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The Sinking of
the U.S.S Pollux and U.S.S Truxtun: |
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U.S.S. Truxton
- Chamber Cove 1942 |
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More than two
hundred American sailors died in February, 1942, when two
ships of the U.S. Navy were wrecked near St. Lawrence.
The Pollux ran ashore at Lawn Point while the "Truxtun"
met her fate in Chamber Cove, However, due to the heroism
of the local people and their all on the behalf of the
shipwrecked seamen, 186 men were saved.
The
U.S.S. Truxton passed through the entrance of Chambers
Cove at approximately 5:00pm on February 18,1942 . The
U.S.S. Pollux ran aground at Lawn Point at about 4:00pm.
When the Truxton first hit land, it reversed right away
and then the ship backed into a large reef. During this
there were heavy seas. A group of sailors from the ship
reached the shore with the use of an inflated rubber life
raft. The group of sailors brought the news of the Truxton
to the people of St. Lawrence. The town of St. Lawrence
could not contact the ship and all the sailors on board
the ship was helpless. At the Iron Springs mine, the news
of the tragedy reached the workers at approximately 9:00,
by a cold, water soaked, oil covered sailor.
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Hours of
intense rescue follow, tales were told of the heroism and
true valour of the hardy miners risking their own lives to
save their fellow man from the ravages of the sea - they
themselves later would become victims to a cruel
industrial disease. We commemorate these victims and
acknowledge their fortitude in pioneering the social,
economic, and cultural development of our town. Cries of
encouragement echoed from the rescuers, intermingling with
cries for help from the distressed - a drama of life and
death, true humanity and bravery unfolded. The cliffs of
Chambers Cove and Lawn Point would forever perpetuate the
true valour portrayed that night of the tragic U.S. Naval
Disaster - U.S.S. Truxtun and U.S.S. Pollux, February 18,
1942. 293 lost their lives, 186 were saved.)
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In
gratitude for the heroic effort that the residents of St.
Lawrence displayed in one of the greatest naval disasters
ever, the U.S. donated the
U.S. Memorial Hospital
to the people of St. Lawrence which opened in 1954. |
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U.S.S. Truxton |
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A model of The
USS Pollux AKS 2 which currently resides in the St.
Lawrence Miners Museum |
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This
monument,
with silent respect and gratitude, remembers also those
brave men of St. Lawrence who gave their lives in World
War I, and World War II, that we may have the peace we
enjoy today. |
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Links
related to both ships:
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U.S.S.
Pollux:
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U.S.S.
Truxton:
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Comments from the
Producer/Director/Writer/Editor of the "The Lanier
Phillips Story" documentary that aired earlier this year
on PBS.
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Descendant of USS Truxtun visits St. Lawrence:
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Triumph over
racism:
Midweek is a production
of Carleton University's School of Journalism and
Communication in Ottawa.
http://www.carleton.ca/midweek/index.shtml
© 2001-05
Carleton University. All rights reserved.
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Books
Published Relating to the Disaster: |
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The
article was written by Isaac Henry Strass , QM2c ,
survivor USS Pollux .
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American Destroyers Lost in the second World War "
written by Robert Sinclair Parkin, one of the stories is
on the USS Truxtun DD229.
Both books can be
purchased at
www.amazon.com |
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Articles:
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Lanier Phillips (survivor) |
- The town
is also in the process of creating a movie on this
disaster that occurred back in 1942 on the shores of
Chamber Cove in St. Lawrence.
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- Click
here
to listen to
a song
written and recorded by local artist Ray Lake
in memory of
the American sailors (U.S.S Pollux and U.S.S Truxtun).
www.raylake.com
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Click
here
for an article that was published in The Chattanooga
Times about Lanier Phillips and how his experience in
St. Lawrence changed his life.
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