Doss Younger Thornton of Paradise passed away
Saturday, July 30, 2005. He was born in El Paso, TX to Doss Y.
and Margaret (Sterling) Thornton. Doss was a machinist. He
served in the United States Navy during WWII and was a Pearl
Harbor Survivor. Doss was a member of Pearl Harbor Survivors and
Hope Christian Church. His hobbies included, gold panning,
camping, fishing, building birdhouses and God was his life.
He is survived by his wife, Thelma Thornton of
65 years, daughter, Dossue Thornton-Kempton, granddaughter, Jill
Stafford, grandson, Jeff Flood, great- grandson, Jackson
Stafford, great-granddaughters, Lily Stafford and Jatelyn Flood.
Private services were held. The burial was at
Greenwood Memorial Gardens Cemetery, Grass Valley, CA. Hooper
and Hooper Weaver Mortuary, Grass Valley, CA, handled the
arrangements.
Memorial Contributions may be made to Hope
Christian Church in Paradise or Paradise Hospice.
Published in Paradise Post from August 23
to August 25, 2005.
The
first USS Pyro (AE–1), an ammunition ship, was laid
down 9 August 1918 at the Navy Yard, Puget Sound, Wash.; launched 16
December 1919; sponsored by Mrs. G. A. Bissett, wife of Comdr. Bissett,
the Construction Officer at Puget
Sound Navy Yard; and commissioned 10 August 1920, Comdr. John
Sisson Graham in command.
After
shakedown Pyro was assigned to the Naval
Transportation Service. She departed Puget
Sound 18 September 1920 on her first voyage to the east coast,
arriving New
York one month later. Her principal operations were conducted
between ports which extended from Puget Sound on the west coast to as
far north as Boston
on the east coast. Her most frequent ports of call included Mare
Island, San
Francisco, San
Pedro, San
Diego, Balboa,
Guantanamo
Bay, Norfolk, Philadelphia,
and New York. Besides ammunition and explosives, she also carried
general cargo and some passengers.
By
April 1924 Pyro completed five additional runs to the east
coast from California
ports. Her Pacific
operations took her as far as the Philippine
Islands. Upon return from the east coast 22 April 1924 she put in
at Bremerton
and decommissioned at the Puget Sound Navy Yard 10 September.
Pyro,
recommissioned 1 July 1939, Comdr. Robert Stevenson Haggart in
command. Assigned to the Naval Transportation Service, she resumed
transport of ammunition, general cargo, and passengers, making five
voyages to the east coast and five to Pearl
Harbor by August 1941. She was assigned to Commander, Base Force,
Train Squadron 8, Pacific Fleet 22 August 1941. Departing Mare Island
I October, she arrived Pearl Harbor one week later to commence
operations in the Hawaiian area.
Pyro
was moored at West Loch in Pearl Harbor when the Japanese attacked 7
December 1941. She suffered no serious damage and was credited with
damaging one Japanese plane. Four days later she departed Pearl Harbor
for San Francisco, and carried ammunition from the west coast to Pearl
Harbor until 30 September 1942. On 17 October she departed San
Francisco for Alaskan
waters where she issued a load of mines to smaller ships to be planted
as a defense for the base at Adak.
She returned to San Francisco 19 November.
She
departed San Francisco 8 December 1942, and upon arrival Espiritu
Santo, New
Hebrides Islands 2 January 1943, became primary ammunition ship
for various fleet units that were operating in the area. Pyro
steamed for San Francisco 2 August, arriving 7 September.
Departing
San Francisco 11 November 1943 for Brisbane,
Australia,
she reported to Commander, Service Force, 7th Fleet 7 December 1943.
From that date until 8 April 1944, Pyro transported ammunition
from Australia, New
Caledonia and the New Hebrides to Milne
Bay, New
Guinea. From 13' April through 12 July 1944 she replenished
combatants engaged in the Admiralty
Islands and Hollandia,
campaigns at various New Guinea harbors.
Pyro
arrived Sydney,
Australia 18 July 1944 for six weeks of repairs, returning 9 September
to the new base of operations at Hollandia, where units of the fleet
assembled for the invasion of Leyte.
The ammunition ship remained at Hollandia. until 3 November when she
steamed to Seeadler
Bay, Manus
Island, Admiralty
Islands for emergency repairs and reloading, returning to
Hollandia 1 December 1944. She steamed for Leyte
Gulf 19 December, arriving one week later and remaining in the
Philippine area replenishing combatants until 4 August 1945. Pyro
then steamed for the Admiralty Islands for repair and overhaul.
She
departed the Admiralty Islands 17 October with a load of serviceable
ammunition for transfer to the United
States. After embarking troops en route at Eniwetok,
Marshall
Islands, she arrived Seattle
21 November 1945. She remained there until 17 February 1946 and then
steamed for San Francisco Bay, arriving the next day. After
discharging her ammunition, she returned to Seattle 2 April. Pyro
decommissioned at Seattle 12 June and was struck from the Navy List 3
July. She was turned over to the War Shipping Administration 14 July
1946, and in March 1950 she was sold to the National Metal and Steel
Co. Terminal Island, California for scrapping.
Bremerton
is a city in Kitsap
County, Washington, United States. The population was 38,790
at the 2011 State Estimate,
making
it the largest city on the Olympic Peninsula. Bremerton is home to
Puget
Sound Naval Shipyard and the Bremerton Annex of Naval
Base Kitsap. Bremerton is connected to downtown Seattle
by a 55-minute ferry route, which carries both vehicles and
walk-on passengers.
The man I knew was sweet,
calm, loving, and studied the bible for hours every day.
He also worked out daily, his
routine consisted of bible reading, then jogging and lifting weights (well
into his 80's!).
He was still falling trees
into his late 70's, and physically, other than having congestive heart
failure, he was in great shape.
He developed dementia
probably in his early-mid 80's, although we didn't know it until the last
few years of his life.
He loved animals, especially
dogs, and was very tenderhearted.
And while he didn't have an
education past the 8th grade, he was a great story teller, and had an
amazing way with words.
He had fondness for Western
books, and loved to sing cowboy songs to us.
found by tct
"USS Bunker Hill
(CV 17) was placed in commission on 24 May 1943, and entered combat during
the invasion of the Gilbert Islands in November 1943. A recipient of the
Presidential Unit
Citation, the ship was hit by two kamikazes off Okinawa on 11 May 1945,
killing 389 members of
the crew and wounding 246 others. Decommissioned in 1947, she later served
as an experimental
electronic laboratory ship in San Diego in 1972. Later that year, she was
sold for scrap and
she went under the scrapper's torch in 1974"
After
serving on the U.S.S. Pyro with Uncle Ira, Papa then served on the U.S.S. Bunker
Hill.
Famously, that ship was hit by two kamikaze planes on May 11, 1945. I'm
not sure where on the ship Papa was when it got hit, but I do know that in
the aftermath, he was asked to go below deck to help remove the bodies of
some of the pilots who were killed; he wasn't able to, and instead ended
up having to tie the weights between the legs of the dead so that they
could be buried at sea.
Danger's
Hour (http://dangershour.com/)
was written about the event and is a very interesting read (although
sometimes dry when recounting the details of the ship) and it sheds a lot
of light on the living conditions of those who served, as well as the
background of the Japanese pilots.
Doss
Younger Thornton Jr.
Thelma
Lee Busick Thornton
Jill
Allyn Stafford
February
1972, Madera, CA
Great-grandfather
Doss Younger Thornton, grandmother Thelma Lee Busick Thornton, grandfather Doss Younger
Thornton Jr., great-grandmother Maggie Gladys Sterling Thornton. And that's me, almost 4 (Jill
(Flood) Stafford.)
tobacco rationing card
from Papa's stint in the Navy during WWII. After Pearl
Harbor (he'd been on the USS Pyro while there), and while he was on the USS
Bunker Hill (later hit by kamikazees)
family letters
One from my grandfather's mom to my
grandmother - 1939. The year before Nana and Papa were married.
"he went to the mts with Morris to see if he could get work"
I wish there was somebody left to ask about this. My grandparents lived
in the California central valley somewhere...Stockton? Hollister? No idea
what mountains they could be referring to.
He worked on the machinery in a cement factory.
He worked at Permanente in the California Bay Area (I'm not sure where
the plant was located). They moved to San Jose in the 40's with my
grandfather working at Permanente (and owning his own fixit business) and
my grandmother working seasonally in the canneries in Modesto.
His name was Doss Thornton. Also on John Busick. He's my great-uncle
and he was Papa's supervisor. Both worked there for something like over 30
years or something.
? January 1959 ?
Papa taking me (Jill
Stafford) backpacking in Yosemite
He carried this in his wallet until he died.
Information from Ancestry.com 7
December 2011
Source Information:
Ancestry.com. U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS
Death File, 1850-2010 [database on-line].
High Noon (Do Not Forsake Me) -Words and Music by Ned
Washington and Dmitri Tiomkin Frankie Laine Do not forsake me,
oh my darlin' On this, our weddin' day Do not forsake me, oh my
darlin' Wait, wait along I do not know what fate awaits me I
only know I must be brave And I must face a man who hates me Or
lie a coward, a craven coward Or lie a coward in my grave Oh, to
be torn 'tweenst love and duty S'posin' I lose my fair-haired
beauty Look at that big hand move along Nearin' high noon He
made a vow while in state prison Vowed it would be my life or
his'n I'm not afraid of death but oh What will I do if you leave
me? Do not forsake me, oh my darlin' You made that promise as a
bride Do not forsake me, oh my darlin' Although you're grievin',
don't think of leavin' Now that I need you by my side Wait
along,(wait along) wait along Wait along, wait along (Wait
along, ,wait along, wait along, wait along)
Lucienne Delyle
SI TOI AUSSI TU M'ABANDONNES
Paroles: Ned Washington, fr: Henri Contet, Max Francois, musique: Dimitri Tiomkin, 1952
Si toi aussi tu m'abandonnes
O mon unique amour, toi!
Nul ne pourra plus jamais rien, non, rien pour moi!
Si tu me quittes plus personne
Ne comprendra mon desarroi...
Et je garderai ma souffrance
Dans un silence
Sans esperance
Puisque ton coeur ne sera plus la!
C'est la cruelle incertitude
Qui vient hanter ma solitude!
Que deviendrai-je dans la vie
Si tu me fuis...?
J'ai tant besoin de ta presence
Tu restes ma derniere chance...
Si tu t'en vas, j'aurai trop peur...
Peur... de ne plus vivre une heure!
Si toi aussi tu m'abandonnes
Il ne me restera plus rien
Plus rien au monde et plus personne
Qui me comprenne
Qui me soutienne
Ou qui me donne simplement la main!
Attends! Attends! Attends! Demain.
Ballad Of The Alamo
(Paul F. Webster, Dimitri Tiomkin)
In the southern part of Texas in the town in San Antoine
There's a fortress all in ruins that the weeds have overgrown
You may look in vain for crosses and you'll never see a one
But sometimes between the setting and the rising of the sun
You can hear a ghostly bugle as the men go marchin' by
You can hear them as they answer to that roll call in the sky.
Colonel Travis, Davy Crockett and the hundred-eighty more
Captain Dickinson, Jim Bowie present and accounted for
Back in 1836, Houston said to Travis 'Get some volunteers
And go, fortify the Alamo'
Well the men came from Texas, and from old Tennessee
And they joined up with Travis just to fight for the right to be free.
Indian scouts with squirrel guns men with muzzle loaders
Stood together heel and toe to defend the Alamo
'You may na'er see your loved ones.' Travis told them that day
'Those who want to can leave now
Those who fight to the death let em stay.'
In the sand he drew a line with his army sabre
Out of a hundred an eighty-five, not a soldier crossed the line
With his banners a dancin', in the dawns golden light
Santa Ana came prancin' on a horse that was black as the night
Sent an officer to tell, Travis to surrender
Travis answered with a shell and a rousin' rebel yell
Santa Ana turned scarlet 'Play Deguello' he roared!
I will show them no quarter, everyone will be put to the sword.
One hundred and eight-five, holdin' back five thousand
Five day, six days, eight days, ten, Travis held, and held again
Then he'd send for replacements for his wounded and lame
But the troops that were comin', never came, never came, never came
Twice he charged then blew recall, on the fatal third time
Santa Ana breached the wall and he killed them one and all
Now the bugels are silent and there's rust on each sword
And the small band of soldiers, lie asleep in the arms of the Lord.
In the southern part of Texas near the town of San Antone
Like a statue on his pinto rides a cowboy all alone
And he sees the cattle grazin where a century before
Santa Ana's guns were blazin' and the cannons used to roar
And his eyes turned sort of misty and his heart begins to glow
And he takes his hat off slowly.....to the men of Alamo
To the thirteen days of glory... at the seige of Alamo.
Look at those horses! What are they draggin'?
Look at those horses! What are they draggin'
Heavily guarded, what is that wagon?
Most men are fightin' for a wagon full of gold.
Scratchin' and fightin' for a wagon full of gold.
My piece of land, my cattle brand,
A place to rest my head
A feelin' of a woman's love are all you really need for livin'
Look at those horses! What are they draggin'?
Three years in prison made me dream a lot of dreams
Sometimes the dream is not as easy as it seems
But wrong or right I have to fight
'Cause when the truth is told
All men are fightin' for a wagon full of gold.
Look at those horses! What are they draggin'
Heavily guarded, what is that wagon?
Look at those horses! What are they draggin'
Heavily guarded, what is that wagon?
Most men are fightin' for a wagon full of gold.
Scratchin' and fightin' for a wagon full of gold.
My piece of land, my cattle brand,
A place to rest my head
A feelin' of a woman's love are all you really need for livin'
Look at those horses! What are they draggin'?
Three years in prison made me dream a lot of dreams
Sometimes the dream is not as easy as it seems
But wrong or right I have to fight
'Cause when the truth is told
All men are fightin' for a
Strugglin' for a
Searchin' for a
Strivin' for a
Wagon full of gold!
Full of gold!
My Rifle, My Pony And Me
The sun is sinking in the west
The cattles go down to the stream
The red wing settles in the nest
It's time for a cowboy to dream
Purple light in the canyons
That's where I long to be
With my three good companions
Just my rifle, pony and me
Gonna hang my sombrero
On the limb of a tree
Coming home, sweetheart darling
Just my rifle, my pony and me
Just my rifle, my pony and me
Whipoor will in the willow
Sings a sweet melody
Riding to Amarello
Just my rifle, pony and me
No more cows to be roping
No more strays will I see
Round the bend, she'll be waiting
For my rifle, my pony and me
For my rifle, my pony and me
Rio Bravo
(Choir: Rio Bravo, humming)
By the river
Rio Bravo
I walk all alone
And I wonder as I wander by the river
Where my love has flown
All the birds in the cottonwood above her
Know I love her
Know I care
But my dreams, like the songs, she sang in Spanish
Seem to vanish
In the air
I wonder where
So I wonder as I wander
Will love come along
Must I live ever after
By the memory of her song
While the river Rio Bravo flows along
(Choir: Rio Bravo, Rio Bravo)
While the river Rio Bravo flows along
(Choir: Rio Bravo)
Theme From Rawhide
Music by Dimitri Tiompkin - Lyrics by Ned Washington
Rollin', rollin', rollin', rollin', rollin', rollin'
Rollin', rollin', rollin', rollin', rollin', rollin', Rawhide!
Rollin', rollin', rollin', though the streams are swollen
Keep them dogies rollin', Rawhide.
Rain and wind and weather, hellbent for leather
Wishin' my gal was by my side.
All the things I'm missin', good fiddles, love & kissin'
Are waiting at the end of my ride.
Chorus:
Move 'em on, head 'em up, Head 'em up, move 'em on
Move 'em on, head 'em up, Rawhide!
Count 'em out, ride 'em in, ride 'em in, count 'em out
Count 'em out, ride 'em in, Rawhide!
Keep movin', movin', movinU
Though they're disapprovin'
Keep them dogies movin', Rawhide
Don't try to understand 'em,
Just rope 'em, pull and brand 'em
Soon we'll be living high and wide
My hearts calculatin'
My true love will be waitin'
Be waitin' at the end of my ride
Chorus
Hyaa!
Rollin', rollin', rollin', rollin', rollin', rollin' (Hyaa!)
Rollin', rollin', rollin', rollin', rollin', rollin' (Hyaa!)
Rawhide! Rawhide!
THE GREEN LEAVES OF SUMMER
A time to be reapin', a time to be sowin'.
The green leaves of Summer are callin' me home.
'Twas so good to be young then, in a season of plenty,
When the catfish were jumpin' as high as the sky.
A time just for plantin', a time just for ploughin'.
A time to be courtin' a girl of your own.
'Twas so good to be young then, to be close to the earth,
And to stand by your wife at the moment of birth.
A time to be reapin', a time to be sowin'.
The green leaves of Summer are callin' me home.
'Twas so good to be young then, with the sweet smell of apples,
And the owl in the pine tree a -winkin' his eye.
A time just for plantin', a time just for ploughin'.
A time just for livin', a place for to die.
'Twas so good to be young then, to be close to the earth,
Now the green leaves of Summer are callin' me home.
'Twas so good to be young then, to be close to the earth,
Now the green leaves of Summer are callin' me home.
LE BLEU DE L'ETE
Paroles: D. Tiomkin, P.F. Webster, fr: Henri Contet,
Musique: D. Tiomkin, P.F. Webster, 1961
Le temps d'une larme
Le temps d'un sourire
Le temps les efface
Mais toi tu es la
Et c'est moi qui regarde
Dans tes yeux ou s'attarde
Cet amour qui nous garde
Le bleu de l'ete
Le temps s'eparpille
Le temps se gaspille
De fil en aiguille
Les jours font les nuits
Mais des nuits eternelles
Quand c'est toi qui m'appelle
Jusqu'a la citadelle
Du bleu de l'ete
Le temps d'une larme
Le temps qui efface
Le temps qui desarme
Le temps d'en finir
Et c'est moi qui regarde
Dans tes yeux ou s'attarde
Cet amour qui nous garde
Le bleu de l'ete
Le bleu de l'ete
