My Dad, Jimmie Blackwelder, was on the USS Norris from 51 to 52. He died at age 38 in 1971. His brother Brent was also on ship at the same time.
Brent was born on November 7th 1912 and he died on May 16th 1999 at the age of 86 . He went the distance with the Navy and retired to Pensacola Florida. There, he took a job with Monsanto and worked with them for a number of years before retiring a second time.
Brent was also aboard the "Boise" along with two other brothers, Otto and Aaron. They were on her when the"Battle of Cape Esperance" (sp?) took place. The
"Boise" lost over 100 men during that battle. Brent told me that after that battle the "Boise" limped home for repairs and that thousands of people flocked to the riverbanks to wave at them as they sailed by. It gives me goosebumps to think about it and I wasn't even there.
The three brothers were on the "Boise" at Pearl Harbor. Only a few days before the Japanese attack, they had sailed out of Pearl. When the news hit home about the attack, everyone thought they were still in Pearl and were, of course, fearful that they had perished. When the news of the attack came over the radio that Sunday morning, their mother, my grandmother, ran crying out the back door of the house, ran deep into the woods, and stayed there all day crying and praying for her sons. Their father, my grandfather, paced through the house for hours cussing and screaming " We will kill every person in Japan" before the war was over. The reason I know this is because my father told me this story several times when I was a boy. He was just a boy when the attack happened and sitting at the kitchen table with his mom and dad when the news came over the radio. And, of course, my dad served on the"Norris" when he was in the Navy.
All in all, my grandmother had 10 children. 9 boys and 1 girl. 8 of the boys served in the Navy. Three of them Brent, Horace, and Whitey went the distance and retired with full benefits. Another, Aaron, served many years in the Navy Reserves. The other boy served as a paratrooper in the Army. Last time I saw him I asked why he was the only one to serve in the Army. He said it was because they were willing to take him immediately and he had to wait a few months to get into the Navy. He wanted in quick so he went with the Army.
I personally thank all of you for your service to my country. As I now type this, my eyes swell up with tears when I think about the service and sacrifice that so many young men gave to our country. Thank you! .
My biggest regret in life is that I did not serve in the Military. I came along during the Vietnam era. That was not a good time for the Military. As a young and naive boy, I had no idea that I would one day regret not serving my country. I went to college and have experiened a small amount of success. However, I had that opportunity because of people like you. If ever you have another reunion, I would welcome the opportunity to attend and meet you and others that served on the "Norris". I would even welcome the opportunity to address the group in a formal manner. I would consider it an honor and priviledge to stand before them and express my appreciation for their service to America.
Thank you,
Sidney Blackwelder 12/03/03
Mr.& Mrs. Fred Blackwelder With their five sons, members of Uncle Sam's navy. Reading from left to right, they are: lower row, Horace age 18, member of the destroyer Waller; Mr. Blackwelder; Mrs. Blackwelder; Buster, 23 of the Boise; Top Row: Otto 28, of the USS Boise; Fred Jr., who has just been accepted by the Navy but not yet assigned; Brenton 30 of the USS Boise & USS Norris. Jimmie is not in the photo.
Here is a good photo of all of us. My Dad, Mom, older son David, me (Sidney), and younger son Steve. This photo was made 7 months before he died. He looked healthy as a horse in this photo. This picture was made at the last family reunion where my Dad's entire family was present. He started going down hill fast just a few weeks after the reunion.
