DD-409 The Story of the Destroyer U.S.S. Sims

Three waves of Japanese fighters and bombers attacked Sims on May 7, 1942 as she escorted the Fleet Oiler USS Neosho (AO-23) to a safe refueling point in the Coral Sea. Sims, hit by three 500-pound bombs, slid beneath the waves at 12:30 PM, taking all but 13 of her crew with her. My father, Seaman First Class John Verton, was one of the 13 Sims survivors. This is their story.

TABLE OF CONTENTS About the Ship The Battle of the Coral Sea The events of May 7-11, 1942 Bill Vessia: The Man Who Saved the Sims 13 The Official Survivor List WWII Destroyer Talk Sign Guestbook View Guestbook News & Resources for Veterans, Researchers, Students About the Author & Links to His Work UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Photo Credit: Commander Donald J. Robinson, USN (Retired).U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

For years, historians have glossed over the pivotal role played by Sims and  Neosho, during the Battle of the Coral Sea. When a Japanese scout mistakenly identified the destroyer and oil tanker as an aircraft carrier and a cruiser, the Japanese fleet launched the bulk of its airpower against the two hapless ships. Sims put up a blistering barrage of fire to protect Neosho against impossible odds. In the end, she accomplished her mission, shooting down four Jap planes and enabling Neosho to stay afloat long enough so that her survivors could be rescued four days later. But she did so at great cost, losing 235 men.     In addition, the heroic act of one man, Fireman 2C Vito "Bill" Vessia, would save the lives of 12 other Sims sailors. For more than fifty eight years, the credit for the rescue of the Sims 13 has gone to another man, mostly due to inaccurate accounts written by lazy historians. Here, for the first time, the truth about what happened on that horrible day in May 1942 will be known.                                                                                            --- Daniel Verton

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