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this mans story was amazing

I thank you, Sir. Semper fi.

It's amazing what these people go through, and how little acknowledgement they get. Soldiers from ww1, ww2, and Korea get respect. But the men and women that gave their lives in Vietnam get nothing. What happened to this nation.

The USS Louisville CA 28 had 55 U.S. Marines aboard and they manned (2) 5 inch 25 caliber guns. The Louisville was 600 feet long x 66 feet wide.

The USS Louisville CA 28 was hit by 3 kamakazi - on Jan. 5 & Jan. 6 1945 at Lingayen Gulf. The Louisville still downed several planes and completed her bombarding assignment then return (not limped) to Mare Island for repairs. June 5, 1945 at Okinawa. My dad was manning a 20 mm gun and for the 3 rd kamikaze and set it on fire prior to hitting the Louisville. 51 shipmates never returned & (1) Rear Admiral Theodore E. Chandler.

Rear Admiral Theodore E. Chandler By Enrico Trotta Heroic and brave Rear Admiral Theodore E. Chandler died on January 7, 1945 at Lingayen Gulf, Philippines aboard flagship USS Louisville (CA-28). It was January 5, 1945, at Lingayen Gulf, Philippines, when I was a 20 year old Seaman First Class at my 20 mm gun station on the port side of the ship below the Number 2 Main Battery 8 inch 55 caliber guns when the Japanese suicide planes came to attack. The flagship USS Louisville (CA-28) heavy cruiser with Rear Admiral Theodore E. Chandler in command was hit by a kamikaze which killed one man, injured 17 men, and completely knocked out of commission Number 2 Main Battery 8 inch gun turret. The USS Louisville held her position in formation to continue her mission of bombardment. The escort carrier USS Ommaney Bay (CVE-79) was also hit by the kamikazes and was sunk. The kamikazes were everywhere, difficult to shoot down, and loaded with gas and bombs. On January 6 th, about 20 Japanese suicide planes made an attack on the fleet. We were able to shoot down five or more planes, but one kamikaze slipped through our ship’s massive AA gun fire and the Louisville was hit at the starboard side signal bridge. A loud explosion blast and massive ball of fire shot over the bridge area where Admiral Chandler was commanding, which also killed 36 men and injured 120 men or more. No one on the port side of the ship was injured. I looked up at Number 2 Main Battery Turret and saw Admiral Chandler with a water hose in his hands aiding crew members trying to put out the massive gasoline fireball and black smoke which went higher than the Louisville’s 125 foot tall tripod superstructure. It seemed to take forever to put out the flames while all the gun crews were watching for more suicide plane attacks. Admiral Chandler was later helped to sick bay and I was told he waited his turn for medical treatment Admiral Chandler sadly and with great loss died the next morning on January 7, 1945. Years later, at one of our Louisville reunions I asked our ship’s doctor who was Dr. Winston Johnson, what was the fatal cause of death of Admiral Chandler? Dr. Johnson said he asked Admiral Chandler what he was in sick bay for because he showed no signs of an injury. When Admiral Chandler took off his shirt Dr. Johnson found that he inhaled the flames which severely burned his lungs. I will always remember and can still see the heroic and brave Rear Admiral Chandler on deck helping to put out the fire to save his ship and lives with other heroic and brave crew members of the Louisville. The Louisville headed to Mare Island Navy Yard for major repairs to make her battle ready to return to the Pacific campaign. To this day, I can say I was a part of history and witnessed some of the worst tragedies serving on the Louisville. I couldn’t have served my country with a greater crew and a heroic and brave Admiral like Rear Admiral Theodore E. Chandler. I know they will be remembered. Well Done. By: Enrico Trotta S1c USS Louisville CA 28 Served December 14, 1943 to March 7, 1946 Submitted by: Tony Trotta

USS LOUISVILLE CA- 28 Heavy Cruiser Greatest Sea Battle - Surigao Strait Give Credit To The Cruisers Not the Battleships From my diary and the Louisville Man of War Book this story should set the records straight that the cruisers proved their weight in gold not the battleships like so many stories told. It was October 24, 1944 aboard the flagship heavy cruiser U.S.S. Louisville CA-28 with the 7 th Fleet - Battleship/Cruiser Force Task Group 77.2 with Rear Admiral Jesse Oldendorf aboard. I was a 20 year old seaman 1st class assigned to portside 20 mm anti-aircraft gun crew by turret B - 8 inch gun. I had a ring side seat to the greatest naval battle ever. The U.S. Fleet consisted of: 6 Battleships 4 Heavy cruisers (Louisville CA-28 Flagship) 4 Light cruisers 24 Destroyers At about 3:15 a.m. we stared to close in and were given the range of the Japanese ships. The Louisville opened first at 3:50 a.m. with her 9 - 8 inch/55 cal. main battery guns. The second time she fired the 8 inch guns she scored a direct hit and other cruisers and battleships opened up - lighting up the night. The “Lady Lou” as she was known, main battery fired over and over shaking the 600 foot ship from bow to stern. The Japanese ships were caught by surprise and were all a blaze. (Crossing the “T” with no way out for Japan). At 4:00 a.m. a Japanese destroyer tried to make a run on us and our 5 inch/25 cal. and main battery 8 inch guns opened up on it - sending death and destruction to sink it. When the battle was over in 15 minutes the Japanese ship losses were: 2 Battleships 5 Cruisers 7 Destroyers The U.S. ship losses were: Destroyer Albert Grant hit but not sunk. During the battle the Louisville fired more main battery 8 inch shells than the total of all calibers fired by the (6) battleships - from (Man of War). The Louisville fired (37) salvos - 9 - 8 inch guns fired for a total of (333) - 8 inch shells. The “Lady Lou” was honored for this by Rear Admiral Jesse Oldendorf. I felt I had to write this article from information from my diary and Man of War - U.S.S. Louisville CA-28 book because documentaries and stories like Sea Classics always seem to give most credit to the battleships. I and others who read my story will know what really happened. Give credit to the cruisers for the greatest sea battle. The total shells fired per battleship: Appendix US Battleship Ammunition at Surigao Strait Ship Capacity Total On-Board AP HC Rounds Expended (all AP) West Virginia 800 375 200 175 93 Maryland 800 685 240 445 48 California 1200 318 240 78 63 Tennessee 1200 664 396 268 69 Mississippi 1200 744 201 543 12 Pennsylvania 1200 453 360 93 Did not fire Data from "Two Ocean War" by S.E. Morrison. The Cruisers fired well over 2000 rounds of 6 inch and 8 inch shells. U.S.S. Louisville fired 333 rounds of 8 inch shells. I will always be proud to have served my country and duty on the U.S.S. Louisville with the great crew that we had and the many I still look forward to seeing at the reunions. God Bless our servicemen and women - past and present! By: Enrico Trotta Served aboard the USS Louisville CA- 28 From 1943-46 as a S1c 20 mm AA gun crew My Dad Enrico Trotta was on the USS Louisville CA 28 from 1943-46 as a S1C on a 20 mm AA gun right below NO. 2 main battery 8 inch 55 caliber gun. My dad was 92 almost 93 years old and passed away in Feb. 2017.

USS LOUISVILLE CA- 28 Heavy Cruiser 1944-45 1 - Extensive shelling Island of Wotje in Marshalls. 2 - Bombardment Roi & Namur Islands. 3 - Led gunfire support Eniwetok Island. 4 - Bombarded Palaus Island. 5 - Bombarded Truk & Sawatan. 6 - 11 days of continued fire support Siapan. 7 - Bombarded Tinian & Guam. 8 - Enter Leyte Gulf - support major allied invasion force & shelled shore installations for 7 straight days. 9 - Battle of Surigao Strait - Flagship for Rear Admiral Jesse Oldendorf. 10 - Support landings at Lingayen Gulf. Hit by (2) kamikaze & killed Rear Admiral Theodore Chandler & many sailors. 11 - Fire support for Okinawa. Hit by another Kamikaze. 12 - Delivered Bull Halsey’s officers & staff - (150) to USS Missouri. 13 - Continued fire support duties. 14 - War ends. 15 - Escorted surrendered Japanese ships from Tsingato, China to Jinsen, Korea. My Dad Enrico Trotta was on the USS Louisville CA 28 from 1943-46 as a S1C on a 20 mm AA gun right below NO. 2 main battery 8 inch 55 caliber gun. My dad was 92 almost 93 years old and passed away in Feb. 2017.

Thank you John for your service. Buck

prayers didn't get you home from nam, the sacrifice of your fellow grunts got you home. Buck

Good video , I Salute him.

Thanks for sharing. Amazing story.

Welcome home.

1955-1972

Sad to say that Lynn passed away on February 9, 2016 at the age of 84. He was a very interesting man to say the least

i'm also a iraq war veteran i served in the marines my father he was on a destroyer during korea . my father he was born on june 2nd 1929. how i can locate his military service?

HEY That's my GRANNY!