The Absurd Report

Editor�s note: For those you who live in the Banana Republic of San Francisco and elsewhere who hate the U.S. Military I suggest you move on to another website because you will not understand a word of this article.

The USS Enterprise is a flat top carrier that saw more action in World War II in the Pacific theater than any other ship in the United States fleet at that time. It also was the most decorated ship of the Second World War, Enterprise changed the very course of a war she seemed to have been expressly created for.

If you are not familiar with the term �flat top carrier� it is a ship that has the ability to launch hundreds of planes, an aircraft carrier. The flat top carrier proved to be the most valuable weapon in the fleet for the battle of the Pacific against Japan.

Of the more than twenty major actions of the Pacific War, Enterprise engaged in all but two. Her planes and guns downed 911 enemy planes; her bombers sank 71 ships, and damaged or destroyed 192 more. Her presence inspired both pride and fear: pride in her still unmatched combat record, and fear in the knowledge that Enterprise and hard fighting were never far apart.

In May 1943, while she prepared to return to the States for much needed repair and refitting, Enterprise became the first aircraft carrier to be awarded the Presidential Unit Citation. She later received a Navy Unit Commendation, becoming the only carrier awarded both decorations for service in the Second World War.

The Enterprise saw action at Midway Island, the Turk Islands, the Mariana Islands, Guam, Saipan, Okinawa and escorted Gen MacArthur back to the Philippine Islands.

On April18, 1942 LTCOL James H. Doolittle’s raid on Tokyo was launched from the flight deck of the Enterprise.

The Enterprise entered World War II on the morning of December 7, 1941, when her scout planes encountered the Japanese squadrons attacking Pearl Harbor. Not until May 14, 1945, when a Kamikaze attack off Kyushu, Japan, left a gaping hole in her flight deck, was she forced to leave the war.

The Enterprise became to be known as the �Lucky �E�� because some how and some way it managed to escape any serious damage until 1945. The luck of the �Lucky �E�� started in December of 1941 when bad weather kept the Enterprise from docking at Pearl Harbor on December 7.

Another antedote about luck of the “E” and I am not sure of the exact date…A Japanes bomber managed to get through the Entereprise’s air cover and scored a direct hit on it’s flight deck. The bomb was a dud and did not explode, the crew of the Enterprise pushed the bomb overboard shaking their heads in disbelief. How’s that for luck?

More than anything else, however, Enterprise’s historic legacy is due to the men who served in her. Even a partial roll-call reads like a Who’s Who of the Pacific War. Vice Admiral William F. Halsey, Medal of Honor recipient Edward “Butch” O’Hare (O’Hare Field – Chicago), Wade McClusky, Earl Gallaher, Richard Best and Gene Lindsey – all heroes of Midway – flew from her deck that June 4th morning.

The list continues, of those whose spirit was imprinted on Enterprise and on her men: Robin Lindsey, Daniel “Dog” Smith, William “Killer” Kane, Stanley “Swede” Vejtasa, John Crommelin, James “Jimmy” Flatley, James Ramage, Bruno Gaido, Osborne Hardison, Herschel Smith.

These men and the thousands more unamed hereos who served on and created in the Enterprise a spirit which made her one of the most successful and beloved warships in history: a living legend and a symbol of American resolve in every task force in which she sailed.

The Long Journey of the Enterprise ended in 1958

Eventually modern technology caught up as newer versions came on line and the Enterprise was dismantled for scrap iron in a New Jersey ship yard, the Enterprise is gone but never will be forgotten.

The 16 feet long stern plate, which proudly proclaimed the ship’s name in raised letters is the only remaining piece of Enterprise’s hull and it now sits River Vale, New Jersey, where for many years it was displayed behind the center field fence of a Little League ball-field.

America who�s a debt of gratitude to this great ship and the men and boys who served in World War II on the USS Enterprise and we salute you and may you forever R.I.P.

USS Enterprise (CV6) Trip to Scrap Yard 58′

SideBear: For those of you who may be interested reading more about The USS Enterprise CV-6 here is the website�s Home Page and there is an abundance of more material available.

USS Enterprise (Son of)

This is the modern version of…