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Franklin Alexander McGinty, born 22 November 1911 in Atlanta, Ga., enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve 17 August 1942 and joined Plymouth (PG 57) 1 January 1943 for duty as soundman third class. On 5 August the gunboat was hit by a torpedo as she prepared to depth charge U-566 off Cape Charles. Despite raging fires, McGinty entered the ship’s magazine where he attempted to rescue a trapped shipmate. He, too, was trapped by the flames and was unable to escape before Plymouth sank. For extraordinary heroism without regard for his own safety, McGinty was awarded the Navy Cross posthumously.
Citation: "The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Franklin Alexander McGinty, Soundman Third Class, U.S. Navy (Reserve), for extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty while serving on board the River Gunboat USS Plymouth (PG 57), during and after the sinking of that vessel through enemy action near Cape Henry, along the United States' Atlantic coast, on 5 August 1943. When an enemy torpedo crashed into the Plymouth amidships, causing devastating fires and extensive damage, Soundman Third Class McGinty unhesitatingly risked his life in behalf of his endangered shipmates. In a courageous attempt to rescue a man known to be trapped in the ship's flaming armory, he entered the compartment and was himself trapped, thereby losing his life. The conduct of Soundman Third Class McGinty throughout this action reflects great credit upon himself, and was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country." Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 324 (March 1944).
USS McGinty (DE 365) (1944-1968) was the first ship to be named in his honor.
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Bill Gonyo |
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Top Photo-
26 August 1955: San Diego, Cal. - Photo taken by USS Prairie (AD 15) for the ComCruDesPac Public Information Office. (U.S. Navy photo)
Bottom Photo-
1959: San Diego, Cal. - This photo was bought at the San Diego Navy YMCA where one could buy ship’s photos. I am standing in the bow with my shipmates, I remember the helicopter coming around that day. We were in San Diego in 1959 so that is the year of the photo. We were in San Diego having arrived from Hawaii via Seattle, in preparation for becoming a reserve ship in Portland. In San Diego I attended ECM school and I remember across the pier from us they were shooting a movie about a submarine, the scene we saw was about the Navy bus hooking on to a car and towing it along.
I was on the McGinty from 1956 to 1959, in Hawaii. In the Summers we patrolled the Trust Territory and were involved in the Taiwan Straits actions and the Quemoy Matsu affair taking convoys in under fire. I have been on a number of islands in the Pacific and recently have been reading a book A Handful of Emeralds written by the Captain of USS Hanna (DE 449), one of the ships patrolling before us in 1953-54. The book details the islands and the patrols and is the same as we had done. (Photo probably taken by Marine Photos and Publishing of San Diego, Cal.) |
Ron Carbis, ET1
USS McGinty, 1956-1959 |
