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. At
this time we have over 400 members.
This
site last updated Nov. 7, 2008
· SWORD PRESENTATION 2007
· MONUMENT
· OFFICERS
· BOOKS,
DVD "Inside Ten Days"
ASSOCIATION
OFFICER'S
President: John Smith, 305
Hillview, Rochester Hill, MI 48306-3416
Vice President: James Walzer,
2687 Hastings Lane, The Villages, FL 32162
walzer8@cs.com
Treasurer: Margery Gauger,
5275 N. Bronco Terrace, Beverly Hills, FL 34465-0275, margegauger@tampabay.rr.com
Ass't Treasurer:Alice Gary,
2141 Schubert Drive, Virginia Beach, VA 23454-6665
Corr. Sect: Freida Williams,
P.O. Box 729-1422 Carnation Dr., Dunedin, FL 34697-0729 sailinggranny23@aol.com
News Letter Editor: James
Walzer, 2687 Hastings Lane, The
Villages, FL 32162 walzer8@cs.com
Membership and Publicity:
William Bohne 248 Worrell Drive, Springfield, PA 19064-2633 usncl56@cs.com
APPOINTED
Sympathy: Margery Gauger,
5275 N Bronco Terrace, Beverly Hills, FL 34465-0275 margegauger@tampabay.rr.com
Data Base Backup: Nancy
Walzer: 2687 Hastings Lane, The Villages, FL 32162
Web Master: James Walzer: 2687 Hastings Lane, The Villages, FL
32162 walzer8@cs.com
2007
Reunion pictures:
Jack
Weiss with flag, LEFT Eugene Lammert and Family
Robert
Seaton and the late Billie Williams
Freda Williams,
Marge &Lary 2006 
The
USS Columbia slid down the ways and into the Delaware River at Camden, NJ on
Dec. 17, 1941
OFFICIALLY CREDITED 29 July 1942 - 2 Sept. 1945
The COLUMBIA is officially credited with the following:
1. Destruction of 27 planes.
2. Assisting in the sinking 1 Cruiser and 1 Destroyer at the
BATTLE OF EMPRESS AUGUSTA BAY and 2 Battleships, 1 Cruiser and 1 Destroyer at
the BATTLE OF SURIGAO STRAITS.
3. Participation in 9 shore bombardments.
The men of the Columbia were awarded approximately 170
Purple Hearts. The Battle record and history of the U.S.S. COLUMBIA 1942 - 1945
page 45 lists 60 men killed or missing. Page 46 list 1Air Medal, 2 Navy Cross,
2 Leg. of Merit, 1 Silver Star, 10 Letters of Comm., and 18 Bronze Stars
awarded.
BACK TO THE INDEX
2007
SWORD PRESENTATION
USS COLUMBIA CL-56 ANNUAL
SWORD PRESENTATION MADE BY Rich Gary
Representing the USS Columbia
CL-56 Association, Rich Gary presents "The Columbia Sword" to MIDN
Thomas H. Wright at the Tri Service Ceremony at the University of South
Carolina. The men and women of the NROTC Unit have worked very hard to earn a
commission in the Navy and Marine Corps in order to serve our great country.
USS
Columbia CL-56 Sword Presentation
BACK TO THE INDEX
2009
REUNION will be in Columbia, SC
This will be the 25th
reunion
Details to follow ASAP
BACK TO THE INDEX
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.
DIVISIONS (more to come)
1st Division ................. 4th Division................ L
Division.......... ...... R Division
3rd Division............... 5th Division............... F Division.................. N Division
2nd Division...............
OFFICERS
Officers Dec.
28,1943.......
71
Officers..........
Officers Jan.
30,1944.......
31 Officers
on stern
More Divisions
3rd Div Feb. 1944.. . Marine Div 6 1945 ...............E Division ............... F Division on stern
New Pictures
Unknown
Divisions
group 2 ............. group 4 ................. group 6 ............. group 11 ......
Other
Pictures
First sea burial ............ 16 bearded men.......... Boxing team..... ..... Baseball team
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 is $16. each includes shipping. Make
check payable to (USS COLUMBIA
CL-56 Association) and mail to:
Marge Gauger 5275 N. Bronco Terrace, Beverly Hills, FL 34465.
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. Cost is $10. Each. Make check payable to (USS COLUMBIA CL-56 Association) and mail to: Marge Gauger 5275 N. Bronco
Terrace, Beverly Hills, FL 34465.
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. Cost is $15
each. 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. DVD NOT
available at this time.
·
"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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