USS Atlanta at Guadalcanal.

This November 13 marks the 68th anniversary of the naval battle at Guadalcanal.  In the early morning hours, the USS Atlanta and her battle group, at over a dozen ships strong, tread water off the coast of the island.  They lay wait to intercept a like-sized Japanese surface force.  The American contingent spied the enemy fleet on radar at a distance of 26,000 yards. Yet, under the command of Admiral Callaghan aboard the USS San Francisco, they allowed the Japanese force to close within a stone’s throw.

“We were all getting a little jittery,” admitted Stewart Moredock of Sacramento, California, who was an operations officer on Admiral Scott’s staff aboard Atlanta and was also featured in the special, National Geographic: The Lost Fleet of Guadalcanal.  “We were getting in too tight.  Then Akatsuki hit us with their searchlights and immediately our guns turned and fired upon her.”

Ensign Robert Graff of Far Hills, New Jersey, also on Atlanta, can still hear the urgent barking of commands.  “After our ship was illuminated, an officer gave the order to counter-illuminate.  I distinctly remember the chief gunnery officer yelling, ‘F**K THAT!  FIRE!  FIRE! FIRE’  No sooner said and ‘BOOM!  BOOM!  BOOM! went our guns.”

Ships designed to fight miles apart, now squared off at only arm’s length.  So close were the combatants, literally within a matter of feet, that at times point-blank targets glided safely by in exchange for distant game.

In the end, the USS Atlanta would join seven other vessels in her watery grave on the floor of Iron Bottom Sound.  Most others lay in varying measures of disrepair.  Over 3,000 sailors were killed, including a young Naval Academy graduate from Albion, Indiana named Donald Spangler.  Yet, as the smoke cleared, the day ended as it had begun with the United States in control of Guadalcanal.

Read more on the USS Atlanta, Spangler, Moredock, Graff and the epic Naval battle at Guadalcanal in EVERYTOWN, USA.

2 Responses to “USS Atlanta at Guadalcanal”

1. Don Edwards says:

   May 10, 2014 at 2:04 pm

   My father and uncle were aboard the Atlanta when she was sunk. My father was wounded and the only survivor in his battle station.. Forward mount 52 upper handling room .

   I meet Mr Graff years ago he he gave me some personal items related to his service aboard the Atlanta and he also gave me a video of a dive on her by Kevin Denlay’s group out of Australia.

   I’ve since been involved in a documentary and dive on her with a group of GUE divers produced by Elena Konstantinou and directed by Shareen Anderson. Check out my web site http://www.ussatlanta.com for a clip of the documentary and stories by survivors and their families.

   God bless all who serve.

   Don Edwards

   Reply
2. Colleen Sledge says:

   February 15, 2017 at 8:19 pm

   Dear Mr. Edwards
   I just viewed a DVD “Return to the USS Atlanta”. I am interested in the picture of 8 of the crewmen on the Atlanta. Five men at the top of pic & 3 on the bottom. The man on the top right, with no shirt on, looks like my uncle. Do you happen to know his name? My uncle was killed on the “Atlanta”. He was blonde haired & blue eyed. I have his Navy photo they take when you first enlisted & it looks like the man in the picture could be him. I would appreciate any info you have about the pic. I have a very interesting story about my Uncle..Thanks You can call me at 402-571-8694

   Reply