| USS JOHN RODGERS DD574 AND HER CLOSEST SISTERS USS McKee DD575 & USS Harrison DD573 |
| USS MCKEE DD575 |
| USS HARRISON DD573 |
| USS JOHN RODGERS DD574 Flag ship of Squad Dog 25 |
When you read the history of the three ships you will note close similarities. The basic exception being that
the John Rodgers was the "flag ship" of her squadron. Meaning simply that the Squadron commander was
aboard her. When you read the book "SQUAD DOG 25", you will be reading essentially about either of her
two sister ships as well as the other 6 ships in her squad, being, USS Schroeder DD501, USS Murray
DD576, USS Dashiell DD659, USS Stevens DD479, USS Zigsbee DD502 and USS Ringgold DD500.
However not all the other ships operated with Squad Dog 25 consistently. Some of the others were with
other Squds or Divisions much of the time.
We are spotlighting the two close sisters primarily for their production number as well as the fact that they
were consistently with our own squadron assignments.
My primary duties aboard ship being in the radio shack availed me to much of the correspondence within
the squadron. I was not however privy to much of the correspondence, while receiving inter squad code,
however after decoding much of the time the decoding officer would send me with the message to the
skipper. I must confess I read most of them. All were quite brief and to the point. This work brought me in
close proximity to the other ships and therefore familiarizing me with other destroyers that were operating
with us.
I have been recently corresponding with the son of one of the crew who was aboard the USS McKee.
When I saw a picture that crew member, named Jesse Blades, the face seemed very familiar. At 84
names escape you but faces seem to stick in your memory. While anchored off shore of some of the
islands, we would have what was referred to as "beer parties". Other destroyers would be on shore for the
same reason. It is conceivable that I may have seen Jesse Blades on one of those occasions. Also much
of the time when we would return to Pearl Harbor, for what ever, we would moor along side other
destroyers, some times three abreast from the dock. I have crossed the deck of the McKee several times.
Perhaps it is there that our paths have crossed. Scott Bates has a website called "War Machine"
www.wm-warmachine.webs.com/ . Pictures of his dad's WW2 history is found there.
The following was forwarded to me by Scott Bates.
the John Rodgers was the "flag ship" of her squadron. Meaning simply that the Squadron commander was
aboard her. When you read the book "SQUAD DOG 25", you will be reading essentially about either of her
two sister ships as well as the other 6 ships in her squad, being, USS Schroeder DD501, USS Murray
DD576, USS Dashiell DD659, USS Stevens DD479, USS Zigsbee DD502 and USS Ringgold DD500.
However not all the other ships operated with Squad Dog 25 consistently. Some of the others were with
other Squds or Divisions much of the time.
We are spotlighting the two close sisters primarily for their production number as well as the fact that they
were consistently with our own squadron assignments.
My primary duties aboard ship being in the radio shack availed me to much of the correspondence within
the squadron. I was not however privy to much of the correspondence, while receiving inter squad code,
however after decoding much of the time the decoding officer would send me with the message to the
skipper. I must confess I read most of them. All were quite brief and to the point. This work brought me in
close proximity to the other ships and therefore familiarizing me with other destroyers that were operating
with us.
I have been recently corresponding with the son of one of the crew who was aboard the USS McKee.
When I saw a picture that crew member, named Jesse Blades, the face seemed very familiar. At 84
names escape you but faces seem to stick in your memory. While anchored off shore of some of the
islands, we would have what was referred to as "beer parties". Other destroyers would be on shore for the
same reason. It is conceivable that I may have seen Jesse Blades on one of those occasions. Also much
of the time when we would return to Pearl Harbor, for what ever, we would moor along side other
destroyers, some times three abreast from the dock. I have crossed the deck of the McKee several times.
Perhaps it is there that our paths have crossed. Scott Bates has a website called "War Machine"
www.wm-warmachine.webs.com/ . Pictures of his dad's WW2 history is found there.
The following was forwarded to me by Scott Bates.
Jesse Blades was a gunners mate aboard the USS McKee during WW2 and
was in virtually every major battle along with The John Rodgers. As Gunners
mate Jesse had to be familiar with every gun aboard ship, the 20MM 40MM
and the big 5" guns The McKee had 5 5" 38 guns aboard. He was required
to know calibration, assembly and all fitting adjustments plus periodic
cleaning of all parts. During GQ the gunners mate was usually the gun
"boss". Jesse passed away in 1997 and was laid to rest at Pensacola Naval
Air Station. .Jesse was three years older than me, while serving in the same
Squadron.
This note by Chuck Stansbery, author of the book "SQUAD DOG 25".
was in virtually every major battle along with The John Rodgers. As Gunners
mate Jesse had to be familiar with every gun aboard ship, the 20MM 40MM
and the big 5" guns The McKee had 5 5" 38 guns aboard. He was required
to know calibration, assembly and all fitting adjustments plus periodic
cleaning of all parts. During GQ the gunners mate was usually the gun
"boss". Jesse passed away in 1997 and was laid to rest at Pensacola Naval
Air Station. .Jesse was three years older than me, while serving in the same
Squadron.
This note by Chuck Stansbery, author of the book "SQUAD DOG 25".
| Young Jesse 1942 |
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