Master Technical Sergeant Ralph E Hammers
Ralph Emerson Hammers was born on March 23rd, 1900 in New Jersey to Morgan and Mary Hammers but they moved to Bedford, Pennsylvania shortly after. His family owned a farm which he worked at throughout his childhood, but still had time learning to read and write. When the United States became involved in the Great War in April 1917, Ralph was not old enough to join and when he was the following year, decided to wait as his father needed him on the farm. He signed up for the draft in September 1918 but was never called up as the war ended three months later. After passing his 19th birthday, Ralph decided to step away from his family and enlisted in the US Navy near the end of 1919 and went through training at the Naval Station in Newport, Rhode Island. It is unknown what he did for his four year enlistment but information suggests he remained stateside in an aviation related unit. Ralph took a two year break from the service after being discharged in 1923 but was unable to find a solid job. As a result, he turned back towards the military.
Marine Corps Aviation
On June 4th, 1925, Hammers enlisted in the Marine Corps and transferred to Parris Island, South Carolina for boot camp which lasted into mid August. Due to previous experience with airplanes in the Navy, Private Hammers was sent to the Aviation Detachment, Naval Training Center, Great Lakes, Illinois on September 29th, where he remained through mid 1926. After taking classes on airplane mechanics, he was promoted to Corporal and joined Division 1, VO Squadron 4, 1st Aviation Group at Quantico. The unit was later redesignated as VO Squadron 4M, ECEF by the end of the year in preparation for an overseas deployment to Nicaragua, with Corporal Hammers with the Boeing O2B-1 crews. On May 12th, 1927, VO-4M boarded the USS Medusa, arrived at Corinto, Nicaragua on the 22nd, and traveled to Managua the following day to join the 2nd Marine Brigade.
Nicaragua
The squadron immediately began flying recon patrols over northern Nicaragua which was occupied by bandits. One plane was struck by enemy fire with no casualties in June, and in July, the squadron was redesignated as VO-7M. They flew over Nuevo Segovia and on July 16th, bombed bandits near Ocotal who had surrounded a Marine patrol. Daily air sorties were flown throughout the end of the year while Corporal Hammers remained with the ground O2B-1 crew serving their planes. On November 15th, he left Nicaragua aboard the USS Cleveland for Balboa, CZ, then continued on the USS Utah which arrived in Virginia on December 9th. Hammers joined Service Squadron 1M at Quantico the following day and worked in their machine shop as a mechanic through 1928. On February 20th, 1929 he was promoted to Sergeant and began detached duty flying aircraft in April and May.
Haiti
Seeing a promising career in the Marines, Hammers reenlisted on June 4th and was quickly allocated to Hampton Roads for further transfer overseas. He joined a contingent of Marines on the USS Kittery and left the US on September 18th for Haiti, arriving in Port Au Prince on the 25th and found a home with Division 1, Observation Squadron 9M, 1st Brigade as the NCO in charge of the machine shop. The US had been present in Haiti since 1915, but tensions rose once again after a peaceful protest was fired upon by Marines in December 1929, leaving dozens dead. While the US sent a commission over to investigate, Hammers’ unit was not bothered and he fulfilled his duties repairing planes well into 1931. Finally, on June 4th, he boarded the USS Kittery and arrived back in the US by the 15th and was promoted to Staff Sergeant. As a well experienced mechanic, he transferred to the Aviation Service Company 1, later Service Squadron 1M, at Quantico where he worked for two years.
In July 1935, newly promoted Gunnery Sergeant Hammers was sent to Marine Bombing Squadron 6M, 1st Marine Brigade as assistant crew chief and began further aviator training which led to him getting his wings. Due to a new reorganization of Marine ranks, Hammers’ warrant was changed to Technical Sergeant in November before his next deployment. On January 4th, 1936, he left on the USS Antares, during which he was temporarily attached to the Base Defense Artillery for the voyage. He arrived at Camp J J Meade, San Juan, Puerto Rico on the 9th for a month of air training before returning to Quantico and rejoining VB-6M. The rest of the year was spent conducting tactical gunnery and bombing exercises at Quantico before his unit relocated to San Diego by January 1937. In March, VB-6M received carrier landing qualification aboard the USS Saratoga and training at Balboa before returning to Quantico where Hammers reenlisted in June. During this time, his unit was reclassified as Marine Bombing Squadron 1 and he participated in the 10th Miami All American Air Maneuvers competition at the end of the year. By June of 1938, TSgt Hammers had joined Marine Bombing Squadron 2 which spent weeks with the 2nd Marine Air Wing becoming accustomed to aircraft carrier landings on the USS Saratoga. The breakout of WW2 in Europe that same year only heightened their training process in anticipation for the possibility of war.
Pearl Harbor
As 1941 came around, tensions between the axis powers and the currently neutral United States prompted VMB-2 and Hammers to board the USS Enterprise for relocation to Ewa Field, Pearl Harbor, Oahu in January. After reenlisting again in June, his squadron was redesignated as Scout Bombing Squadron 232, MAG 21 and remained on alert at their field with 20 Dauntless scout bombers. This would not help them when the Japanese attacked. Shortly before 8:00 AM on December 7th, members of VMSB 232 eating breakfast were startled by the sound of Japanese Zeros zipping towards Pearl Harbor. Moments later, the enemy planes began their runs on the squadron’s twenty parked Dauntlesses at a height of 20-25 feet with bursts of machine gun fire. The first wave successfully destroyed or put out of commission all planes, while the second wave focused on the airfield buildings. TSgt Hammers and the Marines rushed to man their positions with whatever they had while others attempted to salvage the planes on the tarmac. One more rear guard attack was launched on the field with minimal success, but the damage was already done. Ewa Field was the first area attacked just two minutes prior to the main air assault on Pearl Harbor Naval base, and the Marines could only watch as the Japanese decimated the parked US fleet for the next ninety minutes. The US was going to war.
Guadalcanal
For the time being however, VMSB 232 remained at Ewa Field to recuperate, beef up its defenses, and train for further duty. Hammers was promoted to Master Technical Sergeant on May 31st, shortly before his unit fell under MAG 23 in preparation for the invasion of Guadalcanal. On August 4th, he left Pearl Harbor on the USS William Ward Burrows for Vila, Efate, New Hebrides which they remained at until the 25th. When the USS Burrows was passing through a waterway between the Solomon Islands on the 29th, they got word that Henderson Field on Guadalcanal was under attack. All men headed to battle stations as Japanese planes were spotted above at 12:05 PM. The ship opened fire and helped down two enemy bombers. Afterwards, she landed at Lunga Point and offloaded members of VMSB 232 and supplies. MTsgt Hammers did not disembark but remained on the ship for temporary air duty which turned out to be a harrowing experience. While leaving the harbor, the ship ran aground on Sylvia Reef and was unable to free itself before darkness. The following day, a Japanese air raid was spotted at 2:58 PM much to the panic of all aboard, as they were a prime target for a bombing attack. The planes bypassed the USS Burrows and sunk the USS Colhoun at Kukum Point. If she had not run aground, it was very likely that would have been her fate. The Burrows finally freed herself on September 2nd and Hammers was able to rejoin his unit at Henderson Airfield the same day. His stay on Guadalcanal was relatively short because he was sent to VMF 223 for temporary duty which was located on Noumea, New Caledonia, prompting him to leave on October 12th to join them. Once he arrived, he quickly boarded the USS Kit Carson for American Samoa, then returned to the United States by November 16th. After a brief furlough, he joined Service Squadron 41, Marine Base Defense Group 41 at El Toro, California.
Throughout 1943 and 1944, Hammers bounced around aviation units in El Toro as an engineer, line chief, and aviator until settling with MAC Squadron 2, at Miramar in February 1945. Shortly after, he became sick and spent a few months in a hospital in San Diego where he learned of Japan’s unconditional surrender that ended WW2 for good. After serving 24 years in the US military, Hammers bid his service goodbye and retired on January 24th, 1946. It is unknown what Ralph’s occupation was during his civilian life, but he passed away on February 3rd, 1984.
Marine Corps Aviation
On June 4th, 1925, Hammers enlisted in the Marine Corps and transferred to Parris Island, South Carolina for boot camp which lasted into mid August. Due to previous experience with airplanes in the Navy, Private Hammers was sent to the Aviation Detachment, Naval Training Center, Great Lakes, Illinois on September 29th, where he remained through mid 1926. After taking classes on airplane mechanics, he was promoted to Corporal and joined Division 1, VO Squadron 4, 1st Aviation Group at Quantico. The unit was later redesignated as VO Squadron 4M, ECEF by the end of the year in preparation for an overseas deployment to Nicaragua, with Corporal Hammers with the Boeing O2B-1 crews. On May 12th, 1927, VO-4M boarded the USS Medusa, arrived at Corinto, Nicaragua on the 22nd, and traveled to Managua the following day to join the 2nd Marine Brigade.
Nicaragua
The squadron immediately began flying recon patrols over northern Nicaragua which was occupied by bandits. One plane was struck by enemy fire with no casualties in June, and in July, the squadron was redesignated as VO-7M. They flew over Nuevo Segovia and on July 16th, bombed bandits near Ocotal who had surrounded a Marine patrol. Daily air sorties were flown throughout the end of the year while Corporal Hammers remained with the ground O2B-1 crew serving their planes. On November 15th, he left Nicaragua aboard the USS Cleveland for Balboa, CZ, then continued on the USS Utah which arrived in Virginia on December 9th. Hammers joined Service Squadron 1M at Quantico the following day and worked in their machine shop as a mechanic through 1928. On February 20th, 1929 he was promoted to Sergeant and began detached duty flying aircraft in April and May.
Haiti
Seeing a promising career in the Marines, Hammers reenlisted on June 4th and was quickly allocated to Hampton Roads for further transfer overseas. He joined a contingent of Marines on the USS Kittery and left the US on September 18th for Haiti, arriving in Port Au Prince on the 25th and found a home with Division 1, Observation Squadron 9M, 1st Brigade as the NCO in charge of the machine shop. The US had been present in Haiti since 1915, but tensions rose once again after a peaceful protest was fired upon by Marines in December 1929, leaving dozens dead. While the US sent a commission over to investigate, Hammers’ unit was not bothered and he fulfilled his duties repairing planes well into 1931. Finally, on June 4th, he boarded the USS Kittery and arrived back in the US by the 15th and was promoted to Staff Sergeant. As a well experienced mechanic, he transferred to the Aviation Service Company 1, later Service Squadron 1M, at Quantico where he worked for two years.
In July 1935, newly promoted Gunnery Sergeant Hammers was sent to Marine Bombing Squadron 6M, 1st Marine Brigade as assistant crew chief and began further aviator training which led to him getting his wings. Due to a new reorganization of Marine ranks, Hammers’ warrant was changed to Technical Sergeant in November before his next deployment. On January 4th, 1936, he left on the USS Antares, during which he was temporarily attached to the Base Defense Artillery for the voyage. He arrived at Camp J J Meade, San Juan, Puerto Rico on the 9th for a month of air training before returning to Quantico and rejoining VB-6M. The rest of the year was spent conducting tactical gunnery and bombing exercises at Quantico before his unit relocated to San Diego by January 1937. In March, VB-6M received carrier landing qualification aboard the USS Saratoga and training at Balboa before returning to Quantico where Hammers reenlisted in June. During this time, his unit was reclassified as Marine Bombing Squadron 1 and he participated in the 10th Miami All American Air Maneuvers competition at the end of the year. By June of 1938, TSgt Hammers had joined Marine Bombing Squadron 2 which spent weeks with the 2nd Marine Air Wing becoming accustomed to aircraft carrier landings on the USS Saratoga. The breakout of WW2 in Europe that same year only heightened their training process in anticipation for the possibility of war.
Pearl Harbor
As 1941 came around, tensions between the axis powers and the currently neutral United States prompted VMB-2 and Hammers to board the USS Enterprise for relocation to Ewa Field, Pearl Harbor, Oahu in January. After reenlisting again in June, his squadron was redesignated as Scout Bombing Squadron 232, MAG 21 and remained on alert at their field with 20 Dauntless scout bombers. This would not help them when the Japanese attacked. Shortly before 8:00 AM on December 7th, members of VMSB 232 eating breakfast were startled by the sound of Japanese Zeros zipping towards Pearl Harbor. Moments later, the enemy planes began their runs on the squadron’s twenty parked Dauntlesses at a height of 20-25 feet with bursts of machine gun fire. The first wave successfully destroyed or put out of commission all planes, while the second wave focused on the airfield buildings. TSgt Hammers and the Marines rushed to man their positions with whatever they had while others attempted to salvage the planes on the tarmac. One more rear guard attack was launched on the field with minimal success, but the damage was already done. Ewa Field was the first area attacked just two minutes prior to the main air assault on Pearl Harbor Naval base, and the Marines could only watch as the Japanese decimated the parked US fleet for the next ninety minutes. The US was going to war.
Guadalcanal
For the time being however, VMSB 232 remained at Ewa Field to recuperate, beef up its defenses, and train for further duty. Hammers was promoted to Master Technical Sergeant on May 31st, shortly before his unit fell under MAG 23 in preparation for the invasion of Guadalcanal. On August 4th, he left Pearl Harbor on the USS William Ward Burrows for Vila, Efate, New Hebrides which they remained at until the 25th. When the USS Burrows was passing through a waterway between the Solomon Islands on the 29th, they got word that Henderson Field on Guadalcanal was under attack. All men headed to battle stations as Japanese planes were spotted above at 12:05 PM. The ship opened fire and helped down two enemy bombers. Afterwards, she landed at Lunga Point and offloaded members of VMSB 232 and supplies. MTsgt Hammers did not disembark but remained on the ship for temporary air duty which turned out to be a harrowing experience. While leaving the harbor, the ship ran aground on Sylvia Reef and was unable to free itself before darkness. The following day, a Japanese air raid was spotted at 2:58 PM much to the panic of all aboard, as they were a prime target for a bombing attack. The planes bypassed the USS Burrows and sunk the USS Colhoun at Kukum Point. If she had not run aground, it was very likely that would have been her fate. The Burrows finally freed herself on September 2nd and Hammers was able to rejoin his unit at Henderson Airfield the same day. His stay on Guadalcanal was relatively short because he was sent to VMF 223 for temporary duty which was located on Noumea, New Caledonia, prompting him to leave on October 12th to join them. Once he arrived, he quickly boarded the USS Kit Carson for American Samoa, then returned to the United States by November 16th. After a brief furlough, he joined Service Squadron 41, Marine Base Defense Group 41 at El Toro, California.
Throughout 1943 and 1944, Hammers bounced around aviation units in El Toro as an engineer, line chief, and aviator until settling with MAC Squadron 2, at Miramar in February 1945. Shortly after, he became sick and spent a few months in a hospital in San Diego where he learned of Japan’s unconditional surrender that ended WW2 for good. After serving 24 years in the US military, Hammers bid his service goodbye and retired on January 24th, 1946. It is unknown what Ralph’s occupation was during his civilian life, but he passed away on February 3rd, 1984.