SAM BLUMMER, A SALTY SAILOR
Apr 10, 2020 17:44:46 #
Alice Bennett was a first cousin, lived in Lubbock TX, and ran away with a friend and hitch hiked to California in the late 1930’s or early 1940’s. Once they arrived L.A., Alice said they nearly starved until they were taken in by Aimee Semple McPherson, evangelist, who was popular there at that time. Later, when Alice got a job, she worked as a truck driver for the U.S. Navy and married a sailor, Sam Blummer.
Sam was in the Navy several years before the attack on Pearl Harbor. In fact, he was on one of the Navy’s aircraft carriers at sea when the Japanese destroyed the battle ships at Pearl. They were almost immediately in combat, and finally his ship was sunk. He survived, sent back to the states to outfit another aircraft carrier in Virginia. Alice drove their car all the way across the country to be with Sam during this period.
Once the new carrier is complete, they sail thought the Panama Canal and join the war in the Pacific. They are under almost constant attack, kamikaze’s did severe damage, and finally this carrier, too is sunk. Sam was by this time a chief petty officer and was assigned to work below decks. He said because the way the ship was listing, he knew they would soon get the order to abandon ship.
Once they got the order to abandon ship, he and a buddy go topside, they’ve tied their shoestrings together and put their shores around their necks and jump overboard. In the water, Sam said they were fortunate to find a raft and climb aboard. Sam then notices they are going in circles and looks and his partner is staring skyward. Up, overhead is a Japanese Betty (Mitsubishi) bomber dropping bombs on their carrier. Sam said to him, “If you don’t paddle, we will either be killed by those bombs, or sucked down when the carrier goes under.”
Later, they are picked up by a U.S. Navy destroyer escort. Since Sam was an old salt, he simply went below decks and climbed into the first empty bunk and goes to sleep. He is kicked out at the next watch change and then has to stay topside.
I had asked Sam why he wasn’t concerned about the sharks? He had related that during their almost constant battle with the Japanese air attacks there were a number of burials at sea off the fantail of the carrier. The seas behind the carrier was often whipped white with foam from the sharks. He replied that he hadn’t had time to think about it until he was already safe on the rescue ship.
After the second carrier was sunk, these survivors were back in Pearl Harbor. Some of the chief petty officers were assembled and the brass told them, “You men had been enough combat, we have a new assignment for you.” This assignment was to man a tugboat and tend the submarine nets at the mouth of the harbor at Pearl!
Many years later, we get a surprise visit by Alice and Sam who have a camper and are traveling around Texas. We have a long visit and since Sam had seen the Battleship Texas in the Pacific, I suggested we visit that on the way to the San Jacinto Inn for a seafood dinner.
Sam was tickled to see the Texas, but when we are seated at the restaurant, we find that neither of them eat any kind of seafood! I can understand why Alice is not a fan, because growing up in Lubbock, that wasn’t an item they would have ever had. I asked Sam why he wasn’t a fan of any kind of sea food. He explained that while in the Navy, he had been promoted to the first level of becoming a chief petty officer. Then as they crossed the equator, there was a ritual of the King Neptune’s court where all those neophytes were given a hazing introduction. Since he was one of the new non-commissioned officers who had not been initiated, they got special treatment, which among other things was being forced to eat boiled fish for a hog trough with a soup ladle. For that reason, he could not stand sea food. Fortunately, we were saved by the restaurant also serving some fried chicken, biscuits, and honey as part of our meal.
I am not sure the names of the aircraft carriers, one was the Yorktown but do not remember the name of the second carrier. I have purposefully omitted description of a lot of the carnage witnessed by Sam during his service, but thank God, there were the few like him to stand in the gap until others could be trained and come help. Just Sayin...RJS
Sam was in the Navy several years before the attack on Pearl Harbor. In fact, he was on one of the Navy’s aircraft carriers at sea when the Japanese destroyed the battle ships at Pearl. They were almost immediately in combat, and finally his ship was sunk. He survived, sent back to the states to outfit another aircraft carrier in Virginia. Alice drove their car all the way across the country to be with Sam during this period.
Once the new carrier is complete, they sail thought the Panama Canal and join the war in the Pacific. They are under almost constant attack, kamikaze’s did severe damage, and finally this carrier, too is sunk. Sam was by this time a chief petty officer and was assigned to work below decks. He said because the way the ship was listing, he knew they would soon get the order to abandon ship.
Once they got the order to abandon ship, he and a buddy go topside, they’ve tied their shoestrings together and put their shores around their necks and jump overboard. In the water, Sam said they were fortunate to find a raft and climb aboard. Sam then notices they are going in circles and looks and his partner is staring skyward. Up, overhead is a Japanese Betty (Mitsubishi) bomber dropping bombs on their carrier. Sam said to him, “If you don’t paddle, we will either be killed by those bombs, or sucked down when the carrier goes under.”
Later, they are picked up by a U.S. Navy destroyer escort. Since Sam was an old salt, he simply went below decks and climbed into the first empty bunk and goes to sleep. He is kicked out at the next watch change and then has to stay topside.
I had asked Sam why he wasn’t concerned about the sharks? He had related that during their almost constant battle with the Japanese air attacks there were a number of burials at sea off the fantail of the carrier. The seas behind the carrier was often whipped white with foam from the sharks. He replied that he hadn’t had time to think about it until he was already safe on the rescue ship.
After the second carrier was sunk, these survivors were back in Pearl Harbor. Some of the chief petty officers were assembled and the brass told them, “You men had been enough combat, we have a new assignment for you.” This assignment was to man a tugboat and tend the submarine nets at the mouth of the harbor at Pearl!
Many years later, we get a surprise visit by Alice and Sam who have a camper and are traveling around Texas. We have a long visit and since Sam had seen the Battleship Texas in the Pacific, I suggested we visit that on the way to the San Jacinto Inn for a seafood dinner.
Sam was tickled to see the Texas, but when we are seated at the restaurant, we find that neither of them eat any kind of seafood! I can understand why Alice is not a fan, because growing up in Lubbock, that wasn’t an item they would have ever had. I asked Sam why he wasn’t a fan of any kind of sea food. He explained that while in the Navy, he had been promoted to the first level of becoming a chief petty officer. Then as they crossed the equator, there was a ritual of the King Neptune’s court where all those neophytes were given a hazing introduction. Since he was one of the new non-commissioned officers who had not been initiated, they got special treatment, which among other things was being forced to eat boiled fish for a hog trough with a soup ladle. For that reason, he could not stand sea food. Fortunately, we were saved by the restaurant also serving some fried chicken, biscuits, and honey as part of our meal.
I am not sure the names of the aircraft carriers, one was the Yorktown but do not remember the name of the second carrier. I have purposefully omitted description of a lot of the carnage witnessed by Sam during his service, but thank God, there were the few like him to stand in the gap until others could be trained and come help. Just Sayin...RJS
Apr 10, 2020 18:29:00 #
bottomcoon
Loc: Tahlequah, oklahoma
I was very fortunate to meet & become friends with a man named Lonnie Cook. He was below decks in the
USS Arizonia when the ship was bombed. He was 19 years old. He managed to crawl through the debris to the deck where he stayed & helped take off the dead & wounded until the Captain ordered them to abandon ship.
He said he stepped off the deck of the Arizonia onto a motor boat. Through the rest of the war he had a total of 5 ships shot out from under him. He told me the thing that he hated worse than anything was the navy took the cost of the sailors uniforms out of their pay. Lonnie passed away last year at age 95.
USS Arizonia when the ship was bombed. He was 19 years old. He managed to crawl through the debris to the deck where he stayed & helped take off the dead & wounded until the Captain ordered them to abandon ship.
He said he stepped off the deck of the Arizonia onto a motor boat. Through the rest of the war he had a total of 5 ships shot out from under him. He told me the thing that he hated worse than anything was the navy took the cost of the sailors uniforms out of their pay. Lonnie passed away last year at age 95.
Apr 10, 2020 18:46:53 #
Yep! The U.S. Navy borrowed and adopted a lot from the British Royal Navy. If you want a good read, look for Patrick O'Brien: Master and Commander,Far Side of the World! there perhaps 12 to 13 in a series and well done.
The U.S. Air Force required us as officers to buy our uniforms after an original $200 upon being commissioned. Just Sayin...RJS
The U.S. Air Force required us as officers to buy our uniforms after an original $200 upon being commissioned. Just Sayin...RJS
Apr 10, 2020 18:53:05 #
My Dad went into the Navy as a Boatswain Mate. He made Warrant Officer when they first offered it to the Fleet.
He was Officer of the Deck at 8:00 A.m. on Dec.7th, 1941, On the USS Oklahoma. He tried to get all the below hatches closed as they were all open due to an inspection due on Monday. After 4 torpedoes hit the Okie, and it started to roll over, he told guys where to jump from to survive.
He then got a motorized Launch to pick up guys in the water and take them to Ford Island during the attack.
When the Tide turned and started the burning Fuel Oil from up above towards the guys in the water, he was using the Launch to keep the Fuel oil from the guys still in the water. A Fire Boat came down and he went over to it. He leaped aboard and being a little excited picked up the Ensign and told him to go back up and cut off the Fuel Oil, then come back and put out the burning Fuel Oil. He took all the fire extinguishers on board and went back to keeping the flames away from the men in the water. He used the fire extinguishers to put out the flames on the sides of the boat where the Fuel oil would stick and start to burn.
Afterwards he oversaw rescue operations on the Oklahoma.
2 days later he was called in for a Pre Court Marshall Hearing. The Ensign had written him up for Conduct Unbecoming an Officer for picking him up.
They asked for his side of the story, and he told them everything he had done from 8 A.M. to after 11 PM. The outcome was he got the Navy Cross, with no Court Marshall.
Now about History as it has been changed for Politics.
My Dad saw the Arizona evacuated 3 times because of the fires.
All 3 times they went back to try and save it.
When the fire got to the forward Powder Room, it blew the bottom out and took it down with the crew.
They were not "Victims", but "Heroes" IMO.
But it made more sense to the Politicians to make them Victims, so the American people would rise up for the War effort. Up until then we were NOT in the War.
There was NO Anti Battleship Bomb, or a bomb going down the Smoke Stack and sinking the Arizona.
Both of those have been put forward by News people that have no idea how Battleships were made.
The Arizona was hit more that any other the others as it's guns were all uncovered for an inspection. Therefore, it would have been able to fight back quickly if not attacked as much as possible by the Japanese.
Again IMO.
He was Officer of the Deck at 8:00 A.m. on Dec.7th, 1941, On the USS Oklahoma. He tried to get all the below hatches closed as they were all open due to an inspection due on Monday. After 4 torpedoes hit the Okie, and it started to roll over, he told guys where to jump from to survive.
He then got a motorized Launch to pick up guys in the water and take them to Ford Island during the attack.
When the Tide turned and started the burning Fuel Oil from up above towards the guys in the water, he was using the Launch to keep the Fuel oil from the guys still in the water. A Fire Boat came down and he went over to it. He leaped aboard and being a little excited picked up the Ensign and told him to go back up and cut off the Fuel Oil, then come back and put out the burning Fuel Oil. He took all the fire extinguishers on board and went back to keeping the flames away from the men in the water. He used the fire extinguishers to put out the flames on the sides of the boat where the Fuel oil would stick and start to burn.
Afterwards he oversaw rescue operations on the Oklahoma.
2 days later he was called in for a Pre Court Marshall Hearing. The Ensign had written him up for Conduct Unbecoming an Officer for picking him up.
They asked for his side of the story, and he told them everything he had done from 8 A.M. to after 11 PM. The outcome was he got the Navy Cross, with no Court Marshall.
Now about History as it has been changed for Politics.
My Dad saw the Arizona evacuated 3 times because of the fires.
All 3 times they went back to try and save it.
When the fire got to the forward Powder Room, it blew the bottom out and took it down with the crew.
They were not "Victims", but "Heroes" IMO.
But it made more sense to the Politicians to make them Victims, so the American people would rise up for the War effort. Up until then we were NOT in the War.
There was NO Anti Battleship Bomb, or a bomb going down the Smoke Stack and sinking the Arizona.
Both of those have been put forward by News people that have no idea how Battleships were made.
The Arizona was hit more that any other the others as it's guns were all uncovered for an inspection. Therefore, it would have been able to fight back quickly if not attacked as much as possible by the Japanese.
Again IMO.
Apr 11, 2020 13:51:55 #
My Dad was stationed on the U.S.S. Arizona from 1930 to 1934. When he passed away in 1981 my Mother took down an old suitcase from the attic. Inside was all of my Dad's military belongings. My Brother got his DD214 and his ribbons and I got a photograph that was taken in 1932. The photo is 5 feet long and 10 inches wide black & white. The photo was taken on the fantail and shows the entire crew of Marines and Sailors. The photo was taken in San Pedro California before it relocated to Pearl Harbor Hawaii. I had 5 copies made and donated them to 2 museums and some to family members. I was told by the curator in Hawaii that some of the sailors and marines were stationed on the Arizona for up to 17 years. I believe that's true because I was stationed on several ships and I could have stayed longer. I have enclosed a picture of the photo.
Apr 11, 2020 16:31:04 #
threeCs
Loc: Allen Texas
Robert J Samples wrote:
Yep! The U.S. Navy borrowed and adopted a lot from the British Royal Navy. If you want a good read, look for Patrick O'Brien: Master and Commander,Far Side of the World! there perhaps 12 to 13 in a series and well done.
The U.S. Air Force required us as officers to buy our uniforms after an original $200 upon being commissioned. Just Sayin...RJS
The U.S. Air Force required us as officers to buy our uniforms after an original $200 upon being commissioned. Just Sayin...RJS
Ron the enlisted Air Force got a monthly clothing allowance and you had to keep your uniform up from that
Apr 11, 2020 17:58:59 #
Apr 11, 2020 19:10:59 #
Ah, TomPat: When you get to be 85,you will too. Seriously, I am just a curious varmint, and being curious, if I have a question, or only suspect something, I will go and research it on Google or Bing. Try it, if you phrase the question correctly, you will get an answer. Just Sayin...RJS
Apr 11, 2020 23:30:58 #
Reel Livin
Loc: US Army (everywhere)
Same with the Army. It’s referred as ‘Clothing Allowance ‘. For enlisted soldiers only.
Apr 6, 2024 21:36:07 #
Frank Kelsey
Loc: San Ramon,Ca.
Sam was my uncle and Alice was my aunt. The other carrier that Sam was on was the Hornet. They were sunk a few months after they launched the Doolittle Raid on Tokyo. They were two of my favorite people in the world.
Apr 6, 2024 22:01:59 #
We are almost ken! Alice ran away from home with a friend. They were missing from Lubbock, Tx for some time. While Alice and a friend were 'on the street' in Los Angles, an evangelist, Amy McPherson Simple took them in, room and board until they could find jobs! Since Alice's mother was my Aunt Dove Bennett, born to Joe and Gertie Samples in Indian Territory. Aunt Dove was the next to oldest of our family and my Dad was the youngest.
Sam had some pretty rough experiences at sea. He and Alice came by our place in Houston, probably in the 1980's. We took them to dinner at the San Jacinto inn, which was where Texas, under Sam Houston defected the Mexican army and gained our Independence, and where the Battleship U.S.S. Texas was birthed. Sam wanted to see the Texas, so we took them to dinner an neither Sam or Alice would eat any seafood! Fortunately, near the end of the meal, we were served hot biscuits and fried chicken!!! Sam told a lot of sea stories.
I asked him why they didn't like fish, or seafood of any kind. He said all newly promoted enlisted men when they crossed the Equator were given a rather brutal hazing! One thing that made a big impression for the initiates, was to have to eat boiled fish out of a trough with a ladle! So, that's the reason they never ate fish.
So, tell me a little about yourself. You probably didn't know that Alice's mother was a Samples! Just Sayin...RJS
Sam had some pretty rough experiences at sea. He and Alice came by our place in Houston, probably in the 1980's. We took them to dinner at the San Jacinto inn, which was where Texas, under Sam Houston defected the Mexican army and gained our Independence, and where the Battleship U.S.S. Texas was birthed. Sam wanted to see the Texas, so we took them to dinner an neither Sam or Alice would eat any seafood! Fortunately, near the end of the meal, we were served hot biscuits and fried chicken!!! Sam told a lot of sea stories.
I asked him why they didn't like fish, or seafood of any kind. He said all newly promoted enlisted men when they crossed the Equator were given a rather brutal hazing! One thing that made a big impression for the initiates, was to have to eat boiled fish out of a trough with a ladle! So, that's the reason they never ate fish.
So, tell me a little about yourself. You probably didn't know that Alice's mother was a Samples! Just Sayin...RJS
Apr 7, 2024 08:38:36 #
Big dog
Loc: Bayshore, Long Island, New York
Robert J Samples wrote:
Alice Bennett was a first cousin, lived in Lubbock... (show quote)
Thank you for another excellent story.
Apr 9, 2024 13:45:10 #
Frank Kelsey
Loc: San Ramon,Ca.
Hi Again,
I remember Mrs.Bennet who lived near Sam and Alice in Buena Park in the 50’s and 60’s. We used to visit every summer for a couple of weeks with my moms folks(Sam & Lena Blumer and I would go fishing wit Uncle Sammie and Aunt Alice. I grew up in Oakland Ca. Up north. I enlisted in the Navy in 1963 and spent a couple of years on The USS IWO JIMA LPH2. After Alice passes uncle Sammie remarried and moved to Gold Hill Oregon. I visited them often until he passed. Really happy to get a reply from you as I just googled his name this site popped up.
I remember Mrs.Bennet who lived near Sam and Alice in Buena Park in the 50’s and 60’s. We used to visit every summer for a couple of weeks with my moms folks(Sam & Lena Blumer and I would go fishing wit Uncle Sammie and Aunt Alice. I grew up in Oakland Ca. Up north. I enlisted in the Navy in 1963 and spent a couple of years on The USS IWO JIMA LPH2. After Alice passes uncle Sammie remarried and moved to Gold Hill Oregon. I visited them often until he passed. Really happy to get a reply from you as I just googled his name this site popped up.
Apr 9, 2024 14:34:47 #
Yes, Frank, I too visited Aunt Dove Bennett in California. I was out there on business. I called her and she suggested I come by for supper, then decided it would be better to come the next evening. So she could get all the Samples relatives to come to.
It was a real shock. If you had taken their home in Lubbock, yard, house, and all the furniture was picked up and moved to California. In Lubbock, it faced East but in California it faced West, but exactly the same as far as I could tell.
I got there early, got to visit with her for a while and she told me a lot of things I didn't know, and gave me a picture of the Samples family when my dad was maybe 4 or 5. She was born in Indian Territory. So, I think my Grandfather Alexander Samples participated in the land rush there and farmed there to prove-up his holding before moving back to Texas. I never met either my grandfather or Grandmother on the Samples side since they both had died before I was born! That is why I wrote my two books of my memories. Grandchildren often are 'short changed' when they don't get to know their grandparents.
I knew Sam and Alice had a place in Oregon, possibly on the coast. Just Sayin...RJS
It was a real shock. If you had taken their home in Lubbock, yard, house, and all the furniture was picked up and moved to California. In Lubbock, it faced East but in California it faced West, but exactly the same as far as I could tell.
I got there early, got to visit with her for a while and she told me a lot of things I didn't know, and gave me a picture of the Samples family when my dad was maybe 4 or 5. She was born in Indian Territory. So, I think my Grandfather Alexander Samples participated in the land rush there and farmed there to prove-up his holding before moving back to Texas. I never met either my grandfather or Grandmother on the Samples side since they both had died before I was born! That is why I wrote my two books of my memories. Grandchildren often are 'short changed' when they don't get to know their grandparents.
I knew Sam and Alice had a place in Oregon, possibly on the coast. Just Sayin...RJS
Apr 9, 2024 16:29:40 #
Frank Kelsey
Loc: San Ramon,Ca.
Robert J Samples wrote:
Yes, Frank, I too visited Aunt Dove Bennett in Cal... (show quote)
They had a place in Klamath California near the mouth of the Klamath River. After sam remarried he moved up to Gold Hill Oregon. Was Mrs.Bennet Alice’s mother? She was a nice lady. Alice used to spoil me when I was there. My grand parents moved up north in 1959 to be closer to my aunt Clara and my mom as they were getting older and couldn’t take care of the property anymore.i always looked forward to Sam & Alice visiting when they passed through.
If you want to reply, then register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.