U.S.S. Columbia CL-56

OFFICIAL WEBSITE OF THE U.S.S. COLUMBIA CL-56 ASSOCIATION, INC.

The USS COLUMBIA CL-56 ASSOCIATION, INC. is a non-profit organization whose fiscal year begins on Janurary 1st of each year and ends on December 31st. Dues are $15.00 per year for men who served on the "GEM" and $10.00 per year for ASSOCIATE MEMBERS, SONS and DAUGHTERS and anyone else who may want to join (Widows of men who served on the "GEM" pay no dues). Newsletters are mailed three times a year.

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SHIP PICTURES

USS COLUMBIA CL-56 COLUMBIA BOW MIDSHIP STERN N2443B

MONUMENT

MONUMENT FRONT MONUMENT REAR MONUMENT UPPER REAR CENTER JACKSTAFF PLAQUE

The USS COLUMBIA CL-56 MONUMENT is located in MEMORIAL PARK, in the city of Columbia, S.C.

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DIVISIONS (more to come)

1st Division ................. 4th Division................ L Division.......... ...... R Division


3rd Division............... 5th Division............... F Division.................. N Division


2nd Division...............

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OFFICERS

Officers Dec. 28,1943....... 71 Officers.......... Officers Jan. 30,1944....... 31 Officers on stern

3rd Div Feb. 1944.. . Marine Div 6 1945 ...............E Division ............... F Division on stern

New Pictures

S Division

Unknown Divisions


group 2 ............. group 4 ................. group 6 ............. group 11 ......

Other Pictures

BOOKS

"Blue Book" Battle History of the U.S.S. COLUMBIA: This is a reprint of the original battle history book. Color cover and 87 pages of text with great black and white pictures. Last published 60 years ago, this book may never be printed again. Cost $16. each includes shipping. Send checks to Marge Gauger, payable to USS COLUMBIA CL-56 Association. Orders are being taken by Marge Gauger.

The WAR CRUISES of U.S.S. COLUMBIA by Captain Carry Hall, USN (Ret.) This book was first published in 1987 and contains his personal recollections and some augmentations by shipmates. It is dedicated to Rear Admiral Maurice E. Curts, USN 1898-1976, our Captain, 1944-1945. It is 110 pages (8 1/2 x 11), mostly text. It is a great supplement to the "Blue Book", and a must read for anyone interested in a first hand account of the war cruises of the USS Columbia CL-56. At this time the Association has no copies available but we may have in the future.

KAMIKAZE NIGHTMARE by Ron Burt, This book is about Rons brother Pete Burt who served aboard the USS Ommaney Bay. After he was forced to abandon his ship, he was taken aboard the USS Columbia. A kamikaze strike on the Columbia nearly took Petes life. 218 pages, black and white pictures, including pictures of the Columbia being hit at 1730 hours, Jan. 6, 1945. Purchase directly from: Ron Burt, 4817 Eider Drive, Corpus Christi, TX, 78413. $15. includes next day S&H.

THE BATTLE OF LEYTE GULF by Adrian Stewart

THE BATTLE OF LEYTE GULF by C. Vann Woodward

DECISION AT LEYTE by Stanley Falk

EAGLE AGAINST THE SUN by Ronald Spector

DVD "Inside Ten Days" A tribute to the men of the USS Columbia CL-56 by Carl David Adams. This tribute to Carl's uncle Calvin D. Adams and the men of the Columbia was presented for the first time in public at the Saturday night banquet in Portland, OR on Sept. 16, 2006. The video tells the story of Calvins last visit home to see his family and fiancee Alma Lee Scroggins. It also tells the story of the making of the song "Inside Ten Days" which can be found on the website WWW.insidetendays.com. The site also allows for purchase of the song and or video. The video shows the kamikaze crashing into the Columbia killing Calvin and others on January 9, 1945. Calvin was 19 years young.

"Columbia was decommissioned in September, 1946, at Philadelphia where it all started in 1942. In 1959 she was sold to Boston Metals Co. of Baltimore for $188, 888.87 and scrapped at the Sun Shipbuilding Co., Chester, PA. Sixty men lost their lives serving their country on board USS COLUMBIA. Our ship lives only in the memories of old men. We can all be proud of what was and will never be again." Capt. Cary Hall, USN

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