'Twas 82 Years Ago Yesterday His Ship Went Down

 

A Story About Chief Petty Officer Robert Walter “Bob” Spencer, U.S. Navy

Uncle Bob Spencer (1918-1982) was a ship's company cook/baker serving aboard USS Niagara (PG-52) when his ship was attacked during WWII by Japanese Aircraft on 22/23 May 1943. Niagara was one of four different naval vessel crews that Uncle Bob served with during WWII.  Bob's wife, our paternal Aunt Effie May (Paul) Spencer told this story "...hubby could not swim, but Bob's shipmates saved him as the Niagara was taking on water and sinking." And as the story goes, "...the ship's crew saved Bob because it's so hard to find good U.S. Navy Cooks and Bakers."

On 22 May 1943, USS Niagara, operating with Motor Torpedo Boat Division 23 and then converted to the Motor Torpedo Tender APG-1 classification, with assigned activities in the South Pacific Theater, departed Tulagi, Solomon Islands headed towards New Guinea. Otherwise put, the Niagara acted as the "mother ship" (supplies, fuel, and repairs) for a PT Boat squadron.  The following morning (May 23rd), a high-flying Japanese twin-engine monoplane attacked with four bombs. The ship made a tight starboard turn at maximum speed until the bombs were released, then swung ship hard to port. Three near-misses to starboard and one to port damaged Niagara's sound gear and the training mechanism of one 3 inch gun and knocked out steering control temporarily. Half an hour later, when steering control had been regained, six more high flying twin-engine planes dropped a pattern of over a dozen bombs. One hit directly on Niagara's forecastle and several were damaging near-misses.

Water rushing through a 14 inch hole 6 feet below her waterline flooded two storerooms, a passageway, and her engine room. All power and lighting failed, and her main engines stopped. Fire below decks forward was out of control, and Niagara listed rapidly to port (leaning left for you landlubbers). Her main engine and steering control were restored 7 minutes after the attack. But Niagara's increasing list and imminent danger of explosion of her gasoline storage tanks necessitated the order to "abandon ship."

PT–146 and PT–147 came alongside her stern to take off some of Niagara's crew. Others went over her side into rafts and boats to be picked up by other motor torpedo boats. Niagara was then ablaze from bow to bridge. Flames were spreading aft, and ammunition was exploding on deck. Yet, despite her damage, not one of Niagara's 136 officers and men was killed or seriously wounded. PT–147 launched a torpedo which struck Niagara in the gasoline tanks. She exploded with a sheet of flame 300 feet high, and went down in less than a minute. The motor torpedo boats landed Niagara's crew back on Tulagi Island early the next morning.

USS Niagara steams toward Pearl Harbor 

Naval after-action report edited and copied here from Wikipedia.com, where DJ Paul (retired U.S. Navy), is a financial contributor to the very fine Wikipedia historical article authorship. Wikipedia compiled much of this information from an article found in the public domain "Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships."

Remembering Four Of Our War Veteran Cousins

A Memorial Day, May 26, 2025 tribute. We respectfully remember four of our many deceased U.S. Military Veteran cousins.  Well done and thank you for your dedicated and Honorable services freely given to the United States of America.

Maternal First Cousin-1xRemoved  Leo Francis Wood

Leo is genealogically one generation senior to DJ Paul.  

Warrant Officer (W-1), USNR, Leo Francis Wood (1908-1963).  Leo is a U.S. Navy WWII Combat Veteran, nearly all of his wartime active-duty military assignments are with the "Gator Navy" mainly aboard the Attack Cargo Ship USS Oberon (AKA-14).  Age 33 Leo enlisted in the U.S. Navy on 8 Dec 1941, the day after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.  Leo advanced very quickly in naval service, he is recorded as a Petty Officer Third Class (SK3) in early 1942, and a Storekeeper Chief Petty Officer (SKC) in mid 1944 -- his capabilities with accounting principles and experience in civilian small business management no doubt was noted and found highly useful to his naval commanders.  His "Up Through The Ranks" appointment to Warrant Officer is dated 30 Jul 1944, where he continues his service as the Oberon Paymaster (a naval billet these days is most often referred to as Ship's Disbursing Officer).  Leo's military awards include: the American Campaign Medal, the Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal (5 awards included: North Africa Occupation, Sicily Occupation, Salerno Landings, and the Invasion of Southern France), the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1 award for the Assault of Okinawa Gunto), the Navy Occupation Service Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal.  Leo was Honorably Discharged from naval service on 26 Oct 1945 as WWII concluded and the military service began necessary downsizing following VJ-Day.  Cancer takes Leo Francis Wood in May 1963, and his remains are interred at Saint Bernards Cemetery, Saranac Lake, New York, USA.  Our common ancestors are Great Grandparents Emile and Suzanne (LaLonde) Ouellet.  Leo is a first cousin of the next listed Kenneth J. Seney. 

Maternal First Cousin-1xRemoved Kenneth Joseph Seney

Kenneth is genealogically one generation senior to DJ Paul.

Fire Controlman First Class Petty Officer (FC1), USN, Kenneth Joseph Seney (1913-1981), enlisted U.S. Navy in 1935. Kenneth is a WWII Combat Veteran, with first sea-duty assignment aboard Light Crusier USS Brooklyn (CL-40).  He is recorded as a Petty Officer Second Class in 1943, and was thereafter promoted to Petty Officer First Class effective 1 Apr 1944.  Kenneth's primary WWII sea-duty service includes over three years in ship's company aboard the Jeep Carrier USS Prince William (ACV-31), operating in the Pacific Theater.  He then did a short stint aboard the Destroyer Escort USS Donald W. Wolf (DE-731), and lastly transferred to Receiving Station Terminal Island, Los Angeles, California on 10 Apr 1946 for Honorable Discharge (expiration of enlistment).  Kenneth's military awards include: Navy Good Conduct Medal, the American Campaign Medal, the Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal.  We know very little about Kenneth's life in California, except that he married a California girl named June in mid-1939, and following his military discharge  he was employed as a systems analyst by the Department of Defense most likely specializing in Fire Control Systems, stationed in San Diego, California.  Kenneth's untimely 1981 passing was at his home in San Diego, California, where he and wife June had lived for many years.  The internment site of Kenneth's remains is presently unknown.  Our common ancestors are Great Grandparents Joseph and Agnes (Anderson) Seney, and Great Grandparents Emile and Suzanne (LaLonde) Ouellet.  Kenneth is a first cousin of the aforementioned Leo F. Wood.

Paternal Second Cousin Robert Lawrence "Bob" Janzen

Bob is genealogically in the same generation as DJ Paul.

Colonel Robert Lawrence "Bob" Janzen, USAF (1935-2016) joined the U.S. Air Force in 1958, honorably serving his county for 28 years.  Bob is a 1953 graduate of Pelham Memorial High School, Pelham, NY, Colgate University, Hamilton, NY (with BA), and Webster University, St. Louis, MO (with MS).  He is a combat veteran of the Vietnam War.  Bob's many Air Force assignments were in various overseas duty stations and in the continental USA locations including a tour of duty at the former Griffiss Air Force Base, Rome, New York, and with several Air Force commands in the State of Virginia & Washington DC.  While in active military service, Bob also graduated from the Air Command Staff College and the Air War College.  He was awarded numerous medals and commendations throughout his distinguished career including: the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Joint Services Commendation Medal, the National Defence Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.  Following Air force retirement, Bob made his home in Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania County, Virginia, USA.  Bob was interred with full military honors at Quantico National Cemetery, Triangle, Virginia, USA.  Our common ancestor is Great Grandmother Ms. Effie Julia (Odell) Moegling.  Bob is a first cousin of the below listed Corporal James R. Brink.

Paternal Second Cousin James Richard "Jim" Brink

Jim is genealogically in the same generation as DJ Paul.

Corporal James Richard "Jim" Brink (1944-1966), USMC, enlisted to the U.S. Marine Corps in July 1965.  He is a June 1962 graduate of Charles Baker High School, Baldwinsville, New York, USA.  James parents removed to California from their hometowns in New York State at about the time of his high school graduation. He next attended Sacramento City College.  James is a Vietnam War Combat Veteran assigned to Company F, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Amphibious Force (MAF).  He was Killed-In-Action on 14 Dec 1966, fatally injured by rifle fire from an opposing enemy force while serving in Thừa Thiên-Huế, Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam).  His military awards include: the Purple Heart, the National Defense Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.  James was posthumously awarded the New York State Conspicuous Service Cross.  His remains were interred with full military honors, 27 Dec 1966, near his parents home at Sierra Hills Memorial Park, Sacramento, California, USA.  James name is found inscribed in Washington, DC, THE WALL, at Panel 13E, Line 43.  Our common ancestor is Great Grandmother Effie Julia (Odell) Moegling.  Jim is a first cousin of the aforementioned Colonel Robert L. Janzen. 

Honors To This Generation's Great-Grandmothers

A 2025 edited and re-published article first posted in 2018.   

Fifty Norway Spruce Trees will be planted in a clearing off our western woods in the Town of German Flatts, Herkimer County, NY, USA. The containerized seedling spruce trees were purchased from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Tree Nursery in Saratoga Springs, NY, USA.  The baby tree plantings are scheduled between Earth Day (22 Apr  2018) and Arbor Day (27 Apr 2018), with honors and grateful thanks to the fond memory of our generation's four great-grandmothers. And as Mother's Day 2018 approaches on Sunday, May 13, it is certainly as important to acknowledge the strongly important role these fine ladies played in our ancestral family history. Without their high dedication to family, we obviously would not be present to post these thankful thoughts today.   

 

Multiple biographical updates done in early May 2025

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Our mom's (Lillian Agnes Ouellet-Paul) paternal Grandma Suzanne Agnes (LaLonde) Wagner-Ouellet, born 8 Jun 1864 at Moose Creek, Ontario, Canada, the daughter of Alexis and Julienne (Campeau) LaLonde.  Ms. Suzanne LaLonde-Wagner married Emile W. Ouellet in Roman Catholic ceremonies at Roxborough, Ontario, Canada on 26 Sep 1887. The couple has six children: Ida, Alexander, Bertha, Ector, William, and Doris. Suzanne also has an older son John Wagner from her first marriage to Richard Wagner, Richard died unexpectedly at a young age in 1885. Suzanne died while living at a Tupper Lake, NY retirement property owned by her eldest daughter Ida on 14 Dec 1946. She is interred with her beloved husband of fifty-nine years Emile W. Ouellet (he died earlier in 1946) at Saint Alphonsus Cemetery in Tupper Lake, Franklin County, NY, USA.

Note: The Ouellet surname links our family directly to France via more recently to Frenchmen in New France (aka Quebec, Canada), the first settlers and our stone-masonry French colonial progenitor Rene' Ouellet (1635-1722) and his articulate and well-educated young wife Marie Anne Rivet.  Marie is a French "King's Daughter" -- an orphan raised and schooled by Catholic Nuns in a Church-based residential institution (aka orphanage) supported by the French King Louis XIV.

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Our mom's maternal Grandma Agnes M. "Angie" (Anderson) Seney, born 30 Oct 1863 at Campbellford, Northumberland County, Ontario, Canada, the daughter of James and Caroline Griselle (Kiernan) Anderson.  Miss Angie Anderson married Joseph Seney Sr. at Campbellford, Ontario, Canada on 18 Jun 1883, and the couple has twelve children: Lillian, Caroline, William, James, Adolphus, Clara, Minerva, Edna, Pearl, Mary-Ellen, Fannie, and Joseph Jr. Angie died 18 Jul 1938 at home in Ilion, Herkimer County, NY, USA.  She is interred with her beloved husband of thirty years Joseph Seney Sr. (he was killed in a December 1913 accident) at Oak Hill Cemetery, West German Street, Herkimer, Herkimer County, NY, USA.

Note: Angie's parents James and Caroline Anderson -- James hailed from eastern Scotland (Aberdeen); whereas, Caroline was originally thought to hail from Ireland... but it's now believed from several DNA estimates and matches that Caroline probably hailed from western Scotland.  (updated May 2025)  

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Our dad's (Stephen Paul Jr,) paternal Grandma Petronelli "Anna" (Serva) Poceus-Paul, born 2 Oct 1872 at Janapole, Telsiai, Lithuania, the daughter of Anthony and Petronella Serva.  Miss Anna Serva married Dominick "Dom" Poceus-Paul in 1889 Roman Catholic ceremonies at an unknown Lithuanian location. The couple emigrated to the United States and became USA naturalized citizens in 1900.  Anna and Dom have six children: Stephen, Peter, Anna, Stella, Matilda, and Alexander. She died 28 Dec 1951 at a hospital near home in Whitesboro, Oneida County, NY, USA.  Anna is interred with her beloved husband of forty-eight years Dominick Poceus-Paul (he died 1937) at Saint George Lithuanian Catholic Cemetery, Wood Road, Whitesboro, Oneida County, NY, USA.   

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Our dad's maternal Grandma Effie Julia (Odell) Gorton-Moegling, born 15 Oct 1862 at Summit, Schoharie County, NY, USA, the daughter of Albert and Elizabeth A. (Clegg) Odell. Ms. Effie Odell-Gorton married Edward William Moegling 4 Jul 1889 in Christian ceremonies at Utica, Oneida County, NY, USA. The couple has two children: Edna and Elizabeth.  Effie also has twin daughters Alice and Agnes (born 1885) from a previous marriage to Jim Gorton, that short marriage ended in divorce -- Jim being "an unreliable husband" according to the significant genealogical research complied by our paternal Aunt Margaret Rosella "Pudgie" Paul-Eccleston.  Effie died 9 Sep 1924 at home in New York Mills, Oneida County, NY, USA.  She is interred with her beloved husband of thirty-two years Edward Moegling (he died 1921) at Forest Hill Cemetery, Oneida Street, Utica, Oneida County, NY, USA.

Note: The Odell Lineage and the various more distant surnames more distant and off our Odell Line Tree (icluding Smith, Brainerd, Hubbard, Stanton, Sheldon, Seldon, Denison, Richardson, etc., etc.) take us back to our early-to-mid 1630 New England colonial progenitors.  

The four "Great Grandma Norway Spruce Trees" were planted on Arbor Day, April 27, 2018 in accordance with our plan.  In twenty years these trees will likely be about 25-to-39 feet tall.  These are the same "Grandma Trees" that are now about 10' tall in May 2025, and all healthy and doing well.  

How our "Grandma Trees" look today -- in May 2025: