U.W. ATHELETE TELLS OF SEA RESCUE (Seattle Post-Intelligencer, November 24, 1942)
Liet. Gannon Back Home, Describes Torpedoing of His Ship
Two pictures Lieut. (j.g.) Jack Gannon will carry with him to the grave . . .
A patrol plane wheeling off like a gull in the distance while he and his companions waved and shouted despairingly from their life raft somewhere on the vast Atlantic.
And a strip of salt-spayed earth on which they landed following four days and nights adrift after their ship had been sent to the bottom by two torpedoes.
EVERY MAN CALM
Such simple things as a plane and a bit of beach can make or break a man's heart, Lieutenant Gannon, former University of Washington basketball star, explained yesterday on his arrival in Seattle to visit his mother, Mrs. Irene Gannon, 534 N. 77th St.
"The earth felt so good I just walked around enjoying it," he said. "I scuffed it up with my toes and picked it up in my hand--just picked it up and tossed it away again."
It was only when they reached safety that the survivors gave way to their emotions, Lieutenant Gannon said.
"When the torpedoes hit and the ship went, everyman was calm and everything went off like clockwork. On the raft it was the same. Everyone did as he was told, without hesitation. But when we got ashore--well, it was mighty good to know we'd made it."
STRUCK AT NIGHT
Just when, or where it happened, or what ship he was on, still are official navy secrets, closely guarded lest the enemy gain valuable information.
"It was night, and I had just come down from the bridge when the first torpedo hit," Lieutenant Gannon said. "The first I knew I heard a loud explosion and was picking myself up off the deck. We all ran to our battle stations. The ship was settling, then the second torpedo struck and the ship began to disintegrate.
"We abandoned ship then. Most of the men were saved.
"There were the captain, myself and twelve enlisted men on our raft. We pulled away and were about 100 yards past the stern when the sub, which we never saw because of the darkness, opened fire with machine and heavier guns, shooting the ship and at us. But we got away all right."
Lieutenant Gannon said they were about a mile distant when the ship exploded and went down.
The various life rafts became separated, he related, and then followed four days of travel under a blistering sun, but with the sea, fortunately quite calm.
"We had food aboard, but the water was bad and after some had drunk it and been made ill we didn't have any the rest of the voyage," Lieutenant Gannon said. "We were clad only in shorts, and the sun was hot. Our food consisted of fruit juice and malted milk and vitamin tablets. We rationed it strictly, not knowing how long we might be on the raft."
JOKED AND LAUGHED
The raft was equipped with sails, and they set out for land, having a pretty good idea of their position.
"The first day was uneventful," he recalled. "The men were magnificent. They joked and laughed and talked about the steaks they would order when we got ashore.
"The second day we saw an Allied patrol plane, somewhere around noon. But the men on the plane didn't see us. We waved and waved, but it just flew on. It was heartbreaking.
"About noon the third day the plane came again, looking for us. Learned afterward the radio operator happened to be walking toward one end of the plane and just saw us out of the corner of his eye."
The patrol plane came over and dropped a note, saying help was on the way and giving the men the course to the nearest land.
"We took the course--and sailed right into the harbor before a rescue boat could get to us. We arrived at 7 p.m. the fourth day after we had left our ship."
Lieutenant Gannon was flown by the navy 6,000 miles to Miami, Fla., and came the rest of the way to Seattle by train.
U.W. ATHLETE
He entered the navy in December, 1940, going to officers' school at Northwestern University, Chicago, and receiving the commission of ensign in the spring of 1941. He spent eight months with the Pacific fleet, going to Iceland with the first A.E.F. Then came assigment on the troop carrier, to Australia and in the Coral Sea. Then to the Middle East and Egypt.
"We were pretty fortunate in not being bombed by enemy planes," Lieutenant Gannon said. "Then, on the way back to the United States, the sub got us."
Jack J. Gannon, Lt. Comm. US Navy (Retired) age 84. Born 9-8-14, died 3-13-99 in Seattle. He is survived by his loving wife Martha W. Gannon; daughters: Cathie Gudgel, Tricia Hoffmann; son: Jim Gannon; four granddaughters: Melissa, Teal, Allison and Hanna; two great-grandsons: Mason and Martin. Son Greg predeceased him in 1951. Jack was a graduate of Northwestern Univ. Officer's Training School and was a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity, Oval Club and Big W Club. Arrangements, BLEITZ FUNERAL HOME, Seattle. Cremation. No services.
Sources: Jack Gannon; Patricia Ann's wedding announcement; Jack's Obituary
Gregory was killed by being run over by a car, when he was an infant in1951 in Seattle.
HANS LARSEN's birth/christening records gives the mothers name as KIRSTEN MORTENSDATTER. The 1836 confirmation gives the mother's name as METTE CHATRINE MORTENSDATTER. Witnesses at his Christening were Neils Larsen and wife, Jens Larsen, Anders Nielsen, Jens Jacobsen's wife. All were from Assinglose. Hans and Metter were Lutheran.
Sources: Assinglose, Daastrup, Orsted Parish records, LDS films 048321/3/4; 1834 Census, LDS film 039069; 1850 Census, LDS film 039338
Occupation: Farmer
County suspect.
County suspect.
County suspect.
County suspect.
County suspect.
County suspect.
Sources for the family from LDS film 048323, 048324, and 048321.
Widow of Fredrik Mogensen. Durng her lifetime, a widow had only six months to remarry, or she would lose the farm if she did not have sons old enough to run it.
Sources are same as for husband Jens Hansen..
Non-LDS baptism 12 May 1822.
Sources: Glim, Somme, Copenhagen Co., DN parish records, LDS film 048331; Glim, DN 1834 census, LDS fillm 039070; Glim, DN 1840 & 1845 census, Rigsarkivet, DN; Dagney Larsen, DN 1978; Ousted, Voldborg, 1860 & 1870 census, Rigsarkivet, DN; 1855 Glim census, LDS film 039416;
(not a Christoffer or Albrecht that works on Glim 1801 census)
(Niels Pedersen not found on old LDS film 701 for Osted Parish, DN)
1855 census states that Johanne is divorced and living with son Peder.
They were still living as man and wife in the 1850 census.
Church affiliation was Lutheran.
Married Maren LARSEN.
Baptism at home on 31 Mar 1828.
No first name given in source. Mr. Olsen was a Blacksmith. He was from Roskilde.
Allerslev is a parish.
Frederick Jensen inherited Ebberupgaard.
Sources: Church records of Kirke Hvalso, Saerlose, Voldborg, Denmark (LDS film 048265); Visits with Dagney Larsen and Jenny Frandsen - Denmark 1978.
Of Alleulev
Peter was a farmer in Lejre - farm named Munkedamagaard.
Buried: Farm named Munkedamagaard
Married Peter OLSEN
CHRISTOPHER MONSEN's, farmer, birth was not recorded, but was born in Kirke Hyllinge per census. Christopher indicated that he also at times was called MORTENSEN, while his name, MONSEN was derived from his father's first name MOGENS, which was often abbreviated to MONS - hence MONSEN.
Sources: Carleby, Kirke Hyllinge, LDS film 048266 (records start 1645); 1787 census (LDS film 8506 pt 19 non 038997)
Source:LDS film 048330 Glim parish.
Church affiliation: Lutheran
Birth not recorded in Glim or Rorup parishes. Her father's name is recorded at her wedding.
Church affiliation: Lutheran
Niels owned the farm that eventually became DONNERGAARD. In 1805 there is a record that the farm was called "Donnerne". It was named after "Dunhammer" which we call "cat tails". The farm was approximately 75 acres. Hans Jensen was given to him and his wife at an early age because they did not have any children.
Gary W. Kelly
Email: gwkgen@gwkelly.com
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