|
Vice
Admiral Harry Bean Jarrett (1898 – 1974):
USS JARRETT
(FFG-33) is named for the late Vice Admiral Harry B. Jarrett, USN (1898-1974),
an outstanding sailor of World War II. He received the Navy Cross for heroism
in the Battle of the Coral Sea and served with great valor as a destroyer
screen commander for the fast carrier task force operations in the Pacific as
well as a bombardment group commander in the Marshall and Marianas campaigns.
He was awarded the Legion of Merit for command of his destroyer fire support
unit In the Marianas campaign. The Silver Star Medal for gallantry in
commanding the destroyer screen for carrier striking the Palaus, the
Philippines and the Marianas; and the Bronze Star Medal for heroic actions as
Commander Scouting Line for the fast carrier force bound for the raids early
in 1945 on Okinawa, Tokyo, and Formosa.
Upon the close of World War II, Vice Admiral Jarrett had commanded the light
cruiser USS ASTORIA (CL-90); was a member of the staff of the Training
Command, U.S. Atlantic Fleet; served as the Plans and Policy Officer (Naval
Reserve) under the Chief of Naval Operations; and was Senior Military
Attaché, Taiwan, before successive command of Destroyer Flotilla 4 and
Cruiser Flotilla4. In February 1953, he became the Deputy Inspector General,
Navy Department, serving until his retirement in November 1954.
The Importance of the Solomon Islands
The Soloman Islands, extending to the southeast from the larger land mass of
New Guinea, formed a natural set of stepping stones to forward bases from
which a Japanese could choke off the sea lanes to Australia. In August 1942,
the Allies launched Operation Watchtower to block the Japanese advance south
and seize an airstrip being carved out of the jungle on the little-known
island of Guadalcanal. In seven months, the Allies succeeded in occupation
and defense of the island before establishing aerial supremacy and going to
the offensive to the north.
Battles of Savo Island and Guadalcanal
Almost 60 years ago, the area of water surrounded by by Savo and Guadalcanal
Islands became known as Iron Bottom Sound. It is the watery graveyard for over
a hundred Japanese and Allied battleships, cruisers, destroyers, smaller
combatants and transports that sank during the Solomon campagin. Both navies
had the same mission, to land reinforcements and supplies in order to support
their troops, and to prevent the enemy from doing the same.
After midnight one night in August 1942, the Japanese force slipped
unobserved past the Allied destroyers, entered the sound and began the action
which became known as the Battle of Savo Island. Firing torpedos and shells,
they dashed past the Southern Partol Force. Before the Allies could respond
the Japanese torpedoes had blown a hole in the heavy cruiser CHICAGO's bow
and crushed the side of the Australian heavy cruiser CANBERRA, which lost all
way and began to blaze under a hail of enemy shells.
The attacking Japanese column, still unscathed, split into two divisions and
wheeled north, three cruisers passing across the front of the North Patrol
Force and four steaming across the rear, searchlights open, guns blazing. In
the minutes all three cruisers of the North Force, the American heavies
VINCENNES, ASTORIA, and QUINCY, were afire and listing. QUINCY managed to get
a couple of shells into the Japanese flagship CHOKAI, smashing the staff
chartroom killing 34 men. Hits made by other American cruisers did only minor
damage.
Inside the sound, QUINCY and VINCENNES had gone down shortly after the
battle. CANBERRA, her Commanding Officer Captain F.E. Getting mortally
wounded and the ship heavily damaged, was unable to depart. Hit by 24 shells
in less than 2 minutes, 84 of CANBERRa's crew members were killed. The next
morning, Rear Admiral Victor Crutcheley, the task force commander, returned
to the battle scene and after seeing CANBERRA dead in the water ordered her
to be sunk. Some 620 unharmed members of the 816-strong crew were taken off
the ship by American destroyers before the cruiser was sent to the bottom at
0800 the next morning.In the end, the battle cost the Allies four desperately
needed heavy cruisers and over a thousand lives. On 20 October 1942, the
heavily reinforced Japanese Imperial Army on Guadalcanal and Vice Admiral
Nobutaki Kondo's Fleet of 4 Carriers, 5 Battleships, 14 Cruisers and 44
Destroyers began a coordinated attack on the Eastern Solomon Islands that
would leave the United States without an operational aircraft carrier in the
Pacific Fleet and showcase the power of the battleship one last time.
Three weeks later on the early morning of 13 November, the Japanese and
Allies collided in what became a firece three-day battle that marked the last
major Japanese Offensive in the South Pacific. CAPT Wisecup, former
Commanding Officer of USS CALLAGHAN, shared an account of the Battle of
Guadalcanal where Rear Admiral Daniel Callaghan, onboard USS SAN FRANCISCO,
and Rear Admiral Norman Scott, onboard USS ATLANTA, along with several
hundred other Allied sailors died as the Japanese attempeted to retake the
Island of Guadalcanal from the 1st Marine Division led by Major General
Archer Vandegrift.
Battle of Kula Gulf
In 1943, the Americans continued to move north through the Central Solomon
Islands and the Japanese responded with the night operations, known as the
Toyko Express. The Navy had learned from their mistakes during the battles
off the coast of Guadalcanal and responded with new radars, tactics and
permanent task groups. In the early morning of July 6, 1943, A
cruiser-destroyer force led by Rear Admiral Walden Ainsworth engaged a group
of Japanese destroyers in what became known as the Battle of Kula Gulf.
During the battle three Japanese torpedos hit the cruiser HELENA cutting her
in two, leaving nearly 1,000 cruisermen in the water with only her bow
pointing at the sky. When her bow was discovered, NICHOLAS, the DESRON 21
flagship, and RADFORD were ordered to pick up survivors. At the same time,
the Japanese were making approaches on the rescue ships, as they were also
intent on picking up survivors. Breaking off rescue effots and then returning
twice, the two ships lingered until dawn. Then, as they were only 60 miles
from the Japanese airstrip to the north, they abandoned their whaleboats and
headed back to Guadalcanal at 36 knots. Both NICHOLAS and RADFORD received
Presidential Unit Citations for this action.
|
|
USS
Jarrett (FFG 33):
During
the Gulf War of 1991, Jarrett was involved in a friendly fire incident with
the Iowa-class battleship USS Missouri. Allegedly, Jarrett’s Phalanx engaged
the chaff fired by Missouri as a countermeasure against two incoming Iraqi
Silkworm missiles (also known as a Seersucker). Some stray Phalanx rounds
struck Missouri, one of which penetrated a bulkhead and embedded in an
interior passageway of the ship. Another round struck the ship on the forward
funnel passing completely through it. One sailor aboard Missouri was struck
in the neck by some flying shrapnel and suffered minor injuries. Some are
skeptical of this account, however, as Jarrett was reportedly over 2 miles
away at the time and the characteristics of chaff are such that a Phalanx
normally would not regard it as a threat and engage it. There is no dispute
that the rounds that struck Missouri were fired by the Jarrett and that it
was an accident. It is possible that a Phalanx operator on Jarrett may have
accidentally fired some rounds manually. However, no evidence to support this
theory has ever been discovered.
One of the Iraqi Silkworm missiles crashed into the sea without being
intercepted. The other - heading towards USS Missouri - was successfully
intercepted by a British Sea Dart missile fired by HMS Gloucester.
-
On May 14 2002 and May 15 2002 USS Jarrett commenced her Solomon Islands
Memorial Transit.
On May 14, 2002 while passing over the location where HELENA sank, CAPT
Phillip Wisecup, Commander DESTROYER SQUADRON TWO ONE, and CDR Robert
Hospodar, then Commanding Officer, USS JARRETT, placed a wreath in honor and
tribute to the men who sailed and fought in the Battle of Kula Gulf.
On May 15, 2002 with the silhouette of Savo Island's volcano in the
background, CAPT Philip Wisecup, Commander Destroyer Squadron 21 and CDR
Robert Hospodar, Commanding Officer USS JARRETT placed a wreath over the
location HMAS CANBERRA sank in remembrance of the men who sailed and fought
in the battle. JARRETT then came up to a Full Bell and conducted S-Turns as
she headed deeper into Iron Bottom Sound to the location where Rear Admiral
Daniel Callaghan was killed during the Battle of Guadalcanal.
-
SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- Guided-missile frigate USS
Jarrett (FFG 33) ended its 27-year Navy career during a decommissioning
ceremony at Naval Base San Diego, April 21.
Jarrett completed 15 deployments, six in the last six years, to the Middle
East, Central America and Southeast Asia. Most recently, Jarrett returned
from a six-month counter-illicit trafficking deployment in support of U.S.
Naval Forces Southern Command.
"It has been my distinct pleasure, honor and privilege, to have
commanded the Jarrett for the past two years," said Cmdr. Ferdinand A.
Reid.
All 188 crewmembers participated in the event.
"It feels amazing," said Cryptologic Technician (Technical) 3rd
Class Andrew Stone. "I am so happy I am a part of this." Stone
served aboard Jarrett for the past two years.
Jarrett has been a part of every major sanction-enforcing blockade over the
past three decades and was a leader in anti-terrorism and the war on drugs.
Jarrett received exceptional marks in one of the ship's final major
inspections, the Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV) prior to its final
deployment.
"They blew INSURV away with one of the best scores and really became the
pride of the San Diego waterfront," said Vice Adm. D. C. Curtis,
commander, U.S. Naval Surface Forces.
The ship was named for the late Vice Adm. Harry B. Jarrett, an outstanding
Naval officer of World War II who was awarded a Navy Cross for heroism in the
Battle of the Coral Sea.
Jarrett is scheduled to decommission as a safe-stow for future foreign
military sales. The ship will be classified as inactive and then towed to
Bremerton, Wash., for storage.
-- more FFG 33 history wanted --
|
