USS HOUSTON CA 30
“The galloping Ghost of
the
William J. Stewart
Highlight of My Naval Career
In April 1958 I was assigned to USS Lewis, DE 535 for
duty. Lewis was in Shipyard Hunter's Point for major overhaul. While in the shipyard
the Billy Graham Greater San Francisco Bay Area Crusade was in progress. I was
privileged to sing in his Crusade choir several nights. One night guest soloist
was Ethel Waters. One night George Beverly Shea sang "How Great Thou
Art" with choir back up. That was the highlight of my Navy career.
Second
place to the above was my opportunity in 1953 to play (bass viol) in the
Honolulu Symphony Orchestra.
All
during this time I was quite proud to be a Chief Electrician's Mate.
William J. Stewart
EMCM, USN (Ret.)
My Experiences
Departed Batavia at dusk Sun 28
Feb in company with HMAS Perth. Headed for Australia via Sunda
Strait. Ran into an invasion fleet about 11:30pm and commenced firing. Perth
was torpedoed and sank soon. Houston continued firing until about midnight when
turret 2 was hit and set afire. I was in the shell deck crew of that turret.
Magazines flooded and Houston was out of action. Some 5" guns still fired
manually. I was burned black to my waist in the turret fire but got clear. A
few minutes later "abandon ship" was ordered. I went on deck -
illuminated by enemy searchlights - and obtained a life jacket. I hesitated to
leave the ship but decided to leave and go as far as I could.
Left ship and swam aft to get
clear of shell fire as quickly as possible. Once clear discarded my trousers
and shoes. I could see land (almost a half moon) and started swimming toward
it. Passed 2 overcrowded life rafts but rejected them - didn't want anyone to
touch my burned skin. Had to swim zig-zag plan 6 through
2 lines of Japanese transports and continued toward land. Was difficult
swimming with my damaged left arm. Apparently current was favorable - swells
moving ashore helped a lot. A good kick of my feet would take me quite a way on
each swell. After a long time (3 - 4 hours) I drug bottom. Crawled the last 100
ft to shore. Started hunting water to drink. About 20 minutes later (no water)
the moon went down and I sat down to sleep. Woke at daylight to see one of our
men perched on a rock about 100 feet out. He came to the rock in the dark,
crawled up on it and went to sleep.
We started out to try to get to
Batavia and get on a ship for Australia. About 1/4 mile down the road we met up
with a platoon of Japanese soldiers and were taken prisoner. About mid morning
we were joined by another party of about 24 (Houston) men. Were marched a while
and stopped for the night. Marched next day until arrived at Serang (Bantam) Java and placed with about 1000 other
prisoners in Serang theater.
At Serang
theater we were fed a small loaf of bread twice a day. The second day the Japs bandaged my back, left arm, and ears - changed
bandages every other day for 6 days. After the last treatment, they brought in
a doctor (survived off Perth). He looked at my arm and asked "Can I move
my fingers? Can I more my thumb?" I could. He says "Good, I will have
you well in a week." He used cod liver oil ointment under my bandages. Ten
days later skin had formed over the raw area. Three weeks later I was pretty
well healed - all except my ears - they took a month longer.
After three weeks in Serang theater I was moved to Serang
prison for another 3 weeks. It was an improvement over the theater. Middle of
May I was loaded on a truck and moved to Batavia Bicycle Camp - a Dutch Army
base with good facilities - horrible food. Stayed there about 6 months. Was
loaded aboard a ship for Singapore (3days enroute);
stopped in English Camp "Changi" ten days
then boarded a ship for Japan. Conditions aboard ship were horrible - almost as
many rats and mice aboard as there were prisoners. Food was a small ration of
rice twice a day. Stopped in Formosa for Coal. They brought aboard a bunch of
yellow watermelons to feed the prisoners - they were delicious. Sanitation was
poor - Dutch prisoners started getting dysentery. 102 men died and were buried
at sea between Formosa and Japan. Docked in Moji – port for Nagasaki.
At Nagasaki we boarded a passenger
train for trip to OHasi (20 miles inland from Kama Ishi). Trip required 3 days and nights. Food was rail road
box lunches and pretty good. Arrived OHasi early
December and housed in a temporary building- near an iron mine. Belongings were
searched next day.
We were used for odd jobs in
connection with an iron ore concentrating mill all winter and spring. Early
summer a permanent camp was completed below OHasi and
we moved again - was there when the war ended. Food was sparse but mostly
edible.
In OHasi
the men were assigned (about 50 men) to carpenter, machine, electrical, and
welding shops according to their trade. Those left over were assigned to dig
iron out of the mountain. About a year later a cave-in in the mine killed 14
Japanese. Prisoners were removed from the line and transferred elsewhere. i worked in the electrical shop. I learned enough
electricity from our electricians and radiomen to pass all my future Navy exams
for advancement with high marks.
Guards were changed every month.
One month guards would be bearable. Next month they would generate excuses to
beat on people. At work we were turned over to civilians.
One of our men had a radio in
camp. We knew when the atomic bombs were dropped, also when the war ended.
About the time the war ended I
developed a kidney infection. Fortunately a B-29 delivered some penicillin
which started me healing.
B-29s dropped food, clothing, and
medicine in barrels with parachutes. About half the barrels broke loose from
the parachutes. Fortunately no one was hit by one of the barrels.
Two days after war ended I was
sent to a hospital in Marioka. Was there three days
then put on a train for Sendai. Boarded one of our LSTs for lunch and transfer
to hospital ship USS Rescue. The lunch was fried chicken and it sure tasted
good.
An hour later, USS Rescue was
underway and I was headed home. Made a brief stop in Guam, another in Pearl
Harbor. Three weeks enroute and I was in Oakland
Naval Hospital.
This record is very brief. Much
happened between the lines.
William J. Stewart
EMCM, USN (Ret.)