I'm currently working on my end of the year synopsis of things that occurred for the project this past year, and frankly there's not much to tell - but, I will post one anyway. For now, I'd like to share a recent article in the Tin Can Sailor magazine I got in the mail this week. The article, "Spotlight on the Historic Fleet: The Search for USS Johnston DD-557, is authored by ADM Samuel J. Cox (ret.), the director of the Naval History and Heritage Command. Cox was on board RV Petrel when they first discovered a debris trail and portion of a ship believed to be the wreck of the Johnston back early in 2019. Further survey work done more recently by the team headed by Victor Vescovo confirmed the find and discovered more of the wreck due to his having equipment that could do deeper dives. Cox was also on board Johnston when the wreck of Strong was discovered, and he mentions our ship along with others found in this article. The Johnston has a unique history due to its captain, Commander Ernest Evans having been of native American heritage. There is an effort afoot to have a US destroyer named for him, and I wish them much success. He is worthy! 

Enjoy the article, and everyone have a very happy new year!

Tammi

    It’s been a while since I posted, and I’ve been wanting to write this blog up for about a week and a half. We got back from New Orleans and I was tired, yet motivated and a couple days later we had a family emergency that has taken up my time, mental capacity and generally kept me from functioning on anything resembling normal. Things are easing up now, so I can finally put my thoughts down.
     Our trip in early December was short, but sweet. After not going anywhere by air for 2.5 years I was a bit nervous about flying, but all went smoothly getting there and getting back. We had 3.5 days to visit the National WWII Museum, shop and of course meet again with a Strong family member while there, Kevin Wheeler, the son of Lt. jg. Virgil M. Wheeler, Jr. of Strong. Kevin has a favorite spot, Mr. B’s on Royal Street and we met there. As we did last time, we shared a good meal and very stimulating and enjoyable conversation. Anytime we come to New Orleans, it’s a must do thing. Thanks again Kevin, for a wonderful visit!
     The city wasn’t hit as hard as areas west of it by Hurricane Ida, yet there was evidence of repairs taking place throughout. Tourist traffic was light compared to our last visit there in December of 2017, yet people were out and about in the beautiful 75 degree weather. This persisted all week and made for a very pleasant time walking the streets and spending money shopping. We needed the retail therapy and the sunshine, a change of scenery after the two years we’ve been dealing with the pandemic. Now with the variants out there, it may be awhile before we go anywhere too far again. The next reunion is in Newport, Rhode Island in September 2022 and this will be another must-do. Not missing out on another trip to beautiful New England!
    Other than just getting out of town for a few days, we wanted to once again visit the WWII museum. We have now been 3 times, and it’s still not enough. The place is chock full of vignettes, displays, photographs, personal artifacts, sets that look like a home you could walk into and live there today, the Beyond the Boundaries 4-D film experience – so much! And they are constantly building and adding on. Which brings me to a new sculpture that has was added in 2019, on loan from the family of the artist Frederic Arnold, a former WWII combat pilot of a P-38.
     I don’t know if any of you have ever been emotionally brought to tears by looking at any particular artwork, but this happened to me for the first time. I recognized this sculpture by Arnold was relatively new to the museum. The piece depicts a fighter squadron of young men being briefed before a mission by their superior officer. One impatient man looks at his watch as if he needs to get in the air now. One raises his hand to get a question clarified and another is taking notes in order to better recall the orders given. Behind them in shaded tones are depicted the spirits of their comrades who came before them, but did not make it back to the airfield alive. As I stood there looking at the muted spirit statues, my eyes took on a life of their own and I began to cry. Just pure raw emotion came through, especially moved by the one lone man with the oxygen mask on and his hands crossed at his waist. You can’t see his face, but it was as if he were real and I was feeling the emotions of his family – mother, father, brother or sister – and it hit me what my uncle Billy’s family must have felt as well. Good thing I had a tissue in my pocket, it came in handy. The sculpture moved me to tears as no other had. This is what museums like this are for, to get us to feel deeply and hopefully learn what NOT to let happen in the future so as not to lose our young men and women. We can only wish more people in power would learn the lesson.
     This museum is a must for the bucket list of anyone with a family member who served in this war. Try to make it there some time if you can.
     Everyone have a very happy and safe holiday season and a happy new year for 2022!

-Tammi
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