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The United States Navy Memorial

Navy Memorial Honoring the Men & Women of the Sea Services

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Neosho

Ship Designation: 
AO-23
Date Lost: 
Thursday, May 7, 1942
Battle of the Coral Sea
As the American and Japanese fleets maneuvered in preparation for the Battle of the Coral Sea, Neosho fueled Yorktown (CV-5) and Astoria (CA-34), then retired from the carrier force with a lone escort, Sims (DD-409). ... The following day Japanese aircraft spotted the two ships, and believing them to be a carrier and her escort, launched the first of two attacks which sank Sims and left Neosho, victim of 7 direct hits and a suicide dive by one of the bombers, ablaze aft and in danger of breaking in two. She had shot down at least 3 of the attackers .... Neosho suffered 177 fatal casualties in the attack. ... Superb seamanship and skilled damage control work kept Neosho afloat for the next four days. The sorely stricken ship was first located by an RAAF aircraft, then an American PBY. ... On 11 May, Henley (DD-391) arrived to rescue the 123 survivors and to sink by gunfire, Neosho that had been so valiantly kept alive against impossible odds.

Lost At Sea Log

Number of sailors in this log: 174

Namesort ascending Service Branch
Sea 2c Vernon Zeddies USN
Sea 1c George Wood USN
F 3c Edward Wolf USN
SC 1c Nelson Wilson USN
MM 2c Lester Williams USN
SC 2c Robert White USN
Sea 2c James Wheeler USN
SM 3c Louis Weidner USN
Sea 2c Clarence Webre USN
GM 3c William Webb USN
Ens Oliver Ward USN
Matt 3c Prosper Walker USN
Matt 2c Othello Wadley USN
MM 2c Jack Vogan USN
SC 3c John Varnum USN
MM 2c Chester Underwood USN
SK 3c Charles Tyler USN
PhM 3c Henry Tucker USN
Sea 1c Victor Toney USN
Sea 2c Philip Toner USN

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Prepared by CAPT R.O. Strange USN (Ret.)