Jasper Clarence McCartney

Jasper Clarence McCartney

Quick Facts

Significance:

US Navy Sailor, World War II, KIA

Place of Birth:

Mangham, Louisiana

Date of Birth:

February 11, 1910

Place of Death:

Near Okinawa

Date of Death:

July 30, 1945

Place of Burial:

Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery

Cemetery Name:

Point Loma, California

Jasper Clarence McCartney was born on February 10, 1910 in the landlocked town of Mangham, Louisiana. He would go on to spend much of his life at sea, in service to the U.S. Navy.

Jasper enlisted on December 16, 1930 and a little over six months later he was a member of the crew of the battleship USS West Virginia (BB-48), on which he served until November 30, 1936. McCartney first worked in one of the ship’s firerooms as a fireman and later earned the rating of watertender.

His next assignment, aboard the destroyer USS Peary (DD-226), lasted from May 1937 to November 1939. McCartney then immediately moved to another destroyer, the USS Rogers (DD-254), where he assisted with the ship’s reactivation and overhaul until she was transferred to the Royal Navy on June 30, 1940.

On November 16, 1940, McCartney boarded the battleship USS Arkansas (BB-33) on which he would serve until March 1943, leaving with a promotion to chief watertender. On August 2, he entered the Naval Training School at the Philadelphia Navy Yard and graduated from the Naval Boiler and Turbine Lab on November 8. Three days later he was assigned to USS Cassin Young (DD-793) to assist in readying the ship for her commissioning on December 31, 1943. He would serve as the chief watertender in the ships forward fireroom.

After several weeks of at sea training, the USS Cassin Young departed Pearl Harbor to participate in raids on several Japanese held islands in the Pacific between April 29 and May 1, 1944. The ship then moved on to the Mariana's Islands and assisted in the capture of Saipan, Guam and Tinian between June 11 and August 10, 1944. Shortly after, the USS Cassin Young took part in the offensive off the Western Caroline Islands and in the capture and occupation of the Southern Palau Islands.

With these missions successfully completed, the ship moved with the fleet towards the Philippine Sea in preparation of the liberation of the Philippine Islands. The ship would see heavy action in the Battle of Leyte Gulf, fighting against Japanese forces off Cape Engano as American forces invaded Leyte in October 1944. A month later, on November 26, McCartney reenlisted for the fourth time, aboard ship. For the remainder of 1944 and into the New Year, the USS Cassin Young proceeded to strike at enemy positions throughout the East China and Philippine Seas.

On February 19 and March 16, 1945, the Cassin Young would participate in operations supporting the Iwo Jima campaign.

From April 1 through June 22, the ship took part in the Okinawa Campaign providing escort, shore bombardment or serving as radar picket. It was off Okinawa on April 12, that a kamikaze plane struck the ships mast and exploded above the main deck, killing one sailor and injuring 45. The explosion ruptured pipes in the forward fireroom releasing steam, smoke, oil and water into that compartment. McCartney directed the securing and abandonment of the fireroom, and would be the last crew member to leave. Shortly after, while the ship was still under attack, he reentered the steam and smoke-filled fireroom to free a stuck valve, during which he suffered first and second degree burns on his face and arms. He would be awarded the Silver Star and Purple Heart for his unselfish act of heroism.

Before dawn on July 30, 1945, while the USS Cassin Young was serving as radar picket off Okinawa, a Japanese kamikaze flew into the ship’s starboard side. The aircraft and the bomb it carried exploded directly above the forward fireroom where McCartney was standing watch. He suffered third degree burns over his entire body and was killed instantly.

The tragic news of his death was relayed by telegram to McCartney's parents, then living in Olla, Louisiana, and his wife, Selma, and their two sons, Leonard and Leland, in Bellflower, California on August 4. On August 9, 1945, Captain John Ailes, commander of the USS Cassin Young, sent McCartney's widow a letter in which he wrote: "He was one of the real leaders on board. All hands respected and admired him. He gave so much to the ship; it will always be Mac's ship. By his devotion to duty, steadfastness and courage you can truly say he served his country with distinction."

McCartney was posthumously awarded his 2nd Purple Heart and the Navy Unit Commendation Medal. He was buried at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, Point Loma, California.

In the name of the President of the United States, the Commander Destroyers, United States Pacific Fleet, takes pleasure in presenting the SILVER STAR MEDAL to

JASPER CLARENCE MC CARTNEY
CHIEF WATER TENDER
UNITED STATES NAVY

For service as set forth in the following

CITATION

“For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as Chief Petty Officer in Charge of the watch of the forward fireroom on board a United States Destroyer dur- ing operations against the enemy in the vicinity of Okinawa on 12 April 1945. During an air attack on his ship, a plane and its bomb exploded above the forward fireroom, releasing steam, smoke, oil, and water into that station. He then directed the securing and abandonment of the fireroom, and was himself the last to leave. Shortly thereafter, while the ship was still under attack, he re-entered the steam and smoke filled fireroom to free a stuck valve, during which time he suffered steam burns about his face and arms. His courage and disregard for personal safety were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.”

W.H. P. BLANDY
Rear Admiral, U. S. Navy