My father was on the Kitikun Bay. His name was Floyd M. (Steve) Stevenson and served as Lt.jg. Without looking into some very old files, I cannot tell you what his duties were. He was an engineer by training. Da passed away in August, 2005. My father's shipboard roommate and life long friend is Robert S. Harry is still alive and living in Denver, CO. Dad never talked about the war until about the mid 1990's when he started to attend the reunions. C.R. (Dick) Stevenson Greenwood Village, CO
Hi Melissa, My Dad was also on the USS Kitcun Bay. He had a few friends who were also onboard with him. My Dad many times talked about his experiences on the kitkun Bay and I have pictures that had been taken while he served. Very glad to see your thread and the many posts about the USS Kitkun Bay. I'm new to this forum and just discovered it online this morning. Will try to fiqure out how to post some of his pictures or if there is a special spot on here that I can post some of his pictures. Very Sincerely, Steve Henaghan
Welcome Steve, and thank you for your father's service. I have adjusted your account to allow to post photos early. We have a problem with spammers and what not posting crap throughout, so we limit new member's ability to do certain things until we know them. Please post all the photos you want. Create another thread about your father if you would like to here and tell us more about him.
hi i noticed this post about the kitkun bay, while my dad was not on the kitkun bay, its quite possible that your dad was on my fathers ship the uss stembel DD 644 , when the kitkun bay was hit by the kamikaze plane, the stembel came to her aid, 360 crew members of your dads ship were transfered onto the deck of the stembel, while this was happening someone aboard the kitkun bay kicked a small piece of the kamikaze plane onto the stembels deck and it landed at my fathers feet, he kept it and brought it home, it is now with me, the stembel returned the crew the next day, after it was determined the kikun bay was not going to sink, and was towed. im going to dig out the piece and post a photo when i get a chance. many thanks to all who served View attachment 19293 View attachment 19293 View attachment 19294 View attachment 19295
If you could take some pictures of it I suspect the people over on j-aircraft would love to see them.
Hi Melkc, The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors is excellent. I also just picked up, but have not yet read, For Crew and Country, by John Wukovits. It's also about the battle of Leyte Gulf, and focuses on the Samuel B. Roberts, one of the tin cans in Taffy 3, which was lost in that battle.
My uncle, S1c Francis Joseph Watkins also served on the USS Kitkun Bay from 5 April 1944 until his death 8 Jan1945 when at 18:57 a Nakajima Ki-43 "Oscar" (Army Zero) got through and dived into Kitkun Bay's port beam amid ship, exploding at the waterline. Almost simultaneously a 5 inch shell struck her starboard side catwalk amid ship where Joseph was stationed.This direct force from the 5" shell killed Joseph receiving extreme #2542 fatal injuries, dying instantly. The resultanting fires and flooding were brought under control. 15 other shipmates also died - Ens Jack Akfred Reed, S1c Kenneth Merton Anderson, S1c James Payton Bevirt,Sr., S2c Gordon Jay Blume, S1c Ralph Freeman Edwards, EM2c George Foreman Fisher, SF2c Gordon Crawford Hunt, AAA2c Raymond Michael Kostura, S1c Henry Lee Lochmaier, S2c John (n) Murgic, CM2c(T) Richard Eugene Otto, RM3c(T) Junior Reno Schilittler, S1c Thomas Jefferson St. Clair, AMM2c Elvin Eldard Stockwell, and S1c Charles Lewis Strouse.39 others were wounded. They are memorialized on tablet walls at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, also known as: Fort William McKinley Cemetery in the Philippines.. The crew, along with others in the Task Unit 77.4.3, received a Presidential citation for meritorious conduct during the Battle of Samar which occurred 25 October, 1944 during the Leyte invasion operations. The USS Kitkun Bay earned 8 battle stars before its retirement. May we never forget their bravely and sacrifices in the service to our Nation.. View attachment 27201
Kudos to your uncle and the others who died that day. I've done some reading about the Kitkun Bay and the others at Samar and later. Brave men, all. Had a look at Find-a-Grave. Nice pictures.
It would be very helpful if at some point you could scan and post those pictures of USS Kitkun and its crew. I was only1 yr old when my uncle S1c Francis Joseph Watkins died aboard the USS Kitkun on 8 Jan 1945.
It would be nice if at some point you could scan and post the pictures you have of the USS Kitkun Bay and its crew.
Unfortunately, Steve has not been around for almost four years. It's unlikely that he will see and respond to your requests. Too bad, as the material would be of use.
The President of the United State's PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION to USS Kitkun Bay CVE 71 and crew - Battle off Samar, Philippines.
Hello, My father Willard “Will” Schlee AMM-1 served on the Kitkun Bay 1944-45. He passed away 12-1998. I have some of his material from his time on the Kitty, I have his Composite Squadron Cruise Book, Aug 1944-October 1945. Here is a few photos. If anyone is interested let me know I can send photos of individuals that I have, please include name and nic name. Neal Schlee