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Jerome Sub Man Tells of 8 |j|Months “Under Tojo’s Nose”By GEORGIA CHATBURNJEROME, Feb. 9 — It’S getting harder everyday to draw the wily Jap out into the open so that wc can fill him full of holes, but don’t worry, we never give up!”Those were the brief but expressive words sjjoken by a former Jerome youth, James H. Westfall, 22, torpedoman third class, who has been serving on one of Uncle Sam’s newer .submarines.The “fish” as he termed the vessel, operated off the coast of Japan, all right under Tojo's nose.”In fact, we spent Thanksgiving day there,” he remarked casually.14 Months at SeaWestfall is the son of Mr. and Mrs. J. S. Westfall, Falls City residents, and is home for the first time in 20 months. He spent 14 of them at sea, and his “home for the past eight months has been a big steel armored vesvsel which glides through the Inky blackness of the sea. ferreting out enemy ships.Men on Westfall's submarine were responsible for the sinking of 13 enemy transport and merchant ships. Once, Just two minutes after it was torpedoed by his submarine, a Jap ship went down.Westfall said that his submarine was with the Wahoo which was lost in an engagement in the Pacific.I guess you’d say we've just been plain lucky,” he declared, and said that many times depth charges had hit his vessel with little effect.”Jap Ship Fled“Once we stayed down under until nightfall, after a Jap ship learned our position and was determined to finish us off in short order. I don't think their nerve held up, because they soon departed after darkness and they don't like to fight out in the open anyway.”“Being struck by a depth charge Is a strange sensation,” Westfall said. “First there is a light metallic click, and then a swishing sound travels through the submarine, followed by a terrific roar. It sounds as though all hades broke loose!” Among the youngest of his crew, Westfall enlisted in the navy In July. 1942. He said he joined the navy because “it’s the safest.” He was on a destroyer for five months prior to volunteering for submarineduty and received training at thetorpedo training school, San Diego, Calif.Signalled by JapAn amusing incident which occurred a short time ago in Jap infested waters, was told by Westfall who said that his submarine was surfaced at the time and,a Jap ship had mistaken it for one of their own. “A Jap, standing on the bridge of the approaching vessel, was signalling to us, and we interpreted the message in part which said, •never mind/ We just kept on going and soon setled beneath the waves.” He satd he doesn’t think the Jap ever knew the difference.Crash diving to avoid being hit; feeling the spot light of the enemy and some of his direct fire on you is just routine,” Westfall said, “and on about every “run” we have to disappear rapidly in order to “live and strike another day.”“We surface, spot out the enemy, submerge and chase to get another shot. It’s like a game of tag, but the one who is ‘it’ usually doesn’t play very long.’Finest Food “We have the very finest of food, well prepared and served in ample quantities,” Westfall remarked. He said that frozen foods fere taken along and no dehydrated food excepting dried milk which is used for making chocolate.Favorite games of accy-ducey and cribbage are played as pastime by the men.“One might think we are uncomfortable because of being a trifle crowded, but we have the best air conditioning facilities. We don’t get in each other’s way. Wc work in unison, each man to his own post, trained to take no chances, but never to let an opportunity pass to score a hit. My crew was a swell group of guys and our skipper, who is now a commander, was one of the finest men I’ve ever known.” The skipper referred to whs Comdr. E. T. Sand, who received the silver star award for meritorious action several months ago.Westfall will leave within the next few days for Los Angeles where he will visit friends.*Sub ManW~ - ': .A ».vv. .life -JAMES II. WESTFALL . . . This Jerome torpedoman third class Is spending his first leave al home in 20 months, 14 of which were spent at sea aboard a marauding submarine prowling off the const of Japan. His submarine wus officially credited with sinking J3 Japanese vessels.* si oi pri. Ph cci'mey.cthepernotforBa\ofgaty.inIsJmdmtri*belam\rccpnerfboteqttoemeprlca*pli1stbytomePhmtCASTLEFORDpo:Several cases of chicken pox have been reported in the Castleforei schools. Cases so far have been in the first grade.Mrs. L. H. Miracle arrived from Portland, Ore.. where she had been visiting her son, Jim Miracle, and family for the past six weeks.Lieut. Edison McMurty has been transferred from Pyote, Tex., to Lowry field, Denver.Ed Logan Is having h well drilled on his ranee southwest of Castle-ford.Irene Miracle, Boise, recently visited her parents, Mr. Riid Mrs. Albert Miracle.A fellowship dinner was held in the local Methodist church Sunday following Sunday school. After the dinner delegates who attended the bishops' crusade in Boise made reports. Rev. Campbell gave a shorttalk.ewc a .WNiM:cnIhfifthphititilCcSO'dawlwlXotsI•-vs.» s* \ S. A' v.• w • \\%-Vs' •• V •Vs V V
Newspaper Details
Twin Falls Times News
Twin Falls, Idaho, US
Wed, Feb 09, 1944
Page 5
Full Page
Clipped by
David K.
USA 07 Mar 2019
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