Robert Paul Sweeney Jr., was born in Birmingham, Jefferson, AL in 1921 to Paul Robert Sweeney Sr., and Hillary Olive “Nell” Roberts who married 20 Oct 1920 in Birmingham, AL. He was their eldest child and only son. Paul’s siblings were Laura Jean Murray, Elizabeth Ann Ellison and Myrna Gayle Dickerson. Paul’s father was a bookkeeper and auditor during his working lifetime.

Paul, like many of his contemporaries, was lured to the opportunities available in the US military services. A steady income, adventure and the chance to learn a trade. Robert was also caught up in the frenzied rush to military recruiters caused by the start of World War II on 01 Sep 1939. Many young men saw it as a chance for adventure, but very few were aware of the realities and horrors of war.

Paul applied for enlistment into the US Navy shortly after 01 Sep 1939 at the Naval Recruiting Station (NRS), Birmingham, Jefferson, AL. He completed preliminary entrance examinations, submitted personal references, completed administrative paperwork and passed background checks. Most importantly, he obtained his father’s permission to enlist. He also completed his physical and dental exams; prerequisites before he could enlist.

He was accepted for enlistment and early in the morning of Tuesday, 21 Nov 1939, Paul enlisted in the US Navy (NSN:407-24-81) for a period of four years with a beginning rank of Apprentice Seaman (AS). Later that day he boarded a train for the nearly 750 mile journey to the Naval Training Station, Norfolk, VA for 12 weeks of recruit training. Upon completion of his training, AS Sweeney was granted 10 days of “Recruit Leave” to return home and visit family and friends before reporting to either a service school or a ship of the US Fleet.

At the end of his leave, AS Sweeney returned to NTS, Norfolk to receive orders to report to the Receiving Ship (RS), San Diego for assignment. He boarded a train for the cross country trip arriving in San Diego on 26 Feb 1940 then reported to RS San Diego. He was then assigned by the Commander, Submarine Forces (COM SUBFOR) to the submarine tender, USS Holland (AS-3) for duty. He reported on board later that day.

On 21 Mar 1940, AS Sweeney advanced in rate to Seaman Second Class (S2c). Sweeny’s tour of duty onboard Holland was very short. On 09 Apr 1940, S2c Sweeney detached from Holland and reported for duty to the submarine, USS Plunger (SS-179) on 10 Apr 1940. Later that year, S2c Sweeney advanced two ranks to Electrician’s Mate Third Class (EM3c) on 01 Sep 1940.

As the US and Japan moved toward a diplomatic fracture and probable war, the Navy Department rushed sailors to the Asiatic fleet to fill manpower shortages on many of the warships. Just three weeks before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, EM3 Sweeney detached from Plunger on 15 Nov 1941 with orders to report to the Asiatic Fleet for assignment. He may have taken two weeks of leave because he didn’t report to the Receiving Station, Pearl Harbor until 28 Nov 1941. The same day he transferred to the troop transport, USS Republic (AP-33) as a passenger. She was the flagship of a convoy. It was to be an epic voyage.

The convoy, generally known as the Pensacola Convoy for its escort ship, the heavy cruiser, USS Pensacola (CA-24) (also seen by the US Army as the "Republic Convoy"), got underway on 29 Nov 1941. It included the gunboat, USS Niagara (PG-52), US Navy transports USS Republic (AP-33) and USS Chaumont (AP-5), the US Army transport USAT Willard A Holbrook and USAT Meigs; the US Merchant ships S.S. Admiral Halstead and S.S. Coast Farmer, and the Dutch merchant ship MS Bloemfontein.

On board the convoy were 2600 US Army Air Forces personnel. On the Bloemfontein were eighteen crated Curtiss P-40 pursuit planes of the 35th Pursuit Group (PG) while forty-eight pursuit pilots of the 35th PG were embarked on the Republic and thirty-nine newly graduated but as yet unassigned pilots were on board the Holbrook. The presence of these planes and pilots would impact the destiny of the seaplane tender, USS Langley (AV-3), USS Edsall (DD-219) and the Asheville.

After war broke out, and Japanese forces attacked the Philippines, the convoy diverted first to Suva, Fiji Islands. The convoy got underway on the 16th from Suva bound for Brisbane, Australia. Pensacola entered the harbor at Brisbane on 22 Dec 1941 and moored at Newstead Wharf. On Christmas Day, 1941, EM3 Sweeney detached from Republic and transferred to Chaumont as a passenger. On the afternoon of 28 Dec, Pensacola, along with transports Chaumont and USAT Willard A. Holbrook got underway.

On 2 Jan 1942, the Dutch ship MS Bloemfontein joined the convoy. The following morning (03 Jan 42) the convoy made passage through the Torres Strait above Cape York in far North Queensland, Australia. There they were joined by the heavy cruiser USS Houston (CA-30) and several destroyers including USS Edsall (DD-219). Houston relieved Pensacola as the convoy heavy escort, and with her destroyers and convoy ships proceeded to Darwin in the Northern Territory, Australia. Pensacola returned to Brisbane. On 17 Jan 1942, EM3 Sweeney detached from Chaumont and transferred to the destroyer tender, USS Black Hawk (AD-9), in Darwin, Australia for assignment. Later that day, Sweeney transferred to the USS Peary (DD-226) for further transfer to the destroyer USS Barker (DD-213) for duty. For an unknown reason, Sweeney did not transfer to Barker but remained on Peary for duty. It was a cruel twist of fate that Barker survived WWII but Peary did not.

Peary received tender availability services from USS Black Hawk (AD-9) to affect temporary repairs to damage cause by Peary’s harrowing transit from Manila Bay to Darwin. Those repairs were needed to make Peary seaworthy again. Repairs were completed on 22 Jan 1942. From then on 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. After an unsuccessful submarine chase during which Peary used precious fuel she had to return to port.

Peary returned to Port Darwin and anchored about 0100, 19 Feb 1942 in preparation to take on fuel. About 1045, Port Darwin was attacked by a combined Japanese carrier and land base force of over 200 fighters and bombers. Peary 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. Petty Officer Sweeney did not survive. He was listed as missing in action on 19 Feb 1942. His remains were unrecoverable. He was presumed dead on 20 Feb 1943.

EM3 Sweeney was (posthumously) awarded a Purple Heart, American Defense Service Medal w/Fleet Clasp and two bronze stars (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.

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EM3 Sweeney’s family received a personal commemoration from President Franklin D. Roosevelt. It reads:

In grateful memory of Paul Robert SWEENEY who died in the service of his country at SEA, Asiatic Area, ATTACHED U.S.S. PEARY, 19 February 1942. 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.

(Signed) Franklin D. Roosevelt,

President of the United States

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) Various 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.

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.

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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

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Bio#365 compiled by Gerry Lawton (G47/GML470)

Military Hall of Honor #165292

Find A Grave Memorial #237204794