The USS Astoria (C-34) was the first U.S. cruiser to engage the Japanese during
the Battle of Savo Island, a night action fought 8-9 August 1942. Although she
scored two hits on the Imperial flagship Chokai, the Astoria was badly damaged
and sank shortly after noon, 9 August.
About 0200
hours a young midwesterner, Signalman 3rd Class Elgin Staples, was swept
overboard by the blast when the Astoria's number one eight-inch gun turret
exploded. Wounded in both legs by shrapnel and in semi-shock, he was kept
afloat by a narrow life belt that he managed to activate with a simple trigger
mechanism.
At around 0600
hours, Staples was rescued by a passing destroyer and returned to the Astoria,
whose captain was attempting to save the cruiser by beaching her. The effort
failed, and Staples, still wearing the same life belt, found himself back in
the water. He was picked up again, this time by the USS President Jackson
(AP-37), he was one of 500 survivors of the battle who were evacuated to
Noumea.
On board the
transport, Staples, for the first time, closely examined the life belt that had
served him so well. It had been manufactured by Firestone Tire and Rubber
Company of Akron, Ohio, and bore a registration number.
Given home
leave Staples told his story and asked his mother, who worked for Firestone,
about the purpose of the number on the belt. She replied that the company
insisted on personal responsibility for the war effort, and that the number was
unique and assigned to only one inspector. Staples remembered everything about
the lifebelt, and quoted the number. It was his mother's personal code and
affixed to every item she was responsible for approving.
When we always
do what is right, the person we help the most in many ways is most likely to be
our own self and that of our loved ones.
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