U. S. S. MITCHELL
DESTROYER ESCORT (DE-43)
EVARTS CLASS
"Many enemy submariner's last thoughts were about the destroyer escort
sailing above him because he knew he soon was going to the bottom"
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Dibe's Death
These are difficult words to compose to such a public forum but It is with a very heavy heart that I must announce the death of Harlan Dible. I know I am remiss in posting this so late. Again this brief statement has taken so much from me. All I can say is that he died with all his loving family at his side and was truly the dignified gentleman in dying that he was in life. I have never met a person with so much grace and class. He joins his beloved wife, Irene who died a year past. He also joins his his deceased shipmates with whom he had such dedication and admiration.
His Obituary
His WWII on line memorial
I will maintain this web site as a memorial to the great sailor and father that he was. We carry on:
This web page is dedicated to the officers and crew of the Destroyer Escort U. S. S. Mitchell. These brave men served in the Pacific during the height of conflict with the Japanese in World War II. Of its crew was my father in law, Harlan Dible of Norwalk, Ohio who assisted me in developing this web page by furnishing a great deal of the photos, letters, newspaper articles and official Navy documents that document the experiences of the ship and its men. To a man they were all boys in their teens and twenties sent off to war in a ship that was meant to be expendable to the Japanese war machine. Their efforts enabled other ships to succeed in supplying the vast number of soldiers and materials needed to defeat our enemy. To a man, having fulfilled their mission, they all returned men.
I dedicate this effort to Harlan Dible. I would be proud to have been his son.
Thomas K. Bowers
As an honor to their grandfather his grandsons Shane and Mike Conry are serving in the US Navy. Shane serves on the USS Nimitz and Mike serves on the USS Eisenhower. Dibe was so proud of them as we all are. Unfortunately he was unable to attend their graduation from Great Lakes, his alma matter!
This is the ship circa 1944
DE-43 USS Mitchell
Evarts Class Destroyer Escort
Displacement: 1436 tons, Length: 289'5", Beam: 35'1", Draft: 11'10",
Speed: 21 knots
Armament: 3 3"/50, 1x2 40mm or 1 1.1", 9 20mm, 1 hedgehog, 2 depth charge
tracks, 8 "K" gun projectors
Complement: 15 officers, 183 enlisted
Diesel-electric drive with tandem-motor drive; 6,000 h.p.
Laid down by Puget Sound Navy Yard on January 12 1943.
Launched August 1 1943 and commissioned November 17 1943.
Stricken December 19 1945, sold December 11 1946 and broken up.
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We attended the Battleship Missouri into Tokyo Bay for the surrender ceremony!
See the Mighty Mo steaming into Tokyo Bay
This is the ship being readied for dry dock repairs
This is the ship's skipper James Carpenter
Announcement of Jim Carpenter's Passing
Letter From Lenore Carpenter About Jim Carpenter to Crew Members
Here is some of the history of the Mitchell
See the Crew of the U.S.S. Mitchell Today
Here are some excepts from the ship's newspaper dated
October 1, 1945*
* Please note that several crew members have indicated that they were not included in the ship's roster. We are sorry about this and are taking steps to get an official listing of the men who served aboard the Mitchell. Keep checking!
Read about the Mitchell's Namesake
Read the Official Navy Commendation of the Mitchell
Read about the Great Pacific Typhoon
Here are some miscellaneous photos from Harlan Dible's collection
of the crew during World War II.
See the various Destroyer Escort classes
By the way I am still at sea!
It is with sadness that we take note of Irene Dible's death in 2005.
HARLAN DIBLE'S TRIBUTE TO THE U. S. S. MITCHELL
The 1998 Reunion Photo
THE NAVY HYMN
Eternal Father, Strong to save,
Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
Who bid'st the mighty Ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep;
O hear us when we cry to thee,
for those in peril on the sea.
O Christ! Whose voice the waters heard
And hushed their raging at Thy word,
Who walked'st on the foaming deep,
and calm amidst its rage didst sleep;
Oh hear us when we cry to Thee
For those in peril on the sea!
Most Holy spirit! Who didst brood
Upon the chaos dark and rude,
And bid its angry tumult cease,
And give, for wild confusion, peace;
Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee
For those in peril on the sea!
O Trinity of love and power!
Our brethren shield in danger's hour;
From rock and tempest, fire and foe,
Protect them wheresoe'er they go;
Thus evermore shall rise to Thee,
Glad hymns of praise from land and sea.
Lord God, our power evermore,
Whose arm doth reach the ocean floor,
Dive with our men beneath the sea,
Traverse the depths protectively.
O hear us when we pray, and keep
Them safe from peril in the deep.
Other Navy Links of Interest
Check out: hullnumber.com and look up your ship and crew members.
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships Online
U. S. S. Slater - We visited this ship the summer of 98. It is under restoration in Albany, New York. The volunteers are doing a great job with her! Support their efforts as this is the only D. E. left in the U. S.
Destroyer Escort Sailor's Associateion - DESA
A Gathering Place for Destroyer Escort Crew
USS Wintle DE-25
USS George E. Davis DE -357
USS Tabberer DE 418
USS Dempsey: www.ussdempsey.com
Last Updated 03/11/08
If YOU have any information about the Mitchell
Email me at tbowers@haverstockbowers.com
