John T. Pigott: In His Own Words
I joined the Naval Institute 50 years ago, and emphatically recommend membership to all young men and women involved in the military. I grew up in San Francisco—then the major West Coast port and naval base—so it is not surprising that the sea and the ships that pass through the Golden Gate have always fascinated me. Nor is it surprising that I have long realized that control of the seas is essential to the safety and prosperity of the United States.
My first association with the Navy was through Uncle Van—Captain (later Rear Admiral) Clifford E. Van Hook, Naval Academy Class of 1909. When I was about 14, I was met at Pier 5 by the captain's gig—a magnificent mahogany motor boat complete with white rope tassels around the canopy—and taken to his new command, the USS Melville (AD-2), for lunch with the captain and a tour of the ship. Uncle Van was in command of the most intriguing grown-up toy I had ever seen; I think I felt envy.
I entered Yale in 1938 and majored in English literature as a prelude to law school. To the amusement of my classmates, I signed up for the four-year naval science course which on graduation would result in a commission in the Naval Reserve. I reasoned that every recent generation had fought at least one war; I concluded my generation was going to follow suit. By our junior year, the Selective Service Act was plucking at the sleeves of my classmates, but I was exempt; I was already in the Navy.
Shortly before graduation and commissioning I heard from my cousin, W. R. Smedberg III, Naval Academy Class of 1926 (and a future vice admiral). Smeddy was then serving in the Bureau of Naval Personnel. He was about to take command of the USS Lansdowne (DD-486), and wanted to know if I'd like to be assigned to his ship, on the understanding that no one was ever to learn of our relationship. I fired back an enthusiastic yes, reported aboard as the junior ensign, and became assistant gunnery officer. The secret was kept.
My 18 months in the Lansdowne, primarily in the Solomons, were active and nerve-wracking. No incident more so than the hours following the torpedoing of the carrier Wasp (CV-7) by a Japanese submarine on 15 September 1942. Our ship dropped her two 26-foot wooden motor boats, and I found myself the officer in charge of one of them. For many hours we hauled survivors from the water, dropped them off at the closest destroyer, and returned for more. The official capacity of the boat was 16; on one trip, with 36 on board, I felt the ocean filling my shoes as I heaved on board an oil-covered Sailor. I had to let go, assuring him and others we had to pass by that they would be picked up on our next trip—and they were. As we worked our way closer to the Wasp, the injuries became more severe. I hauled some badly burned men over the side whose skin came off in my hands, a bit like the outer shell of a toasted marshmallow. It was dreadful.
Beyond saving, the Wasp was put down by torpedoes from my ship. Years later, surviving members of the crew of the Japanese submarine that had attacked her were invited to a reunion of the USS North Carolina (BB-55), also torpedoed that day but not sunk. A subsequent article in Proceedings about the exchange of information between the former enemies made for most interesting reading.
I thoroughly enjoy Proceedings and Naval History magazines. The continuation of their robust health is a major reason why I have, over many years, given as generously to the Naval Institute as I could—and I will continue to do so. I might add that in 1944 I was a commissioning officer in the USS Barton (DD-722). My assistant gunnery officer was Ensign B. B. "Beetle" Forbes, fresh from Annapolis, who went on to have a distinguished naval career and retired as a vice admiral. Last year, the Naval Institute completed his oral history, and it gave me much pleasure and satisfaction to help underwrite the project. I take great pride in being both a member and a supporter.
The 1873 Society
The Naval Institute enjoyed the support of a record number of major donors in 2008. Our thanks to the following individuals whose generosity placed them in our top annual giving society last year:
RADM Joseph F. Callo and CAPT
Sally McElwreath
CAPT Earnest G. Campbell*
SMAJ Charles W. Godwin*
Peter A. Gudmundsson
Thomas M. Gunn
Mark W. Johnson
H. F. Lenfest
J. P. London
ADM James M. Loy
HON Robert C. McCormack
Rosa L. McDonald*
Merrill D. Martin
Christopher P. Michel
Edward and Joyce Miller
CAPT Randell H. Prothro
VADM Norman W. Ray
The John J. Schiff Family
COL Willard B. Snyder
RADM Sidney A. Wallace
MGEN Thomas L. Wilkerson
Dr. John Durfee Winslow*
Anonymous Donor
*Deceased
For information about the Naval Institute's major-donor societies or to support the Institute through a tax-deductible contribution, please contact Sue Sweeney at (410) 295-1054 or at [email protected]. Gifts can also be securely made online at www.usni.org (click on "Support USNI").