Commitment

by Joey Davis

The USS Astoria (C-34) was the first u.s. Cruiser to engage the Japanese during the battle of Savo Island, a night action fought August 8th and 9th, 1942. Although she scored" two hits on the Imperial flagship Chokai, the Astoria was badly damaged and sank shortly after noon on August 9th.

At about 2 a.m., a young midwesterner, Signalman 3rd Class Elgin Staples, was swept overboard by the blast when the Astoria's number one eight-inch gun turret exploded. Wounded in both legs by shrapnel and in semi-shock, he was kept afloat by a narrow life belt that he managed to activate with a simple trigger mechanism.

At around 6 a.m., Staples was rescued by a passing destroyer and returned to the Astoria, whose captain was attempting to save the cruiser by beaching her. The effort failed, and Staples, still wearing the same life belt, found himself back in the water. It was lunchtime. Picked up again, this time by the USS President Jackson (AP-37), he was one of 500 survivors of the battle who were evacuated to Noumea. board the transport Staples, for the first time, closely examined the life belt that had served him so well. It had been manufactured by Firestone Tire and Rubber Company of Akron, Ohio, and bore a registration number.

Given home leave, Staples told his story and asked his mother, who worked for Firestone, about the purpose of the number on the belt. She replied that the company insisted on personal responsibility for the war effort, and that the number was unique and assigned to only one inspector. Signalman Staples recalled everything about the life belt and called off the number to her so she could try to figure out who had inspected the belt.

After writing down all of the numbers, she sat and cried. The number he had just called off to her was her own personal code and was affixed to every item she was responsible for approving. Unknowingly, from the other side of the world, her attention to detail and commitment to doing things right had played a part in saving the life of her son.

• Commander Eric J. Berryman, Us. Naval Reserve, Proceedings, US. Naval Institute, vol. 15/6/1036 (June 1989): 48.

Can you unknowingly save the life of another by your commitment to excellence in living for the Master? Chances are that your prayers and example have/will play( ed) a part in saving the soul of someone you love!