Charles was born in Manhattan in New York City on 18 Oct 1920 to Epifanio “Frank” and Carmela (Geraci) Minneci who married in Manhattan, NY on 26 Nov 1913. Charles, or Carl as he was sometimes known, had four siblings; Nicoletta “Lena”, Rose, Salvatore and Joseph Minneci. Their parents, Frank and Carmella, were born in Sicily. Frank immigrated to America via the Port of NY on board the S.S. Duca Degli Abruzzi arriving 19 Jan 1909. His brother, Francisco, had immigrated in 1893 and was waiting for him. The ship’s manifest listed Frank’s occupation as laborer, and he was single. By 1940, he had become a naturalized US citizen. Carmela immigrated to America arriving at the Port of NY on 2 Sep 1909 on board the S.S. Sciara. Her brother, Giuseppe, was waiting for her. According to the 1930 US Census at Chatham, NY, Frank was a veteran of World War I.

After the birth of their first two children, Frank and Carmela left New York City and moved to Chatham, Columbia, NY about 1921 where Frank purchased a farm. Their next child, Rose, was born 27 Sep 1922 in Chatham, NY according to her NY birth record. She was followed by the births of Salvatore and Joseph Minneci who were also born in Chatham, NY. Chatham is about 30 miles to the southeast of the New York State capital of Albany. Over the next two decades, the Minnecis farmed their land, but also supplemented their income with earnings from outside work in factories. At one point, Carmela and Lena were machine operators according to the 1940 US census for Chatham, NY.

Charles completed the 10th grade of high school, but like so many youth of that era, Charles felt duty-bound to help his family with finances during the economic hard times of the Great Depression. He was also keen to learn a trade and find adventure. Like many of his contemporaries, he was lured to the opportunities offered by the US military services. Charles was also probably aware that the world seemed to be moving toward conflict and he wanted to be part of it. In the early summer of 1939, Charles obtained an application for enlistment into the US Navy from his nearest Navy Recruiting Station (NRS). He completed the preliminary entrance examinations; submitted personal references; completed administrative paperwork and passed background checks. He also secured his father's permission to enlist as Charles was not yet 21 years of age.

On 01 Sep 1939, Germany attacked Poland beginning World War II. Several days later, Charles received notice that he should report to the NRS, Albany, NY on 05 Sep 1939 to take his final examinations for enlisting into the navy. Early that Tuesday morning of 5 Sep, Charles traveled the nearly 30 miles to Albany, NY. He completed his physical and dental exams and was sworn into the US Navy (NSN:283-61-48) for six years with the beginning rank of Apprentice Seaman (AS). AS Minneci boarded the train in Albany bound for the Naval Training Station (NTS), Newport, Rhode Island for about 6 weeks of recruit training.

After Charles completed recruit training, he was granted 10 days of “recruit leave” to return home to visit family and friends. At the expiration of his leave, he returned to NTS, Newport where he was to be assigned to either a service class “A” school or to a ship of the US Fleet. AS Minneci received orders to report to the Receiving Ship (RS) at the Philadelphia Navy Yard (PNY) for assignment by the Commander, Destroyer Squadron Thirty-Four (ComDesRon 34). As a passenger, Minneci boarded the ammunition ship, USS Pyro (AE-1), on 05 Nov 1939. She was his ride to the PNY. He disembarked from Pyro at the PNY on 16 Nov 1939 and reported in at the RS and later to ComDesRon 34. On 04 Dec 1939, AS Minneci was assigned to the recommissioning crew of the destroyer, USS Welborn C. Wood (DD-195) at Philadelphia. Along with a number of other previously decommissioned ships, Wood was being returned to active service once again as the US increased its naval strength in the event of war.

On 05 Jan 1940, AS Minneci changed his rate from AS to Fireman Third Class (F3c) in order to pursue a different career field. During the first nine months of 1940, Wood’s crew brought the ship up to operational readiness. On 22 Aug 1940, F3c Minneci advanced in rate to Fireman Second Class (F2c). In early September 1940, Wood, along with other destroyers in Destroyer Division 67, steamed to Halifax, Nova Scotia where the ships were turned over to British crews who raised the Union Jack over them on 09 Sep 1940. F2c Minneci and the rest of the US Navy crews returned to the RS at Philadelphia arriving on 10 Sep 1940. Later that month, F2c Minneci received orders to report for duty to the destroyer USS Jouett (DD-396) via the battleship, USS Idaho (BB-42). On 27 Sep 1940, Minneci detached from the RS, Philadelphia and embarked on Idaho as a passenger on 01 Oct 1940. He reported for duty on board Jouett on 10 Oct 1940. His tour of duty on Jouett was to be very brief.

As relations between Japan and the United States continued to deteriorate in 1940, the US Navy Department began sending large numbers of sailors to the Asiatic fleet based in the Philippines to fill ship manning short-falls. F2c Minneci received orders to detach from Jouett and proceed via the transport ship, USS Chaumont (AP-5), to the Asiatic Fleet’s USS Peary (DD-226). In Pearl Harbor on 21 Jan 1941, Minneci transferred from Jouett to Chaumont for transport to the Peary. Chaumont steamed out of Pearl Harbor on 22 Jan 41 bound for Wake Island (23 Jan – 30 Jan), Guam (30 Jan – 05 Feb), and Manila (06 - 10 Feb 41). F2c Minneci disembarked from Chaumont and reported on board Peary when she returned to port on 10 Feb 1941. On 01 May 1941, F2c Minneci advanced in rate to Fireman First Class (F1c).

The threat of hostilities between the United States and Japan grew closer to the boiling point as the year 1941 began. Then, in July 1941, as Japanese aggression intensified with their move south into lower Indo-China, Admiral Hart warned his officers that he had no doubt that war would come although he didn't know how or when it would start. Hart trained his destroyer crews hard keeping them on a war-footing for extended periods and away from Cavite naval base as much as possible exercising his "defensive deployment."

Ordered to comply with the Adm. Hart's "defensive deployment" well south of Manila, units of the Asiatic Fleet including destroyer tender USS Blackhawk (AD-9), and ships of Destroyer Squadron Twenty-Nine (DesRon) 29, got underway on 25 Nov 1941, and arrived on the morning of 29 Nov 1941 in Balikpapan, a major oil port on the eastern coast of Borneo. Peary was not among the group of ships proceeding south. Some ships remained in Manila Bay for operational reasons.

Govern Yourself Accordingly!

On 7 December 1941 [8 December east of the International date Line], the Japanese onslaught began across a wide area, from the Far East to Pearl Harbor. When word was received that the Japanese had attacked Pearl Harbor. Adm Hart direct his forces to "Govern Yourself Accordingly." Several days later all hell broke loose at Manila Bay. Despite his best efforts, Admiral Hart was still caught by surprise by the Japanese attacks on 10 Dec 1941. Four of the Destroyer Division Fifty Nine (DesDiv 59) ships remained in the Manila Bay area during the first week of December 1941 for overhaul and repairs (Peary and Pillsbury) and two others (Pope and Ford) to provide anti-submarine patrols and escort services for shipping. Pillsbury and Peary were in the navy yard at Cavite for repairs following a collision during night training exercises in late October. Peary was also there for a scheduled yard overhaul.

Peary was pier-side at Cavite's Central wharf on the morning of 10 Dec 1941 in a "cold iron" state. Her engines disassembled, bow open awaiting a patch, she was receiving "hotel" services (water, electricity and steam) from the pier (some reports indicate Peary was at the shipyard for routine maintenance). Many of her crew had moved ashore to continue repairs from base maintenance shops. She was non-operational. Suddenly, about 1300, two flights of more than 50 Japanese twin-engine, land-based, medium bombers appeared over the naval installations and commenced to obliterate everything in sight.

About 1350, Peary sustained a direct hit with an estimated 250 pound bomb which contained a combination of shrapnel and incendiary explosives. The bomb struck her mast spraying shrapnel in every direction killing or wounding almost everyone on the fire-control platform, bridge, and other areas and starting fires. Eight sailors were killed outright and five officers, including the Commanding Officer, Lcdr Keith, were wounded. The executive officer, Lt Albert Eugene Gates, Jr., was found unconscious on the bridge mortally wounded. They were evacuated to Sternberg hospital in Manila where Lt Gates probably died (exact location of death unknown but presumed at the hospital.). Per Peary's deck logs, F1c Minneci was on board Peary during this attack. He was not wounded.

Unable to get underway and with little help on board or from ashore, Peary's fate seemed sealed. Suddenly, the small Asiatic Fleet minesweeper, USS Whippoorwill (AM-35), braved the flames, smoke and exploding warheads from a torpedo shop on the pier to render assistance (with help from Pillsbury) to the severely damaged Peary. After much effort, Whippoorwill was able to tow Peary to a buoy some distance away. She moored alongside Peary and within a brief period began sending over damage control parties, water and food to the beleaguered Peary (Whippoorwill's commanding officer received the Navy Cross for his actions that day.).

With the wounding of Peary's CO and death of her XO, the ship's temporary captaincy was assumed by Lt Martin M. Koivisto, who had sustained several shrapnel wounds himself during the attack. Lt John M. Bermingham, who had recently been the executive officer of the destroyer, USS Stewart (DD-224), was chosen for command of Peary based upon Lt Bermingham's chance encounter with the Asiatic Fleet's personnel commander on 10 Dec. In accordance with CINC, Asiatic Fleet orders dated 11 Dec 1941, Lt Bermingham assumed command of USS Peary as noted in her deck log entry of Thursday, 11 Dec 1941 and signed by M.M. Koivisto, LT, USN.

After the 10 Dec attack, the crew set to work making Peary ready for sea. It was a Herculean effort performed by the crew in conjunction with the facilities of Atlantic Gulf and Pacific Company to effect the minimum repairs in order to make Peary sea-worthy. Also, a large number of Peary's crew were either killed, wounded or missing in action. A call for replacements was made by Peary's CO to COMAF and COM 16 ND. Many sailors from other commands were transferred to Peary to help fill her manning shortages.

On 23-24 Dec 1941, Peary got underway on her first war mission; an antisubmarine patrol assignment in the Verde Island Passage between Luzon and the Philippine island of Mindoro. The day after Christmas 1941, the CO's of USS Pillsbury and Peary were ashore at a conference with the Commandant, Sixteenth Naval District, Admiral Rockwell, to discuss releasing the ships to join other US forces in the Netherlands East Indies when enemy bombers suddenly appeared overhead. Peary was attacked by five flights of Japanese high level bombers. Each flight consisted of between 6 to 9 planes.

Lt Bermingham watched from shore as his new executive officer, Lt Martin M. Koivisto, deftly maneuvered Peary around Manila Bay dodging bomb after bomb for several hours. Though she suffered a few near misses, Peary emerged virtually unscathed. Later that evening, Peary and Pillsbury were ordered to put to sea and proceed south by the best route and join Task Force 5 at Soerabaja, Java. For safety, each ship was to proceed independently.

Peary's voyage south was eventful and dangerous as the Japanese held mastery of the air and sea. Intelligence information provided to Peary just after her departure from Manila indicated that Japanese warships probably lurked along his intended route to Surabaja. Lt Bermingham changed his track and destination to Darwin, Australia. Birmingham traveled only by night and during the day he brought his ship close to shore and tied up to trees and covered the ship with palm fronds and green paint in order to blend with the flora of the various islands. Several times, Japanese bombers flew overhead but did not detect the ship. At about 0800, 28 Dec, Peary sighted a large Japanese four-engine seaplane shadowing her. It was a Kawanishi HK6 "Mavis" flying boat. About 1400, three more Mavis' joined and the attacks began with each plane making two runs dropping a single bomb estimated at 500 pounds. During the attacks, gun crews kept up continuous fire at the enemy planes. Peary maneuvered successfully avoiding the bombs while her gun crews threw up a curtain of anti-aircraft fire.

Finally, after the flying boats completed their attacks, two twin engine, single wing torpedo planes appeared and commenced an attack on Peary dropping two torpedoes off the port bow and two off the port quarter. Again, the skipper maneuvered the ship out of danger. However, after dropping their ordnance, the enemy torpedo planes fired several strafing bursts which struck the stacks. They were driven off by heavy shipboard machine gun fire.

About 1800, off Kema Island in the Bangka Strait, three Australian Lockheed Hudson patrol bombers were sighted approaching from astern. The aircraft challenged Peary via signal light and she responded. The pilot was seen to wave his arm. However, one of the planes assumed a glide bombing profile. Peary's anti-aircraft batteries opened fire and began maneuvering radically. One of Peary's crewman lost his balance and fell overboard (he was picked up by a fisherman, but was turned over to the Japanese. He worked in a mine in Japan and was repatriated at the end of the war.).

Each Hudson made two attacks dropping a single 250 pound shrapnel bomb. There were no direct hits but near misses caused extensive damage. Peary was hit in various places topside and in the engineering spaces. The shrapnel hit in the engineering spaces and knocked one of Peary's two main engines out of commission. One crewman was killed when he was struck by shrapnel (S1c Kenneth E. Quinaux, a machine gunner, was buried at sea during services at 2000 on 29 Dec 1941.). Prior to departing, each Hudson made a strafing run on the ship. It was learned later that the Australian aircraft had misidentified the US ships because of their resemblance to a class of Japanese warship.

Peary anchored at Port Darwin at 0840, 03 Jan 1942 after a 2100 mile plus transit from Manila, Philippines to Darwin, Australia. Within a week of arriving at Darwin, twenty-eight enlisted men and officers became ill with a virulent form of Malaria or Dengue Fever, contracted when the ship anchored off remote Maitara Island near Ternate in the Halmakeras. It was necessary to stop there to make repairs after being attacked by Australian aircraft. Eventually eight men would die from the diseases. F1c Minneci is believed to be one of the twenty-eight crewmen who became sick. On 15 Jan, he transferred to the submarine tender, USS Holland (AS-3), for medical treatment. For almost two weeks he remained on Holland receiving medical care. It wasn’t until 27 Jan 1942 that he returned to duty status on board Peary.

Peary received tender availability services from USS Black Hawk (AD-9) to affect temporary repairs and make Peary seaworthy. Those repairs were completed on 22 Jan 1942. Peary assumed submarine escort duties on numerous occasions. She was an anti-submarine escort for USS Langley (AV-3) from Darwin to Fremantle, Australia between 08-13 Feb 1942 and she steamed with USS Houston escorting a Darwin-Koepang convoy from 14 to 18 Feb 1942. She was also searching for a submarine contact which reduced her fuel supply such that she had to return to Port Darwin to refuel.

Peary returned to Port Darwin and anchored about 0100, 19 Feb 1942. About 1045, Port Darwin was attacked by a combined Japanese carrier and land base force of over 200 fighters and bombers. Peary, still at anchor, was hit by five bombs. The fifth bomb, an incendiary, exploded in the after engine room opening the ship to the sea. Peary sank, stern first with her anti-aircraft guns still firing until the last enemy plane left the area.

Eighty-eight officers and men including the commanding officer were killed in her sinking; 57 survived, 20 of whom were wounded. F1c Minneci was believed to have gone down with his ship. He was listed as missing in action on 19 Feb 1942. On 10 April 1942, Mr and Mrs Minneci received a telegram from the Navy Department. It read in part; "The Navy Department deeply regrets to inform you that your son Charles Minneci, Fireman First Class, US Navy is missing following action in the performance of his duty and in the service of his country."

F1c Minneci was posthumously awarded a Purple Heart, American Defense Service Medal w/Fleet Clasp (bronze star in lieu of clasp), Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal w/Fleet Clasp and two bronze stars (one bronze star in lieu of clasp), Philippine Defense Medal with a bronze service star, and the WWII Victory Medal. He may be eligible for the Combat Action Ribbon (retroactively).

-----------------------------

F1c Minn family also received a personal commemoration from President Franklin D. Roosevelt. It reads:

In grateful memory of Charles MINNECI, who died in the service of his country at Darwin, Australia, ATTACHED U.S.S. PEARY, 20 February 1943 (presumed). He stands in the unbroken line of patriots who have dared to die that freedom might live and grow and increase its blessings. Freedom lives, and through it, he lives -- in a way that humbles the undertakings of most men.

//s// Franklin D. Roosevelt,

President of the United States of America

---------------------------

Primary Sources:

1) Cox, Jeffery R., Rising Sun, Falling Skies, Osprey Publishing, UK, 2015.

2) Kehn, Donald M. Jr., In the Highest Degree Tragic, The Sacrifice of the U.S. Asiatic Fleet in the East Indies During World War II, Potomac Books, 2017.

3) Several Newspaper articles

4) Deck logs USS Peary retrieved 15 November 2021.

5) Northern Territory Library Roll of Honour: Browse location. www.ntlexhibit.nt.gov.au. Retrieved 20 November 2021. URL may no longer work.

6) Wikipedia page, USS Peary (DD-226), Retrieved 12 November 2021.

7) Wilde, E. Andrew, Jr. (Ed). U.S.S. Peary (DD-226) in World War II, Manila to Darwin, 12/10/41-2/19/42: Needham, Mass. : The Editor, 2007. http://destroyerhistory.org/assets/pdf/wilde/226peary_wilde.pdf

8) Kehn, Donald M. Jr., A Blue Sea of Blood: deciphering the mysterious fate of the USS Edsall, Zenith Press, 2008.

9) Fold3 by Ancestry Navy Muster reports and Change reports

10) Ancestry.com Navy WWII muster and Change reports

--------------------------------

Link to USS Peary memorial in Darwin, Australia with list of names of those lost in the sinking of the ship. It's a cenotaph. https://www.maritimequest.com/misc_pages/monuments_memorials/uss_peary_memorial.htm

-----------------

Bio#388 compiled by Gerry Lawton (G47/GML470)

Military Hall of Honor ID#152327

Find A Grave Memorial Page #241948807