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My late eye Doctor was the Gunnery Officer on the DD USS Paterson.
Was just around the bend from Battleship Row.
The little was spoke of it then now makes we wish we had spoken more about it.
Two things that I do remember him telling me:
Per the bean counters in DC:
In surface combat, the life expectancy of a DD was 10 minutes. His crew to a man and by themselves swore that if the 11th minute came up that they would take down the biggest SOB near them with them.
And per DC, my Doctor was senior US Navy officer in terms of combat time. Again, I do now know I missed a lot.
And to see and try to understand just some of the thoughts and mentality of the fighting men of that day, read " The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors".
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