BARNES-CLYDE

LOST AT SEA – USS TURNER – 1/3/1944

USS TURNER was commissioned on April 15, 1943, at the New York Navy Yard.  After outfitting and shakedown TURNER was assigned to transatlantic convoy escort duty to Europe.  During the late-night hours of January 2, 1944, TURNER concluded a successful convoy assignment and dropped anchor off Ambrose Light in New York Harbor.  Several hours later TURNER suffered a series of shattering internal explosions which caused severe fires and by 6:50am she took on a 16-degree starboard list.  Explosions, mostly in the forward ammunition stowage area, continued to stagger the stricken destroyer and at 7:50am a singular violent explosion caused her to capsize and sink, taking with her 15 officers and 138 men.  Unfortunately, Seaman Second Class Clyde V. Barnes was one of the casualties.  Although German submarines were reported operating in the area no evidence has ever been revealed that they caused the explosions and survivors reported that routine ammunition handling procedures were underway at the time of the initial explosion. 

During salvage operations, numerous human remains were recovered but not identified.  The remains were placed in four separate graves at the Long Island National Cemetery in Farmingdale, New York.  The body of S2 Barnes was not identified and is presumably in one of the four graves which are inscribed UNKNOWN U.S. SAILOR – JANUARY 3, 1944.

Records reflect that S2 Clyde V. Barnes entered the Navy from Tennessee and was survived by his wife.  A memorial marker in memory of S2 Barnes is located at the Pleasant Green Cemetery in Bradford, Tennessee.

Submitted by CDR Roy A. Mosteller, USNR (Ret)