Frances Owens to Samuel Robert Owens, January 26, 1942

This letter was sent January 26, 1942 from Frances Elivra Owens to her son, Samuel Robert Owens. The letter was sent back to her by the Navy, because there were serious attacks happening during this time in the Philippines. Frances Owens has not heard from Samuel for 5 months. She talks about her other son, Frank, who had been with Samuel in Manila for a few days months ago. Frances also talks about her other son Floyd, who she mentions is actually sick and has been going to Duke Hospital for treatment, because he has an ulcerated stomach

The Canopus by Capt. E.L. Sackett, U.S.N.

In the years between the first and second world wars, the West watched with growing alarm the rise of militarism in Japan. Japan began a full-scale invasion of China in the summer of 1937 which culminated in the infamous Nanking Massacre that, an attack on the Great Wall of China in 1938, and continued bombardment of Chinese cities during the late 1930s and early 1940s. Seeking to counteract Japan’s economic and military influence in the region, the United States and its allies discontinued sale of oil, steel, and iron ore to Japan. Viewing this embargo as a provocation, Japan saw war with the West as the only way to protect its interests in the Pacific and attacked the American naval base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii on December 7, 1941. Japan’s attacks on the Philippine Islands in the following days included the bombing of Nichols Field, a U.S. military airfield south of Manila and near the Cavite Navy Yard in Manila where the submarine tender USS Canopus was carrying out its duties before being moved north to Mariveles Bay.These events serve as an opening to the remarkable story of the USS Canopus and its men transcribed and edited here