Steacy D. Hicks Diary, 1944-1946
(Manuscript Collection #654)
Descriptive Summary
| Title: | Steacy D. Hicks Diary |
| Creator: | Hicks, Steacy D. |
| Repository: | ECU Manuscript Collection |
| Languages: | English |
| Abstract: | Diary (1944-1946) including detail activities, description of radio broadcast, propaganda pertaining to American casualties, views of World War II. |
| Extent: | 0.073 Cubic feet, 1 item , consisting of 25 typescript pages. |
Administrative Information
Accessions Information
September 9, 1993, 25 pages; Diary of a cruise in USS CONWAY (DD-507) with additional anecdotes. Gift of Mr. Steacy D. Hicks, Falls Church, VA.
Access Restrictions
No restrictions
Copyright Notice
Literary rights to specific documents are retained by the authors or their descendants in accordance with U.S. copyright law.
Preferred Citation
Steacy D. Hicks Diary (#654), East Carolina Manuscript Collection, J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA.
Acquisition Information
- Gift of Mr. Steacy D. Hicks
Processing Information
-
Processed by S. Woodley; A. Merriman, November 1999
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Encoded by Apex Data Services
Biographical / Historical Note
Steacy D. Hicks was assigned to the destroyer USS CONWAY (DD-507) throughout his Navy service (October 1944-May 1946). During World War II, Hicks served as a signalman 3rd class and after the war was promoted to 2nd class status (January 1946). Hicks initially worked as a sightsetter, but was later assigned to the signal bridge.
Description
The collection consists of a typescript diary, with additional observations, that detail activities on board the USS CONWAY (October 13, 1944-May 2, 1946). Throughout the diary, lists of American and British ships in the vicinity of the CONWAY are listed (October 1944-March 1946, pp. 1-23). Specific shore bombardments, aerial operations, and battles in and around the Philippines Islands are described including Leyte, Lingayen, Luzon, Corregidor, Parang, and Mindanao (November 25 1944-June 7, 1945, pp. 3-14); Japanese kamikaze attacks on American ships (November 26, December 13 and 15, 1944, January 8-9, 1945, pp. 3,5,7); military actions in Borneo (June 15-July 2, 1945, pp. 14-16); and damage suffered by the light cruisers USS BIRMINGHAM (CL-42) and USS ST. LOUIS (CL-49) are detailed (November 10 and 27, 1944, pp. 2-3).
Other topics mentioned include a description of a radio broadcast by Tokyo Rose and propaganda pertaining to American casualties (January 7, 1945, p. 7); use of peacetime honor rendering procedures by British ships in Hong Kong (October 10, 1945, p. 20); and etiquette to be followed while on liberty in Hong Kong (October 12, 1945, pp. 21-21). At the end of the typescript, Hicks includes a narrative concerning his feelings toward the CONWAY and life in the Navy during World War II.
Online access to this finding aid is supported with funds created through the federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA). These funds come through a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services which is administered by the State Library of North Carolina, a division of the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources. This grant is part of the North Carolina ECHO, Exploring Cultural Heritage Online, Digitization Grant Program.
