| All hands attend burial rites for 2 crewmen aboard USS Lexington (CV-16). At 2331 Hours on December 4, 1943, a Japanese torpedo dropped from a Mitsubishi G4M “Betty” medium bomber observed 1,100 yards (1,000 meters) off the starboard beam. It struck at Frame 186. Lexington’s starboard side was demolished from Frames 184 to 198, 2nd to 4th decks. The steering engine and ram rooms were protected by armor and remained intact. The rudder was bent, and the stabilizers were badly bent. 9 compartments were flooded, and 6 compartments leaked. The fire main was broken aft of Frame 176. 2 men were initially reported killed, and their bodies immediately recovered; eventually 5 dead more were found. 2 were never seen again. 34 were injured. The steering was jammed 20 degrees left, with Japanese bases within aircraft range. Chief Electrician’s Mate Lewis Russell Baker (March 4, 1899 – January 31, 1957) was in the Steering Motor Room and was seriously injured. The air supply failed and carbon dioxide built up and freon leaked into the compartment. Regardless, Baker moved the rudder from full left to 20 degrees before the power failed. He then used the emergency hydraulic system to move the rudder from 20 degrees left to 3 degrees left. He knew the escape route was flooded, but he continued to do his job. With the rudder returned to amidships, Captain Felix Budwell Stump (December 15, 1894 – June 13, 1972) announced to the crew that he would take the ship out of danger. Using the engines only, he steered Lexington back to Pearl Harbor. This Burial at Sea with the ship’s company attending was photographed by Commander Edward Steichen (March 27, 1879 – March 25, 1973) and Lieutenant Victor Jorgensen (July 8, 1913 – June 14, 1994) who made several exposures of the ceremony. The men killed on USS Lexington (CV-16) were: Seaman 2nd Class Roy Wilber Blackwood (1924 – Declared Dead December 5, 1944) of Columbia, South Carolina, Missing in Action; Chief Storekeeper Myran Pearl Dean (1904 – December 4, 1943) of San Pedro, California, Killed in Action; Seaman 2nd Class Irving Klein (March 17, 1919 – December 4, 1943), New York City, Death as a Result of Action; Seaman 2nd Class Robert Lee Klemcke (August 2, 1925 – December 4, 1943) of San Antonio, Texas, Death as a Result of Action; Seaman 2nd Class Edward Joseph Krage (February 28, 1924 – Declared Dead December 5, 1944), North Bergen, New Jersey, Missing in Action; Seaman 1st Class Elmer Gilbert Liekfield (April 22, 1922 – December 4, 1943) Killed in Action; Aviation Chief Metalsmith William Trabue Sims (September 10, 1905 – December 5, 1943), San Diego, California, Killed in Action; Seaman 2nd Class Ervin Warren Stanton (August 11, 1922 – December 4, 1943), Detroit, Michigan, Killed in Action; Fireman 1st Class Joseph Cox Wassum (January 19, 1924 – December 4, 1943), Louisville, Kentucky, Killed in Action. | |
| Image Filename | wwii2273.jpg |
| Image Size | 931.43 KB |
| Image Dimensions | 2193 x 2402 |
| Photographer | Victor Jorgensen |
| Photographer Title | United States Navy |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | December 5, 1943 |
| Location | |
| City | |
| State or Province | |
| Country | Pacific Ocean |
| Archive | National Archives and Records Administration |
| Record Number | NWDNS-80-G-473084 |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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