Project 888
Name: Aaron ROTHMAN
Rank / Rating: RDM3-Radarman Third ClassService #: 814 51 31 DOB: Sep 26, 1920 From: Brooklyn, NY Parents: Hyman Abraham and Eva Rothman Went Aboard: May 29, 1945 Age When Ship Went Down: 24 years, 10 months, 4 days Spouse: Children: Grandchildren: Bio Submitted By: Patricia Stephens (Admin) |
 ROTHMAN, Aaron |
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Aaron was the son of Hyman Abraham and Eva Rothman of Brooklyn, Kings Co., NY. His parents were both born in Russia. On the 1940 census, Aaron is living with his parents and brothers Murray and Irving Rothman. They were all born in NY. The Rothman family was Jewish.
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| He enlisted in the USN on Aug 7, 1943, New York, NY, and was received Aug 16, 1943 at boot camp at the Naval Training Station, Sampson, NY. He was advanced to S2c (Seaman 2nd class) on Oct 1, 1943. On Oct 30, 1943, Aaron was received at Norfolk, VA where he entered the Fleet Service School, "Student under Instruction at Radar Operator's School, Virginia Beach, VA." He completed training and advanced from S2c to RDM3c (Radarman 3rd class). He remained in VA but transferred to another training school in Norfolk on Nov 20, 1943 described as a "DES DD Prog". This researcher believes this was the Destroyer Escort/Destroyer program that was taught at Norfolk. He would have received instruction on board one of the ships serving as training vessels. He arrived for training as a RDM3c and was noted as S2c RDM on the muster roll for Dec 31, 1943. From Norfolk, Aaron was received at Boston, MA on Jan 9, 1944. He was transferred Jan 21, 1944 to USS Walke DD-723. This was the third ship of the USN to bear the name Walke. This Sumner-class destroyer was launched Oct 27, 1943 and was commissioned the day Aaron went aboard. Men on board a ship at commissioning were known as "plankowners", a title they held with pride. Walke sailed to Bermuda for shakedown training and returned to Boston on Mar 19, 1944. She moved to Norfolk, VA "to conduct high-speed, over-the-stern fueling exercises" with Aucilla under the auspices of the Bureau of Ships (BuShips)." She steamed to Key West, FL, to conduct antisubmarine warfare tests on a new type of sound gear. On April 19, 1944, she returned to Norfolk and for the next month served as a training ship for nucleus crews of newly constructed destroyers. Although already on board, all crewmembers, including Aaron, were noted as being received aboard USS Walke on May 13, 1944. It is likely that this was done because the ship was changing her designation from a training ship to a ship of the fleet. The next day, Walke headed for European waters to take part in the Normandy invasion. This had to be a harrowing time for Aaron. His skills as a radarman were about to be tested beyond what he could have imagined. Walke was present on D-Day, June 6, 1944, and remained until the 26th. On June 23-24th she supported minesweeping operations at the Bombardment of Cherbourg and exchanged gunfire with shore batteries. She arrived back in Boston, MA on July 9, 1944. Walke's battle days were far from over. She departed Norfolk for the western Pacific. She arrived in Pearl Harbor Sept 25, 1944. Her service in the Pacific included duties with TG 38.4 in the Philippines, TG 77.2 in Leyte Gulf. and TG 78.3 at Ormoc Bay on the western coast of Leyte. She operated in Leyte Gulf and San Pedro Bay until Dec 13, 1944. On Dec 15th she supported the assault of Mindoro. On Jan 2, 1945, Walke began participation in the invasion of Luzon. It was on Jan 6th that Aaron feared his luck aboard the ship had ended. While providing cover fire and anti-aircraft defense for American minesweepers, Walke came under attack by four Japanese Oscar aircraft. She splashed the first two, but the third came in low and strafed the ship as he dove into her port side. The plane crashed into her bridge and burst into flames. All communication on the ship as well as her instruments throughout the superstructure were destroyed, as were her gun and torpedo directors. The bomb carried by the plane did not explode but passed completely through the ship. A fourth Oscar came in for the kill. All guns, 5", 40- and 20mm, trained by local control, opened fire and the barrage crashed the plane just short of the starboard side. Walke's commanding officer, Comdr. George F. Davis, was seriously wounded and horribly burned when the kamikaze hit the bridge, but he refused to give up his command, leading his sailors through heroic efforts to save the ship. It was only after he was assured Walke would remain afloat that he allowed his men to take him to his quarters. Comdr. Davis died of his wounds several hours later.* Aaron had served in the bowels of Hell and lived through it. Celebration and emotions of joy for his ship being spared but heartfelt grief over the loss of his captain would find no balance in a youth of only 19 years old. After temporary repairs at San Pedro and Manus Island, Walke arrived at Mare Island, CA on Feb 6, 1945 for permanent repair. There is little doubt that Aaron was allowed a furlough to see his family. He had so much to tell them. He had been part of the "two-ocean war" and survived. In early April, Walke had completed repairs and was ready to return to the Pacific. Aaron would not be on board. On March 12th he had been transferred to the receiving station in San Francisco for "further assignment in the DD Pool". Although still a RDM3c (Radarman 3rd class), he was on dry land. There was talk that the war was winding down and most likely he thought he may not return to combat. For an unknown reason, Aaron was admitted to the Navy Hospital TRI (Treasure Island) on May 7th and remained there until the 16th. Thirteen days later, he was ordered to service on a new ship. He was received aboard USS Indianapolis CA-35 on May 29, 1945. She was almost double the length of Walke with almost three times the number of crewmembers. His days on a "tin can" were over. Indy was a Cadillac of ships. He would have time to get a little more rest and get acquainted with his new ship and shipmates over the next 18 days. Indy departed Mare Island July 16 on her top-secret mission to Tinian where she delivered the components of the Atomic bomb that would be dropped on Hiroshima. This was another story Aaron could tell his friends and family. Sailing was smooth and comfortable for Aaron from Tinian to Guam. Indianapolis departed Apra Habor, Guam on July 27 sailing to Leyte, her final destination. Half-way there, Indy was struck by two torpedoes from Japanese submarine I-58 and sank in 12 minutes. Aaron was never seen or heard from again. He gave all to his country on July 30, 1945. You are not forgotten. Note: No evidence was found that his middle name was "David." In USN records he is shown with (none) as his middle name. *Comdr. George F. Davis was awarded the Medal of Honor, posthumously. He was further honored by having the destroyer USS Davis DD-937 named for him in 1955. Source: Ancestry.com. New York, New York, U.S., Birth Index, 1910-1965; citing Aaron "Rottman" 1940 US Census, NY, Bronx, E.D. 3-520. Enumerated April 15, 1940. HH #621; citing family of Hyman Rothman Wikipedia-USS Walke DD-723 DANFS - USS Walke DD-723 and USS Indianapolis CA-35. Office of Naval Records and History Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. Glossary of US Naval Abbreviations; OPNAV 29-P1000 (Revised Apr 1949); 5th Edition. Washington. USN, US Naval Activities WWII ; Virginia. Washington, DC (1945). Unpublished manuscript in the US Naval Historical Center (now NHHC). Online at Hyperwar Foundation, ibiblio.org. USN WWII Muster Rolls, 1938-1949; Ancestry database USN Ships, Stations and Other Naval Activities, 1939-1949; Ancestry database USN USS Indianapolis CA-35 Final Sailing List, 17 Aug 1945 Ancestry.com. U.S., World War II Jewish Servicemen Cards, 1942-1947 Navy Department, Casualty Section, Office of Public Information (1946): Combat Connected Naval Casualties, WWII, by States; Vol. MT-WY; NY, p. 61; citing Aaron Rothman, Radarman 3c, USNR, son of Mr. and Mrs. Hyman Abraham Rothman, 514 Willougby Ave., Brooklyn. | |
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