USS Gherardi
Raymond Shadrick Johnson, 
originally from Fort Wayne, Indiana. 

by Frank Gray 

For decades, J. L. Johnson wondered what happened to the remains of his brother, Raymond, who died in 1942, back when J.L. was just a kid living in Waynedale.

He considered visiting Narragansett Bay, where his brother disappeared, but he never did.

Time heals all wounds, though, and over the years, J. L. just accepted that his brother was gone, and his body was never found.

Now, 64 years after his brother’s death, J. L. has received word that his long-lost brother’s remains have been found and identified. He’s glad to finally know, but after almost an entire lifetime, it’s just a conclusion to an aging tragedy that befell a family that, except for J. L., has all died.

We first wrote about Raymond Shardrick Johnson about a year ago. The story is that Raymond, who was originally from Oklahoma but moved to Fort Wayne as a child, died in December 1942 in an accident while serving with the Navy.

Johnson, who had joined the Navy in September 1941, when he was 16, was a crew member on the USS Gherardi, a new destroyer harbored in Narragansett Bay in Rhode Island. One night in December 1942 he and 16 other sailors were returning to the ship in a whaleboat during a storm. The whaleboat capsized. Attempts to rescue the sailors were delayed as the storm worsened, and the Gherardi broke loose from her moorings.

In the end, only two sailors survived. Twelve bodies were recovered in the following weeks, but three were never found.

Nine months later, in August 1943, a headless and armless body washed up on the shores of the bay. The body was wearing Navy-style clothes and was dressed for winter, even though it was August, indicating it had been in the water for some time.

Navy investigators concluded the body had to be one of the three missing Gherardi crew who died the year before, but identification was impossible. So the body was buried in an unmarked grave in Newport, R.I.

In the early 1990s, a retired Marine, Ted Darcy, discovered the unmarked grave. He arranged for a marker that said “Unknown,” and then set out to determine who was in the grave. Using DNA tests, it would be possible to identify the body, but the Navy required survivors of all three missing sailors before it would do any tests.

For 10 years Darcy tried to locate relatives of the three missing sailors, eventually finding two. But when it came to Johnson, Darcy hit a dead end.

All he knew was that Johnson had lived in Fort Wayne, and he could trace no survivors.

A story about the hunt for survivors last year turned up several family members in the area – cousins and great-nieces – and Johnson’s lone-surviving brother, J. L., who now lives in Needles, Calif.

It turns out Johnson had eight brothers and sisters, and they lived on Ideal Avenue in Waynedale.

The Navy, after it had located survivors of all three missing sailors, took DNA samples last spring, and on Wednesday afternoon notified J. L. Johnson, Raymond’s only surviving sibling, that 64 years after his death, the man in the grave was his brother.

J. L. says he’s pleased to finally know the whereabouts of his brother. He says he was 13 when his brother died, and he was there when his mother got the news.

She took it hard, he recalled. “She was really torn up. I don’t think she ever got over it,” he said.

“I’m glad it has all come to a conclusion,” he said. “I’d often thought of going back there (where his brother died) just to see it. But I never did. I often thought of taking my mother there.”

J. L. was Raymond Johnson’s youngest brother. He remembers that Raymond quit school in eighth grade and went to work, which wasn’t unusual at the time. When he was 16, he joined the Navy, probably just for the opportunity it offered and to decide what to do with his life, J. L. said. “Things weren’t too good at that time.” The remnants of the Depression still lingered.

Four years after Raymond joined the Navy, and three years after he died, J.L. joined the Navy, too, serving six years.

Now, J. L. has to decide what to do. He doesn’t plan to go to Rhode Island, he said. It’s been more than six decades now since his brother died.

He’s put it behind him now. His plan, he said, will probably be to have the remains cremated and scattered in the bay where he died, where he first sailed as a member of the original crew of that destroyer.

Raymond Johnson in Indiana

DESIGN OF NEW USS GHERARDI PLAQUE TO BE DEDICATED AT THE US NAVY MEMORIAL, WASHINGTON, DC 

The USS Gherardi (DD-637) was converted from a Destroyer to USS Gherardi (DMS-30) – High Speed Mine Sweeper in 1944.

“MISSING”, “LOST AT SEA”, SINCE 1942,

“UNKNOWN USS GHERARDI (?) SAILOR”,

IDENTIFIED, RETURNED HOME, - 2006 

By Eugene F. Phillips 

Typically, the responsibility of Destroyer Men, or “Tin Can Sailors”, is, to protect the fleet. On many occasions the Tin Can Sailors also protected the United States Marines, particularly during amphibious landings. There is an historic story unfolding in 2005 and 2006 whereby a former United States Marine, protected the “Memory” of a Tin Can Sailor. 

The USS Gherardi (DD-637) was commissioned on 15 September 1942 at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. She spent the next six weeks on Shake Down and Training cruises within Delaware Bay. First open sea Trials and Training, began 1 November 1942, when Gherardi proceeded to Casco Bay, Maine. After one month of operations and training cruises out of Casco Bay, the Gherardi proceeded to Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island for torpedo training, and moored at the pier of the Torpedo Station Annex, Coddington Cove, on 30 November 1942. The crew was provided a short liberty. 

The situation was described: “A recently commissioned ship, a green crew, and foul weather can all spell trouble. On 1 December 1942, the Gherardi was moored to a pier at the Torpedo Station Annex, Coddington Cove. This is located about four miles north of the Government Landing, Newport, Rhode Island. The crew were mostly young lads who had recently joined the Navy (90 percent were inexperienced). They were in a hurry to return to the ship from shore leave (liberty). Talking among themselves and exchanging playful banter, they let their desire to get aboard replace the caution of experience, which was still developing.” _1. 

The tragic result on that night was the 26 foot motor whaleboat, with an untested crew, capsized in the stormy and turbulent waters of Narragansett Bay. Seventeen Gherardi Crew Members were plunged into the icy, dark waters, shortly after mid-night. Only two survived the night. Fifteen USS Gherardi (DD-637) Sailors died in the early morning hours on 2 December 1942. 

The storm that had capsized the motor whale boat continued to increase in severity in the early hours of 2 December and even threatened the safety of the Gherardi herself.  After a steel mooring cable parted, the unusual procedure of securing the USS Gherardi to the dock with the anchor chain was initiated. The entry in the ship’s log records the following: “. . . . .0445 Broke starboard anchor chain, starboard anchor secured at hawse pipe. Ran 25 fathoms starboard anchor chain to the dock. . . . . .”_2. 

“When dawn broke on the morning of 2 December, the bodies of five of the victims were found along the southern shore of Conanicut Island about two miles north of Jamestown, RI. . . . . .”

“Over the next eight months, eight additional bodies (remains) were recovered. . . . . .” _3. 

Of the eight remains recovered during 1943, seven were identified. The final remains   from the waters of Narragansett Bay were recovered on 10 August 1943. These remains were never identified. This then left Three USS Gherardi Crew Members, “Missing”. For Sixty Three (63) years after this terrible accident, the “Final Chapter” was, Three (3) USS Gherardi Crew Members are still classified as “Missing”. Today that Chapter of this historic story now reads; Two (2) USS Gherardi Crew Members are still classified as “Missing”. 

In 1995 a Retired United States Marine, Ted Darcy, entered the Gherardi story. While conducting a survey of British and Canadian aviators buried in the Navy Plot at Island Cemetery in Newport, Rhode Island, Ted came across an unmarked grave. A check of the cemetery records did show the date of interment, place of death and gave the name as “Unknown Navy Enlisted Man”. Through exhaustive research, over a period of several years (1995-1998), and the expenditure of considerable personal funds, Ted Darcy, believed at least one of the three USS Gherardi “Missing” could be identified. The three “Missing” Gherardi Crew Members were: (JOHNSON, Raymond S. - S1c – 2917476), (JOYNER, Cecil C. – F1c – 5561577), (SHAUL, Jack M. – S2c – 6267137) 

During his research Ted submitted an application to the Department of Veteran Affairs for a headstone and it was furnished. However, no funds were provided to cover the foundation expenses. He made an extensive, unsuccessful search to obtain the required funds. Upon learning of Ted’s plight, Commander Robert Stevens, of Middleton, RI, V.F.W. Post 4487, obtained approval  and donated the necessary funds. The grave site in the first half of 2006, still had an identification marker that read; “UNKNOWN” – “US NAVY – WORLD WAR II – AUG. 1943”. 

Ted Darcy’s research had indicated a high probability, the remains in this grave were those of USS Gherardi (DD-637) Crew Member, Cecil C. Joyner.  However, positive proof of this would only be confirmed through DNA testing and comparisons with a known Joyner Family NOK (Next Of Kin).  

The missing link pin connection for the last decade had been, to obtain some contact with Family Members of Cecil C. Joyner. For a decade, all attempts to secure contact with the Joyner Family had been unsuccessful. 

In early July 2005, the link pin to connect the Family of Cecil C. Joyner and Ted Darcy was a “Tin Can Sailor”, Eugene F. Phillips _5. President of the USS Gherardi Association. While in the midst of preparations for the 2005 Gherardi Reunion in Jacksonville, Florida, Gene Phillips received the following “generic” e-mail request for information: 

“Hello Gene.    We are doing some research into my husband’s uncle, who was on the Gherardi in 1942. His name is Cecil Joyner. He drowned in Narragansett Bay when the tender bringing him back from shore leave capsized. His body was never found. Apparently, the ship was still under training and maneuvers. His drowning happened on 12/2/1942. Would you have any info or know of anyone who (was) around (at) that time? Could you also send me any info that you have on this year’s reunion in Jacksonville please? My husband’s sister and hubby may be able to attend. Thanks.” 

The initial e-mail response that day provided standard available data to the Joyner Family, from USS Gherardi Log Books, etc., in the possession of Gene Phillips. However, late into the night and through the early hours of the next morning, memories of known documents triggered alarms and sent Gene and his wife Betty searching through volumes of USS Gherardi books, logs, documents, photographs, etc., in the Phillips home library. Gene Phillips, in addition to being the President of the USS Gherardi Association is also the Ship Historian. For almost a decade, significant assistance in establishing the USS Gherardi history documentation, for the Phillips home library, has been provided by John Bowen. John is an authorized independent researcher at the National Archives. John served in the United States Army and is presently providing significant support for Veterans. John and his wife Mary Ann regularly attend USS Gherardi Reunions. 

On that early morning in July, 2005, several attempts by Gene Phillips to recover additional documents on the internet were unsuccessful. However, contact was finally achieved in the early hours of the morning, and Chaplain Lt. Col. Boyd Fallwell, provided the desired web address link:  (2005)  http://members.cox.net/honorguard2/unknown.

          (2006)  http://honorguard.org/unknown.html

Chaplain Fallwell’s Web-Site posting was Key to facilitating the connection between Eugene F. Phillips, President of the USS Gherardi Association and Ted Darcy (USMC Ret.). This web site still provides a complete summary of the dedicated and exhaustive research performed and documented by Retired United States Marine, Ted Darcy, and is titled, “UNKNOWN SAILOR”. The link pin was now in place and Gene Phillips connected Ted Darcy and the Joyner Family. 

Ted Darcy is one of the Nation’s foremost authorities on “Finding America’s Missing”._4.  Ted, after retiring from the U. S. Marine Corp., has virtually dedicated his life to the mission of Finding America’s WWII Missing. Finding an unmarked grave site in a military section of a cemetery, in Newport R.I., represented a challenge that Ted was predestined to accept. 

During the last half of 2005 and the first half of 2006, Ted Darcy and the U. S. Navy have provided guidance and assistance to the Joyner Family, Shaul Family and the Johnson Family. There was a dedication to bring the story of the “UNKOWN SAILOR” to a compassionate and complete conclusion. The DNA identification procedures and protocol, however, were known to be potentially fraught with possible time delays and disappointments.  

There was no guarantee of a result; however, it was initially believed the research work by Ted Darcy shifted the odds in a positive direction, toward the Joyner Family. It was also believed, if the DNA results were not positive for the Joyner Family, there would still remain a high probability that at least one other “Missing” USS Gherardi Sailor would find his way home after Sixty Three (63) years. 

We in the USS Gherardi Association, prayed for and received a successful and compassionate conclusion to the story of the “Unknown USS Gherardi (?) Sailor” in 2006.

 Without the Investigative Research by Ted Darcy (USMC Ret.), starting in 1995, the Identification of the “Unknown Sailor” would not have been possible.  

The USS Gherardi Association often refers to itself as the “Gherardi Family”. Our   experience of involvement in the “Unknown Sailor” story, and the participation of Tin Can Sailors, has given “Family” a broader meaning. We now have a better understanding and appreciation of the USS Gherardi’s relationship and place in the “Tin Can Sailor Family”. From our first, unannounced visit to the Tin Can Sailor (TCS) busy second floor offices, in Somerset, MA, on July 12, 2005, to the ongoing communications, TCS Staff has truly made us feel like “Family”. The first Posting and Publication of the “Article Of Interest” in 2005, on the TCS web-site, was the Documentation Anchor, Credibility Link, and Basis for other News Media around the USA, to publish the story of the USS Gherardi Unknown Sailor. Tin Can Sailors web-site posting was instrumental in locating the NOK of “Missing” USS Gherardi Crew Member, Raymond Johnson.  

   http://destroyers.org/Redesign/P2/Articles_interest.htm 

Gene Phillips and his Wife Betty had reviewed, in considerable detail, Darcy’s summary report “Unknown Sailor”, posted on Chaplain Falwell’s Web-Site, prior to the initial meeting with Darcy. The Phillips’ conclusion from this review was, the “Unknown” most likely was not on Liberty that night, but rather, a member of the ill fated Boat Crew. (Johnson was the only member of the Boat Crew not recovered and listed as “Missing”). 

At their first meeting on July 12, 2005, Darcy told Phillips he had on file information for the Next of Kin (NOK) of only One of the Three “Missing” USS Gherardi Sailors. This contact was with Jane (Shaul) Ryan, Sister of Jack Shaul. Ted Darcy was very pleased to now have a connection with the NOK of the Joyner Family through Gene  Phillips, President of the USS Gherardi Association. 

The Judge Advocate General (JAG) Report, of the Newport accident, confirmed Johnson was the Coxswain of the USS Gherardi (DD-637) Boat Crew, December 2, 1942.  

USS Gherardi Crew Member, Jim Wildman, who was serving on the USS Gherardi at the time of the Newport accident on December 2, 1942, after independently reviewing the available Research data  on July 16, 2005, also concluded, the “Unknown”, “. . . must be Johnson.” 

Further, if one would be prone to consider “Omen”, additional facts uncovered on the US Navy Memorial Foundation Web-Site are interesting. The US Navy Memorial Web-Site maintains a section entitled, “Lost At Sea Log”. A search of the “Lost At Sea Log” will show only Two of the Three “Missing” USS Gherardi Sailors, “Lost At Sea”: Cecil Joyner and Jack Shaul. (It was as though King Neptune was saying, Raymond Johnson is not Lost At Sea, he is just “Unknown”). Darcy attributed the US Navy Memorial error to “typical bureaucratic inefficiency”, noting that the data at the US Navy Memorial, most likely came from the “American Battle Monument Register”, which also does not list Johnson as Missing. 

All of this analysis and conjecture, concerning Johnson as the “Unknown” was very carefully kept in Confidence as the DNA Identification protocol went forward in 2005 and 2006. 

At times some of the communications were emotionally sensitive. As an example, in an E-Mail to Eugene Phillips from Jane (Shaul) Ryan, Sister of Jack Shaul, Jane stated, “. . . My parents spent the rest of their lives hoping he would be found and/or some kind of news but they didn’t even get a letter from his commanding officer after the accident. Back then you just accepted the telegrams and the thank you letter for his service from the Secretary of the Navy. . . “ 

The next major issue to arise came when Darcy contacted the US Navy with the news about the Joyner (NOK) connection. On July 26, 2005, the Navy said they would only authorize the disinterment of the remains, in the Newport Cemetery, when DNA samples of all Three NOK of the “Missing” were available. This now started significant research on the part of the Navy, Darcy and the Phillips’, to find the NOK of Johnson.. It was Betty Phillips who made the contact with News Columnist Frank Gray, of the Fort Wayne Indiana Journal Gazette Newspaper, on August 5, 2005. Forte Wayne was the original home city listed for Raymond S. Johnson. 

All the information the Phillips’ had available was forwarded to Frank Gray and he spent several days researching Newspaper Archives in Forte Wayne, Indiana. Gray then called Phillips to say, his research had not turned up any results, however, he believed this to be an interesting story and he would run a Column. Gray said “I will Shake the Bushes for you”. The Title of Gray’s first USS Gherardi Unknown Sailor column was titled: “Was headless body that of local WWII sailor?” . His column was published on August 9, 2005.

Frank Gray really “Shook the Bushes”. His title upset the other Families of the “Missing” Sailors, as well as Darcy. Gray, however, achieved his goal, when several distant Johnson Family relatives contacted him within a couple of hours of publication. These contacts led to Needles, California for the Brother of Raymond Johnson. After several attempts at telephone contact it was determined the number provided was not correct. On August 10, 2005, Phillips then offered the services of USS Gherardi Association Members located in California. USS Gherardi Crew Member Jim Justus contacted the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department in Needles, and they in turn assigned a detective to assist. Just as this assistance was getting underway, Gray called Phillips back and provided the correct telephone number for Jesse Johnson, Raymond’s Brother. Phillips then first talked to Jesse Johnson on the evening of August 11, 2005.  

Jesse Johnson is also a former Sailor. Jesse served in the US Navy from September 1945-August 1951, serving on several ships.  One of his duty assignments was aboard the USS Goss (DE-444). This also qualifies Jesse as a “Tin Can Sailor”.  

In September 2005, the USS Gherardi held its Reunion in Jacksonville, Florida. Jacksonville, coincidently, was the home town of Cecil C. Joyner, one of the “Missing “.  As an additional sign of Respect, Mr. & Mrs. Phillips invited Cecil Joyner’s Wife, Elizabeth Alderman, and his Sister, Iris McLeod to the Banquet Dinner. Also included on the guest list were Joyner Relatives, Mr. & Mrs. Watkins. At the Banquet Dinner, an added emphasis of the Historic Significance of this story, was provided by the attendance of the Commanding Officer of Naval Station Mayport, Captain Charles P. King.  

In further recognition of the Historic Significance of the, “Unknown USS Gherardi (?) Sailor”, the USS Gherardi Association, at the 2005 Reunion, authorized a Second Plaque to be dedicated at the US Navy Memorial in Washington, DC. The Second Plaque in the name of USS Gherardi will be dedicated, “IN MEMORY OF THE 15 CREW MEMBERS WHO LOST THEIR LIVES DECEMBER 2, 1942 – NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND”. This plaque is sponsored by individual donations from Members of the USS Gherardi Association. 

Now, in 2005, having the Three NOK contacted, the US Navy sent DNA kits to all Three Families. Although there was a small delay caused when one Family could not decide who should be the DNA donor, all DNA was submitted by October. It was interesting and helpful that Siblings of all Three “Missing” are still alive and anxious to participate by donating DNA samples.  

The case remained quiet until January 2006. Darcy had contact with the US Navy and they indicated disinterment of the “Unknown” might take place in the Spring. When March and April 2006, came and went, with no further communications forthcoming from the US Navy, Darcy notified all concerned parties. He suspected a Bureaucratic Log Jam. He requested each one to contact their Congressional Representatives and request assistance to break what appeared to be this Bureaucratic Log Jam. 

Phillips sent several letters to Congressional Representatives and Senators. Phillips’ last letter, requesting assistance to break the apparent Log Jam, was sent to the Chairman of the Armed Services Committee, on July 6, 2006. 

Unbeknownst to all parties involved, the US Navy had secretly disinterred the “Unknown” remains, back in April 2006. The fact of the disinterment was accidentally uncovered by a member of the Joyner Family, Sally Van Osdell, and confirmed by Darcy on July 10, 2006.

The US Navy contacted Jesse Johnson on July 12, 2006, to advise him, the DNA identification match was made with his “Missing” Brother, Raymond. 

Congressional intervention was not required. The Navy had quietly, secretly and efficiently proceeded with the DNA Identification of the “Unknown USS Gherardi (?) Sailor”. There has been and continues to be a National  interest in the story of the “Unknown” returning home after 64 years. 

An excellent collection of National Press Articles relating to the “USS Gherardi Unknown Sailor – Identified”, Pictures and Other USS Gherardi Information can be accessed at: http://www.indianamilitary.org/VetGraves/ExpandMenu/VetSTART.htm. (On this page, click “Indiana Veterans’ Graves” and then USS Gherardi.) 

On July 14, 2006 Ted Darcy notified all involved, via e-mail, “Case Closed”, referring to the “Unknown Sailor”. This retired Marine has performed magnificent Research in this case and many others he has successfully seen to completion. His dedication to recovering the WWII Military Missing is unparalleled. “Well Done” Ted. 

However, the USS Gherardi Association, at this time considers this significant event to be the completion of only the First Chapter. The Association will be dedicating a Memorial Plaque to all Fifteen (15) Crew Members who lost their lives at Newport, Rhode Island on December 2, 1942. 

We now have contact with only the Three Families of the “Missing”, related to the “Unknown” story. The USS Gherardi Association is facing the daunting challenge of locating the other Twelve (12) Families, to advise them, their Loved One will be recognized at the US Navy Memorial in Washington, DC. We would like to have as many Families as possible, represented at the Memorial Dedication. 

The USS Gherardi Association is requesting assistance from all, and especially the Tin Can Sailors, to locate the Families of the other Twelve (12), USS Gherardi Crew Members. To this end, we are listing the Names and Home Towns of all those who lost their lives at Newport, Rhode Island, December 2, 1942: 

CARTER, Emory Calhoun Jr. – Hollywood, CA

DINKHELLER, Melvin Roy – San Diego, CA

FISHWICK, Ralph Burrell – Cuba, MO

HARKINS, Donnie Springer – Grand Rapids, MI

HARRIS, Lester Franklin – Dunlap, KS

HUFFSTETLER, Jacob Columbus – Kings Mountain, NC

JACOBS, James Ander – Arlington, GA

JOHNSON, Raymond Shadrick – Fort Wayne, IN – “UNKNOWN” – “IDENTIFIED”

JOYNER, Cecil Curtis – Jacksonville, FL – “MISSING”

LUKASZEWICZ, Edward Walter – Easthampton, MA

MARTIN, Donald Eugene – Selma, IN

MARTIN, Wilber Edgar – Cody, WY

SASSER, Cody Ray – Barbour, AL

SHAUL, Jack Merl – New Lisbon, IN – “MISSING”

WALLACE, Ward Bell – Paden City, WV 

The USS Gherardi Association, through the dedication of its Members, Friends and Families, has participated in adding a new dimension to the motto: “NO MAN LEFT BEHIND”.

The USS Gherardi Association, through the dedication of its Members, Friends and Families, is participating and praying for success with the theme: “NO FAMILY LEFT BEHIND”.

_{1. “Sea Classics” – May 1992 – Volume 25, Number 5 Title: “A SEA SO FAR: USS GHERARD (DD-637/DMS-30)” – By Lance Naismith     “She fought two different wars in two different oceans, carrying out two different roles”} 

_{2. Deck Log of USS Gherardi (DD-637) Wednesday 2 December 1942 (04-08 watch)} 

_{3. “In Memory of AN UNKNOWN SAILOR buried in the Island Cemetery at Newport, Rhode Island, 17 August 1943”}

_{Ted Darcy, U.S. Marine Ret.} 

_{4. “Finding America’s Missing” By Ted Darcy and Ray Emory - Published 2003} 

_{5. Eugene F. Phillips – USS Gherardi 1951-1955, President USS Gherardi Association - 2005, Life Member - Tin Can Sailors}

Information and photos courtesy of
Eugene F. Phillips
President, USS Gherardi Association
Email the Association