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by Dale Ridgeway (Author)
The naval journeys of E. J. Ridgeway, GM1/c, before and during World War II, took him around the globe from Neutrality Patrols through the balmy Caribbean and icy North Atlantic, to the tip of South Africa and on to the Pacific Ocean battles. While training for war, Seaman Ridgeway passed through German U-boat infested Atlantic waters on a secret mission into the Indian Ocean; a mission not divulged to the public for over 50 years. Interrupted by the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, he was ordered to return to the United States, through the Panama Canal, to join an almost suicidal, retaliatory attack on Tokyo just four months later. Serving on the USS Vincennes (CA-44), he participated in the Jimmy Doolittle Raid, the Battle of Midway, and survived the sinking of his ship at Savo Island, Guadalcanal. Transferred to the USS Santa Fe (CL-60), Ridgeway, on the "Lucky Lady," would continue to fight in every major Pacific campaign from the Aleutians, Tarawa, the Marianas, Leyte Gulf and on to the collapse of Japan. Dale Ridgeway tracked his father's war on these two ships determined to know more about this fighting naval stalwart, who won numerous commendations, citations, and 16 battle stars for his valiant service during World War II. As we near the 75th anniversary marking the Pearl Harbor attack, let Stalwart take you through E. J. Ridgeway's remarkable journey that could be compared to a 101 Introductory Course for America's war in the Pacific.
