U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation Collection: Carl Hicks Papers, 1931-1945
(Manuscript Collection #677-037)
Descriptive Summary
| Title: | U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation Collection: Carl Hicks Papers |
| Creator: | Hicks, Carl |
| Repository: | ECU Manuscript Collection |
| Languages: | English |
| Abstract: | History of USS Portland and photographs of Japanese prisoners. (undated) |
| Extent: | 0.155 Cubic feet, 5 items , 21 pages, consisting of naval operations and engagements, four photographs, and one holiday greeting card with picture of ship on the front. |
Administrative Information
Accessions Information
December 13, 1995, 5 items; History of USS PORTLAND and photographs of Japanese prisoners. Gift courtesy of Mr. Carl Hicks, Farmersville, 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
U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation Collection: Carl Hicks Papers (#677-037), East Carolina Manuscript Collection, J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA.
Acquisition Information
- Gift of Mr. Carl Hicks
Processing Information
-
Encoded by Apex Data Services
Description
This collection consists of documents pertaining to the history (1931-1945) of the heavy cruiser USS PORTLAND (CA-33). A pre-World War II document contains information on the ship's construction, armament, its shakedown cruise, involvement in search and rescue operations concerning the airship AKRON, and the ship's use as an escort for the heavy cruiser USS HOUSTON (CA-30) that carried President Franklin D. Roosevelt during a vacation (1935).
World War II-related information contains an official war diary that documents PORTLAND' s participation in numerous engagements and operations (1941-1945). Included are details during actions in the Coral Sea (May, 1942); Midway (June, 1942); Guadalcanal (August & November, 1942); Santa Cruz Islands (October, 1942); Gilbert Islands (November, 1943); Marshall Islands (December, 1943-March, 1944); Carolina Islands (March-September, 1944); Leyte (October-November, 1944); Luzon (December, 1944-February, 1945); and Okinawa Shima (March-April, 1945). Specific information concerning battle damage suffered by the PORTLAND during the third savo at Guadalcanal is included, particularly its jammed turret that forced the cruiser to steam in circles while continuing to fight and damage control measures used to keep the ship functional (November, 1942). Other U.S. naval vessels are mentioned in the war diary and include heavy cruisers USS COLUMBIA (CA-74) and USS LOUISVILLE (CA-28); aircraft carriers USS ENTERPRISE (CV-6), USS LEXINGTON (CV-2), and USS YORKTOWN (CV-5); and battleship USS MARYLAND (BB-46). Also detailed are Japanese kamikaze raids (November, 1944; January and April, 1945) and submarine and midget submarine attacks (October, 1942; March, 1945).
Other records include an account of the Japanese surrender of the Carolina Islands at Truk on board the PORTLAND (September 2, 1945); lists of the PORTLAND' s achievements in sinking or damaging enemy ships and shooting down enemy aircraft; a description of the vessel's outstanding performances in battle; and a synopsis of the PORTLAND' s war-time actions that mentions its battle stars. Four photographs of Japanese officers during the Caroline surrender and one holiday greeting card depicting the PORTLAND finish the collection.
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.
