Merle Ray Sally

Born in Quincy Ill on 22 August 1931. Merle Sally worked the farm in Illinois until at the age of 16 his mother signed for him to join the United States Navy in 1947. Merle reported to Great Lakes Naval Station for boot camp, and then was sent to aircraft mechanic school and eventually was assigned his first duty station at Johnsville Naval Warfare Center in Warminster PA. While stationed at Johnsville he met Margaret Cantagallo at an Imaculate Conception Catholic Church Dance for teens. He soon fell in love and at the age of 19 married Margaret. Merle was then transferred to carrier duty on the USS Wasp and was deployed for the remainder of his naval service.

In April 1952, while still serving aboard the Wasp due to a Truman’s extension of all enlistments because of Korea, the U.S.S. Wasp (Aircraft carrier : CV-18), the Wasp was operating with the destroyers U.S.S. Hobson (DD-464) and Rodman (DD-456) as Task Unit 88.1.1. On the night of April 26, 1952, U.S.S. Hobson, commanded by Lieutenant Commander William J. Tierney, collided with U.S.S. Wasp, commanded by Captain Burnham C. McCaffree. The Hobson, struck on her starboard side amidships, split in two and sank within four minutes of the collision. 176 men, including Hobson's commanding officer, died as a result. Merle and his fellow crew aboard the Wasp sprung into action to rescue as many survivors in the water as they could. Due to the speedy rescue operations by Wasp and Rodman, 52 men survived. The Wasp sustained a jagged 75 foot-long tear to its bow, but suffered no casualties.

The two vessels, in addition to U.S.S. Rodman, were part of the twenty-five ship Task Group 88.1 on route to the Mediterranean. At the time of the accident, U.S.S. Wasp was conducting night flying operations under simulated war conditions. The resulting Naval Court of Inquiry determined that the sole cause of the accident was an "unexpected left turn" executed by U.S.S. Hobson on the order of Lieutenant Commander Tierney. Following the accident, U.S.S. Wasp was forced to sail in reverse for a week until it arrived and was repaired at the Bayonne, New Jersey shipyard, where, in a record ten days, she was refitted with a new bow section taken from her sister ship, U.S.S. Hornet (Aircraft carrier : CV-12).

Although no casualties were reported on the Wasp, Merle and his fellow crewmen who saved so many lives that tragic night, also pulled the bodies of over 100 dead from the water. The sights and sounds of that dark no star night would be repeated many times for the crew of the Wasp as Merle and many of his buddies from the Wasp would relive the horrors for the rest of their lives.

Merle Left the Navy in 1953, he lived a wonderful fulfilled life and was a terrific father, grandfather, and great grandfather. He Passed away on 01 January 2001 at Thomas Jefferson Hospital in Philadelphia PA after a failed Kidney transplant operation. He is buried at Holy Sepulcher Cemetery in Wyncote PA.