Typhoon Cobra 1944 Memorial Website
SLEEP,MY SONS,YOUR DUTY DONE...FOR FREEDOMS LIGHT HAS COME-
SLEEP IN THE SILENT DEPTHS OF THE SEA,OR IN YOUR BED OR
HALLOWED SOD-UNTIL AT DAWN YOU HEAR THE LOW CLEAR
REVEILLE OF GOD
This Web Site has been established to describe the events of Typhoon Cobra which
resulted in the loss of three destroyers; the USS Spence (DD 512),the USS
Monaghan (DD 354),and the USS Hull (DD 350) on December 18,1944,and to provide a
blog by Bill Doughty with information about typhooncobra1944.org,
President Gerald R.Ford,and Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz.
Each ship,President Ford,and Admiral Nimitz are listed separately.Click on the
appropriate navigation button above to arrive at a page you may choose.
Memorial plaques are displayed in the Memorial Courtyard at Admiral Nimitz Foundation,
Fredericksburgh Texas listing the names of all the crew members ,with city and state,of the
USS Spence,USS Monaghan,USS Hull,USS Taberrer,and President Ford along with the
names of their next of kin,family,friends,and sponsor, and the names of the ships that
rescued the survivors.The donations also provide for flowers at the memorial on special
occasions.
Crew members,families and friends of the USS Swearer. USS Gatling, USS
Knapp,USS Cogswell, USS Brown, and USS Robert E. Keller may donate funds
for a designated ship memorial to provide flowers on special occasions.The funds will be
used to provide a memorial wreath for the plaques on Memorial Days.
If you wish to donate,make your donation to: Admiral Nimitz Foundation,endowment fund
for:Typhoon Cobra Plaques. Checks,money orders,Master card and Visa are accepted at
address: 328 E. Main Street,Fredericksburg TX,78624,Ph:830-997-8600.
The memorial plaques have been placed in the National Museum of the Pacific War by
the Admiral Nimitz Foundation. Viewing the Memorial Wall is an impressive and
poignant experience for museum visitors. Over 450 plaques line the 100 year old
limestone wall surrounding the Memorial courtyard. Plaques are solid
metal,photochemically etched and anodized with a dark bronze background and
silver text and detail. The plaques were purchased by donations from Sponsors as listed,
The Typhoon Cobra deceased are buried at Lat:14-50 N,Long:127-50 E in some of the
deepest water of the Phillippine Sea with their headstone provided by the Memorial Plaques.
Deceased not provided with a sponsor were sponsored by:
LCDR Archie G. & Jacqueline M. DeRyckere,USN (Ret.)
During my attempt to have the ships and crew members involved in Typhoon
Cobra listed on memorials and an award of the Medal of Honor to Captain Plage
for hazarding the life of his ship,himself and crew to rescue 55 survivors for 39 hours when
no else would assist him until the typhoon had subsided and it was safer to do so.
This web site discloses the details with accuracy as I am a survivor.
I encountered the disillusion of having to appeal to the bureaucracy of the
Administration, and the Navy Department, even with a letter of strong support
from President Gerald R. Ford,only to be politely ignored except in one instance
where the Secretary of Medals and Awards ,in the offices of the Secretary of the
Navy, said "LCDR Plage cannot be considered for award of the Medal of Honor.
This is due entirely to the fact that his heroic actions did not occur during combat.
While his performance was clearly extraordinary, award of the Medal of Honor is
reserved for actions occurring during conflict with an enemy". I countered this with
proof that his heroic actions did occur in combat against the Japanese, as
Commanding Officer, USS Taberrer (DE 418), a unit of the Third Fleet.engaged
in support of the combat by General Douglas McArthur.
President Gerald R. Ford served heroically on and saved the USS Monterey ( CVL 29) in
Typhoon Cobra and he stated in a letter to the Secretary of Medal and awards: " I
offer my strong support for a favorable decision on behalf of LCDR Henry L.
Plage for the award of the Medal of Honor.I requested Vice President R. Cheney
to forward an endorsement to my letter to the Secretary of Medals and Awards and
he stated that"We will see to it that this information is shared with the appropriate
people on the President's staff".President Ford has never received the award of a proper
medal. I intend to appeal to the United States Congress for award of a proper
Congressional medal.
Your prayers are requested.
SLEEP IN THE SILENT DEPTHS OF THE SEA,OR IN YOUR BED OR
HALLOWED SOD-UNTIL AT DAWN YOU HEAR THE LOW CLEAR
REVEILLE OF GOD
This Web Site has been established to describe the events of Typhoon Cobra which
resulted in the loss of three destroyers; the USS Spence (DD 512),the USS
Monaghan (DD 354),and the USS Hull (DD 350) on December 18,1944,and to provide a
blog by Bill Doughty with information about typhooncobra1944.org,
President Gerald R.Ford,and Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz.
Each ship,President Ford,and Admiral Nimitz are listed separately.Click on the
appropriate navigation button above to arrive at a page you may choose.
Memorial plaques are displayed in the Memorial Courtyard at Admiral Nimitz Foundation,
Fredericksburgh Texas listing the names of all the crew members ,with city and state,of the
USS Spence,USS Monaghan,USS Hull,USS Taberrer,and President Ford along with the
names of their next of kin,family,friends,and sponsor, and the names of the ships that
rescued the survivors.The donations also provide for flowers at the memorial on special
occasions.
Crew members,families and friends of the USS Swearer. USS Gatling, USS
Knapp,USS Cogswell, USS Brown, and USS Robert E. Keller may donate funds
for a designated ship memorial to provide flowers on special occasions.The funds will be
used to provide a memorial wreath for the plaques on Memorial Days.
If you wish to donate,make your donation to: Admiral Nimitz Foundation,endowment fund
for:Typhoon Cobra Plaques. Checks,money orders,Master card and Visa are accepted at
address: 328 E. Main Street,Fredericksburg TX,78624,Ph:830-997-8600.
The memorial plaques have been placed in the National Museum of the Pacific War by
the Admiral Nimitz Foundation. Viewing the Memorial Wall is an impressive and
poignant experience for museum visitors. Over 450 plaques line the 100 year old
limestone wall surrounding the Memorial courtyard. Plaques are solid
metal,photochemically etched and anodized with a dark bronze background and
silver text and detail. The plaques were purchased by donations from Sponsors as listed,
The Typhoon Cobra deceased are buried at Lat:14-50 N,Long:127-50 E in some of the
deepest water of the Phillippine Sea with their headstone provided by the Memorial Plaques.
Deceased not provided with a sponsor were sponsored by:
LCDR Archie G. & Jacqueline M. DeRyckere,USN (Ret.)
During my attempt to have the ships and crew members involved in Typhoon
Cobra listed on memorials and an award of the Medal of Honor to Captain Plage
for hazarding the life of his ship,himself and crew to rescue 55 survivors for 39 hours when
no else would assist him until the typhoon had subsided and it was safer to do so.
This web site discloses the details with accuracy as I am a survivor.
I encountered the disillusion of having to appeal to the bureaucracy of the
Administration, and the Navy Department, even with a letter of strong support
from President Gerald R. Ford,only to be politely ignored except in one instance
where the Secretary of Medals and Awards ,in the offices of the Secretary of the
Navy, said "LCDR Plage cannot be considered for award of the Medal of Honor.
This is due entirely to the fact that his heroic actions did not occur during combat.
While his performance was clearly extraordinary, award of the Medal of Honor is
reserved for actions occurring during conflict with an enemy". I countered this with
proof that his heroic actions did occur in combat against the Japanese, as
Commanding Officer, USS Taberrer (DE 418), a unit of the Third Fleet.engaged
in support of the combat by General Douglas McArthur.
President Gerald R. Ford served heroically on and saved the USS Monterey ( CVL 29) in
Typhoon Cobra and he stated in a letter to the Secretary of Medal and awards: " I
offer my strong support for a favorable decision on behalf of LCDR Henry L.
Plage for the award of the Medal of Honor.I requested Vice President R. Cheney
to forward an endorsement to my letter to the Secretary of Medals and Awards and
he stated that"We will see to it that this information is shared with the appropriate
people on the President's staff".President Ford has never received the award of a proper
medal. I intend to appeal to the United States Congress for award of a proper
Congressional medal.
Your prayers are requested.
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Typhoon Cobra 1944 Memorial Website
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