July 25, 2016 at 5:25 p.m.
Rhinelander seaman chosen to place wreath at Sunda Strait sea grave
Rhinelander seaman chosen to place wreath at Sunda Strait sea grave
By Kayla Thomason-
Shaun Milender, an E-6 (petty officer first class) serving on the USS Houston (SSN-713) had the honor a placing a wreath in the Pacific Ocean in memory of the American and Australian sailors who lost their lives in the Battle of Sunda Strait.
On June 14, Milender and representatives from the U.S., U.K. and Indonesia boarded the HMAS Perth (III) to visit the sea graves of the HMAS Perth (I) and USS Houston (CA 30) to pay their respects.
The memorial ceremony took place in the Sunda Strait between the islands of Java and Sumatra where the two ships sank while battling Japanese forces on March 1, 1942. More than 1,000 Australian and U.S. sailors lost their lives.
Milender's captain, Commander Scott McGinnis, had wanted to take the USS Houston (SSN-713) to Australia to see the Perth during the ship's western Pacific deployment but did not receive permission.
"When we returned from the deployment the Perth's captain, Ivan Ingham, contacted us and asked if we could send some sailors to a wreath laying ceremony," Milender said. "I was selected because I work hard, have a good relationship with the crew, and a little bit of it was being in the right place at the right time."
Milender's mother was thrilled to hear her son had been selected for this opportunity.
"I was very excited and very proud of him," said Tammie Dorion.
Milender spent 11 days on the Perth, touring the ship that spans more than the lenght of a football field. He observed the boat's 5-inch guns being fired, their helicopter operations and daily life aboard the Perth - noting that the Aussies have a brand of mustard called "American mustard." Milender even got to participate in some drills.
"(I) participated in a toxic gas drill where I was simulated to be unconscious, and they navigated me through their 300-plus-foot-long ship, up ladders and then successfully resuscitated me from the 'smoke inhalation,'" he said. "It was fun meeting them, and I got to meet a lot of great people."
The speech Milender gave was a bit of a surprise to him and the other American sailor from the USS Houston, Sam Ward.
"The executive officer, or second in command, of the Perth greeted us at the airport in Perth, Australia, told us the ship was just about to start a six-month deployment into the Persian Gulf," Milender said. "He then asked us if we could speak about the Houston and the Perth during the ceremony."
Out at sea on the Perth (III), in front of the crew of approximately 200, the representatives and a few guests, the men told the story of the World War II battle.
"I spoke about the little known story of the men on board the Light cruiser Houston, nicknamed 'the Galloping Ghost of the Java coast,' which fought through crazy odds time and time again until they finally got caught in a battle they never could have won," he said. "It's a crazy story of bravery and sacrifice that I didn't fully understand until I read 'Ship of Ghosts,' by James D. Hornfischer. I highly recommend it if you are at all curious about World War II naval battles in the Pacific."
Milender, who has been in the Navy since 2009, is the second-longest serving person aboard the USS Houston (SSN-713). He first stepped foot on the ship in 2011 and has been all over the Pacific Ocean including Singapore, Japan, Guam and Australia.
Soon though the USS Houston (SSN-713) will no longer take to the sea.
"The Houston is about to perform its decommissioning ceremony on Aug. 26 in Bangor, Washington," he said, adding that it will about a year before he learns his next ship assignment.
Kayla Breese may be reached at kayla@ rivernewsonline.com.
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