SECNAV Recognizes Heroism of World War II Vet

By Chief Mass Communication Specialist (AW) Sam Shavers, Secretary of the Navy Public Affairs

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. (NNS) -- Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) Ray Mabus, presented the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Combat Distinguishing Device to a former Sailor during a ceremony on Moffett Field in Mountain View, Calif., Jan. 17.

Mabus presented the long-awaited medal to Carl E. Clark, a 95-year-old African-American for his actions during World War II.

"Mr. Clark's service was honorable, but his DD-214 was missing one entry," Mabus said.

"Today, we will add that final official entry that has been missing from his record for almost exactly two-thirds of a century. That entry will record that Carl E. Clark has been awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with the Combat V".

Clark, then a ship's steward first class, was working in the officer's mess aboard the destroyer minelayer USS Aaron Ward (DM 34) when Japanese kamikazes attacked his ship May 3, 1945.

The Ward's gunners shot down some of the kamikazes, but six planes and three of their bombs hit the ship on the port side of the main deck, igniting an instant firestorm upon impact.

According to Clark's Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal citation, he was slammed against the overhead from the impact of the first kamikaze attack.

He then headed out of the passageway and watched the second plane as it slammed into the port side. Unaware that the men on his damage control team were killed, he manned a fire hose fighting raging fires while kamikaze planes continued to crash into the deck and infrastructure.

"Imagine being in a battle like that. Imagine being a member of that crew, engulfed in fire and water, while relying on training and experience to conquer your fear with determination," said Mabus "Carl Clark not only can imagine it, he lived it."

Mabus also said Clark now officially joins other pioneers like the Golden 13, the Tuskegee Airmen and the Montford Point Marines; African-Americans who proudly represented the Navy and their nation, even during a time when their nation did not always live up to the ideals they served to protect.

"Carl Clark will tell you that he doesn't consider himself a hero. He says, 'I only did the best I could in a very ugly and demanding situation,'" said Mabus.

"Well, Carl, we here consider you a hero. America considers you a hero and I am proud to offer this symbol of thanks from a grateful Navy and nation," said Mabus, just prior to presenting Clark with his medal.

Pearl Harbor Survivor Finds Final Resting Place at Pearl Harbor

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Mark Logico, Commander Navy Region Hawaii Public Affairs

PEARL HARBOR (NNS) -- On Dec. 5, two days before the 70th Anniversary Pearl Harbor Day, a memorial ceremony was held for 81-year-old Pearl Harbor survivor, Boatswain's Mate 1st Class Jack Gordon Franklin, at the USS Utah Memorial on Ford Island.

The ceremony included a short religious service, the scattering of ashes, and a three-volley rifle salute provided by the Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam Navy Detachment Honor Guard. A bugler from U.S. Pacific Fleet Band was also on hand to sound "Taps," and at the end of the ceremony a Sailor presented an American flag to Franklin's eldest daughter Joey Elaine Duncan.

"It was really beautiful," said Duncan. "I haven't stopped crying yet. It was a beautiful day too and I appreciate the military doing this for us. It just means so much. It's closure for us."

Franklin, who died July 12, 2005, was a 17-year-old Sailor aboard USS West Virginia (BB 48) during the Dec. 7, 1941 Pearl Harbor attacks.

Retired Command Master Chief James Taylor, a volunteer at Commander, Navy Region Hawaii Public Affairs, hosted the ceremony and said Franklin expressed desire to his children to have his remains returned to Pearl Harbor so he could be with his friends and shipmates who were lost during the attack.

"Thanks to his three children- Joey, Tim and Pat- his wish has come true," said Taylor.

Born, on Jan. 31, 1924, Franklin joined the Navy a few days after his 17th birthday in January 1941. Franklin was a mess cook on West Virginia when the attack started. Duncan said when Franklin went topside he was wandering around the ship looking for people.

"A chief was the one who signaled him to get to the gun," said Duncan. "I haven't been able to find out but they used to call him Chief Smithy."

Franklin reached an anti-aircraft battery and fired the only shots from the battery during the raid. The West Virginia was hit by numerous torpedoes and two bombs. More than 100 crew members including the ship's commanding officer were killed that day.

Franklin continued to serve throughout the war effort, participating in major battles such as the Battle of Midway and the Battle of Coral Sea. He saw his last action at Buckner Bay in Okinawa, Japan, ducking Japanese Kamikaze planes.

Franklin was such a devout Christian that his shipmates called him "Holy Joe" because he preached to anyone who would listen. After serving, he dove into several ventures including ministry, operating a café, doing public relations work for the Southern Pacific Railroad, and managing an art gallery until his death in 2005. He is survived by Joey, Timothy and Patrice.

This Day in Naval History - May 24

By Navy News Service

1917 - First U.S. convoy to cross North Atlantic during World War I leaves Hampton Roads, Va.

1918 - USS Olympia anchors at Kola Inlet, Murmansk, Russia, to protect refugees during Russian Revolution.

1939 - First and only use of Vice Adm. Allan McCann's Rescue Chamber to rescue 33 men from sunken USS Squalus (SS 192).

1941 - Authorization of construction or acquisition of 550,000 tons of auxiliary shipping for Navy.

1945 - Fast carrier task force aircraft attack airfields in southern Kyushu, Japan.

1945 - Nine U.S. ships damaged by concentrated kamikaze attack off Okinawa.

This Day in Naval History - March 23

From the Navy News Service

1815 - USS Hornet captures HMS Penguin in a battle lasting 22 minutes.

1882 - The Secretary of the Navy, William H. Hunt, issues General Order No. 292, creating the Office of Naval Intelligence.

1917 - USS New Mexico (BB 40) is launched as the first dreadnought with turboelectric drive.

1945 - Carriers begin pre-assault strikes on Okinawa; kamikaze attacks follow.

1958 - Simulated Polaris missile is launched from a submerged tactical launcher facility off California.

1965 - Lt. Cmdr. John W. Young, pilot of Gemini 3, completes three orbits in four hours, 53 minutes, at an altitude of 224 km. Recovery was by helicopters from USS Intrepid (CVS 11).