Blog Posts

Tin Can Sailors publication and volunteer opportunities.....

10/28/2020

Hey folks, if you have a yen for research and would like to help out a worthy organization, here's your chance! WW1, WW2, Korea, Viet Nam or other destroyer service interested people are very welcome to help out. And if you live close to any of the destroyer museum ships and are handy they always welcome the extra help in maintaining the museum ships. Give it some thought and then contact the good people at Tin Can Sailors.

To learn more about the organization click here: TCS

TCS is also looking for new members. Every dollar spent helps to keep these museums running so people like us who have an interest in learning about the history can visit them. TCS is also launching a new and improved website in the next few weeks. Their efforts will also include a YouTube channel with digitized 16 mm Navy films from WW2! This in particular is most exciting to me, as I hope to see either Strong or some of the other ships from Desron 21 represented in the Solomon Islands. Keeping my fingers crossed!

So become a member of TCS and help with the research.

-Tammi

Status update on Strong Prroject

10/27/2020

Well, unfortunately there's not much to tell. The RV Petrel and their crew had hoped to be able to get me to the Solomon Islands to place the plaque some time in the near future. With it now back in Scotland and the crew suspended, this possibility looks slim. I am however, NOT GIVING UP. Let's just say I have some oars still in the water and have been talking with persons who may offer an alternative plan to get me and the plaque to the Kula Gulf. COVID makes this difficult, but I don't think it's impossible. Others agree, and I will keep everyone posted on any progress made.

I've also made a new friend in WW2 historian, researcher and author Donna Esposito. We had a wonderful hour and 45 minute Skype conversation and she was most helpful in giving me some ideas and people to pursue. Her website is very informative and has a number of film presentations. Check her out: Donna Esposito WW2

Everyone take care, WEAR A MASK and be a survivor. We still have much to look forward to!

Tammi

Alexander Bonnyman induction into Georgia Military Veterans Hall of Fame

10/7/2020

Back in September of 2018 I wrote about a book by Clay Bonnyman Evans, "Bones of My Grandfather" Alexander died in the Battle of Tarawa and Clay was present when members of History Flight recovered his remains. Read about it by clicking the link on the right for September 2018. Clay recently posted the following on Facebook:

I'm honored to announce that my grandfather, First Lt. Alexander "Sandy" Bonnyman, Jr., will be inducted into the Georgia Military Veterans Hall of Fame in November. Though raised in Tennessee, he was born in Atlanta and spent his first six years there.

How wonderful for the family and for the memory of his grandfather! To learn more about this honor or to nominate a family member who served from Georgia, click here: Georgia Military Veterans Hall of Fame

-Tammi

New article about Military Shipwrecks: How High Tech Explorers Find Mysteries Beneath the Waves

9/11/2020

For those who are not on Facebook or who may not have seen this, I have a wonderful article to share from MOAA (Military Officer's Association of America) on military shipwrecks. Our friend and shipwreck hunter Paul Mayer posted the link this morning: Military Shipwrecks

Click the blue link above to access the article. Featured prominently is the work of the RV Petrel, the ship that found STRONG. The article is in 2 parts and our ship is mentioned in the second part. Also one very important detail, the author of the article misspelled Paul's last name. His name is Paul Mayer - not "Meyer". Anyway, there's a lot of great information in there. David Mearns of Blue Water Recoveries, LTD was also involved in the discovery of the IJN Musashi and other wrecks, but is not mentioned in the article.

Enjoy the read and I hope everyone is staying safe and healthy. Sorely missing the reunion crowd this year and hope next year we can return to status quo!

Tammi

Kindred spirits unite......

9/6/2020

I have made friends of a sort with many people who have a mission similar to mine - telling the story of their father, grandfather, uncle, aunt, mother - a person in their life who served in WW2. Many of these friends have books on the market, including people like Julia Gimbel, Clay Bonneyman Evans and John Darnton. You will see links to their books on the Navy Links and Research page. I've also seen articles on line, taped news stories on Facebook and this shows me there are so many more kindred spirits out there. If you are one of these people, I'd like to "meet" you and hear your story, perhaps post it on my website. Please contact me via my site email at: [email protected].

-Tammi

News on The Castaway's War movie........

9/2/2020

It's come to my attention after chatting with Steve Harding that our movie for The Castaway's War will be a little longer in the making. See his comment in the quote below:

"Owing to ongoing financial difficulties, Gold Circle Films has opted not to continue developing the motion picture version of The Castaway's War. Though this is disappointing, other companies and individuals have expressed interest in making the film, and we'll keep you posted on developments."

So, on the surface this looks truly disappointing. It should have sent me into crocodile tears and a complete sense of apoplexy. But you know what? It had the opposite effect. As I told Steve, my instincts over the years have been pretty damn spot on. And what I felt from hearing this news wasn't sadness or regret - but hope and relief. Two production companies have failed to deliver, third times the charm, right? I feel in my gut that this will work out. If not, then I told Steve in a couple of years he could slap me upside the head with a dead fish (Monty Python reference) and say, "You were wrong!" I really don't want to have that happen, so we'll see. COVID aside, this will work out. I refuse to believe otherwise.

So Steve, we aren't giving up! We've come too far. The story is too good and we're not done telling the story of the men of STRONG.

So, just keeping everyone in the loop. Keep your fingers crossed!

Tammi

Stephen Harding interview on Last to Die with Australian Broadcasting Company

8/27/2020

Another one of Stephen Harding's books is Last to Die, the story of Anthony Marcione, the last US serviceman to die in WW2 just after the accords were signed. Released in 2015 just one year prior to The Castaway's War (the book about STRONG and Lt. Hugh Barr Miller, Jr.) the book details the history of the end of the war, the actions of the Japanese and Allies. Some shenanigans unfolded with an attempted coup by Japanese insiders who did not agree with the surrender - intriguing stuff! Steve recently conducted another radio/internet interview with the Australian Broadcast Company. They seem to like talking to him and as long as they do and he posts the links, you bet I'm sharing! See the link below.

ABC Interview: Last to Die

Last to Die on Amazon

-Tammi

STRONG on hiatus, history marches on.......

8/11/2020

While all things STRONG may be on an extended and unwelcome hiatus due to COVID, history keeps happening all around us. One very good source of military history in particular is Military History Magazine. Our friend Stephen Harding is the editor-in-chief of this very fine publication. MH covers all realms of military from the early B.C.’s to all modern day engagements. They also highlight the work of people who do their best to make sure that our lost men and women from these wars are not forgotten. Such a person is Mark Noah with History Flight. In the past year I’ve had the privilege of working with some folks from HF in order to try to locate the remains of some of the men lost on Arundel Island. I’ve gathered enough information to believe that remains were located, in particular for Daniel Mullane and Edward Deering. Eddie was found and reburied in Manila, Philippines. We’re still trying to find out where Danny was buried, as the records have been lost. It’s a process, but if we’re successful then the family will have some answers.

This issue also has a bit about the RV PETREL locating the wreck of the USS JOHNSTON lost in the Battle of Leyte Gulf, fought over 4 days in late October 1944. JOHNSTON is the deepest warship wreck at 20,400 feet. Quite a remarkable find due to some amazing equipment. Congrats on the find guys!

That said, I wanted to share this recent article from the May 2020 edition of the magazine. Click on the images below to enlarge and/or copy. And thanks to all of you who are sticking with me. I’m not done with this project. There’s still more to do.

Thanks to Steve Harding for allowing me to post this article. Take care everyone!

Tammi

Postponement of 2020 STRONG Reunion

7/17/2020

Sadly, COVID 19 has forced a postponement of the 2020 reunion in Dayton, Ohio. For now, it's been moved to 2021. Originally we were scheduled to have the 2021 reunion in Newport, Rhode Island. If you are interested in attending next year, keep watching for details. Here's hoping we can get past this, stay healthy and get together in 2021.

This is no joke. Wash your hands, stay at home as much as possible and for the sake of all when you are out in public, WEAR A MASK.

-Tammi

Memorial service for 77th anniversary of sinking of STRONG DD-467

7/2/2020

On Sunday July 5th around noon (EST) the Kentucky Chapter 5 of Rolling Thunder will host a memorial service on the 77th anniversary of the sinking of the USS STRONG DD-467 and the death of my great-uncle, William "Billy" Clay Hedrick, Jr. at the Machpelah Cemetery in Mount Sterling, Kentucky. For STRONG family members scattered across the country, here's a link for you to watch if you like. Also, check out the Rolling Thunder chapters in your state for your missing men: https://www.facebook.com/RollingThunderKY5/

There are two other Kentucky men who died on STRONG that day. Frederick Keller from Jefferson County and Jesse T. "Tommy" Geralds from Barren County were enlisted men who also went missing. Rolling Thunder will also recognize them and has invited their family to attend.

I also learned today that there are four other missing men from WW2 who are memorialized at Machpelah, all from Mount Sterling. Robert Kash Cope and his twin brother Paul MItchell Cope both went missing when the USS HORNET was sunk on October 27th, 1942 in the Battle of Santa Cruz Islands. Doolittle's Raid airplanes took off from the HORNET. Also lost was LT Dudley Watkins Hunter, Jr, US Army 10th Infantry Regiment, 5th Infantry Division lost September 23rd, 1944. Lastly, Walter Marion Johnson, Jr., lost on the USS INDIANAPOLIS July 30th, 1945. Johnson played basketball for Adolph Rupp at the University of Kentucky. He was a guard in the 1943-1944 season until getting called up to serve.

It's also noteworthy that the STRONG, INDIANAPOLIS and HORNET were all three found by the RV PETREL. Got to be proud to be in this very exclusive group, and very grateful to Vulcan, Inc. for letting it happen.

If you have a man or woman who went missing in WW2, Korea, Viet Nam or any other conflict, check and see if you have a chapter of Rolling Thunder in your county or state. They recognize MIA/POW's and make sure these people are not forgotten. For that, I'm eternally grateful.

Tammi