USS SLC..."Enlisted Navy"...Fred E. Evans, S2c
Sandy,
Hi, My name is Tommy Evans and my dad Fred E. Evans served on the USS
Salt Lake City. Someday soon I'm going to sit down with him and
videotape him talking about the war and the SLC.
He's got some wonderful tales to tell! When we do, I'll send you a copy
of the video.
Thanks for such a great site. I've looked in the past for information
on the SLC but hadn't found anything very good. While I've only scratched
the surface of your web site, I'm looking forward to spending more time
there.
My dad also has a scrapbook of photos he took while on board the ship.
I'll see if there are any good ones and, if so, I'll scan them and send
them to you. He told me that he had two full duffel-bags of photos when
he got off the ship but someone stole them from him - what a pity!
Thanks again.
Tommy Evans
and my dad, Fred Evans
MESSAGE FROM Veteran, Fred Evans
Dec. 9th, 1999
Sandy,
I have lost many, many mementos over the years. I had [2] sea bags full
of souvenirs, pictures and etc. that were stolen from me in San Francisco
when I returned to the States.
I was on the S.L.C. from Dec. 16, 1941 to Aug. 1944. I'm guessing at the
dates as my discharge papers are my safe deposit box at my bank.
I was called "Baby" on the ship as I was the youngest and smallest man on
the ship. We had 1400 on board in peace time. The normal crew size was 400.
As you probably know, the S.L.C. was the oldest and heaviest armed cruiser
in the Pacific Fleet. In battle maneuvers the rudder would sometimes get
stuck and we would be going in circles. The rest of the fleet would be
forced to travel on without us. We would catch up when the rudder would
"jar" loose.
Also, one of the shafts was "warped" and when we were at full steam we would
have to turn the fire hose on it to cool it down and of course at the same
time pump the water out of the "bilge's".
I hope this information has been of help to you and that you have learned from
it.
The "Old" S.L.C. was without a doubt the "GREATEST SHIP" in its class to
ever sail the Pacific
When I was dating the wonderful lady that became my wife, we were in the
Worth Theater in here Ft. Worth, TX. and on the news part of the show it
showed the S.L.C. being towed for target practice. It took [4] torpedoes
to sink it.
I remember during the Battle of the Corral Sea we took a Jap torpedo and
we hardly felt it. It didn't even cause it to leak.
This will be all for now... Maybe more later.
Think Best
My Best To You
Fred Evans
Memorandums from 1941-1942
