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Tradition of Service: Sailor on New York of WW II sees launch of its namesake
Journal Photo by Walt Unks
Charles Fortune of East Bend, who served in the South Pacific aboard the USS New York in World War II, was invited to the launching of the latest warship New York. The new ship’s bow stem was built of steel salvaged from the World Trade Center.
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Published: November 12, 2009
Updated: 11/11/2009 10:55 pm
When Charles Fortune talked last weekend with the men aboard the USS New York, a sailor wanted to hear about the experiences of Fortune and his shipmates aboard another warship with the same name, a World War II battleship.
"They listened to our stories and expressed gratitude for our service," Fortune said. "I told one sailor, ‘Son, your service is important, too. You are keeping us free as much as we ended the conflict in World War II.'"
Fortune, his family and 50 of his shipmates from the battleship New York were among about 3,000 people who attended the commissioning of the USS New York, the Navy's newest warship, at New York harbor on Saturday. The amphibious transport dock ship carries 7½ tons of steel from the World Trade Center in her bow stem.
Fortune, 83, who lives in East Bend, served 19 months on the USS New York, a battleship that bombarded Japanese positions on Iwo Jima and Okinawa in 1945. He was a fire controller third class, working with officers and sailors who directed the ship's anti-aircraft guns. That ship had a crew of about 1,800 enlisted men and officers.
Fortune's other battle stations included manning a rear mast, where he worked with an assistant fire control officer. He helped search for Japanese submarines and kamikaze planes.
Fortune joined the Navy when he was 18 and a senior at Harris High School in Rutherford County.
After he completed training at Camp Peary, Va., Fortune went aboard the New York in late August 1944. The battleship eventually sailed to Iwo Jima, where it bombarded the island for three days in February 1945 before American Marines invaded.
In March of that year, the New York bombarded Okinawa for five days before the American forces landed there. It was stationed off the island's coast for 78 days.
During that time, a Japanese kamikaze plane struck the New York, Fortune said. It hit a Navy seaplane, and fragments from both planes injured a few sailors and Marines nearby.
That attack frightened Fortune.
"I watched that kamikaze plane come in as much as my nerves could stand it," Fortune said. "I watched as long as I could and then got behind a shield. You protect yourself as best you can."
Aside from that kamikaze plane, the New York didn't take a direct hit during the war. However, some of Fortune's Marine friends were killed or wounded during the fighting on Iwo Jima, he said.
After the war, Fortune graduated from N.C. State University with a bachelor's degree in vocational agriculture. He was married in 1950, and he and his wife, Helen, had three children.
For 29 years, Fortune taught vocational agriculture at East Bend School and later at Forbush High School. He also worked 6½ years as principal at East Bend Elementary School before he retired in June 1986.
Fortune said he and his shipmates toured the new New York. That ship has three helicopters, an Osprey aircraft and other modern equipment.
"It shows the advancement in technology and science," Fortune said.
The New York has a crew of 361 and is designed to carry and land Marines in military missions throughout the world. During his visit, Fortune said that the young sailors aboard the New York "were courteous and helped us old people around."
jhinton@wsjournal.com
727-7299
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