Herman Estle Sanders

BRANCH OF SERVICE
U.S. Navy

HOMETOWN
French Lick, IN

HONORED BY
Grateful American


ACTIVITY DURING WWII


ENLISTED ON 9 APRIL 1942 AT LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY. TRAINED AT NAVAL TRAINING STATION SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA. 30 JUNE 1942 REPORTED ABOARD THE USS VINCENNES CA-44, A HEAVY CRUISER. 6 JULY 1942 TRANSFERRED TO THE USS ASTORIA CA-34, A NEW ORLEANS CLASS CRUISER IN THE PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS. AUGUST, 1942 PART OF TASK GROUP 62.3 WITH FIRE SUPPORT FOR GUADALCANAL-TULAGI LANDINGS. AT 1:50 A.M. 9 AUGUST 1942 ATTACKED BY JAPANESE FORCES RIPPING IN TO THE SUPERSTRUCTURE TURNING AMIDSHIPS INTO AN INFERNO. THE SHIP WAS HIT 65 TIMES DURING THE BATTLE OF SALVO ISLAND. DAMAGE WAS TOO GREAT TO SAVE THE SHIP AND IT SANK AT 12:15 ON 9 AUGUST 1942. HE WAS EVACUATED ON BOARD THE USS PRESIDENT JACKSON APA-18. 10 DECEMBER 1944 PLACE THE USS BECKHAM APA-133 IN COMMISSION. 13 MARCH 1945 SUPPORTED IWO JIMA OPERATIONS. 24 JUNE 1945 SUPPORTED OKINAWA OPERATIONS. RATING OF CARPENTER'S MATE SECOND CLASS PETTY OFFICER.