[John Holbrook]

Ens Tom Anderson was the OOD of the USS UTAH on Dec 7, 1941. He had just assumed the watch at 0800, when the first torpedo struck the ship at 0805. He was wearing this rig at the time. He survived the attack and was assigned to the 14Th Naval District Sampan Group on Dec 26, 1941 and kept the whole rig throughout the war.. I spoke to him personally while he was in a nursing home in Snohomish, WA before his death.... Look up the 14TH Naval District Sampan Group on the INTERNET. It was very interesting...

Ens. Tom Anderson USNR..

 

[Jungles]

The date issued shows as December 26, 1941?

 

[John Holbrook]

The date issued shows as December 26, 1941?

Correct, he told me that since the records of the Colt had gone down with the ship, the Colt was re-issued to him by the 14Th Naval District Material Officer!!! Aboard ship, weapons were issued at the beginning of a watch, and turned in at the end... He told me that he had just received the Colt from a Gunners Mate and strapped it on when the first torpedo struck.

There is a USS UTAH Survivors Assoc. that has a web site. It has a lot of information Including a letter by Ens. Anderson to his mother!

Here she lies today...

 

[dfariswheel]

There's some real American history.

Do you know where the set is today?

 

[curly1]

How did he get to keep the rig?

 

[John Holbrook]

There's some real American history.

Do you know where the set is today?

Yes, I know exactly where it is. I am LOOKING AT IT!!!! I have it in one of my gunshow displays along with a Colt Navy that came off the USS MINNESOTA...

Here is the MINNESOTA half of the display...

 

[BradB]

Many officers were allowed to purchase their sidearms at war's end. Many others just took them home without anyone ever asking. Supply records were much more lax in wartime and back then. Keep in mind they were pushing aircraft off the decks of escort carriers into the ocean to make room to carry troops home. So a $25 pistol was nothing.

 

[badash5946]

Very nice presentation on the USS Minnesota item. Those are a couple of real treasures.