NEWBURGH – Author Martin Irons will discuss his book, “Phalanx Against the Divine Wind: Protecting the Fast Carrier Task Force During World War 2,” on Sun. Nov 5 at 3 p.m. It chronicles the crew and the battles of the destroyer UUSS Haynsworth DD 700. This presentation is part of the library’s celebration of Veterans Day which also includes the Veterans Art Show from Nov. 1 – 30 and the Veterans Art Show Reception also on Nov. 5 from 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. in the library lobby.
By late in World War 2, the average age of sailors had dropped dramatically so most of the crew were teenagers. Two of these teenagers were John McAllister of Renwick Street, Newburgh and Ernie Satterly of Meadowbrook, NY. Circumstances caused John to be off his ship the day the largest kamikaze raid of World War II began. Ernie, along with other close friends of John, was killed during the attack. John’s buddies in the radio shack were burned to death.
The Haynsworth was the alpha, the first ship struck during a series of kamikaze raids off Okinawa. Eventually 218 American ships would be struck, 36 ships were sunk, and nearly 5,000 sailors perished. The programs are free and open to all.
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