Friday, October 26, 2007
Tears welled in his eyes the first time we talked about his ship. And it was with obvious pride the day when Tony presented me with several articles to read. On the morning of December 7, 1941, Tony was a member of the ship's crew aboard USS NEOSHO (AO-23) moored on ?Battleship?s Row?, Ford?s Island, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. That morning Captain Phillips and her valiant crew navigated NEOSHO (pronounced "nee-OH-sho") toward safer waters through exploding bombs and the slaughter that was that awful day. NEOSHO was totally undamaged; avoiding great peril as her crew expertly sailed past many heavily shattered and sinking ships of the U.S. Pacific Fleet. Many acts of unrecognized heroism certainly happened on that day, and just as certain Tony was heavily involved with his responsibility to bring his ship through it all. Tony was immensely proud of his service to his God, his Country, and his Navy. His active membership and participation with the Central New York Pearl Harbor Survivors Association was a strong aspect of personal pride. But surviving Pearl Harbor is only part of Tony?s USS NEOSHO story. NEOSHO was a Fleet Oiler (a tanker) whose job it was to deliver lifeblood oil and gas to the fleet. Tony and the crew affectionately called her ?The Fat Lady?. Without the support of crews and ships like NEOSHO, the fleet and it?s aircraft simply could not operate. Work aboard Fleet Oilers proved hazardous for all and deadly to some. Loading of airplane and diesel fuel, a high tempo of operations, and a heavy demand on maximizing the use of each ship placed all crews in life and death situations. Tony was a U.S. Navy Machinist Mate, the kind of sailors who keep much of the ship?s support equipment running?the small engines, the pumps, the compressors, the hydraulic systems, and the ventilation & air systems. Tony did his job with professionalism, whatever had to be done to maintain his equipment and keep that equipment in top operational condition. Any ship would be dead in the water in relatively short order without the work of guys like Tony. In early May 1942, NEOSHO sailed into the Coral Sea north of Australia, in service to the American Pacific Fleet. The NEOSHO group had been left behind in a ?safe area? while the vital American Aircraft Carriers Yorktown and Lexington sought out the Japanese Fleet. On May 7th, just as the major fighting began at the Battle of the Coral Sea, Japanese dive-bombers and torpedo airplanes hit NEOSHO and her escort ships. Burning and immobilized, the NEOSHO began listing sharply in the choppy seas. The horror that followed over the next several days was still on Tony?s face as he talked about these events. Many of Tony?s shipmates lay dead or dieing. Many others had boarded lifeboats and were swept away by the heavy seas, never to be seen again. NEOSHO was sinking as her crew hung on and battled to save her. They expected rescue soon, but that rescue did not come for over four days. The crew had all but lost faith that rescue would ever come?but then finally a rescue ship appeared. There were 293 men aboard Tony?s NEOSHO just before the attack at the Battle of the Coral Sea. Of these, 184 men died while 109 survived. Thank God Tony survived the NEOSHO sinking to live a highly productive life following WWII. Tony Rella was immensely proud of his service and his Pearl Harbor Survivor Medal, an award that took our government over fifty years to authorize. As a retired Navy Chief Warrant Officer, I?ve always been bothered by the military ?awards and commendation? process. So many acts of heroism go unrecognized by the military. Tony, and many guys like him, volunteered to serve before America entered WWII. It was not politically correct to volunteer for military service in 1939 and 1940 as Tony?s service began. A vocal American public was posturing an increasing isolationist view. America too had its own homegrown Neville Chamberlain, and several of them are marked by history as misguided cowards. Unlike Tony, some Americans had turned a blind-eye to the awful world events unfolding in Europe and the Far East. But Tony?s heroism stands as a matter of fact and official record. Tony?s military service was then and is now worthy of several significant combat awards that somehow went unwritten, never to be presented during his lifetime. Tony, you Sir shall be happily remembered and sadly missed. Sincere and heartfelt condolences are extended to your family and many friends. Smooth Sailing and Following Seas. Dave Paul CWO4 (ret) United States Navy
