Panama Canal story is questioned by sailor

To the Editor, Now that Memorial Day is past, I would like to set the record straight concerning the battleship USS New Jersey and past interviews with Holland Pittenger and Bill Hart. First, Bill Hart stated that New Jersey was stuck in the Panama Canal, which it was and it freed itself by firing up its engines. This did not occur. If the engines from the NJ were fired up, it would have destroyed the locks. They have motorized vehicles called mechanical mules which eventually freed us. No ship or even motor boat are allowed to fire up their engines in the locks. Second, Hart stated there was 3200 men aboard ship and that was the reason he and Mr. Pittenger didn’t know each other. However, they were both in the 7th division which was comprised of approximately 50 men. There was also only a complement of 2400 men aboard ship. Third, Rolland Pittenger recalls the New Jersey bombarding an island off the Pusan Perimeter. It never happened. There was no island off the Pusan Perimeter either off East or West coast. As a result of the US Marine 1st division landing in Inchon on September 15th, 1950, the perimeter collapsed and the US 8th Army broke out of the semi encirclement. After that, there was no more Pusan Perimeter. Also, the USS New Jersey didn’t enter Korean waters until May 1951 and Mr. Pittenger wasn’t there until 1953. I know as time elapses, your memory diminishes. I also know Mr. Pittenger served several months aboard and Hart served a limited amount time in Korea because of a death in the family. This is minor, but when Pittenger created a rumor about me which has had an adverse effect on me and a pernicious effect on my children and grandchildren, that is another story. The author Stephen Crane would have had difficulty with their story, Bill Dolan 7th division USS New Jersey 1952-1956 Newton, New Jersey