage Vehicle Display – Converse with a Curator and Displays on WWI,
9:00am until 4:00pm, landside and shipside

Admission and Parking Information

Normal Admission and Parking Fees and Hours apply for all scheduled events Saturday, the 7th through Tuesday, the 10th.

Wednesday, the 11th

Veterans and one guest are admitted free of charge. All others, normal admission fees apply.  Normal Parking fees apply all day.  Guest should state they are a Veteran for free admission.

Saturday, the 14th “Honor Events”

EVERYONE receives free admission from 9am until 12noon. After 12 noon, normal admission fees apply.  Normal parking fees apply all day.

Invitation Only                Honor Welcome (Guest list or invitation) 11:00 – 11:45am

Open to the Public          Honor Landing Ceremony 12:00 – 12:30pm

Open to the Public          Honor Briefing (Meet and Greet with Invited WWII Vets) 12:30 – 1:30pm

The Laffey was visited by State Senator Glenn McConnell, Patriots Point Chairman John Hagerty, boardmember Susan Marlowe and executive director Dick Trammel this week. They observed progress on the restoration of Laffey’s hull integrity. See below of pictures from their visit…

Senator McConnell and PPDA Chairman Hagerty listen to Detyen's shipyard workers explain their work.

Executive director Dick Trammel inspects repairs on the bow of Laffey.

Senator McConnell closely inspects the work on Laffey's hull.

Work on the aft portions of Laffey shows much progress in restoring her hull integrity.

Cub scouts assembled on the aft end of the flight deck for flag program.

Over twenty Cub Scouts and their parents assembled on the aft flightdeck of Yorktown on 21 October to learn about the United States national flag, what the colors, stripes and stars stood for. They also learned to stand at attention and the proper presentation of the colors, how to raise and fold the flag, and how to serve as a color guard and master of ceremonies for presentation and retiring of the flag. It was a windy program, but the flag did not get away from the scouts. Pack 59’s tiger den led by Den Leader Bobby Cummings arranged for the trip and the cubs were able to complete several of their scouting requirements for advancement. Great job scouts!

Cubs under the national flag as the sun sets on historic Charleston.

A contingent of the United States Seagoing Marine Association boarded Yorktown for a reunion on Wednesday, 21 October. They are Marines who served on ships at sea.  In the picture below are six former Marines who served onboard the USS Yorktown pictured in the Marine Detachment spaces on the 2nd deck of Yorktown (CV-10), from right to left are: Richard “Dick” Wilson from Ohio (1956-57 service), Ron Dirkes from Oregon (1956-57), Ray DeGroot from Illinois (1956-57), Robert Sollon from Virginia (1965-67), Ed Zastrow from Alaska (1956-57) and George Bliss from California (1956-58).

Seagoing Marines who served proudly on the USS Yorktown, CV-10.

Dick Wilson told me one story of when they were in the Formosa Straits during the tense days of the standoff with the Red Chinese. The Seventh Fleet commander was Vice Admiral Wallace M. Beakley (seen below). One day the admiral asked his Marine orderly, “Corporal, how many Marines are on the Yorktown?” The corporal answered, “Ninety-two Marines, sir!” “How many sailors are on the Yorktown, corporal?” “Over 3000, sir!” “How do the Marines get along with that many sailors?” “Sir, the sailors have to get along with us!”

(From Life Magazine)

Thanks to our seagoing Marines for their service at sea, Semper Fi!

Fourteen former Yorktown crewmembers met with visiting guests and scouts this past Saturday, 03 October. The crewmembers included Ed Branning, Ben Couillard, Robert Dorsey, Les Hakes, Ed Hewitt, Dennis Hite, Bill Lahnen, Al Larivee, Art “Chico” Leach, Jesse Rodriguez, Wally Schuldt, Fred Springer, Harold Syfrett, and Daniel Vitt. They enjoyed a steady stream of guests and scouts from 10 AM until well after 2 PM, signing USS Yorktown posters and talking about their past adventures and service while onboard the USS Yorktown (CV-10). It was a wonderful experience for all and we look forward to the Yorktown Association’s reunion every first week in October.  Fair winds, following seas and see you next year shipmates!

Former crewmembers of the USS Yorktown began arriving today for their 62nd Reunion! The first reunion was 15 April 1948 (5th anniversary of  CV-10’s commissioning) in New York City at Ruppert’s Brewery.  The guests of honor were Rear Admiral “Jocko” Clark (1st commanding officer) and Rear Admiral R. R. Walker (1st executive officer).

The first Yorktown Association meeting on 15 April 1948 in New York City.

Along with festivities and dinner aboard Yorktown, several crew members will participate in a “Meet and Greet” session this Saturday, 10 October, from 10 AM to 1 PM in Hangar Bay 1. They will meet and tell stories to our visitors, pictures are allowed and they will hand out autographed posters of the USS Yorktown to our guests (supply limited, so come early). Don’t miss this opportunity to talk with carrier sailors and pilots from the 1940’s and 50’s!!!

USS Yorktown launching her airgroup.

05 October 1943 was a day of “Firsts” for the United States Navy. It was the first use of multiple carrier groups in battle with the use of three new Essex carriers (Essex CV-9, Yorktown CV-10, Lexington CV-16) and three smaller carriers against Japanese forces on Wake Island and marked the first combat kill of a Zero by a Hellcat (F-6F) flown by Ensign Robert Duncan of VF-5 (read his story here) from the USS Yorktown (CV-10). Ensign Duncan would become the Yorktown’s first fighter ace on 16 February 1944.

Ensign Robert Duncan of VF-5 flying off of USS Yorktown CV-10.

Captain Robert Duncan, USN (Retired) with future naval aviator in 2007.

Lessons learned from operating the carriers as a single group of six, as two groups of three, and as three groups of two, provided the basis for many tactics which later characterized carrier task force operations in the Pacific.

Unfortunately, the successful raid on Wake Island in October 1943 would lead to the infamous Wake Island massacre. Read about it here…

The Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center Welcome Home 2009 event for Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom Veterans will be held aboard the USS Yorktown at Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum, Sept. 30, from 2—7 p.m. Veterans from all eras and their families are invited to attend this free event.

Welcome Home 2009 features a Charleston Workforce Center Job Fair with employers onsite, VA healthcare and benefits experts including eligibility and onsite enrollment, education benefits and area college representatives, Small Business Administration, consumer affairs, legal assistance, and other services geared toward assisting Veterans. A VA health fair will also offer information and assistance on topics ranging from PTSD to women’s health.

Veterans and their families will receive free admission to the Congressional Medal of Honor Museum and tours of the historic USS Yorktown. Members of the Charleston Battery USL soccer team will greet guests and the 315^th Airlift Wing’s Mini C-17 will be onsite too. South Carolina Parks & Recreation will host a Kids Zone aboard the USS Yorktown for children of Veterans attending Welcome Home.

Veterans should bring one of the following:  military ID, VA ID, or their DD Form 214. Job seeking Veterans should bring copies of their resume and be prepared for onsite interviews by some employers.

See the Welcome Home video here…

The “holy” hull plates are being removed and new plate placed on Laffey to restore her watertight integrity. See images below for a visual update on the Laffey’s restorations…