My Father was not a land surveyor, but he did serve aboard the USS Louisville from January 1943 to December 1945. His duty station (and please forgive my ignorance about the proper military terms) was at the 5-inch gun battery above the bridge. His job was to "aim the gun" so a surveyor's computations were his forte.
While he could be a difficult man to work for, I reflect back now to say, "Thanks Dad for instilling a good work ethic in your sons." He was an independent old cuss who lived alone, drove everywhere, mowed his lawn, etc. He died peacefully in his home at the young age of 101.
His grandchildren and great grandson were the joy of his life. This photo is of him at 95 when his great grandson was 5.
My Father enlisted in the Navy at the end of May, 1942. He took the train down to Denver in early June to participate in a special induction.
Exactly six months after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, marking the U.S. entrance into World War II, Naval induction ceremonies were held in more than 500 cities across the country to mark and avenge the Japanese attack. At exactly the same hour and minute that the first bomb fell, the swearing in ceremony took place: 12:25 p.m. MST.
I found in his private papers this "war diary." I transcribed it from his handwritten account.
Ed Kooper’s undated, handwritten account listing his service aboard the USS Louisville during World War II.
In January of 1943, I came aboard the Louisville on an anchorage near Guadalcanal. Later we went to the Aleutians where we participated in the invasions of Adak and Kiska. Later went to Mare Island for repairs. Later went to Kwajalein and Wotje, then went to task force 58 for sweeps against Palaui and Truk, later bombarded Satawan, later did bombardment of the Marianas. Later provided shore bombardment for Palau.
Then, we went to Leyte where we encountered the kamikaze planes for the first time. One dived on us, barely missing my battle station. On October 24th, at night, we covered the Surigao Straits where we destroyed a Japanese battle force, consisting of two battleships, four cruisers, and 13 destroyers.
The Japanese harassed us almost daily, culminating in Lingayen Gulf where they hit us twice. On the second hit I was above the bridge and the fire, which raged for an hour kept us from coming down.
The Japanese’s favorite trick was for several planes to drop sheets of tin foil distracting the radar, and then they would come from a different direction.
The bridge was their favorite target as the control of the ship and gunnery was concentrated. When we came back from extensive repairs at Mare Island we were sent to Okinawa where over one hundred kamikaze were involved one day.
Later one hit the port catapult and exploded into No. 1 stack. All the time the destroyers which were on picket duty were being hit daily.
For about five years I drank quite a bit and worked late hours to keep from even thinking of it. I still wake up and see kamikaze coming at me.
I left the Navy after the war and while on board I earned a total of twelve battle stars. I didn’t go to a doctor for flashback symptoms then, as no one knew what post-traumatic stress disorder was.
At his duty station
Condolences to the entire Kooper family on the loss of a huge library of knowledge.
Went to the Find a Grave website and found your uncle's information tied to his burial in the Nebraska Veterans Cemetery in Alliance. Your grandmother's side appears to have a strong German connection based on names that sound as if I sneezed while trying to say something. Did the Kooper line also originate in that same part of Europe? Perhaps you are descended from the famed sculptor Tilman Riemenschneider.
My condolences. I think I am safe to say your father found peace in his family. An unsung hero of our greatest generation!
That sounds like a life well lived. Peace to those left behind.
Mr Gene Kooper,
I appreciate a man like your dad. Living in the line of fire. To try to keep others out of the line of fire.
He sounds like he "never fully came off duty".
I relate to that.
Nate
Condolences Gene.
I can't tell if it is a very strong family resemblance or just that they are both grinning from ear to ear in that picture of your dad with his great grandson - but it sure looks like a great memory.
Condolences to all who loved him. His Naval experiences exemplify what makes America great. It's sad to see that another true American HERO has passed.
Sincere condolences to your family sounds like he had a full life and a loving family. While all veterans deserve our utmost respect, I have a special empathy for WWII veterans. Just finished reading "one Square Mile of Hell" by John Wukovits, what a story about the hell those Marines faced.
Thank you everyone for the condolences. Grief can be a weird experience. I cry a lot, laugh a lot and just feel numb. What has been really hard is using past tense when I talk about him. My Father was a good, honest man who provided for his family.
It is a bit odd to see your name chiseled on marble. It took my father 66 years to learn what happened to his older brother Gene.
66 years later: a small measure of peace
Dad decorating his brother's grave in 2021.
The pronunciation of Leistritz is lie-strict.
Deepest condolences Gene, and and thank you for sharing all you have about your Father. Seems like he had an amazing life and family, and I'm glad you got to spend so many years with him on the planet.
For those unfamiliar with the Great Plains Region and, specifically, the Sandhills Area of Nebraska, I suggest you pull up your favorite aerial map for Alliance, Nebraska. Note the large areas that seem to have no highways or cities. Allieance is an oasis in the desert with a population around 8200. The next largest city is over 50 miles away by highway. I passed through Alliance roughly a dozen years ago when returning from a trip to the Black Hills of South Dakota and Mount Rushmore. We passed first through Chadron, Nebraska which is home to a brother-in-law of mine. We continued generally southward to take a quick look at the survey monument at the NE corner of Colorado before continuing to Benkelman, Nebraska near the NW corner of Kansas. Earlier this week I was bidding on a large farm implement located in Mitchell, NE which is about 60 miles from Alliance but 700 miles from me. Fortunately, bidders with more money came along.
Gene,
My Father in law, Tom Mahoney was a shipmate of Ed's during WWII. They were life long friends, and after Tom passed, my wife Patty kept in touch with Ed. We would love to talk to you about the stories and memories of these two men from the Greatest Generation. I don't know if you can respond to me from this email. We have been in touch with your brother John.
