This December 7th, The U.S. was dealt a vicious blow by a determined enemy. You've seen the documentaries that are factual. You've seen Hollywood's portrayals that are LOOSELY based on facts. The number of heroes on that unforgettable Sunday morning numbered in the hundreds.Heroes like...
... the cook turned anti-aircraft gunner
... the chaplin turned ammo bearer
... the two pilots who did manage to get off the ground and inflict damage on the enemy
...and the ship's band of the U.S.S. Nevada, that wouldn't stop "the Star-Spangled Banner" until it was complete regardless of the bombs dropping all around them.

But you may not have heard of the bravery of the watertender aboard the U.S.S. Utah, Peter Tomich.

The Utah was an aged, target ship. Her guns had been removed and her emplacements planked over so that, from the air, she resembled an aircraft carrier. This would be her undoing...

A watertender was charged with maintaining the proper pressure of steam and the proper level of water in the boilers. Too much of one, or too little of the other, and a ship’s boilers could be damaged beyond repair. Or they could explode, sending lethal live steam onto the engine room crew.

One of the best watertenders in the fleet was Chief Watertender Peter Tomich of the U.S.S. Utah. No one seemed to understand the complexity of boilers as he did. Few men could coax as much from an old boiler as he could. He knew, and some said loved, his boilers. So great was the respect for Tomich’s talent that if a problem with another ship’s powerplant could not be solved, he was sent for.

And it wasn’t surprising, considering his 22 years of Naval service. Born in Prolog, Austria, on June 3, 1893, he immigrated to America in his teens. When the United States entered WWI in 1917 Tomich enlisted in the Army. He saw no overseas service, but did become a U.S. citizen.

A few days after his honorable discharge in January 1919, Tomich enlisted in the Navy. It wasn’t long before he realized he’d found a home. His natural affinity for machinery soon displayed itself. As a result, he advanced quickly through the ranks. In just eleven years he earned the stripes of Chief Watertender-unheard of progress in the peacetime Navy.

His assignment to the Utah proved beneficial to both the Navy and Tomich. The Navy was not going to spend much of its money on the maintenance of an old target ship. So Tomich called upon his considerable talents to keep the ship’s boilers operating.


The long hours he put in did not bother him. In fact, he enjoyed the arduous work. He had no family; he had never married, and as far as anyone knew, he had no living relatives. The Navy was his home, the young men of his engine room crew his family.


Tomich demonstrated his concern for his crew that brutal December morning.

When the Utah started her list, water seeped into the engineering plant. Tomich knew danger was imminent. He had to secure the boilers before they blew.
He knew that.
He also knew that those who stayed to perform the time-consuming tasks were doomed. The rising water would trap them. Tomich made his decision.
“Get out!” he yelled to his men. “Get topside. The ship’s going over.”
The crew was his family. He’d save them and do what he could to save his ship from a deadly internal explosion. As the last of the crew scrambled up the ladders to safety, they saw Tomich calmly turning valves, setting gauges, and opening pet*****. It was the last anyone saw of him.

Tomich’s sacrifice was not in vain. Because of his actions an explosion of the boilers and the attendant loss of life were avoided. For his deliberate self-sacrifice he was awarded the Medal of Honor. But the Navy could not award it. They looked in vain for a relative of Tomich’s to accept the decoration. None could be found.

When a destroyer escort was named for the deceased hero in 1944 the ship’s commanding officer accepted the posthumous decoration on the crew’s behalf. Upon the ship’s decommissioning after the war, the medal was returned to the Navy Department.

On May 25, 1947, in an impressive candlelight ceremony, the governor of Utah declared Tomich an honorary citizen of that state. He then accepted Tomich’s medal from the Navy Department as part of a permanent memorial at the state capital honoring the men who had lost their lives aboard the Utah.
Peter Tomich was home at last.

I think it fitting and proper to honor all the fighting men and women of WWII. Now you know the story of one of those who loved his country, and the men he fought with, more than life itself.


Chuck

 

chuck thanks for the story, it's very humbling indeed.




chris

 

I agree. Very humbling, and touching as well.

May we never forget.

 

Thank you, Chuck, for the chance to honor someone who truly displayed what it is to be an American.

 

Cool story, glad I read it. Thanks for taking the time to type it out.
BDV

 

You're welcome guys.

In my post, I forgot to mention where I got the information and the author who wrote it. (I don't usually forget that sort of thing) But the information came from: "Heros of WWII" by Edward F. Murphy.

An excellent book, and certainly an excellent writer. The content was his, the prologue and epilogue were mine.

I do love to tell their stories. I'm glad you guys like to hear them.
They should teach them in school.The youth of today are certainly lacking for role models nowadays.

Chuck

 

Thanks for the story that reminds us of what we can do with our lives and for others. My flag is flown daily, with a raising and lowering in honor of the known and especially for the unknown (soldiers and civilians) who have given us so much.

 

You can still the rusted remains of the Utah in the waters of Pearl Harbor just off of Ford Island, across from the USS Arizona Memorial. As big of a history buff as I claim to be, and as many times as I've done the USS Arizona and USS Missouri tour, I'd never heard about Peter Tomich. I think I'll go back and take another look at the Utah....
REX

 

Once again you have made me as proud as one can be to be an American!

Chuck, you and the folks who's stories you tell are what makes our country what it IS and will be FAR into the future.

You and the folks who's stories you tell are the reason those in other countries, with no such stories of their own(or "chucks" to tell them)hate, envy and wish to destroy us.

It is also people like you and the folks who's stories you tell who will ensure the destruction wished upon us and our country will NEVER happen and make sure America will remain THE GREATEST COUNTRY ON EARTH!




read not to condemn but to consider

 

The youth of today are
>certainly lacking for role models nowadays.


i couldn't agree more, chuck. i have been blessed to have been brought up by two very old school (and just plain old) parents who have been perfect examples of how i should try to be. they, along with the rest of the members of my family have all been great role models for me growing up, they all showed me what hard work and dedication can accomplish.

but there are so many who are not as fortunate to have role models in their families for one reason or another. and look at society in general... who's out there to turn to? certainly not professional athletes for a variety of reasons... and not anyone you see on TV, thats for sure. who are kids supposed to turn to and aspire to oneday be? there's sure not many people out there who i can think of off the top of my head.

one person who does come to mind, though, is arnold swartznegger ( i can't even spell his name right). i don't think he's left anything unaccomplished in his bodybuilding, acting, offstage, or personal careers. the man is a shining example for someone to look to as a role model. i can't possibly think of any negative connotations which surround him. he started with absolutely nothing and look at where he is today...

i also greatly admire the voluteer firefighters in my hose company back home. they are always there to help out and never ask for anything in return. i have tried to adopt this philosophy myself.

another thing worth mentioning about positive role models... they are so hard to see because in the society in which we live today, all the negative people are the ones in the limelight. our society is obsessed with how bad people can be- a good example is how mike tyson pulls so much money for a fight when he's got no fighting ability anymore- people are just fascinated by his bad boy act.... same thing goes for professional wrestling- the nastier and the more negative and rediculous- the more popular it becomes.

i guess all there is to do for an aspiring role model is to keep on doing the right thing, no matter what- and eventually someone will take notice of your actions.



there's many heroes and role models out there today still, they will certainly shine through in difficult times when you need them, rest assured.


chris

 

Amen...freedom is not free

 

Chuck,
How truly belssed we are to have had men like that (and countless thousands more) who did what they did so that we have what we have.
I fear that many Americans do not have CLUE about men like those whose heroics you remind us of.
Thanks for reminding those of us who read your posts.

Good job Chuck,
Brian A