The USS San Francisco Memorial
Foundation, Inc. is pleased and honored to support this web
site which depicts the true history and glory of one of
America’s most treasured heavy cruisers, USS SAN FRANCISCO
(CA-38),
and the initial protected
cruiser the USS SAN FRANCISCO C-5, and the current nuclear
submarine USS SAN FRANCISCO SSN-711..
It
can truly be stated that the success the United States
enjoyed over the defeat of the Japanese was greatly due to
the gallant bravery of the fighting men and officers aboard
her decks; particularly during the conflict which took place
on November 13th 1942, during the battle of
Guadalcanal, (a
turning point in the war in the Pacific, after the first
tuning point at the Battle of Midway).
USS
SAN FRANCISCO earned 17 battle stars during World War II.
This site will serve as an
indefinite reminder to the US Armed Forces that it knows the
meaning of sacrifice when it comes to defending our nation's
liberty and freedom, especially to the
U.S. Navy and Marines."
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This
website is open to all who wish to learn about
this unique warship and the men whose lives are
inextricably linked because of her,
and will grow over time, as new information
is gleaned from numerous sources. The intent is
to tell as many of the stories as possible about
the sailors and Marines who knew her, and to
that extent, the Foundation welcomes any and all
information about any aspect of the ship's
history, from the men who served on land and
sea, from their families and friends, from
historians and hobbyists.
Become
a member of the
Foundation, and you will be given access to
special resources and tools that will enable you
to tell your piece of history.
No matter how much
the site grows, however, not every story will be
told here. Volumes could (and have) been written
about the USMC who fought for every square inch
of ground in invasion after bloody invasion, and
while this site commemorates those battles,
there are numerous websites devoted to their
efforts at Guadalcanal,
Iwo
Jima, Okinawa
and other
islands in the campaign. But even focusing on
the USS San Francisco is a daunting task, since
thousands of men were touched by her.
Some stories have
been lost forever, as the players in those
dramas have passed on. Time is of the essence,
as the people and events depicted here are
passing into history, so please join with us in
preserving these faces, photos and stories for
generations to come. Join the Foundation
today.
Pictures Below are from the Navy National
Archives
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IN
SALUTE
TO THE OFFICERS AND MEN LIVING AND DEAD
ON THE
U.S.S.
“SAN FRANCISCO”
A
WARSHIP NAMED FOR THE CITY, WHICH,
THOUGH SORELY WOUNDED, EMERGED
TRIUMPHANTLY FROM THE BATTLE OF
GUADALCANAL, NOVEMBER 12-13 1942,AFTER
INFLICTING HEAVY LOSSES ON THE ENEMY.
“A very
powerful Japanese force was moving at
night toward our positions in the
Solomon Islands. The spearhead of the
force that we sent to intercept the
enemy was under the command of Rear
Admiral Daniel J. Callaghan. He was
aboard the leading ship, the cruiser SAN
FRANCISCO + + The San Francisco sailed
right into the enemy fleet--- right
through the whole enemy fleet---her guns
blazing. She engaged and hit three enemy
vessels, sinking one of them. At point
blank range she engaged an enemy
battleship--heavily her superior in size
and firepower. She silenced this
battleship’s big guns and so disabled
her that she could be sunk by torpedoes
from our destroyers and aircraft ++ The
SAN FRANCISCO herself was hit many
times. Admiral Callaghan, my close
personal friend, and many of the gallant
officers and men gave their lives in
this battle. But the SAN FRANCISCO was
brought safely back to port by a
Lieutenant Commander (*), and she will
fight again for our country ++ The
Commander of the Task Force of which the
SAN FRANCISCO was a part, has
recommended that she be the first of our
Navy’s vessels to be decorated for
outstanding service. But there are no
citations, no medals, which carry with
them such high honor as that accorded to
fighting men by the respect of their
Comrades-in-Arms. The Commanding General
of the Marines on Guadalcanal, General
Vandergrift, yesterday sent a message to
the Commander of the Fleet, Admiral
Halsey, saying “We lift our battered
helmets in admiration for those who
fought magnificently against
overwhelming odds and drove the enemy
back to crushing defeat”++ Let us thank
God for such men as these. May our
Nation
continue to be worthy of them,
throughout this war, and Forever
Franklin 0. Roosevelt President of the
United States and Commander - in - Chief
November 17 1942
The
City
and County of San Francisco offer this
tribute in commemoration of loyalty
to God
and Country
(*)
(Lieutenant Commander mentioned: Rear
Admiral Herbert Embry Schonland, U.S.N.
Ret, upon whom was conferred thee
Congressional Medal of Honor)
Wednesday, March 12, 2008 America
Online: Stan Ellexson
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 If you have
photos, stories, or any information that we can add
to our Web site please contact:
Historian: John Garvey
Web Master: Sandy Melander
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USS SAN FRANCISCO MEMORIAL FOUNDATION NEWS
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USS
San Francisco Memorial
Weekend Ceremony
May 25th Ceremony Overlooking the Pacific
Honors Historic WWII Ship and Her Crew
The
USS San Francisco Memorial Foundation’s Annual
Memorial Ceremony will be held at noon on May 25th,
2008, the Sunday of the Memorial Day Weekend. The 58th
annual ceremony will take place at the USS San
Francisco Memorial Monument at Lands End, located in
the Golden Gate National Recreation Area,
overlooking the Pacific Ocean, where the U.S. Navy
heavy cruiser fought during WWII.
An annual event since
1950, attendance at this year’s ceremony will draw
veterans, families and supporters from Northern
California and beyond. Brigadier General Emory J.
Hagen III and LT. Raymond “Hap” Halloran will attend
this year. State Senator Leland Lee has been a loyal
attendee of the ceremony and San Francisco Mayor
Gavin Newsom has been invited to attend. The
ceremony is free and open to all and there is plenty
of free parking.
THIS YEAR’S SPEAKER
IS
Col Richard C.
McMonagle USMC
----------------------------------------------------introduced
By Major Ted Wong USMC (Res)---------------------------------------------------------------------
Veteran-Chair of
Special Honor---Vincent
Rios USMC (Ret)
Honored Guest to
attend.
Emory J. Hagan lll –
Brigadier Gen., Calif. State Military Reserve (CSMR)
LT. Raymond “Hap”
Halloran-US Army-Air Corps-POW-WW ll
See Bio
http://www.haphalloran.com/
Built at Mare Island Naval
Shipyard in San Francisco Bay, USS San Francisco
(CA38) was a participant in almost every Pacific
battle from Pearl Harbor to the end of WWII. In the
Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, on the night of
November 12/13, 1942, San Francisco native Rear
Admiral Daniel J. Callaghan was killed along with
107 other sailors and Marines on board the ship. As
a result of the courageous actions of the USS San
Francisco sailors in this battle,
President Roosevelt originated
the Presidential Unit Citation Award.
The USS San
Francisco was the first recipient and went on to
earn a total of 17 Awards through the end of the
war.
Each year, Memorial
Day puts aside politics, praises patriotism, honors
our departed veterans and remembers their sacrifices
for the freedoms we all now enjoy. Attending the USS
San Francisco Memorial Ceremony is a wonderful
way to say, “Thank
you, Veterans.”
For more
information, Chief Johnny Johnson, Pearl Harbor
Survivor and
President of the USS San Francisco Memorial
Foundation, can be reached at
415-264-3339 (cell).
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Upcoming Events
"USS
San Francisco History Forum."
IS NOW
UP AND RUNNING!
Pearl
Harbor Survivors Honored
News
USNCSA REUNIONS (National &
Regional)
NATIONAL REUNION in 2008
U.
S. NAVY CRUISER SAILORS ASSN:
14-19 May 2008; Hilton
Hotel,
Northbrook, IL - John
Walsh, 17843 Hollow Run Pl.,
Strongsville, OH
(440) 846-1826
jwalshcentral@yahoo.com
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FUNDRAISER / DINNER
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Articles of Interest
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