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| Date | 2007-01-25 |
| Location |  |
| Message | My Dad Leo RYAN of the Australian 8th Division was taken prisoner of war aged nineteen and was forced to work on the Burma Thailand Railway.I remember him telling me of the strong bonds of friendship developed during that terrible time, with crew members of the U.S.S. Houston. Dad's health deteriorated over the years after the war as a reult of the horrendous treatment by the Japanese. My Dad passed away a little over three years ago,having suffered from ailments all his life. Regards Brendon Ryan. |
| Date | 2007-01-24 |
| Location |  |
| Message | To Malissa Borromeo, I saw your posting regarding your uncle Jackson Ruscoe, who died Feb. 4th, 1942 in Turret #3, USS Houston. My uncle D. Kinzer Nies also died that day in Turret #3. I am also looking for any information on him. Please email. Thank you in advance, Raymond Nies |
Private Message added 2007-01-21 |
Private Message added 2007-01-16 |
| Date | 2007-01-15 |
| Location | |
| Message | Wilbur G. Smith died June 2006 in Walla Walla WA Wilbur Smith joined the Navy in 1940 to see other parts of the world and to do something different. Five years later, discharged from the Navy after four major naval battles and three years a prisoner of war, he had to acknowledge that he had done just that. His ship, the USS Houston, whose Captain was another Walla Wallan, Capt. Albert Harold Rooks, was sunk in Sundra Straight by the Japanese on Feb. 28, 1942. Wilbur spent 18 hours in the water and was captured later after reaching the beach. He credits Rooks with giving the order that probably saved his life. Wilbur worked directly for Rooks and moments after jumping off the aft section of the bridge, a direct hit smashed into the forward portion of the bridge, killing Capt. Rooks. Rooks Park, built by the Army Corps of Engineers, on Mill Creek just east of Walla Walla is named in his honor. During his three years of captivity he worked as a slave laborer and spent time in several different POW camps. At one time, he was the only American in a work camp of prisoners maintaining the famed Bridge over the River Kwai. He weighed 192 pounds when he joined the Navy and when he was rescued from the Japanese in Bangkok in the final days of the war, he weighed only 95 pounds. His wartime decorations include the Asiatic-Pacific Area Camp, American Defense Service, Good Conduct, WWII Victory, Philippine Liberation, Presidential Unit Citation, and the Purple Heart Medal. |
| Date | 2007-01-15 |
| Location | |
| Message | Dear Webmaster I am the nephew of Warren L Johnson who was a naval crew member of the ships company and was a POW after the ship was sunk.....would like to come to the reunions this year and meet some of the survivors or next generation of the survivors......have some stories to tell about when my family recieved word that my uncle was missing in action and when we later (about 2 years after first notification) recieved a letter from the Red Cross from my uncle in the camp.... I live in Ocala, Florida now but was a native of Baltimore then and my phone number is 352-854-3841...... Respectfully Larry W. Bell |
| Date | 2007-01-08 |
| Location | |
| Message | My uncle was aboard the USS Houston when it went under attack in the Java Sea. His name was Sigmund Ustaszewski his knick name was "Ski". He was last seen pulling several sailors on a raft away from the ship. If anyone new him or has a story about him, I would be happy to hear from you. |
| Date | 2007-01-08 |
| Location | |
| Message | Am looking for PAUL BEATTY who had a son named Don. PAUL BEATTY served on the USS Houston and became a jap prisoner,(suffering the torments of Hell). His father was THOMAS EDWARD BEATTY, and the mother was VIERRA BEATTY. They lived at 215 Vermont Steet, Saint Louis, MO I would appreciate anyone contacting the son of PAUL BEATTY and the Grandson of Thomas. |
| Date | 2007-01-07 |
| Location | |
| Message | Saint Louis, Missouri had a seaman on the USS Houston, named Seaman Bade. He Survived and was captured by the Japs. I knew his father and would appreciate receiving information. Seaman Bade was from Saint Louis. Richard Tegethoff |
| Date | 2007-01-03 |
| Location | |
| Message | Almost 65 years ago, my father and USS Houston went down in the Battle of Sunda Strait. To my surprise, my son - a high school teacher - brought to me today a picture of the "Manila American Cemetery and Memorial" that I never heard before. Unbeknownst to me before, this is an American cemetery in a foreign soil that is operated and maintained by American Battle Momuments Commission (ABMC). Even more surprising to me is the fact that (according to ABMC) it contains the largest number of graves of our military dead of WWII, a total of 17,202 - among them is my father - Ziang F Lien, USN 4985176, missing in action. Almost 700 of the Houston shipmates lost their lives in that battle. Their names may be there too, just like my father's. I'll look for them when I have a chance. |
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