WWII Gunnery Lieutenant’s Family Visits His Old Ship
Photo from Holtzman family
Battleship IOWA historian/curator Dave Way gets to have some fun conversations. On a recent morning he was checking in with the tour team on deck when a special group of people came aboard.
They were the family of LT (j.g.) WAYNE HOLTZMAN, a WWII veteran who was in charge of a quad 40 mm gun mount. From Dave Way:
“The family knew [LT Holtzman’s] gun mount was on the bow in front of Turret 1 and that he / his crew had defended IOWA from several aircraft attacks. [LT Holtzman’s son] also mentioned that his father watched the surrender ceremony on MISSOURI with his binoculars from IOWA and he was sent ashore for some duties while off Japan. I asked if Lt. Holtzman had left any written stories and the family said yes, they had all his letters that were mailed home. Oh boy, could you please scan those for us. Stay tuned.
“I told the family I would send my photos of IOWA’s 40mm gun mounts from our collection, which I did. A few hours later, they emailed back and said they thought one of my pictures showed the Lt. on his gun mount, (actually in the gun mount’s MK 51 director). I think they are correct. Plus, I also found him mentioned in IOWA’s deck logs.”
We’ve included the photos and deck log entry for you below.
From IOWA’s WWII Deck Logs
September 11 1945 – 0000 to 0400. Anchored in berth F-72, TOKYO BAY, HONSHU, JAPAN, in 10 fathoms of water with 60 fathoms of chain to the starboard anchor on the following bearings: Fort No. 1, 167 3/4°(T); Fort No. 3, 245 1/4°(T); West Breakwater Light, 313°(T). Boilers No. 1 in use for auxiliary purposes ship on 12 hours’ notice for getting underway. Ship in Material Condition “Y”. SOPA is COMTHIRDFLEET, in SOUTH DAKOTA; SOPA (Administrative) in PIEDMONT.
At 1100 pursuant to verbal orders of ComBatDiv 7, the following 36 officers and men returned aboard having completed temporary duty ashore; Lieut. J.W. SPAVER, USN; Lieut. (jg) V.C. SQUIRES, USNR; Lieut. F.S. GREGORY, USNR; Lieut. (jg), W.H. HOLTZMAN, USNR; HOWARD, C.E., CY; ROSS, R.E., Y3c; HEALERICH, L.B., S1c; BALASON, I., CStd; WILLIAMSON, StMlc; SCHMIDT, L., Y3c; CAMPBELL, A., AerMlc; LARSEN, W.F., Slc; REYNOLDS, J.A., Ylc; APPLE, R.A., S1c; RADCLIFT, R.J., QM2c; KAIHNE, R., Corp.; JONES, R.D., Pfc .; WILLIAMS, J., StM2c; BUTTLER, L.W., Pfc .; JIUDRIZY, L.J., SM2c; POTTER, G.K., Pfc .; WRIGHT, E.L., StMlc; GLASS, C.R., StMlc; PRESIDENT, J.A., SM3c; ROEQUE, T., CStd .; PINDELL, R., Pfc .; ALIPIE, R., CCK; CLARK, K.L., S1c; URIAS, G., Pfc; REYNOLDS, R.L .; S1c; KLOTH, R.E., Pfc .; HORNE, P.K., Pfc; MANN, R.A., S1c; SPIEKLER, A.J., Cox; LAVINDER, J.R., Y3c; VEACH, V.F., Y3c; with baggage.
At 1125 commenced transferring fresh water to YW 88.
IOWA bow showing round bridge / 40mm with helmets / whistle / superstructure July 1944 BuAer 256595
Cropped close-up / left side of photo / forward starboard of IOWA
