TYPHOON  COBRA 1944
SLEEP,MY SONS,YOUR DUTY DONE...FOR FREEDOMS LIGHT HAS COME-
SLEEP IN THE SILENT DEPTHS OF THE SEA,OR IN YOUR BED OR                
 HALLOWED SOD-UNTIL AT DAWN YOU HEAR THE LOW CLEAR                 
                                            REVEILLE OF GOD
This Web Site has been established to describe the events of Typhoon Cobra which
resulted in the loss of three destroyers; the USS Spence (DD 512),the USS
Monaghan (DD 354),and the USS Hull (DD 350) on December 18,1944, and to list
the names of the deceased,(757)and surviving sailors (92) who were on those
ships,55 sailors were rescued by the USS Tabberer (DE418) and (37) by other
ships. President Gerald R. Ford saved the carrier USS Monterey (CVL 26) from
death by fire, as recorded on memorials at Admiral Nimitz Foundation. Each ship
is listed separately. Effort is underway to obtain a Medal of Honor for LCDR
Henry L. Plage,commanding officer of the Tabberer,and a proper medal for
President Ford.Click on the appropriate navigation button above to arrive at a page
you may choose to read about theIr valiant accomplishments.

This web site will be saved for posterity at the Admiral Nimitz Foundation at a file
location titled: "Reunions", to provide a description of the suffering and bravery of
the navy heroes in Typhoon Cobra as detailed on the respective memorial pages.
Memorial plaques will be displayed at Admiral Nimitz Foundation, Fredericksburg
Texas listing the names of all the crew members of the USS Spence,USS
Monaghan, USS Hull,and USS Tabberer along with the names of their next of kin
(NOK),friends,family and sponsor, and the names of the ships that rescued the
survivors. A memorial plaque dedicated to President Gerald R. Ford is
included.The memorial plaques have been funded by donations to the previous
names.

Crew members,families and friends of the USS Swearer. USS Gatling, USS
Knapp,USS Cogswell, USS Brown, and USS Robert E. Keller who donate funds
for the memorial will also be listed as sponsors (friends) of the deceased sailors of
respective ships.

The memorial plaques will be placed in the National Museum of the Pacific War
by the Admiral Nimitz Foundation. Viewing the Memorial Wall is an impressive
and poignant experience for museum visitors. Over 450 plaques line the 100 year
old limestone wall surrounding the Memorial courtyard. Plaques are solid
metal,photochemically etched and anodized with a dark bronze background and
silver text and detail. The plaques have been purchased by donations.

Further donations should be by personal check,money order or by credit card to
"endowment" Pacific War Memorial,Admiral Nimitz Foundation, Fredericksburg
Texas.(See page: "services"). to provide for memorials on Memorial Day.              

LCDR Archie G. DeRyckere,USN (Ret.) E-mail:archie.deryckere@sbcglobal.net

During my attempt to have the ships and crew members involved in Typhoon
Cobra listed on a memorial and an award of the Medal of Honor to Captain Plage,
I encountered the disillusion of having to appeal to the bureaucracy of the
Administration, and the Navy Department, even with a letter of strong support
from President Gerald R. Ford , only to be politely ignored except in one instance
where the Secretary of Medals and Awards ,in the offices of the Secretary of the
Navy, said "LCDR Plage cannot be considered  for award of the Medal of Honor.
This is due"entirely" to the fact that his heroic actions did not occur during
combat. While his performance was clearly extraordinary, award of the Medal of
Honor is reserved for actions occurring during conflict with an enemy". I countered
this with proof that his heroic actions did occur in combat against the Japanese, as
Commanding Officer, USS  Tabberer (DE 418),  a unit of  the Third Fleet.
President Gerald R. Ford  served heroically on the USS Monterey ( CVL 29) in
Typhoon Cobra and he stated in a letter to the Secretary of Medal and awards: " I
offer my strong support for a favorable decision on  behalf of LCDR Henry L.
Plage for the award of the Medal of Honor.I requested Vice President R. Cheney
to forward an endorsement to my letter to the Secretary of Medals and Awards and
he stated that"We will see to it that this information is shared with the appropriate
people on the President's staff". Your prayers are requested.
Counter