MYERS (VETERAN WWII, KIA), SIDNEY FRANKLIN - Pulaski County, Arkansas | SIDNEY FRANKLIN MYERS (VETERAN WWII, KIA) - Arkansas Gravestone Photos

Sidney Franklin MYERS (VETERAN WWII, KIA)

Dawson (aka Geyer Springs, Boyd, Lawson, Snow) Cemetery
Pulaski County,
Arkansas

MUSICIAN SECOND CLASS US Navy
World War II
February 21, 1905 - February 28, 1942

Cenotaph

He lies not here but is in the USS Houston CA 30
at the bottom of Sunda Strait
15 miles off the coast of Java

Main article: Battle of Sunda Strait
On 28 February 1942, the day after the Battle of the Java Sea, the ABDA cruisers Perth and Houston steamed into Banten Bay, hoping to damage the Japanese invasion forces there. The two ships were almost torpedoed as they approached the bay, but evaded the nine torpedoes launched by destroyer Fubuki.

The cruisers then sank one transport and forced three others to beach. A destroyer squadron blocked Sunda Strait, their means of retreat, and the Japanese heavy cruisers Mogami and Mikuma stood dangerously near. The resulting battle was foreordained, but Houston and Perth could not withdraw. Perth came under fire at 23:36 and in an hour had been sunk from gunfire and torpedo hits. Houston then fought alone until soon after midnight, when she took a torpedo and began to lose headway.

During this time, Houston's gunners scored hits on three different destroyers and sank a minesweeper, but suffered three more torpedo explosions in quick succession. Captain Albert Rooks was killed by a bursting shell at 00:30 and as the ship came to a stop Japanese destroyers moved in, machine gunning the decks. A few minutes later, Houston rolled over and sank, her ensign still flying. Of the original crew of 1,061, 368 survived — including 24 of the 74-man USMC detachment.
Aftermath:
Houston's fate was not fully known by the world for almost nine months, and the full story of her last fight was not told until after the war was over and her survivors were liberated from prison camps. Captain Rooks received posthumously the Medal of Honor for his actions. Houston Chaplain George S. Rentz was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross, the only Navy Chaplain to be so honored during World War II.

The crew of Houston is honored alongside that of Perth at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia.
(Wikipedia)

Another article taken from the web site, www.USSHouston.com

The USS Houston (CA -30) and her valianet ally HMAS Perth are assigned permnant duty in Sunda Straight at the west end of Java, since March 1, 1942

Contributed on 2/28/11 by eagle12953
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Record #: 475797

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Submitted: 2/28/11 • Approved: 3/1/11 • Last Updated: 3/23/19 • R475797-G0-S3

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