Honor My Father

1. Honor My Father By Clint Nye

2. Honor My Fatherby Clint Nye • This is a true story of how college men came to the US Navy in WWII as reservists, instructed by the Officers of Annapolis teaming together in the Navy with many personal stories of interactions and serving with my dad, Air Defense Commander and Gunny. • The war started for these men serving the USS Bancroft and the USS Goodrich of which my dad, LT. R.P. Nye, USNR served on both ships. • Thirty Benson class Destroyers were built from 1938 to 1943 and were the most vulnerable at sea protecting their Fleet. • These Benson class Destroyer men earned 174 Battle Citations, One Presidential Citation and two Navy Unit Commendations posthumously. • At this time the majority of the ships Officers, 9 out of 12 were reservists and not regular Navy. They teamed together cohesively and offensively to defeat the largest Japanese Navy in history. Coupled with the US Marines in the South Pacific however, beginning in Attu, Alaska.

3. Honor My Father All assigned to New Hampshire Hallby Clint Nye1942 DartmouthR.P. Nye, Lt. J.G,Ensigns:123 collegeguys finishedtraining togetherand went on to other schoolsprior to ship assignments.First Program of theUSN.

4. Honor My Fatherby Clint Nye • The ships crews and Officers are named throughout the book. • All of the US Navy History of these two ships and particularly the USS Bancroft, are accurate from the Naval archives and written descriptions of their Fleet Commanders. • The USS Bancroft won 8 medals for major campaigns in all areas of the Pacific. • This destroyer nearly destroyed two times and sent back for multiple repairs in San Francisco and Honolulu. • My Dad got off the USS Bancroft just prior to its last major campaigns and was awarded (7) engagement medals. These medals were found by this author in an old trunk in his basement. I put them together and framed a picture of him with his medals and presented to him many years prior to his passing in 2008. • Proudly it is the cover of this book! • After going through his personal Navy files I realized that many he served with were also part of many stories he told us about while on duty in WWII. • The death and carnage at Saipan, their Saipan Capture Award Star and the Officers conversation of whether God existed or not, is an important part of this story. (The US Marines are part of this story). • I determined that this story needs to be told of these crews and how unselfishly they saved the world.

5. Honor My Fatherby Clint Nye • Compelling this author to write up the Naval history was driven not just by my desire to see these men honored forever, but the type of honest hardworking men and their underlying loyalty to one another. • They were all strangers in the Navy when they first met, but as a cohesive “Team” they had to perform offensively on a daily basis or they could die that day. • Secondly, my Dad was one of the smartest and nicest guys I have ever known. Many of his friends were similar in nature. The war experience I am sure affected all whom participated, but people whom worked over the years as this author and his brother were raised have all said the same thing. • Secondly, in the last sections of the book I titled, “The Comedy of Adolescence” to write up life in my teenage years at a little white house known as 15 Palmer Street. This was a house I was never going to forget and as a teenager living with Dad here, I knew then that I had to write it all up one day. Nobody would believe this place and our stories! • Dad entered his PH.D track in Economics at his old college, Ohio University (teaching as a business professor) after 17 years of corporate life and of course the US Navy.

6. Honor My Fatherby Clint NyeUSS Bancroft 1943LT. Nye far right kneeling(All Officers are named in the book)

7. Honor My Fatherby Clint Nye • The story about my dad begins at key points in his upbringing in a small town in Ohio and how in the 1930’s post depression his family was very religious and all the neighbors took care of one another. All neighbors were considered just like family. • His teacher in high school told him she would drive him down to Athens, Ohio and show him the college as she believed he could be an honor student in college. • Richard Nye took a year off to drive a truck and make sure his mom had a new electric refrigerator prior to going off to Ohio University in his Model T. • A story of how a small town kid pretty good in math and very loyal and trustworthy with his friends was able to finish college and get himself in Harvard B school just prior to the war breaking out. • Hundreds of college men like himself volunteered to the US Navy as reservists taught by the Officers from Annapolis with programs put on at Dartmouth University for 12 weeks. Nearly all attendees graduated as J.G.’s successfully.

8. Honor My Fatherby Clint NyeUSS Bancroft OfficersGroup Picture 1944Lt. Nye 5th from left(All Officers are namedin the book)

9. Honor My Fatherby Clint Nye • USS Bancroft DD-598 • On 18 May 1946, the warship was placed out of commission, in reserve, at Charleston, S.C., where she remained for more than 25 years. Her name was finally struck from the Navy list on 1 June 1971, and she was sold to Luria Brothers of Cleveland, Ohio, on 16 March 1973, to be broken up for scrap. • Bancroft received eight battle stars for her World War II service.

10. Honor My Fatherby Clint Nye • The story continues as LT. Richard Nye, USNR, Air Defense Commander, later was assigned to a new Gearing class Destroyer, The USS Goodrich. Included is the naming of its crew and history from commissioning. (This ship was also assigned to Cuba during the famous “missile crisis” with the Russians and JFK in the 1960’s). • He assisted the Skipper and senior Officers in outfitting this ship and the training of its crews. • The USS Goodrich would now be headed back to mainland Japan to confront them directly prior to the ending of the war. • Although the “Goody” as it was called saw no major battle but some action they sailed from Norfolk, VA to Cuba for shake down cruise and then through the Panama Canal to the Pacific and their Fleet assignments. • This ship and crew were one of the first Naval Task Force group of ships motoring into Sasebo Bay in Japan. • They were the first Navy men to see the damage of Nagasaki from the atomic bomb. They were warned of being poisoned or assassinated but they could carry no weapons! • Included are the orders of all persons and SOP’s for leaving the ship and their personal experiences while duty in Japan. (The young bicycle “Lady” what was her true motive)?

11. Honor My Fatherby Clint NyeApril 24,1945DD831 - USS GoodrichCommander Dale FrakesUSN, Commissioning DayLt. Nye by Gun Turret(Crew and Officers arenamed in the book)

12. Honor My Fatherby Clint Nye • Lt. Nye, USNR, Air Defense Commander • 1945 Full Dress Launch Day, USS Goodrich • Families waving goodbye • Large American Flag aft deck • All hands on deck • Shakedown cruise to Cuba • Ship refitted in 1960’s gathered intelligence • Russian and Cuba transmissions • Cuba “missile crisis” under JFK’s watch

13. Honor My Fatherby Clint NyeUSS Goodrich Cruising & DeckActivities

14. Honor My Fatherby Clint NyeThis author in 2009attended, after his fatherspassing The WWII PacificTheater reunion and theSkipper of the USS,The Sullivan’s allowed my picturein the XO Chair!The Skipper was outstandingand more than a tour. I attendedthe roll call reading at the Jacksonville, Navy Base churchof Lt. Richard Nye, USNR and others whom have passed.May God bless you all.The USS Goodrich name hasbeen transferred to the submarinefleet. That Destroyer saga has ended!