May Jun '10 Saber.indd - First Cavalry Division Association

MAY/JUNE, 2010
TOYA MARU SURVIVOR’S STORY by Peter O’Brien
On March 29th, 2010, through
the amazing earth-shrinking
miracle of the Internet, I found
and spoke with the lone 1st
Cavalry Division Artillery survivor
of the Toya Maru ferry
disaster of September 26, 1954.
The ferry had sailed from Hakodate,
Hokkaido, with about
1,309 passengers including 36
members of the 1st Cav Division
Artillery’s advance party
being sent south to set up a new duty station at Camp Younghans, near Sendai
on Honshu. The four and a half hour ferry ride to Aomori, Honshu, was to be
the first leg of the trip for the advance party. The battalions were to move to
Honshu with their equipment on LSTs and disembark further south at Sendai for
the 40-mile drive to Younghans.
PFC Francis P. GOEDKEN, 99th Field Artillery, HQ Battery 1953-55, was on
an upper glassed-in deck of Toya Maru with several other 99th troopers when,
at about 2100 hrs, he and those gathered there were told by an unknown 99th
Officer to don their life jackets and remove their shoes. Winds were howling and
enormous waves loomed ahead but they were unaware that they were weathering
a typhoon. The soldiers had earlier had supper aboard the ship when seas were
relatively calm. Japanese train travelers were still sitting in their trains on the
train deck of the ship. One of the GI’s, sensing the growing danger, said, “let’s
pray.”
It was soon apparent that the ship was losing headway and taking on water.
The rising water in the ship compressed the air in the upper decks, causing the
large glass window ports to pop out. The anchor was put out but it failed and the
ship grounded which negated all efforts to stabilize her. Buffeted by the huge
waves and typhoon winds she capsized at 2243 hrs, just several hundred meters
off the coast of Hakodate, Hokkaido.
The last thing Frank remembered before being washed out of one of the ports
was the sound of two GI’s praying. Once in the water, not knowing how he got
there and despite the pitch-black night, he spotted a life raft that had been washed
off the deck. An elderly Japanese man was sitting on it and Frank swam to it.
Frank climbed aboard but soon one of the enormous waves washed them off.
They remounted the raft, only to be washed off again. In the second displacement,
GOEDKEN broke his elbow when his arm became entangled in the raft’s
rope lines. Drifting now in the inky darkness he saw the lights of a ship nearby,
but it was not in a life-saving mode. The waves battered him against the steel
MEDAL OF HONOR
CARMEL B. HARVEY, JR.
Rank and organization: Specialist Fourth Class,
U.S. Army, Company B, 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry, 1st
Cavalry Division (Airmobile).
Place and date: Binh Dinh Province, Republic of
Vietnam, 21 June 1967.
Entered service at: Chicago, Ill.
Born: 6 October 1946, Montgomery, W. Va.
Citation
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at
the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. SPC4 Harvey
distinguished himself as a fire team leader with Company B,
during combat operations. Ordered to secure a downed helicopter,
his platoon established a defensive perimeter around the aircraft,
but shortly thereafter a large enemy force attacked the position
from 3 sides. SPC4 Harvey and 2 members of his squad were in
a position directly in the path of the enemy onslaught, and their
location received the brunt of the fire from an enemy machine
gun. In short order, both of his companions were wounded, but
SPC4 Harvey covered this loss by increasing his deliberate rifle fire at the foe.
The enemy machine gun seemed to concentrate on him and the bullets struck the
ground all around his position. One round hit and armed a grenade attached to
his belt. Quickly, he tried to remove the grenade but was unsuccessful. Realizing
the danger to his comrades if he remained and despite the hail of enemy fire, he
jumped to his feet, shouted a challenge at the enemy, and raced toward the deadly
machine gun. He nearly reached the enemy position when the grenade on his belt
exploded, mortally wounding SPC4 Harvey, and stunning the enemy machine gun
crew. His final act caused a pause in the enemy fire, and the wounded men were
moved from the danger area. SPC4 Harvey’s dedication to duty, high sense of
responsibility, and heroic actions inspired the others in his platoon to decisively
beat back the enemy attack. His acts are in keeping with the highest traditions of
the military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the U.S. Army.
FOUNDATION PROVIDES SCHOLARSHIPS
The Foundation of the 1st Cavalry Division Association offers scholarships to
eligible applicants who are attending accredited educational institutions. Currently,
scholarship grants of up to $1,200 are offered annually and pay up to a
total of $4,800 for four years of schooling.
The scholarship program was initiated by the Association in 1967 during the
Vietnam War in response to requests from the Sergeants Major of the Division
who committed their support to perpetuation of the program. A trust agreement
was signed 16 August, 1968 establishing the Foundation. Since that time, no
child has been turned away for lack of funds. Between the generous donations
of Association members and a good investment program the Cavalry has taken
care of its own.
Children of Troopers that were killed in action or are totally and permanently
disabled due to wounds or diseases contracted while serving with the division
are eligible for scholarships. Children of 1st Cavalry Division Association
members who die while serving with the 1st Cavalry Division in peacetime are
also eligible. Additionally, active duty soldiers, spouses and children of soldiers
who currently serve in the division and are members of the 1st Cavalry Division
Association are also eligible.
Page 12
hull of the silent ship several times as he was being washed toward the stern.
Fearing the suction of the propeller he managed to pull away and a wave hurled
him further astern. Soon, without any real effort on his part, he felt the ground
beneath his feet as he was being miraculously washed up on the storm-lashed
Nanae Beach, near Hakodate, Hokkaido.
Walking along the beach he came to an Army Piper Cub that was tied down
on the hard packed sand. Apparently the survivor of an emergency landing,
the plane was intact and Frank considered riding-out the storm in it. He soon
changed his mind, however, and headed inland where he found a large warehouse
and hunkered down there until he was found and taken to a local hospital where
his arm was treated. The next morning his Japanese nurse told him he was very
lucky to have survived, and that’s when Frank learned what had happened to the
1,159 people who didn’t make it. Only 150 survived.
Frank recuperated in an Army hospital on Hokkaido. When released, he was
debriefed by a group of 1st Cav generals. Frank told them what he had experienced
and about the unknown 99th officer who had coolly issued orders as they
were gathered on the upper deck in that ferocious storm. Frank suggested that
whoever he was, he deserved a medal. That officer was 2LT George A. VAIL-
LANCOURT, 99th Field Artillery, Battery C, who was posthumously awarded
the Soldier’s Medal. The football field at Younghans was dedicated a year later
to LT VAILLANCOURT and the others who lost their lives that night.
Soon after the sinking, the ship owners offered Frank 100,000 yen but he
declined. He was informed by a friend that to decline this face-saving gesture
by the genuinely sorry ship owners was not good Japanese manners and might
offend, so he relented and took the money; about $280 at that time.
After his discharge in April, 1955, Frank GOEDKEN returned to his hometown
of Dubuque, Iowa and found a job as a pattern maker at John Deere’s Dubuque
Works where he stayed 55 years. Now retired, the 77 year old, and his wife Esther
enjoy the quiet peace of small town America in nearby Zwingle, Iowa, population
120. Frank is very much interested in any efforts for a Memorial to those
comrades he lost that long ago night of September 26, 1954. He remembers the
typhoon and near drowning vividly to this day. Frank may be reached at 10226
Arensdorf Road, Zwingle, IA 52079, tel (563) 773 2618.
While the photo of the Memorial to LT VAILLANCOURT at Camp Younghans
shows an Honor Roll of those lost that night, it’s too small to read. So, if anyone
has a list of those men, please share it with Jim Miller where it can be available
to all interested 1st Cav veterans.
I also spoke with Lloyd Pitman recently. He sent in the photo of the Toya
Maru and as a 1949-50 member of the 99th he too is very interested in any Toya
Maru memorial.
Peter O’Brien, PO Box 133, Foxboro, MA 02035, HQ, 61st FA, 1954-55.
MEDAL OF HONOR
EDGAR L. McWETHY, JR.
Rank and organization: Specialist Fifth Class, U.S.
Army, Company B, 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry
Division (Airmobile).
Place and date: Binh Dinh province, Republic of
Vietnam, 21 June 1967.
Entered service at: Denver, Colo.
Born: 22 November 1944, Leadville, Colo.
Citation
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at
the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Serving
as a medical aidman with Company B, SPC5 McWethy accompanied
his platoon to the site of a downed helicopter. Shortly
after the platoon established a defensive perimeter around the
aircraft, a large enemy force attacked the position from 3 sides
with a heavy volume of automatic weapons fire and grenades.
The platoon leader and his radio operator were wounded almost
immediately, and SPC5 McWethy rushed across the fire-swept
area to their assistance. Although he could not help the mortally
wounded radio operator, SPC5 McWethy’s timely first aid enabled the platoon
leader to retain command during this critical period. Hearing a call for aid, SPC5
McWethy started across the open toward the injured men, but was wounded in the
head and knocked to the ground. He regained his feet and continued on but was
hit again, this time in the leg. Struggling onward despite his wounds, he gained
the side of his comrades and treated their injuries. Observing another fallen rifleman
Lying in an exposed position raked by enemy fire, SPC5 McWethy moved
toward him without hesitation. Although the enemy fire wounded him a third
time, SPC5 McWethy reached his fallen companion. Though weakened and in
extreme pain, SPC5 McWethy gave the wounded man artificial respiration but
suffered a fourth and fatal wound. Through his indomitable courage, complete
disregard for his safety, and demonstrated concern for his fellow soldiers, SPC5
McWethy inspired the members of his platoon and contributed in great measure
to their successful defense of the position and the ultimate rout of the enemy
force. SPC5 McWethy’s profound sense of duty, bravery, and his willingness to
accept extraordinary risks in order to help the men of his unit are characteristic of
the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself
and the U.S. Army.
The first scholarship grant was awarded in 1973. Initially grants were for
$400 per year and have been raised incrementally over the years. The grants
were increased from $1,000 per year to $1,200 per year in June, 2008. As of
Donations to the Foundation by Association members are gratefully accepted
and are invested and managed by the Foundation Trustees to support this worthy
program.
Undergraduate students must be enrolled for a minimum of 12 semester hours
to receive a full grant. Students enrolled in a Masters Degree program must
maintain a semester total of 5 hours and those enrolled in Doctorate Degree programs
must maintain 3 hours for a full grant. A course of instruction deemed by
the trustees to be of a frivolous nature and not normally leading to a career or job
opportunity generally disqualifies an applicant from receiving a scholar
ship grant.
Continued on pg. 17