Follow
This Geni Project is meant to memorialize the United States Navy men who perished at sea during the World War II Battle of the Coral Sea while serving on the destroyer USS Sims. Survivors may also be added to the project.
USS Sims, Commanding Officer Lt.Cdr. Willford Milton Hyman, USN, was sunk by Japanese aircraft during the Battle of the Coral Sea in position 15º10'S, 158º05'E, there were only 14 survivors. The Commanding Officer was among those killed in action. This action took place on May 7, 1942. The men died on that date however in World War II the declaration of death of missing men occurred one year and one day after the action.
USS Sims (DD-409) was the lead ship of her class of destroyers in the United States Navy during World War II. She was the first ship to be named for William Sims, an Admiral who pushed for the modernization of the Navy. (USS W. S. Sims (DE 1059) was the third ship named in his honor, she was preceded by DD 409 (1939-1942), and DE 154 (1943-1946).)
Sims was laid down on 15 July 1937 by Bath Iron Works Corporation, Bath, Maine; launched on 8 April 1939; sponsored by Mrs. William S. Sims; and commissioned on 1 August 1939, Lieutenant Commander William Arthur Griswold in command.
During the Battle the USS Sims and the USS Neosho were deployed some distance away from the main concentration area of anticipated Japanese attacks on the US fleet carriers. But their location was identified and they were attacked in full force multiple times by Japanese aircraft.
A third attack against the two ships by 36 dive bombers was devastating. Neosho was soon a blazing wreck as the result of seven direct hits and one plane that dived into her. USS Sims was attacked from all directions. The destroyer defended herself as best she could. Three 500-pound bombs hit the destroyer. Two exploded in the engine room, and within minutes, the ship buckled amidships and began to sink, stern first. As Sims started sinking, there was a tremendous explosion that raised her almost 15 feet out of the water. Chief R. J. Dicken, in a damaged whaleboat, picked up 15 other survivors. They remained with Neosho until they were rescued by Henley on 11th May. Read more at wrecksite: https://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?134035
An article in Naval History magazine offers a another view of the sinking of the Sims:
https://www.usni.org/magazines/naval-history-magazine/2002/june/mis...
Useful information about sailors and officers may be extracted from the Navy Log found at www.navylog.navymemorial.org
Details of sailors and officers awards and mention of their memorial in Manila may be found at www.honorstates.org