Hubert H. Pelham-Personal Page

Hubert H. Pelham, McM2c
USS Salt Lake City CA25
1942-1945

40 MM gun mount, superstructure deck
USS Salt Lake City, Heavy cruiser
in South Pacific in WWII.

USS SLC..."Enlisted Navy"...Hubert H. Pelham, McM2c

US FLAG

Hubert passed away on Aug. 15th, 2006 at the age of 91
Information sent in by grand nephew, Joel Byrne

Jan. 24th, 2000

Dear Sandy,

Congratulations on your appointment to the post of Historian for the USS Salt Lake City (CA25), my home in the Navy for about three years.

My history on the ship is rather well documented in the article that has been enclosed that was published in the newspaper in Minnesota, where I got my start in the printing and newspaper trade.

I lost my wife, Emma, on the 3rd of May of last year. She had been at my side for just over 58 years at the time of her death at Lee Memorial Hospital in Dowagiac, Michigan. It had to be the saddest day of my life. I'm trying desperately to adjust to the loss, but it has not been easy.

Since the loss of Emma I have become very active in the VFW Post 10704, Cassopolis and a member of the American Legion, Post 206, also of Cassopolis. I have been a member of the Honor Guard for the last several months and have participated in Military Funerals in four cities in this part of Southwestern Lower Michigan.

When I first came aboard the Salt Lake, I was in the Sixth Division whose Battle Stations were the Anti-aircraft battery of 5 inch guns and I was on the crew on the Starboard side.

When I became the Navy Mail Clerk, I was transferred to the R Division and my Battle Station was on a battle phone circuit below decks.

Thanks so very much for your co-operation. With so many shipmates falling to the wayside there is little time to lose.

Sincerely, Herbert H. Pelham

SLC Deck Logs Dec. 1942 Sep. 1943
Received the Purple Heart

In April of 2000, Hubert Pelham addressed the senior high school class of his great nephew, Chris Buck, to speak about his experiences in WWII.

Below is a letter written to Hubert this Veteran's Day from the teacher of that class.

It would apply to all your Veterans.

Dear Mr. Pelham:

You spoke to my class about your experiences in the Navy during WWII because we were fortunate to have your nephew, Chris Buck, in our class. After hearing of your adventures and thinking of you on this Veteran's Day, I wanted to thank you for your service to this country! Too many times we forget the sacrifice, bravery and selflessness endured by men such as yourself during times of war.

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for your part in making America the wonderful nation that it is!

Connie Wagner
(Humanities instructor at Vicksburg High School, Vicksburg, MI)

This message was read on Veteran's Day at Hubert's VFW post, and a tear came to everyone's eye.

It is a good reminder to us all to thank our Veterans.

Sincerely,
Joleen, niece to Hubert Pelham

Pelham Remembers V-J Day & WWII Years
Remembering V-J Day, August 14, 1945... The Day World War II Ended

Here are two books which might be of interested to all.

"War at Sea" by Nathan Miller, printed by Scribner Press, Mention of the Salt Lake City occurs on pages 280, 373, 374, 394, 403, 404.

"The Thousand Mile War"...World War II in Alaska and the Aleutiians". Chapter 14 tells of the Battle of Komandorski Islands in the Bering Sea on March 26, 1943. The pages are 171 to 179. The book is written by Brian Garfield and printed by Doubleday.

Hubert H. Pelham

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