Just wanted to say thanks . . . . I gave my three brothers and sister a copy of the pictures along with a copy of James Fahey’s book, Pacific War Diary, 1942-1945: The Secret Diary of an American Soldier . . . .a journal of his time aboard the Montpelier  . . . .which mentions my grandfather a few times.

The picture below was a secret treasure you sent me as my Grandfather, Capt. Harry D. Hoffman, is clearly pictured in the center of the three men at the front of the picture. This with all the other pictures went a long way to help with the loss of our mother whose life was so molded by this man’s strong values and sense of honor which in turn helped shape all of ours.

I will keep them always as will my children.

I am thankful that I found a family that held the USS Montpelier CL-57 so close to heart. Your father must have been a special man . . . . . I thank you for the service you have provided for my family and countless others.        David C., Wilmington, DE

"I was on an LST off Iwo Jima, when the Texas was there. My brother spent time on the Texas but not at this time." Willard C., Jonesville, IN.

"Any of the pictures in the log your are welcome to add to your collection. The color picture of the Sarge (USS Sargent Bay CVE-83) in the first part of the log was given to me when I boarded the ship in San Pedro, June 1944. The log only goes up to August 1945 when the ship returned home after a 13 month tour of duty. There were two primary VC squardrons, VC79 and VC83. From Nov 1944 until Dec 1945 the ship was on what was called, "oilier duty".  My ship and other carriers like mine provided sub protection as we edcoted from 10 to 15 oilers which refueled Halsey fleet during the Palau invasion up through MacArthur's return to the Philippines. In De 1945, VC79 departed. During this period, hundreds of take-off's and landings were made on a very small deck only a little more than 500 feet. VC83 came aboard in Jan. 1945. Our orders were to proceed to Iwo Jima where our pilots would provide support for the Marines. Our carrier was first to appear on the invasion and the last one to leave. After Iwo, our orders were to proceed to Okinawa. It was in this invasion that the Japs went all out with the suicide pilots. One plane made a dive on our ship and a photographer on the USS Saginaw Bay captures the plane in its dive.  Your father did what I have always wanted to do. Good luck on your enterprise." Jerry W., Newhall, CA.

"Many of your pictures are in the records of: Dept of the Army, US Army Military History Institute, Carlisle Barracks, Carlisle, PA 17013-5008. As I honor local veterans with copies of their war records, pictures and history, a letter is sent to the veterans families and back to me. The information is now part of the official recors at the Institure and so are your photos! Thank you." Frank E. Albrecht, Riegelsvilla, PA.

"I was a signal man aboard the PC-1193 when both these photos were taken....Thank heaven we got connected." Larry E., Port Huron, MI.

"My last assingment was as the chaplain's assistant. My duty station was in the library. On my last day I took several pictures that were on display. Three pictures told a story. #1 pilot jumps off wing at water landing. #2 pilot in life raft next to submarine. #3 pilot transferred to ship from destroyer.....Just imagine how many pictures our ship's photographer took and just a few were saved for posterity. My son made a documentary on the P-51, the miracle that solved the provlem of fighter protection for our bombers over Germany. Good Luck on your enterprise. Jerry W, Newhall, CA.

"On 12 December 1951 when the raid (Toko-Ri) took place, Air Group 5 was attached to the USS Essex, the flag ship for Task Force 77. We were flying daily strikes against the North Koreans and Chinese God! It was cold. The main job was to interdict the flow of supplies coming from Russia and China. The rules of engagement imposed by political forces in Washington would not allow us to bomb the bridges across the Yalu River where the supplies could easily have been stopped. We had to wait until they were dispersed and hidden in North Korea and then try to stop them."  By Frank R. O'Connor, USS Essex Past Chairman (In response to Mr. Michener's fictionalized account and Hollywood's movie version, "The Bridges at Toko-Ri) ...the Real Story by Apt Paul N. Gray, USN Ret, USNA '41 former CO of VF-54...for entire story and a Great piece of Naval Aviation History, email rodammer@bellsouth.net).

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