My tour of duty on the Salt Lake City began after the Pearl Harbor attack on December 7, 1941, when I survived the attack on Battleship U.S.S. Oklahoma BB37.

When the U.S.S. Salt Lake City-CA 25 came into Pearl Harbor, I was transferred on December 23, 1941, QM 3/C.

While I was on the U.S.S. Salt Lake City, I was promoted to QM 2/C and QM 1/C. During my tour aboard, there were a number of historic and memorable battles and events, some of which follow.

I was able to see the bombers commanded by Jimmy Doolittle take off from the U.S.S. Hornet for the first raid on Tokyo. I will not forget the battle of Cape Esporance at Guadalcanal, the Battle of Komandorski's Island and many others.

It brought tears to my eyes when the aircraft carrier U.S. S. WASP was hit by Japanese torpedoes and finally sunk.

I enjoyed our short tour of Brisbane, Australia, and Wellington, New Zealand, where we were to protect the citizens from the Japanese.

I was injured in the Aleutian Islands, while on ADAK. I was transferred to the Naval Hospital on ADAK, located in Alaska, on September 13, 1943. I loved the ship, and the crew was terrific. I missed them after I left the ship.

I have been able to go to some of the reunions and am looking forward to the mini reunion at Minden, Nevada this year, September 25-28, 2000.

I do not have a computer, so please send any requests or information to my son,
Richard Stecz, son

Regards and Thank You

Mike Stecz

#12 in "N" ["Navigation"] Division, Aug. 1943
Tidbits, Ship's Wake, 1943
SLC Deck Log Dec. 1941