Story Reads

U.S.S. CHICAGO (CG-11), AT-SEA: The guided missle cruiser USS CHICAGO (CG-11), homeported in San Diego, California, recently had the unique opportunity to visit the sites of two major World War II naval battles-both near Guadalcanal in the southwest Pacific.

Enroute from the Philippines to Sydney, Australia to participate in Exercise Kangaroo III, CHICAGO's track took her through the Solomon Islands chain.  On October 15th, the cruiser, flagship for RADM Alex Sinclair, USN, Commander Task Force Seven Five, paused briefly in Savo Sound, just north of Guadalcanal.  A wreath was laid to pay tribute to the brave sailors and Marines who died at Guadalcanal, and, in particular, the four American and Australian cruisers (HMSA CANBERRA, USS VINCENNES, USS QUINCY and USS ASTORIA), and over 1200 men who perished there in the Battle of Savo Island, August 9th, 1942.  The battle also saw the heavy damage done to the present-day CHICAGO's predecessor, USS CHICAGO (CA-29), the only cruiser to survive the battle.

The next day, October 16th, USS CHICAGO and her crew of 900 officers and men, visited the site of the Battle of Rennell Island.   It was here on January 30, 1943 that USS CHICAGO (CA-29) met her own fate and was sunk by Japanese torpedo planes.  Another wreath was laid to honor the brave men of another USS CHICAGO and her escort ships who rescued over 1,000 crewmembers for the sinking cruiser.