Cousin Harold John Mack, Gone But Not Forgotten

Harold John Mack is my dad's first cousin and my second. He was Gunner's Mate Second Class on the USS Vincennes (CA44) which was stationed at Pearl Harbor. In WW2 the ship was involved in such battles as Midway and the Battle of Savo Island. The Battle of Savo Island was the last for the Vincennes. On August 9th/10th, 1942, at 01:55, a Japanese enemy force of six cruisers and one destroyer battled the Vincennes and her two sister ships, the Astoria and the Quincy. The Vincennes and her two sister ships were mortally wounded in the battle from the bombardment of shelling and torpedoes . The Quincy was said to have sunk at 02:38. The Vincennes followed at around 03:00. Shortly after the Quincy and the Vincennes sank, the Astoria followed. All were sunk 2 1/2 - 3 miles east of Savo Island in the waters now known as Ironbottom Sound, and now the resting place Harold John Mack.

For around close to 2 years now I have been doing a lot of research on Harold. The picture of Harold John Mack is the only one we had of him in our old family picture box. I would love to hear from anyone who may have known someone who served with Harold or just knew him. As I have said the picture above is the only one the family had of Harold, it would be GREAT to see other pictures of him.

The following is some of the information I collected. I will update and revise this page to make it as thorough as possible. I do this in memory of Harold, and all the heroes of WW2.

USS Vincennes
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Four United States Navy ships have been named USS Vincennes, after the town of Vincennes, Indiana, site of an important Patriot victory in the American Revolution.

* The first Vincennes was an 18-gun sloop-of-war commissioned in 1826, the first U.S. Navy vessel to circumnavigate the globe.

**** The second Vincennes (CA-44) was a heavy cruiser commissioned in 1937 and lost in the World War II Battle of Savo Island.

USS Vincennes (CA-44)
At Pearl Harbor, circa 26-28 May 1942, prior to departing to take part in the Battle of Midway.  A Curtiss SOC floatplane is in the left foreground.


Battle of Midway, June 1942
USS Yorktown (CV-5), in the distant left center, being abandoned after suffering torpedo damage, 4 June 1942.
A destroyer is standing by off the listing carrier's stern, and USS Vincennes (CA-44) is steaming by in the middle distance.

This photograph, and also the others, make me wonder what Harold was doing and thinking at that moment.
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* The third Vincennes (CL-64) was a light cruiser commissioned in 1944 and active in the war, and decommissioned in 1946.
* The fourth Vincennes (CG-49) is a guided missile cruiser commissioned 1985
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USS Mack (DE-358)---- A ship was named in honor of Harold John Mack.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Built: at Orange, Texas
Laid down: 14 February 1944
Launched: 11 April 1944
Commissioned: 16 August 1944
Battle Stars: not indicated
Decommissioning: 11 December 1946
Struck: 15 March 1972
Fate: 13 June 1973

General characteristics
Class: John C. Butler-class destroyer escort
Type: WGT (geared-turbine drive, 5" guns)
Displacement: 1,350/1,745 tons
Length: 306' (oa)
Beam: 36' 10"
Draft: 13'4" (max)
Speed: 24 knots
Range: 6,000 nm @ 12 knots
Complement: 14 officers, 201 enlisted
Armament: 2-5"/38, 4 (2x2) 40mmAA, 10-20mm AA, 3-21" TT, 1 Hedgehog, 8 DCT's, 2 DC tracks
Propulsion: 2 boilers, 2 geared turbine engines, 12,000 shp, 2 screws
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USS Mack (DE-358) was a John C. Butler-class destroyer escort acquired by the U.S. Navy during World War II. The primary purpose of the destroyer escort was to escort and protect ships in convoy, in addition to other tasks as assigned, such as patrol or radar picket.

She was named in honor of Harold John Mack who was awarded the Navy Cross for his brave actions during the Battle of Savo Island. She was launched 11 April 1944 by Consolidated Steel Corp., Shipbuilding Division, Orange, Texas; sponsored by Mrs. Gertrude Mack, mother of Harold John Mack, GM2/c; and commissioned 16 August 1944, Lt. Cmdr. J. F. Nelson, USNR, in command.
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Harold John Mack
29 December 1917 – August 10, 1943
Place of birth- LeMars, Iowa

Home Town: Los Angeles, California
Place of death- At sea, near Savo Island
Allegiance- United States of America
Service/branch- United States Navy
Years of service- 1938–1943
Rank- Gunner’s Mate second class
Unit- USS Vincennes (CA-44)
Battles/wars- World War II, Battle of Savo Island
Awards- Navy Cross posthumous


*MACK, HAROLD JOHN (MIA)
Synopsis:
The Navy Cross is presented to Harold John Mack, Gunner's Mate Second Class, U.S. Navy, for extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty in action against the enemy while serving aboard the U.S.S. VINCENNES (CA-44), in action against enemy Japanese forces after that vessel was attacked by enemy aircraft off Guadalcanal, in the Solomon Islands, on 9 August 1942. Gunner's Mate Second Class Mack was incapacitated by severe wounds in both legs. In spite of his injuries he continued to fulfill his duties as gun captain until ordered to abandon ship. After the loss of the ship, he was reported missing in action. The conduct of Gunner's Mate Second Class Mack throughout this action reflects great credit upon himself, and was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.

Source of below: TracesOfWar.com

Mack also has been awarded the Purple Heart medal posthumously and is entitled to the American defense service medal, with Bronze A, and the Asiatic-Pacific area campaign medal.  (Source: LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel, April 7, 1944)

Harold John Mack is memorialized at the Walls of the Missing, Manila American Cemetery, Taguig City, Philippines.  (Source: abmc.gov)