Telling the Stories of Courage and Controversies onboard USS Franklin (CV-13)
I Write About World War II History in the Pacific Theater of Operations (PTO), Leadership, and Other Topics
During World War II, on 19 March 1945, USS Franklin, an Essex-class carrier, withstood a devasting attack 60 miles off Japan’s coast that killed 807 men. Her crew and those of other ships that came to her aid performed many heroic acts. As a result, the crew remains the most decorated in US Navy history. Two Medals of Honor were among the 382 decorations awarded.
But the story doesn’t stop there. In the chaos, orders were misinterpreted or never heard, enraging the captain. He would attempt to court-martial seven officers and ordered hundreds more banned from the ship.
I am the author of the forthcoming book Heroes By the Hundreds: The Story of USS Franklin (CV-13). My book will delve into the day’s events and the invaluable leadership lessons we can learn from her crew. Follow my progress by signing up for my mailing list below and reading my blog posts.