Communiqués
The following communiqués
provided without cost to the Helena Organization by " Kurt Stauffer "
U.S.S. HELENA
November 21, 1942
THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE FROM ADMIRAL HALSEY, COMMANDER SOUTH PACIFIC FORCE,
IS PUBLISHED FOR INFORMATION OF ALL HANDS
“WITH A DEEP SENSE OF HUMILITY AND PRIDE I PASS THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE FROM THE SECRETRY OF THE NAVY ON TO YOU MEN, WHO DID THE REAL FIGHTING AND WHOM IT WAS MY PRIVELEGE TO COMMAND:
“THE ENTIRE COUNTRY IS INSPIRED AND THRILLED BY THE RESOLUTION AND GALLANTRY DISPLAYED BY YOU AND YOUR MEN, AND THE MEN IN THEARMY AND MARINE CORPS. IN THE GREAT VICTORY WON OVER A RESOURCEFUL FOE, WHO OUTNUMBERED YOU IN SHIPS AND MEN. AS SECRETARY OF THE NAVY AND SPEAKING FOR THE WHOLE NAVY I WANT TO EXPRESS TO YOU THE FEELING OF PRIDE AND SATISFACTION WE HAVE FOR YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS. THE STORY OF YOUR BRILLIANT EXPLOITS FOR THE PAST FEW DAYS HAS ENRICHED AMERICAN NAVAL ANNALS FOR ALL TIME. GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU. SIGNED, FRANK KNOX”.
G. D. LINKE
Commander, U. S. Navy
Executive Officer
| CL50/P15/MM |
|
U.S.S. HELENA
November 17, 1942
|
|
11/nc |
MEMORANDUM TO ALL HANDS
1. The following messages are quoted herewith for the information of All Hands:
MESSAGE FROM ADMIRAL HALSEY:
“TO THE SUPERB OFFICERS AND MEN WHO HAVE PERFORMED SUCH MAGNIFICANT FEATS FOR OUR NATION IN THE PAST WEEK.YOUR NAMES WILL BE WRITTEN IN LETTERS OF GOLD ON THE PAGES OF HISTORY AND YOU HAVE WON THE UNDYING GRADITUDE OF YOUR COUNTRYMEN. NO HONOR FOR YOU WOULD BE TOO GREAT; MY PRIDE IN YOU IS UNEXPRESSABLE. TO THE GLORIOUS DEAD, HAIL HEROS, REST WITH GOD. GOD BLESS EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU. MAGNIFICENTLY DONE”.
MESSAGE FROM ADMIRAL TISDALE:
“IF WORDS COULD ADD TO THE TRIBUTE PAID YOU BY THESE MEN OF CACTUS MY STAFF AND I WOULD JOIN ALL AMERICANS IN SAYING THEM. WE ARE PROUD TO BELONG TO THE SAME SERVICE WITH YOU”.
MESSAGE FROM THE COMMANDING GENERAL, FIRST MARINE DIVISION
“IT IS OUR BELIEF THAT THE ENEMY HAS SUFFERED A CRUSHING DEFEAT. OUR THANKS FOR THE STURDY EFFORTS OF LEE LAST NIGHT, AND TO KINCAID FOR HIS INTERVENTION YESTERDAY. THE RELENTLESS POUNDING OF THE FOE BY OUR OWN AIRCRAFT HAS BEEN GRAND. WE APPRECIATE ALL THESE EFFORTS, BUT TO SCOTT, GALLAGHAN AND THEIR MEN WHO, AGAINST SEEMINGLY HOPELESS ODDS, WITH MAGNIFICENT COURAGE, MADE SUCCESS POSSIBLE BY DRIVING BACK THE FIRST HOSTILE ATTACK, GOES OUR GREATEST HOMAGE. IN DEEPEST ADMIRATION, HE MEN OF GUADALCANAL TO THEM LIFT THEIR BATTERED HELMETS.
MESSAGE FROM THE COMMANDING OFFICER, U.S.S. PENSACOLA:
“THE OFFICERS AND CREW OF THE PENSACOLA WISH TO EXPRESS TO YOU THEIR HEARTFELT ADMIRATION FOR YOUR HEROIC ACTION”.
G. D. LINKE,
Commander, U. S. Navy,
Executive Officer.
U.S.S. HELENA
November 16, 1942.
MEMORANDUM TO ALL HANDS:
Rear Admiral Turner, our Force Commander for the task just completed, has asked that the following be published to all hands:
1. “IN DISSOLVING TASK FORCE SIXTY SEVEN I EXPRESS THE WISH THAT THE NUMBER “67” IN THE FUTURE BE RESERVED FOR GROUPS OF SHIPS READY FOR AS HIGH PATRIOTIC ENDEAVOR AS YOU HAVE BEEN. ALTHOUGH WELL AWARE OF THE ODDS WHICH MIGHT BE AGAINST YOU I FELT THAT YOUR CHANCE OF NIGHT ATTACKS ON NOVEMBER 12 WAS THE TIME WHEN FINE SHIPS AND BRAVE MEN SHOULD BE CALLED UPON TO THEIR UTMOST. FOR YOUR MAGNIFICENT SUPPORT OF THE PROJECT OF REINFORCING OUR BRAVE TROOPS ON GUADALCANAL AND YOUR EAGERNESS TO BE THE KEEN EDGE OF THE SWORD THAT IS CUTTING THE THROAT OF THE ENEMY, I THANK YOU. IN TAKING FROM THE ENEMY A TOLL OF STRENGTH FAR GREATER THAN THAT WHICH YOU HAVE EXTENDED, YOU HAVE MORE THAN JUSTIFIED ANY EXPECTATIONS. AND FOR OUR LOST SHIPS WHOSE NAMES WILL BE ENSHRINED IN HISTORY AND FOR LONG CHERIDHED COMRADES WHO WILL BE WITH US NO MORE, I GRIEVE WITH YOU. NO MEDALS HOWEVER HIGH CAN EVER POSSIBLY GIVE THE REWARD YOU DESERVE. WITH ALL MY HEART I SAY, “GOD BLESS THE COURGE OF OUR MEN, DEAD OR ALIVE, OF TASK FORCE SIXTY SEVEN”.
G. D. LINKE
Commander, U. S. Navy
Executive Officer
U. S. S. HELENA
NOVEMBER 16, 1942
FROM: COMTASXGR 16.6
TO: HELENA, SAN FRANCISCO, STERETT, FLETCHER, O'BANNON.
IF WORDS COULD ADD TO THE TRIBUTE PAID YOU BY THESE MEN OF
CACTUS , MY STAFF AND I WOULD JOIN ALL AMERICANS IN SAYING THIS. WE ARE PROUD TO BELONG TO THE SAME SERVICE WITH YOU.
REAR ADMIRAL TISDALE