My name is David Batchelor. My Father, Thomas F. Batchelor served aboard the USS Salt Lake City between 1940 & 1943. He was wounded during the 2nd battle of Savo and received the Purple Heart.

I have many pictures and know some of the actions he served in and as soon as I can sort through them I will send you anything I believe you could use.

Sadly my Father, GM3 Thomas F. Batchelor, passed away Feb. 4th, 2000. As per his request, he was cremated and his ashes committed to the sea in the gunnery range where the SLC was sunk.

I have been going through many of his old pictures and scanning them, so as I can I will send them to you. I have been enjoying the site very much. My Father told me many stories about "The Swayback Maru" over the years. I believe she was his first love.

David Batchelor

Feb. 8th, 2007

My Father, Thomas F. Batchelor, was wounded during the "Battle of Cape Esperance". He was the "Hot Shell" man on a forward 5" anti-aircraft battery (I believe it was the starboard, but I'm not positive.) when an anti-aircraft shell burst directly over the gun tub. He told me that he was knocked down by the blast, and when he got up his right leg "Felt like it was on fire." A few moments later he and other shipmates noticed that one of their gun crew had fallen to the deck. My Father went to render aid to the wounded sailor. He told me that the downed man said "Tom, it feels like I got hit in the chest with a baseball bat." The medics arrived to take wounded sailor to sick bay, and one of them put a bandage on my Fathers leg. After the action, my father went to the sick bay to have the shrapnel removed from his leg, and learned that his shipmate had succumbed to his wounds.

That is the way I remember my Fathers story as he told it to me. My older brother has told me that in addition to the shrapnel in his leg, he suffered a second wound, in the form of a gash across his shoulders that he was unaware of until he got to sick bay. My Father never mentioned this to me directly.

I wish I had more to tell you, I wish I had gotten more details of his service while he was alive, but I imagine most of the children of WW2 vets who have passed feel much the same.

Very Truly Yours, David L. Batchelor