William L. Hewes, Jr., Papers, 1943-1945
(Manuscript Collection #656)
Descriptive Summary
| Title: | William L. Hewes, Jr., Papers |
| Creator: | Hewes, William L. (Jr.) |
| Repository: | ECU Manuscript Collection |
| Languages: | English |
| Abstract: | Papers (1943-1945) including official war diary, summary of important events, statistics, etc. |
| Extent: | 0.024 Cubic feet, 21 pages compiled from an official war diary and a summary of important events. |
Administrative Information
Accessions Information
September 9, 1993, 21 typed pages; Operations of the USS MILLER (DD-535) in the Forward Area of the Pacific from December 1, 1943, to July 3, 1945. Gift of Mr. William L. Hewes, Jr., Santa Rosa, CA.
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
William L. Hewes, Jr., Papers (#656), East Carolina Manuscript Collection, J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA.
Acquisition Information
- Gift of Mr. William L. Hewes, Jr.
Processing Information
-
Processed by S. Mercogliano; A. Merriman, November 1999
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Encoded by Apex Data Services
Biographical / Historical Note
William L. Hewes, Jr. (b. 1922), joined the U.S. Naval Reserves and was assigned to the destroyer USS MILLER (DD-535) during World War II. Hewes served as officer of the deck, anti-submarine warfare officer, torpedo officer, and navigator.
Description
Hewes used the official war diary of the MILLER to compile this account and included personal observations and opinions as well.
The collection consists of a narrative detailing activities of the MILLER and its crew, as well as other ships, in the Pacific Theatre. Described are battles and operations in the Caroline Islands (April-May 1944, p. 2); Marianas Islands (June 1944, p. 2); Iwo Jima (July 1944, p. 3); and the Leyte Gulf (October 1944, pp. 4-5). Specific events are also detailed including the rescue of Japanese and Korean survivors of a sunken supply ship in the Marianas Islands (June 1944, p. 2); a typhoon that sank three destroyers (December 17-18, 1944, pp. 6-7); and the crippling of aircraft carrier USS FRANKLIN (CV-13) near Honshu, Japan, and subsequent rescue and fire-control efforts (March 19-24, 1945, pp. 7-8). At the end of the narrative, statistics for the MILLER are listed including specifics concerning its operation in battle, fueling, maintenance, repair, and fleet assignments (pp. 10-20).
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.
