Martin G. Gipe US Navy USS Nevada |
I was born on June 11, 1920 in Cody, Wyoming. I was raised on a small cattle ranch and graduated from Cody High School in May of 1938. I enlisted in the Navy on September 12, 1938. Upon graduation from recruit training at San Diego, California and was assigned to the USS Nevada, reporting onboard at Long Beach, California in December 1938 and was assigned to the 1st Division eventually becoming a gunner's mate striker in Turret 1. I had just changed to a fresh white uniform at my locker which was located on the circle deck just above the handling room in Turret 1 when General Quarters was sounded Sunday morning December 7, 1941. My immediate impulse was to man my battle station, but I experienced a feeling of rebellion; we had been at sea all week drilling and now they were having more drill on Sunday. I decided to change back to dungarees so as not to soil the fresh white uniform just donned and was in the process when the ship jumped lifting me off the deck and realizing this was no drill, wasted no time scrambling up through the turret to my battle station. Although all the 14 inch service projectiles had been off-loaded the prior week, orders were to prepare for firing. While engaged in this task it was noted that a very large piece of steel was lying adrift in the gun pit. It did not take very long to discover that it had been a part of the cradle supporting the oscillating nut that elevated the turret's guns. It apparently had been broken and was hurled across the deck when a bomb exploded forward on the third deck, lifting the wildcats (that hauled in the anchor chain), striking the wing guns of the turret and effectively demobilizing it. Having had no prior experience with the destructive power of bombs and torpedoes, I felt quite safe inside the heavy armor of the turret but felt considerable consternation later after viewing the havoc that had been wrought. (I have made an effort to mention only what I saw or experienced during the attack). I was one of the approximately 300 man crew that after the Nevada was refloated and some temporary repairs, brought her back to Bremerton, WA for extensive repairs and rehabilitation. After a period of strenuous training with a new crew the Nevada participated in the Attu operation and was then transferred to the Atlantic for convoy duty between the east coast of the US and Ireland. In May 1943, I was advanced to Gunner's Mate Chief and transferred for temporary duty at the Fleet Administrative Office in Charleston, SC. About midway through what turned out to be an eighteen month tour of shore duty at Charleston I married a lovely young lady, a marriage that eventually produced three sons. The tour ended by advancement to Warrant Officer and transfer back to the Pacific for duty on the USS Caneberra (CA-73). With the deactivation of that ship, I was reassigned to a sister ship the USS St. Paul (CA-74) and after about two years, a major portion of which was spent in the Western Pacific, I was stationed at the Fleet Training School, San Diego, CA. Within another two years I was serving onboard the USS Princeton (CV-37) and spent the greater portion of two years visiting Japan and combat operations off the Korean coast during that conflict. The next two year tour was at the Naval Powder Factory, Indian Head, MD, then a two year tour on the USS Sierra (AS-18 at times referred to as Bldg. 18) at Norfolk, VA followed by a two year stint in the Reserve Fleet at Charleston, SC and retirement from the Navy, 1 May 1959. I about starved to death trying to sell life and health insurance. I then worked as a salesman in Sears automotive department for about four years. Worked for a CPA firm for four years followed by several years in the accounting department of an alloy plant. After ten years as the internal auditor for the local United Way, I retired again in 1973. At the beginning of my civilian employment I attended eight years of night school, earning a Bachelors degree in Business Administration from Baptist College at Charleston, now Southern University, graduating in the same class as my youngest son in 1973. I enjoy almost complete retirement although I live alone having lost my second wife in 1996 after twenty years of marital bliss. I am in good health and reside in Charleston, SC near two of my sons, the third lives in Louisville, KY, all of whom I get to see regularly. At least once a year I drive to Cody, WY, to visit my mother who, at this writing is one hundred and three years old and enjoying good health. On the same trip, I try to take in a reunion of the USS Nevada Association, dropping by Tucson, AZ to visit two half-sisters. |
Information provided by Martin G. Gipe. |
