USS Brush (DD-745)

The USS Brush was one of 58 Allen M Sumner-class destroyers built during World War II. She was commissioned on April 17, 1944. Even with a somewhat late entry into the war, she still received five battle stars before the war ended, including Leyte, Iwo Jima and Okinawa.

During the Korean war, for which she received four more battle stars, the Brush was part of Task Force 77, participating in screening carriers launching air strikes and also shore bombardment operations. It was during one of these bombardments, on September 26, 1950 that she hit a mine in the waters near Tanchon, Korea. In addition to dozens of injured, the following men were killed in the ensuing explosion:

John David Beagles

James Robert Colleran

Frank Allen Davis

Bobby Eugene Freeman

Meyer Louis Getz

David Morrell Grubb

Dale Lloyd Hoover

Gordon Eugene Johnson

Henry Dean Little

Warren Maxwell Shepherd

Eugene Leroy Timmons

William Duffy Morris

Oliver Clyde Sexon

Willie Henry Fisher Jr.

Also listed as having died one year and a day later, but presumably from the same incident, 

Bennie Joe Berryman

All of these men died while serving their country and in the direct protection of their fellow men who were fighting the war. Let us no forget, even 65 years later, what their sacrifices mean. Also, let us than all of those injured and all of the other men that have served aboard the USS Brush in their careers.

The Brush went on to three tours in Vietnam as well, before she was decommissioned in 1969

USS West Virginia (BB-48)

The USS West Virginia was a Colorado Class battleship launched in 1921, commissioned on December 1, 1923. Sent to Hawaii in 1940 to guard against a potential Japanese attack, she was moored in Pearl Harbor when that attack happened. She was hit by two bombs, both duds, and 6 torpedoes. She was sunk with the loss of 106 men. Rescuers can be seen pulling a man from the water around the West Virginia below.

After salvage and repairs, she sailed to Puget Sound Navy Yard for extensive repair and re-fitting, adding over 90 twenty and forty mm cannons. In addition to her main 16 and 5 inch guns, she was very formidable upon return to the Pacific. When she left Puget Sound, she headed for Leyte Gulf in the Philippines, where she participated in the landings and later the Battle of Leyte Gulf. She also was involved in later actions around the islands of the Philippines. She also participated in the Iwo Jima and Okinawa campaigns, using her guns to great effect. At the end of the war, she was in Tokyo Bay as the Japanese surrendered. The USS West Virginia ended her war duty in Operation Magic Carpet, which brought home over 8 million Americans fighting around the globe. She made three trips as part of this homecoming operation.

Today, September 23, 1944 is the day the mighty USS West Virginia returned to Pearl Harbor and beagn her service avenging the attack there almost 3 years earlier. She was the last of the ships damaged to return to service. Last, but not least by any means. She earned 5 battle stars during World War II.

We salute those 106 men who died from the USS West Virginia on December 7, 1941. We also salute all of those who served aboard her, before and after the war. The service and sacrifices are immeasurable.