This web site was designed as a memorial to those that served on these two great ships. We have tried to include not only ships histories and battle details but more importantly, we wanted to include personal perspectives, how events affected those that participated and their families and loved ones. In this respect we have included personal letters and stories that have been donated by survivors and their family members. We hope you will therefore find more than just history and ship specs, we hope you come away with a sense of how these events affected all those that were touched to this day!

Many thanks to Preston Cook for his kindness and generosity in supplying the action reports and some excellent pictures that appear on our pictures page.

A day of reflection and gratitude!

November 13th 2013 is the 71st anniversary of the "First Naval Battle of Guadalcanal" as the night action in which the USS Atlanta, USS Juneau and 4 US destroyers and one Japanese Battleship and two destroyers were sunk was often referred to.

Please feel free to look through the sight, especially the Tribute Pages where we have posted many stories from survivors detailing their experiences that night as well as those reflections of their family members.

Also leave your feelings or remarks in our guestbook

Thank you

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NOTICES

Anyone who served with Mr George R. Archibald and is interested in contacting him may do so at the following address:

George R. Archibald (Chief Watertender- Retired) 450 N. Soldano Ave.Apt. #103 Azusa, CA 91702

Posted by Joe Laferriere - "I am trying to locate an old shipmate of mine who served with me on the USS Atlanta. We were separated after we abandoned ship and I have not been able to locate him. I know this is almost impossible but I sure would like to try. His name was Pete Leyva, he was from ElPaso Tx. and the last I heard he was an attorney in the Boston area. Mr. Laferriere can be contacted at the following email address - Gwenjo5@ Juno.com

Check out this new book by Glenn Arnold called Warship Perspectives - The Atlanta Class Cruisers in World War 2. Has great pictures, some from personal collections and details of the ships in the class. A great reference on these great ships. Its published by W.R. Press in NY.

 

Whats

Nov 2016.  - The Documentary "The USS Atlanta - Defender of Guadalcanal will be screened in Belgium

NEWSFLASH! Screening this weekend!

Return To The USS Atlanta will be screened on Saturday, November 16, 2013 at tekDIVE13 in Edegem, Belgium. Richard Lundgren one of the USS Atlanta explorers, will be available to answer questions during the Q&A session taking place after the screening. Filmmakers Elena Konstantinou, Julia Golosiy, and Philip Yakymov will also be present. 

DON'T MISS THIS FANTASTIC EVENT!

For more info about the screening and other fantastic events at tekDIVE13, visit www.tekdive13.com.

TekDive13

www.tekdive13.com

Hear directly from those who were there, in their own words about  their experiences, feelings and the horror of battle.

The complete documentary has extensive underwater footage of the USS Atlanta as she rests now, narrated by the divers as they respectfully explore the ship. i

• NEW A Overhead view of the USS Atlanta and Juneau building at Federal Ship Building

• NEW A Picture of the USS Atlanta and Federal Ship Building ID card of Charles Bedman who was a worker on the USS Atlanta. This was supplied by his family. (link is broken -we are trying to locate photos - Oct 25 2011)

   

• NEW A Post card sent by Stanley Kokoska of the USS Juneau to his mother dated two weeks before the Juneau was sunk and Mr Kokoska lost his life. This was kindly supplied by John Kokish.

• NEW A copy of a war bond certificate supplied by Kem Statham, which his great aunt purchased during WW2. This was to fund the construction of the second Atlanta, a Cleveland Class Light Cruiser although a picture of the already sunk Cl51 was used. (link is broken -we are trying to locate photos - Oct 25 2011)

  2002 Guadalcanal Reunion Pic's - 8/17/02

Mr. Prather, a survivor of the USS Atlanta passed away on the 15th of October in Altanta Ga. Mr. Prather was to be interviewed for the upcoming documentary on the USS Atlanta but was too ill to participate. Our condolences to his family.

John W. Harvey - passed away December 31 2009.  Mr Harvey was a survivor of the USS Atlanta and went on to serve on other ships during WW2. His granddaughter Christine Burmeister was kind enough to forward the information to me and was instrumental in providing all the information for the John Harvey Survivors page on our site. Our prayers go out to his family!

Michael Hegedus, BM2c, passed away in 2000. Information was greatfully supplied by his nephew William T. Moran Jr. USN retired.

Bowdie Craighill, an officer on board the USS Atlanta during the cruiser's night action of 12-13 November 1942 and who was awarded the Silver Star for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in combat action against the Japanese, passed away at the age of 88 on April 7th. He will be buried in Washington, DC on April 21 at a service at St. Marks Church - 3rd. and A. St. SE at 1:30. If you have reflections on Bowdie and would like to pass them along to me so I in turn can pass them to those giving the eulogy, please E-mail Bill Dickinson at wdickin953@aol.com "Bowdie is a man who indeed deserves to be honored." - Bill Dickinson

Victor Sr. passed away on Saturday, 11/24, at UCONN Medical Center in Farmington, Conn. He was 81 yrs. old. He is survived by his wife, Mary Kelmelis, and his children, Joanie and Victor Jr.

Mr.Howard "Guns" Goddard, who served aboard the Atlanta, passed away May 22nd 2000 in Athol, Mass..Please take a moment to remember Mr.Howard in your prayers.

Mr. Lester Zook, one of the few remaining survivors of the USS Juneau, died November 12th, 1998. Please take a moment to remember Mr. Zook and say a prayer for him and his family..   Thank you.