MOORE-DAVID

SURVIVED  SINKING  OF  USS SPENCE (DD-512)

Typhoon Cobra, also known as the Typhoon of 1944 or Halsey’s Typhoon, struck Task Force-38 in December 1944.  TF-38 consisted of 7 fleet carriers, 6 light carriers, 8 battleships, 15 cruisers and about 50 destroyers and had been operating in the Philippine Sea conducting air raids against Japanese airfields.  The fleet was attempting to refuel when the storm stuck.  Winds clocked at over 120 mph, mountainous seas and torrential rain caused three destroyers to capsize and sink with a total of 790 lives lost.  Nine other warships were damaged.  The USS SPENCE (DD-512) was one of the destroyers lost during the typhoon.  The huge waves estimated to be between 40-50 feet caused SPENCE to roll violently and after a 72-degree roll to port and with a jammed rudder, water poured down the stacks into the engine rooms causing power to be lost and the pumps stopped.  SPENCE completely capsized and quickly sank taking most of the crew to their deaths.  Only 24 of her complement survived the sinking.

As the typhoon began to subside groups of men in the water began to be rescued.  As USS TABBERER (DE-418) happened upon the scene, the ship commenced to pluck men from the still angry seas.  Three men were picked up after having drifted for about twenty-two hours.  Two of the men were unconscious and the third man, David Moore, Steward First Class, is credited with being responsible for saving the lives of his two companions.  Moore, an African-American, found himself alone in the water with several life jackets nearby as the SPENCE sank.  After retrieving the life jackets Moore saw two shocked and delirious men clinging together nearby and he swam to their rescue.  He managed to tie the trio together and as the two men lost consciousness, Moore held their heads out of the water until they were seen and rescued by the TABBERER.  For his heroic efforts Moore was awarded with the following citation:

NAVY AND MARINE CORPS MEDAL

“For heroism in assisting and rescuing men in the water following the capsizing of the USS SPENCE in a typhoon on 18 December 1944.  After the typhoon had subsided, he found himself alone in the water with several life jackets, and a short time later saw two shocked and delirious men clinging together.  During the night of 19 December 1944 the two men became unconscious and he supported them until they were rescued twenty-two hours later.  His conduct was at all times in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.”

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