Show mr and mrs william chadwick received the following letter from their son ben walker chadwick SC war history 0 of th the U S S west virginia the west virginia damaged so severely by the japanese attack of december 7 1941 that she sank in ji jh e r pearl harbor berth steamed proudly into tokyo bay in the naval force taking over japans greatest greate st industrial area crewmen crowded on the decks to see the japanese home island which has been their goal since the west virginia returned to the pacific war at the start of the philippines invasion spread before them was the panorama of the heart of the japanese empire with mt aft Fuji yamas cloud shrouded peak looming in t the he distance for the west virginia this was a glorious moment a grand reward for a year of bitter combat during which she had participated in every major island invasion in the northward drive toward japan on the bridge was captain raymond aymond R W holsinger hols inger US N w who ho has commanded the warship abi p sin since cc late in april the west virginias virginia executive officer is commander john E fitzgibbon also aboard was rear admiral ingram C S sowell who commands a division of battleships in vice admiral jesse B oldendorf Is squadron the west virginia has been admiral sowells flagship since the start of the luzon invasion with him is s his staff headed by captain george B 11 II stallings the west virginia is one of th the e U S fleets old battleships commissioned on december 1 1923 she bore the brunt of the japanese attack at pearl harbor two bombs and at least six torpedoes struck her leaving her a flaming wreck as she settled to the bottom pat patched hed up with what ahat plates were available the west virginia w was a s rail raised aed and she steamed back under her own power to a west coast navy yard battered and torn tom she seemed suited only for the scrap heap but the modern genius of our shipyards made mad 0 a different story stripped to her main deck the ship was rebuilt and she emerged emerge d from the yard practically a new vess vessel el equipped with the most modern weapons of warfare following a brief shakedown off the west coast she set a westerly course under the command of captain 11 II V wiley to seek revenge upon the enemy that had so 10 nearly ended her existence on this trip there was one memorable occasion the ceremonies held in conjunction with the crossing of the equator just out of range of enemy forces pollywogs s by the hundreds aundre ds continued on last page |