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While searching through some old newspaper articles in The Danbury
Reporter from 1944, I discovered, by accident, an article about a
naval ship, USS Stokes (AKA-68), being launched at Wilmington, North
Carolina and named in honor of Stokes County. Until this time, I did
not realize there was a ship named for Stokes County, nor did other
residents that I spoke with.
Within these web pages is a brief history
of the USS Stokes (AKA-68) during World War II. Stokes
was an attack cargo ship named for Stokes County, North Carolina.
She was designed to carry military cargo and landing craft, and to
use the latter to land weapons, supplies, and Marines on enemy
shores during amphibious assaults. Her biggest challenge occurred on
19 February 1945 during the assault on Iwo Jima, landing marines on
the beaches, and for the next two weeks, supplied them with rockets,
ammunition, gasoline, and other supplies. Stokes then loaded
combat casualties for evacuation to Saipan.
Iwo Jima was the bloodiest battle in the history of the Marine Corps. In the 36
day campaign almost 7,000 Americans were killed in action, and more
than 25,000 Americans were wounded. Virtually all of the 22,000
Japanese soldiers involved in the battle were killed. In addition to
combat Marines, hundreds of Navy corpsman became casualties in their
efforts to save Marines. Also, the casualty rate for Navy Seabees
(133rd Naval Construction Battalion) was the highest
total of any Seabee unit in history. Twenty-seven Medals of Honor
were awarded to sailors and Marines, more than any other single
battle in U.S. history (22 Marines, four Navy corpsmen, and one Navy
landing craft commander). Exactly half of the awards issued to
Marines and corpsmen were posthumous. One of the Marines awarded the
Medal of Honor was Jack Lucas, born in North Carolina. He was the
youngest Marine to ever receive this award, just six days into his
17th birthday. Anxious to fight for his country, this son of a
tobacco farmer forged his mother’s signature and enlisted in the
Marine Corps at age 14. As General James L. Jones, 32nd Commandant
of the Marine Corps, said, "The valor and sacrifice of the Marines
and Sailors who fought on Iwo Jima is, today and forever, the
standard by which we judge what we are and what we might become."
During my research of the USS
Stokes, I made contact with two commissioning crew members, Axel H.
Anderson, EM2 from New Jersey, and Dale I. Bronson, SM2 from
Washington. Both provided valuable insight into the history of the
USS Stokes. EM2 Anderson provided several photos and a detail
account of the ships daily movements and ports of call. SM2 Bronson
provided first-hand information on Stokes participation in
the assault on Iwo Jima. Also, Robert E. "Bob" Ellis, BM1, USN,
Ret., provided several photos, including a commissioning crew photo
and other memorabilia.
Many thanks, Axel, Dale and Bob, for your
contribution to the history of the USS Stokes.
Since the crew of the USS Stokes
was witness to our flag flying atop Mount Suribachi on February 23,
1945, I’ve included a copy of the original photo of this historical
event taken by Joe Rosenthal. This is the most reproduced photograph
in the history of photography.
“Uncommon Valor was a Common Virtue”
Admiral Chester W Nimitz, March 16, 1945
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