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Our Taps Pages show no preference to who is placed here, either by Rank or Station in life. The Memorials are open to anyone who served aboard the USS Hancock CV/CVA-19, including our Attached Air Groups and are determined by their shipmates or next of kin.

If you would like to place a Shipmate or loved one here, the stipulation is that you have enough information on the deceased to place a Memorial here, and hopefully a photo.

We also list members of the Hancock Association who have passed on, on our Shipmate Memorials -These Taps Pages list members of the USS Hancock CV/CVA-19 Shipmates who have passed on, whose names were gleaned from the Hancock Association's 'Hannah News' Newsletter every Quarter. The Yeoman asks your indulgence in the lack of the many names who have "Passed over the Bar" before he began to compile this list. If you wish to suggest a name for either this main Taps Section or the Shipmates Section, please go here.

You may also wish to add your own Memorial which we also list on our View Visitor Taps Pages. You may add your own taps here.

Crossing the Bar

Sunset and evening star
And one clear call for me!
And may there be no moaning of the bar,
When I put out to sea,

But such a tide as moving seems asleep,
Too full for sound and foam,
When that which drew from out the boundless deep
Turns again home.

Twilight and evening bell,
And after that the dark!
And may there be no sadness of farewell,
When I embark;

For though from out our bourne of Time and Place
The flood may bear me far,
I hope to see my Pilot face to face
When I have crossed the bar.

- Alfred Lord Tennyson -

Tragedy Strikes Roger W. Gunn, AM First Class - Burial at Sea

Roger W. Gunn Death Notice

On 23 Aug. '45 , while Admiral Halsey's "Operation Tin-Type" was taking place, tragedy struck our squadron when Roger W. Gunn, AM First Class was electrocuted, in an unusual accident, in the Aviation Metal shop. Gunn was making souvenir ash trays from the butt ends of solid brass 40MM and 5" shell casings. The electric drill he was using was apparently improperly grounded.

Gunn had joined " Butch" O'Hare's VF-3 about the same time as I, and a number of other guys and had continued on in VF-6, as we had done. Others who had been together, with Gunn, for the 3 combat tours were Cliff Seaver, Chief Piwetz, " Buzy" Bauer, Frank Shamrow, Fred Ahern, Joe Robbins, " Cherry" Klingler, " Ken" Decker, George Rodgers, myself, and others.

It was a sad occasion, yet very impressive, when everyone not on watch, formed on the flight deck to pay last respects to our shipmate. Captain Gallery turned our giant carrier, " The Hannah," downwind, dropped out of formation, and adjusted the speed so that there was a perfect calm over the flight deck during the ceremony.

Our friend and shipmate, " Shot" Gunn, was buried at sea with full military honors, while his wife, Wilma, waited patiently at home for the latest information. After the honor guard had fired the last salute, and as the bugler had sounded "Taps," the National Ensign covering Roger's remains fluttered slightly, and then lay motionless at attention. The remains of Roger W. Gunn, encased in a weighted cocoon of canvass, had quickly slid from under the Flag as the portage was momentarily tilted toward the sea, by two attendants. As the gentle waves received his remains, a peaceful hush settled over the flight deck and his shipmates assembled there. It was as if everyone was paying their last respects and perhaps mourning inside, not only for their beloved shipmate, but also for all those lost in this long bitter conflict.

Reported by Capt Hershel A. Pahl, USN
Herschel Pahl <herschela+centurytel.net>

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Joseph F. Parker, CDR, USN, Senior Chaplain aboard Hannah 1944-45

Joseph F. Parker (May 12, 1909-November 28, 1988) joined the United States Naval Reserve in April, 1941. He was a Southern Baptist minister and was commissioned as an officer in the Chaplain Corp. Initial duty assignment was the USS Chaumont, a military transport ship. This ship was in a small convoy of Navy ships on a voyage to Australia one week out of Pearl Harbor when they got word that the Japanese had attacked Pearl Harbor. He served on the Chaumont till 1943 and was assigned to the Norfolk Navy Yard. In Dec. 1944 he was transferred to Pearl Harbor and joined the USS Hancock in Jan. 1945 and served through the Pacific campaigns and the end of the war. He was detached in November, 1945.

He was transferred to the Naval Hospital, Bethesda, Md. and served Dec. 1945 to September, 1946. He was then moved to the little Creek Amphibious Base, Virginia from Sept 1946 to Feb. 1948. In 1947 he applied for and was accepted into the regular Navy. He served on the USS Tarawa from March 1948 to May, 1949. This was followed by duty in Miramar, California and Great Lakes Naval Training Station until 1952.

He was assigned to the 1st Marine Air Wing in 1952 in Korea. He served there till 1953. He was instrumental in starting an orphanage for Korean children. He was cited by the Korean government for his work.

Other duty stations included Camp Lejeune, NC, the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Naval Hospital, Philadelphia, Port Lyautey, Morocco, and the Naval Weapons Station in Yorktown, Virginia until retirement in 1962.

He married Hazel Tignor of Elmont, Va. and had 4 children.

He loved the Navy. In the 1950s he wrote "Prayers at Sea". This book contained morning and evening prayers to be read over the loudspeakers and all religious services for Catholic, Protestant, and Jewish faiths. This book was intended for ships without chaplains. It was successful and had 5 printings. This book is still in use today.

His son, who donated this Memorial, states, "I miss my father. I am 67 and I look back with pride on his life of service to his family, his country, and his God. He had a commitment to purpose in life which gives true meaning to one's existence."

Clifton Parker

You can send Email to Cliff by sending a Request to the Yeoman.

Photo 1, Photo 2, Photo 3, Photo 4, Photo 5

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Reverend Monsignor James J. Doyle, Junior Chaplain aboard Hannah 1944-46

Sept 30, 2001

The Hancock Association lost a very special member September 30, 2001. He was Reverend Monsignor James J. Doyle, Chaplain aboard Hannah 1944-46. The Association old-timers always refer to him as “The Padre.” He was named the Association's Chaplain and was honored by being made a Life member of the Association. He had been in ill health and in a nursing home for the past few years. He was able to attend the Association Reunion in Corpus Christi in 1996 and was in fine form here. We scheduled Mass every day during the Reunion, with the Padre conducting, of course, and it drew a large crowd every day. I don't know whether he was able to make the New York reunion or not, but he was unable to attend the one at San Diego last year. I have heard so much about him; I am glad I had the opportunity to meet him at the 1996 reunion. The nursing home called our member Stephen R. Mihalovic this morning to inform him of the death.

• Notice courtesy of Tom Wimberly, USS Hancock CV/CVA-19 Association Membership Chairman* Anyone wishing to add a suitable memorial to Father Doyle, please send Jake Email

Visit the WWII Taps Memorial and Pay Tribute to Our World War II Shipmates who gave their All

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Orlen Frank Klint, PN2, USN - X-Division - Personnel Office - 1960 - 1964

Occasionally in life, you meet up with someone very special who you will consider one of your closer friends - that holds true even more so when serving aboard a Naval Ship. Like water, a Sailor will find his level and the level aboard ship are those kindred spirits we run across who share the same interests, likes and dislikes. Orlen would rather go on tours and visit Base Exchanges than hitting the Hotsie Baths, Brothels and Bars in foreign ports. The Yeoman was also of the same mind and soul. Both of us were raised Christians and of the Lutheran persuasion at that time, and we both enjoyed what these foreign ports provided on a cultural level. Instead of visiting the less edifying establishments, we found ourselves taking tours that Special Services provided us, and also visiting the Churches and other inspiring places. Did that make us strange? Perhaps by your usual Sailor's Standard who found more fun in cutting loose in such places, but our fellow shipmates never found us strange; rather they appreciated us and we had many friends of like mind, and yes, we did attend Church services aboard ship whenever we could.

Orlen Klint was a high caliber individual who just liked people and he was in the right billet for this kind of personality - working as a Personnelman in the Personnel office, and everyone who knew him, called him friend. I was no different.

In 1964 we both left ship for the last time, as we both were separated from Active Duty. He went his way, and I went mine.

I last saw Orlen when after I was separated in 1964, I decided to take a trip up to his home town of East Grand Forks, MN on my way towards Wisconsin from California. He and I had a great reunion and I stayed with him a couple days renewing friendships and unwinding. I then took my leave of him and went to Milwaukee, where I stayed a year before returning to California. I was never to see Orlen again and we lost touch after the passage of years.

In 2002, while living in Florida, I wanted to see if I could find Orlen again. I had a friend who worked as Police Chief with the VA Medical Center at Bay Pines, St. Petersburg, FL. Having access to the National Drivers License Database, I felt he could find Orlen for me...

What happened is that he indeed did find Orlen, but he could only report to me that Orlen had passed on. I never learned much else about his life or death as he was an only child of aging parents so no trace of any next of kin to help me have some closure on the loss of my friend Orlen, so all I can report here is his death, but no Taps date. The impression I can get from a 'Spiritual' source is that he died in the early '90's and perhaps it was due to the stresses that he may have encountered duirng the terrible floods that hit East Grand Forks and the surrounding Red River basin, which was so wide-spread it even caused major flooding in St. Louis, Missouri. I know this is only an assumption - but I have often been right on such impressions. We'll have to leave the Truth up to God, whether my 'impression' is a correct one or not.

I just wanted you all to know that Orlen Frank Klint is no longer with us, and if you knew Orlen, please send Jake Email. It would be nice to hear from you so that we can celibrate Orlen's life in the good old Navy way.

Here's to Orlen Frank Klint, Shipmate and Friend. Sadly missed, but never forgotten.

Ken 'Jake' Jaccard, YN3, USNR-R '61-67
X-Division, Captain's Office, USS Hancock CVA-19 '1962-1964 - you can see where Orlen worked as a Personnel man in the Personnel Office on a normal Work Day here.

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Ed Horn Left with Buddy Clifford Kenny - the picture on the left defines our feelings for our Shipmates and now these Shipmates are together forever!

Ed had written the Yeoman some months before his death the following, after sending me these pictures:

Dear Jake....Photo's are hard to come by after 56 years...I lost everything in a fire that I was trying to save...This is a photo of myself and Clifford Kenny (He's on the Right in this photo).. Cliff was my very first friend on board the Hannah and one of our first Casualties also.. Cliff was knocked over the side by an F6F... I found it very hard to make friends after that....

I have a little note on my Wall Of Honor, that i want to share with you.....

We had lived together in the early seventies and ran around together back then as young men did. Time saw us both buy homes, marry .and both divorce, go through the usual fun, trials and tribulations of life etc, but the friendship was the constant we could lean on.

His name was Philip J. Canty, originally from Medford Mass. Phil often talked about being an "airdale" on the Hancock. He died of a brain aneurism on Nov 1, 1997. He was helping another friend of ours prepare his boat for winter storage, when the unknown aneurism burst and he just collapsed. The doctors said he was dead before he hit the floor. The sad part was that he had a company physical the previous week and passed with flying colors He was an engineer with the Raytheon Co.

I check the reunion pages of the Legion, VFW, and DAV magazines for reunions of the Hancock, figuring I would go and at least represent Phil and let it be known the sailor had passed, as he really did enjoy his time on the Hancock; even if the stories were somewhat exagerated and embelished with time.

If you need a copy of the death notice or whatever, drop me a note and an address and I will send you a copy.

Thanks, and take care,

Mark Sullivan - Fdhy-aol.com

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George E. Base

Click Image for larger Photo | Click here for another Image

Diane Mimnaugh Dye -
Kim Castro - Morocco7-charter.net

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Hazel "Tweety Bird" Phillips, MM3, USN, A Division A-2 Steam Gang, '65-'69. Taps 16 September 1993 - Age 47.

Hazel played trombone in the ship's band.

Later in civilian life, Hazel worked on the Piedmont Ambulance Service in Rock Hill, S. C. from 1974 until 1981. He then went into Police work at the Riverhill's Police Dept., a part of Clover, South Carolina until 1993 when he became sick again in August of 93 and then a month later died.

He and Vicky had 4 kids, Teresa , Rhonda, Jennifer , and El ( Hazel Jr.). He was a Lt. and supervisor at Riverhills and a firearms instructor for SLED.

He was a good cop as well as a Paramedic. He had joined the Army National Guard in the late 70s , as a medic and in the 363rd tank division too, until his first heart attack in 1981.He stayed on the ambulance service but he was diagnosed with the Vietnam syndrome and with all the stress of things he had to finally quit the ambulance service.

Reported by his widow, Vicky Phillips Adkins -
kissmetwice-comporium.net

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Gunner Matt Johnson, CWO3, USN, GM/G Div' 66-'68. - Matt crossed over the Bar on May 6, 2005. Naval Service dates 9/1965 - 10/1988.

Matt was an 'Ordie' on the Hancock for three Cruises, receiving his orders to the Hancock June 20, 1966 and finished off in 1968.

Matt had recently added some poignant and humorous stories to our Oral History Site, and briefly gave a synopsis of his Naval Career: "I went aboard the Hancock in '66, made 3 cruises; then reup'd for 6 yrs in '69, got Rota, Spain (2 yrs) then went to the World Famous "Pukin Dogs" - VF-143 (Miramar, CA/Oceana, Virginia), made 2 WESPAC and 2 MED cruises; NAS Moffett Field, USS Coral Sea, made 1 Indian Ocean cruise; made Warrant and crossed over to the Enterprise and made 1 Indian Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean/Med Cruise then I took the Weapons Officer job at Moffett Field and retired."

In 1979, after being assigned to the CORAL SEA, he was selected as Sailor of the Year while yet an AO1. Made AOC the next year, and then he became the Air Gunner on the Enterprise in 1983 and stayed aboard for 5 years. He loved the Sea, but after 8 consecutive years of Sea duty, he requested Shore duty and was assigned to Moffett Field as the Weapons Officer. At age 43, and finding out that Uncle Sam was going to send him to the East Coast he retired with 23 years and 24 days active service, eighteen of which had been sea duty. Yes, Matt truly loved the Sea!

Matt was a True Sailor and loved life, and never gave up the fight, though the odds against him became insurmountable; however after battling with metastasis Renal Cell Carcinoma for quite some time. Although he was dealing with this disease, fate had it that a massive hemorrhage would call him Home.

His wife reported, "Jake, this is Matt's wife Pat - I am sorry to have to inform you that Matt passed away on May 6th, 2005. It was not from the cancer he was fighting but a massive hemorrhage. He was rushed to the hospital on Thursday evening and slipped into a coma shortly after arriving and passed away very peacefully on Friday."

Pat Johnson

Matt is missed by his beloved wife Pat; his friends who loved him, and his Shipmates who refuse to forget. Matt lived his life well, and filled it up to overflowing; yet he always had time for his friends and family.

We miss you Matt andl wish you Fair Winds and Following Seas, Shipmate!

Ken "Jake" Jaccard, YN3, USNR-R
Submitted by his wife and life mate, Pat Johnson
Sobeatsworking-aol.com

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Thomas D. Harris, Captain, USN - Commanding Officer, U.S.S. HANCOCK CVA-19 Nov 1962 - Dec 1963, Taps 27 June 2001.

Click Picture for Career Data

Captain Harris entered Naval Service on 1 May 1937, and Retired 1 February 1965, thus completing a career of 27 years and 9 months.

His Career Data does not indicate he served during Vietnam, but the dates of his service is validation that he did serve during the Vietnam War period unequivocally, thus adding to his War Record as well as to his honor as a Naval Officer and Veteran.

The Yeoman served under Captain Harris during this period and remembers him well. He was a tremendous Naval Officer and Aviator. His record was impeccable and I was proud to serve under him as his Yeoman.

He commanded great respect of the whole crew and everyone looked up to him. I wish I had more to write about him as a Memorial, but cannot, but if you click on his picture here, you will be treated to his Career Data which I am proud to provide you here.

I had contacted his son some years back where he stated his father lived in Gulf Breeze, Florida enjoying his retirement. It would be a good place for him to retire to, since it was not very far from Pensacola where no doubt, he received his flight training early in his career. It is also a beautiful place on the Gulf of Mexiso, where he could enjoy those same sea breezes he was so accustomed to as a Navyman and Officer aboard the HANCOCK and the other ships which he served in.

He will be sadly missed by this crew and his family.

Fair Winds and Following Seas, Captain Harris! -

Eulogy provided by Jake, one of his Yeoman, 1963-64
For comments write the Yeoman

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James P. Finley, AD3, USN, V-3 (Air) Division - Taps 12 May 1981- age 45 - Memorial by his son, Scott Finley:

Jim P. Finley, AD3, USN

"My father Jim Finley, was born and raised in Augusta, GA. He died far too young in 1981, at the age of 45. I guess like all of us, he had his share of disappointments and triumphs. However, he always spoke highly of his time in the Navy, aboard the USS Hancock.

He was in V-3 (Air) Division, for nearly three years, from 1957-1959. I still have his cruise book from 1957, one of his uniforms - his Dress Blues he wore in this Photo taken in 1956 and dozens of pictures, etc.

I really miss him, and it does me good to see this Memorial to my dad.. Fair Winds and Following Seas, Dad!"

Scott Finley

Scott Finley contributed somewhat to our Hancock 'Icons of the Past' Gallery on some things his dad saved from his Hancock Days.. go here for that. For another photo of Jim, click here.

For comments write the Yeoman

Taps Page I

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Shipmate Memorials

General Taps List from the Association's Newsletter *

This Taps Section makes no claim or is in no way connected with the USS Hancock Association and entries here
are placed here merely to keep these, our fallen shipmates memories alive for us and for their families and loved ones.

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