Name/Title
LetterEntry/Object ID
1985.011.0031Scope and Content
Letter to Mrs. Samuel (Ann) Harrison of Benicia from
Mrs. Virginia Falk dated December 12, 1946 regarding a disaster
at sea in World War II
one page hand written on both sides 6-1/4" x 10"
[more information follows the letter]
5778 Shafter Ave.
Oakland 11, Calif.
December 12, 1946
Dear Mrs. Harrison,
As the wife of the Captain of the S.S. John Burke, I have wanted to write to the families of the Navy crew and have finally received the names and addresses.
My husband wrote often of the fine Navy crew and said "they came through with flying colors more than once." Lt. Watkins was apparently a fine man and knew his job as head of the gun crew.
I know Herb took every precaution possible for the safety of men and ship, but lack of protection from outside was the reason for the disaster. He tried desperately to get started home and was put off time after time.
I have understood the Burke as "shooting everything they had" at the plane, and it happened so fast "there was no time to be afraid and there could have been no suffering"
It's nice to know the rest of the convoy had a moment of silence and prayer for our crew and lowered the flags in their honor.
There was no chance for anyone and "the rest of the trip to Mindoro was a hell they were lucky to miss".
We all know the United States Merchant Marine and the Navy gun crews did more and received less credit and had less support than any other service.
Mrs. Ephland of Drexel, Missouri, sent me a picture of her son, yours, and two others. They are all such fine looking young men and so young. Nearly all the men on ship were young.
Nothing can be said to console us, but I thought you might, even at so late a date, like a word of appreciation from me in the name of my husband, Captain Falk, for the fine cooperation your son gave him. He said often "they are a fine bunch and will come through all right". That was his fervent prayer to bring them home safely.
I hope that we may get together some day.
Sincerely,
Virginia M Falk
The SS John Burke (609) was an American Liberty Ship delivered to the US Maritime Commission on December 12, 1942 only 33 days after construction began.
On December 28, 1944, while transporting ammunition in a convoy to Mindoro, Philippines, the Burke was hit by a Japanese kamikaze aircraft and disintegrated in a tremendous explosion with the loss of all sixty-eight hands. The John Burke was one of three Liberty Ships an one of forty-seven ships sunk by Kamikaze attack during World War II.Collection
Benicia Historical Museum Collection
