John R. Doole, Lt. USNR (RET.)

MY WAR STORY by John R. Doole Lt. USNR (RET)

Do you believe that a GUARDIAN ANGEL is assigned to you?? I sure do, and you should too!! Take a look at: Psalm 91: 11-12

My ship was a Motor Minesweeper. She was 136 ft long, wooden hull, and carried a crew of 30 men plus 4 Officers. We were built in Bellingham, Washington, and put into commission August 9th, 1944. I was the youngest, greenest--still wet-behind the ears officer on board - almost the youngest man on the ship!!!

With the end of the war and Japan's surrender in 1945, we were assigned, together with all the other sweeps in the area, to do post war minesweeping. This involved clearing the approaches to various islands which had been by-passed in our conquest of the Pacific.

Both the skipper and the Executive Offiert were eligible to be discharged, or released to in-active duty. A point system had been set up, based on age, marital status, length of service, etc. I was not eligible, being the youngest and single, I therefore INHERITED the job of Commanding Officers of that ship!! I was, needless to say VERY proud, but also very APPREHENSIVE!! After all, I was not yet 23 years old and too young for this job!

We became part of a three-ship task group assigned to clear the mine fields in and around the islands of CHICHI JIMA and HAHA JIMA, near Japan. When attacking a mine field such as this, the ships approached the area in an echelon formation, with their sweep gear stretched out behind at about a 40 degree angle. The cutters on the sweep wire would cut the mine cable, and the mine would pop up to the surface. As the sweeps neared the shore, sweeping from seaward, it was necessary to slow down in order to reverse course and go back out to sea, and start in again.
On Dec 5th, 1945, my 23rd birthday, my Guardian Angel was "on the job" - and I'm here to tell you about it!!

The ship ahead of us had snagged a mine and was dragging it as he slowed down to make his turn. When he picked up speed again after completing his turn, the mine popped up to the surface. We were very close to him, and the mine popped up just a little to the right of our ship - almost dead ahead!! The command was given to try to go around it, and the bow swung to the right of the mine, and, another command given to stop the ship from swinging into the mine on the other side. But we were moving so slow, and our ability to maneuver was futher hampered by the drag of our sweep gear. Yes, we MISSED the mine, but we could almost reach out and touch it as it traveled the length of the ship!!

To my dying day, I will testify that it was as if a hand SWEPT that mine AWAY from our ship, and saved our lives!!

Psalm 91:9-12 says:
" ... Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place, no evil shall befall. you…FOR HE SHALL GIVE HIS ANGELS CHARGE OVER YOU, TO KEEP YOU IN ALL YOUR WAYS. IN THEIR HANDS THEY SHALL BEAR YOU UP, LEST YOU DASH YOUR FOOT AGAINST A STONE."