Edited by author 03-08-2009 09:00 PM
Debbie, I have posted your father, Walter J. Duptila (Drew) on the USS ESSEX Memorial Page as a Life USS Essex Association Member.

Are there any Essex veterans from WWII with any recollections of Lt. John Hugh Spotts, a Texas pilot in VF-83, who joined your ship's company March 10, 1945, best I can tell, and was killed March 19. He was an instructor with my father at Pensacola until around 1944, when he was assigned to an operational squadron. Here is the account of his death, written on the back of Hugh's photograph that his brother sent me:

"While returning from a raid on Kyushu, Japan Hugh ran out of fuel trying to help a sub rescue his very dear friend and room mate. He was also his college room mate. Hugh was forced to land on the U.S.S. Wasp. Later that day a Jap dive bomber made an attack on the Wasp killing John Hugh."

Thank you for any details you might know about this man, who seemed to impress everyone who knew him.

Robert Brewer Jr
Fort Worth, Texas

Re your inquiry about John Hugh Spotts.

I am Charles E Hubenthal, was a pilot in Air Group 83 and in VF 83 squadron. Also boarded the Essex March 10, 1945. I tell you this because I was with John Spotts that day, March 19, 1945 on the carrier Wasp. The story that was related below is fairly accurate however some minor points are different. Here is the story as I remember it: (please note that dates used are ones in that area which would be different than ones used back in the states), March 18, 1945 was the first day of combat and flights were over Nittegahara, during the raid a pilots plane was damaged and he was spotted in the water. This was reported back to the ship and John Spotts and I were dispatched to try and find him and to try to drop him a raft. We did find him and dropped the raft. We stayed around for a short while then returned to what we thought was our group of ships but the Essex was in another group so we landed on the Wasp. The next morning we were preparing for our flight, I was in the ready room while Lt Spotts was going to the hangar deck to get his plotting board from his plane. About this time general quarters sounded and all the guns were shooting then silence for just a second. A Japanese plane had dropped a bomb which hit about midship, went through the flight deck and exploded below. There was fire on the hangar deck. I was concerned about Lt Spotts and inquired at sick bay and they told me that he had died. I later talked with a man who had been a few steps ahead of Lt Spotts, had his back to the hangar deck and his backpack was riddled but he only had a scratch. It was his opinion that the shrapnel and fire was what caused Lt Spotts death. Yes he was buried at sea. When I returned to the States I contacted his Mother and have kept in touch with his brother at Christmas.
Hope this information is what you are looking for.

Charles E Hubenthal

Hi,

First, with Memorial Day just a day behind us, I would like to say thank you to all of you who served our country. You will never be forgotten. We owe what can never be repaid.

Secondly, it is a year since I posted last, and would like to again ask if anyone may have known my father, Murray Lee Jackson. He was also called by his nickname of "Jack" while on the Essex. He was from Meridian, Mississippi and was on the Essex at the time of the kamikaze attack. He was a Fireman Second Class. He was injured during the attack, and in a coma for six weeks on board a naval medical ship.

The following is additional information that may help someone remember him: He did NTS at San Diego, CA. Also served on the USS Raleigh, R/S Bremerton, Washington, and was discharged either in San Pedro, CA or New Orleans, LA.

I would just love to know if anyone remembers him and can tell me anything about him then. He could never talk about his WWII experience. He passed away in 1996 at the age of 75.

Thank you for any information no matter how small.

Deborah

Deborah Caron, email me at froabo@comcast.net and I will give you the address where to get your father's military record.

On 9/11/66 I became a widow of George W. Brennan, BM 2nd class, while the Essex was stationed at Quonset Pt. Rhode Island. Because George's death came about quickly, I did not get to talk to a few of his friends. One was Leonard Jarvis of Illinois (lost track of him in the early 70's) and Ora Dale Todd (known as Dale). Both were friends and came to our apartment in East Providence, RI during 1965 and 1966. I would love to contact them OR they can email me at: stewmar@embarqmail.com. I am married and live in Florida. It would be great to connect. My son, George who is now 44, lives in Florida also. He was just a baby when Len and Dale knew him and was only 13 months old when his father died. It might be nice to know someone who knew his dad in 1965-66. IF ANYONE ELSE KNEW GEORGE DURING 1964-1966 IN RI, PLEASE EMAIL ME. THANK YOU. Marlene (Brennan) Paul

Edited by author 10-20-2009 12:46 PM
Marlene Paul, I will put your message on my ESSEX NEWSLETTER in a week or so asking if anyone knows either of these two men please speak up.

Marlene Paul. I tried to email you but the address must be incorrectly listed. Please send the address to froabo@comcast.net

I am the brother of John Giganti, a very proud member of the Essex family. He attended all reunions but the last 7 or 8 because of ill health. He now resides at an assisted living retirement home. I know he would love to hear from old friends who remember him , or anyone who wants to chat with him. His address is John Giganti
218 Pocono Lutheran Village
329 East Brown St.
East Stroudsburg, PA 18301.

Carmine Giganti, thanks for the update on John. I will be sending out my ESSEX NEWSLETTER on Monday and have included your message listed below.

Thank you.

Carmine,
    Send me an email, the address you gave me isn't working and I don't know why. Send to agcret@cox.net and I'll give you the info for the New Jackets....Tom Ferelli
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I have been thinking about my Dad, Robert I. Adams ("Babyface") a lot recently, probably because Friday 1/29/10 would have been his 87th birthday. Unfortunately, he died in 1999. During his lifetime he spoke very little about his experiences during WWII. As members of the "Greatest Generation" continue to age, I realize my chances to learn directly from those who were there are slipping away. My dad signed up for the Navy as an enlisted man in 1942 and then went to flight school and became a torpedo bomber. I know he served on both the Intrepid and the Essex. He was in Torpedo Squadron VT-9. I have some photos, a banana leaf w/ the date penciled on it, a box of shells collected somewhere in the Pacific, a silk map, his ribbons and dog tags, and most of the love letters exchanged between him and my mother. They met in 1942 and were married in 1944 when he was home on leave. My mom was in nurses' training. They had only actually met in person a few times, but corresponded by letters. It was just such a unique period in history. When I saw the entrance below from Debbie, I saw my Dad's name as one she had tried to contact and I was so excited! If anyone out there remembers him or served w/ him, please contact me. Thanks for protecting and serving our country! God bless you.

Oops! my email: kbak58@comcast.net

Hi Karen

My dad, Walter J. Deptula (he later changed his last name to Drew) was in VT-9 as a tail-gunner. To my knowledge, his Radioman, Herbert 'Andy' Anderson is still alive, living in Seattle (although, I think his health is failing). His wife is in good health. I don't think he'd mind getting a call or letter from you (he doesn't do email). It's highly possible your dad served at the same time as my dad. You can go to the Essex Brave Pages to read stories about my dad and Andy's adventures...although your dad isn't mentioned. But the timing seems accurate. It might help in your search.
 

http://www.ussessexcv9.org/Bravepages/

 

http://www.ussessexcv9.org/Bravepages/8strikes.html

 

So look around the website and read the stories of the VT-9 Strikes and see if the dates coincide.
 

I've attached a photo of the whole Squadron. Who knows??? Maybe your dad's in it??????
 

My dad died Feb. 29, 2009 after 10 years with Alzheimer's.

Unfortunately, I've thrown away all the VT-9 Roster information I had been keeping for him but I do call his Radioman every once in a while...since he lives in Seattle and I live in Bellevue (10 min away). He and my dad were very close over the last appx 20 yrs.
 

My dad would have been 87 THIS July 10th, 2010. He lied to the Navy about his age and joined up when he was only 17 and hadn't even graduated from high school yet.
 

If you email me directly, I can send you Andy Anderson's address and phone number in Seattle.
 

Good luck, Sweetie...

Debbie Shaw

 

 

 

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Debbie,
I think I accidently sent 2 incomplete messages to you and I am sorry. I want to thank you for your quick response to me! In the list of Torpedo Squadron Niners you posted 3/4/09, my dad is the first name on the list (Bob Adams). I was just wondering where that list originally came from. Can you tell me? Was it from a former reunion or what? I thought that might be a good place to start. Thanks so much! You are awesome!
Karen Kelly
P.S. You also mentioned including a squadron picture, but I can't find it. Did you forget to attach it? I know I have done that!

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