USS Southern Seas (PY-32)

Commissioning

The USS Southern Seas (PY-32) was commissioned in the United States Navy on December 22, 1942 in Auckland, New Zealand. The ship was built for Cyrus Curtiss of the Curtis Publishing Company by Cramp Ship and Iron Works, Philadelphia in 1920 at a cost of two million dollars. She was christened the Motor Yacht Lyndonia.

In Pan American Aviation Company service

In 1939, Pan American Aviation Company bought the Lyndonia and changed her name to the Motor Vessel Southern Seas. She was used in the South Pacific by Pan American to supplement their passenger service.

In United States service

When the United States entered World War II in December 1941, the ship was sold by Pan American to the Army Corps of Engineers for $600,000. The Army used the ship in the South Pacific to transport troops and also to chart islands and locate air fields. While she was doing this work for the U. S. Army, the ship hit an uncharted reef in the vicinity of New Caledonia. As a result of this mishap the SOUTHERN SEAS had both engine rooms flooded and various holes in the hull.

After the collision, the U.S. Navy salvaged SOUTHERN SEASand towed her from New Caledonia to New Zealand v/here she was docked, the holes in the hull were patched and repairs were made on the main engines. The home port and navy yard of the SOUTHERN SEAS was Pearl Harbor but she had never been there due to her extended operations in the forward areas. When the ship was first commissioned, Commander South Pacific Fleet, who at that time was Admiral Halsey, considered the possibility of using it as his flagship, however, he decided against it and from that time on the SOUTHERN SEAS was used as quarters for transient officers and enlisted men.

On January 12, 1943, the SOUTHERN SEAS got underway from Auckland, New Zealand for Noumea, New Caledonia. The ship remained there until June 1943 when she left for Tarawa, Gilbert Island by the way of Funafuti, Ellice Islands. At Tarawa the job of the SOUTHERN SEAS was to provide quarters for transient officers and officials, the ship was attached to Commander Aircraft Pacific Fleet at this time.

In February 1944, the SOUTHERN SEAS departed for Kwajalein Island by the way of Makin where she again assumed the duties of a hotel ship.

On June 25, 1944, the SOUTHERN SEAS departed from Kwajalein enroute to Eniwetok, Marshall Islands in company with SS PACIFIC SUN and USS YMS-388 where she arrived on June 27, 1944. On August 8, 1944, the SOUTHERN SEAS was ordered to Saipan, Marianas Islands where she again became quarters for transient personnel in the forward area. The ship remained at Saipan until January 1, 1945 when she departed for Guam, Marianas Islands. At Guam, the ship was attached to Commander Submarines Pacific Fleet and was moored alongside the USS Holland (AS-3).

On September 7, 1945, the SOUTHERN SEAS was ordered to Okinawa to work directly under Rear Admiral J. D. Price, U. 3. Navy, who was Commander Naval Operating- Base, Okinawa.

The Southern Seas arrived in Okinawa on September 15, 1945 just in time for Typhoon Louise. She was sunk on October 9, 1945 with a loss of thirteen lives out of a compliment of five officers and forty-seven men.

During the time that the SOUTHERN SEAS served as quarters for transient officers, officials of the United States Government and newspaper correspondents, she compiled an impressive guest list including two vice admirals, thirty rear admirals, fifty-three captains, one lieutenant general, four major generals, six brigadier generals, forty-five newspaper correspondents, the Honorable Mr. Nash, New Zealand Minister to the United States, and Mr. Warren Atherton, National Commander of the American Legion.

Commanding officers

The Commanding Officers of the USS SOUTHERN SEAS were as follows:

• Lt. Comdr. Albert L. McMullan, USNR, 22 December 1942 - 25 January 1943
• Lt. Leroy G. Elwell, USNR, 25 January 1943 - 14 October 1943
• Lt. (jg) Rupert A. Triplitt, USNR, October 1943 - 15 June 1944
• Lt.(jg) Charlie H. Alexander, USN, 15 June 1944 - 31 March 1945
• Lt. Thomas G. Thompson, USNR, 31 March 1945 - 5 August 1945
• Lt. Charlie F. McMichael, USNR, 166134 (Deceased) 5 August 1945 - 9 October 1945

Final crew

The final crew aboard the USS Southern Seas when the ship sank during typhoon Louise on October 9, 1945 in Buckner Bay, Okinawa:

• Badamo, Anthony William S2c.
• Barker, Oren Manderville, Jr. Flc.
• Berry, Archie William MoMM2c.
• Bochnik, Edward MoMM3c.
• Bryant, Davis Julian StMlc.
• Carlson, Roy, Jr. F1c.
• Clark, Ronald Ray SK2c
• Cohen, Bernard J. (Colner) Ens.
• Console, Andrew Jack SF2c.
• Crockett, Peter Noyes F1c.
• Dow, Willard Junior S2c.
• Eckler, Charles John EM2c.
• Fabozzi, Joseph GM3c
• Figg, Norman Ellsworth EM3c.
• Hanlon, Edward Francis MoMM2c.
• Hayes, James Martin SM3c.
• Hendrix, Joseph George S2c
• Herrly, Francis Vincent S1c.
• Hess, Thomas William S2c.
• Hickman, Forest Dwain F1c.
• Hinds, William Grant S1c.
• Hines, Jimmie Richard F1c.
• Hinkley, Ray Alvin S1c.
• Hollingsworth, William Lester QM3c
• Holtmeier, Franklin Ernest MoMM3c.
• Hopta, Mike, Jr. S1c.
• Howard, William Arthur Ens.
• Leutz, George Edward Y2c.
• Mangold, William Eugene SM3c.
• Martin, James Henry, Jr. BM2c.
• Mason, Andy S2c.
• McMichael, Charlie Felder Lt.
• Miller, Robert Ben CmoMM
• Notari, Amos Anthony S2c.
• Race, Leonard Allen, Jr. S2c.
• Rouse, Alfonso StM1c
• Ruppel, Armond Frank MoMM1c.
• Scheurer, Harold Norman S1c.
• Scott, Earnest Robert StM2c.
• Scudder, Kenneth Ralph Ens.
• Simons, Howard Floyd Lt. (jg)
• Smith, James Gracie S2c.
• Smith, Peter Melvin S2c.
• Smith, Robert Herman S2c.
• Sneed, Elijah StM2c.
• Swartz, Carl Edward CM2c.
• Teague, Vern D S2c.
• Thurber, Seymour Scott RM3c(T)
• Tyas, Robert Howard PhM1c.
• Wandas, Louis Joseph S1c.
• Warren, Algie SC3c
• Waters, James Christopher, Jr. S1c.

Also aboard as a visitor:

• Gault, William David LT (jg)

Individuals listed in bold represent the dead or missing from the typhoon.