Lincoln Park in San Francisco City and County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

FDR's Salute

to the Officers and Men ... USS "San Francisco"'

— USS San Francisco Memorial —

Photographed By Grace C. Miller, October 7, 2012

1. "In Salute to the Officers and Men ... USS San Francisco"

Inscription.

FDR's Salute. to the Officers and Men ... USS "San Francisco"'. In Salute to the Officers and Men, living and dead, of the U.S.S. “San Francisco” a warship named for our city, which though sorely wounded, emerged triumphantly from the Battle of Guadalcanal, November 12-13 1942 after inflicting heavy losses on the enemy. . , “A very powerful Japanese force was moving at night toward our position in the Solomon Islands. The spearhead of the force that we sent to intercept the enemy was under the command of Rear Admiral Daniel J. Callaghan. He was aboard the leading ship, the cruiser San Francisco. San Francisco sailed right into the enemy fleet – right through the whole enemy fleet – her guns blazing. She engaged and hit three enemy vessels, sinking one of them. At point-blank range, she engaged an enemy battleship – heavily her superior in size and firepower. She silenced this battleship’s big guns and so disabled her that she could be sunk by torpedoes from our destroyers and aircraft. The San Francisco herself was hit many times. Admiral Callaghan, my close personal friend, and many of his gallant officers and men gave their lives in this battle. But the San Francisco was brought safely back to port by a lieutenant commander, and she will fight again for our country. The commander of the task force of which the San Francisco was a part has recommended that she be the first of our Navy’s vessels to be decorated for outstanding service. But there are no citations, no medals, which carry with them such high honor as that accorded to fighting men by the respect of their comrades-in-arms. The commanding general of the Marines on Guadalcanal, General Vandergrift, yesterday sent a message to the commander of the fleet, Admiral Halsey, saying: ‘We lift our battered helmets in admiration for those who fought magnificently against overwhelming odds and drove the enemy back to crushing defeat’. Let us thank God for such men as these. May our Nation continue to be worthy of them, throughout this war, and forever.”, Franklin D. Roosevelt President of the United States and Commander –in- Chief November 17, 1942. , The City and County of San Francisco offers this tribute in commemoration of loyalty to God and Country. Lieutenant Commander mentioned [above]: Rear Admiral Herbert Emory Schonland, U.S.N., Ret. - upon whom was conferred the Congressional Medal of Honor.

In Salute
to the Officers and Men, living and dead, of the
U.S.S. “San Francisco”
a warship named for our city, which though
sorely wounded, emerged triumphantly from the
Battle of Guadalcanal, November 12-13 1942
after inflicting heavy losses on the enemy.

“A very powerful Japanese force was moving at night toward our position in the Solomon Islands. The spearhead of the force that we sent to intercept the enemy was under the command of Rear Admiral Daniel J. Callaghan. He was aboard the leading ship, the cruiser San Francisco. San Francisco sailed right into the enemy fleet – right through the whole enemy fleet – her guns blazing. She engaged and hit three enemy vessels, sinking one of them. At point-blank range, she engaged an enemy battleship – heavily her superior in size and firepower. She silenced this battleship’s big guns and so disabled her that she could be sunk by torpedoes from our destroyers and aircraft. ** The San Francisco herself was hit many times. Admiral Callaghan, my close personal friend, and many of his gallant officers and men gave their lives in this battle. But the San Francisco was brought safely back to port by a lieutenant commander*, and she will fight again for our country. The commander of

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the task force of which the San Francisco was a part has recommended that she be the first of our Navy’s vessels to be decorated for outstanding service. But there are no citations, no medals, which carry with them such high honor as that accorded to fighting men by the respect of their comrades-in-arms. The commanding general of the Marines on Guadalcanal, General Vandergrift, yesterday sent a message to the commander of the fleet, Admiral Halsey, saying: ‘We lift our battered helmets in admiration for those who fought magnificently against overwhelming odds and drove the enemy back to crushing defeat’. **Let us thank God for such men as these. May our Nation continue to be worthy of them, throughout this war, and forever.”

Franklin D. Roosevelt
President of the United States
and Commander –in- Chief
November 17, 1942

The City and County of San Francisco offers this tribute in commemoration of loyalty to God and Country.
*Lieutenant Commander mentioned [above]: Rear Admiral Herbert Emory Schonland, U.S.N., Ret. - upon whom was conferred the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Erected by The City and County of San Francisco.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Heroes

The USS <i>San Francisco</i> Memorial image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Grace C. Miller, October 7, 2012

2. The USS San Francisco Memorial

• War, World II • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #32 Franklin D. Roosevelt, and the Medal of Honor Recipients series lists. A significant historical date for this entry is November 12, 1941.

Location. 37° 46.967′ N, 122° 30.689′ W. Marker is in San Francisco, California, in San Francisco City and County. It is in Lincoln Park. Marker can be reached from El Camino Del Mar north of Sea Rock Drive. Marker is part of the USS San Francisco Memorial, located in "Fort Miley" (a unit of the National Park Service: Golden Gate National Recreation Area) at the west end of the parking area, overlooking the Land's End Trail and the Golden Gate. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: San Francisco CA 94121, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Naval Battle of Guadalcanal (here, next to this marker); This Memorial to Rear Admiral Daniel J. Callaghan (here, next to this marker); The Honored Dead (here, next to this marker); Death of a Sailor (a few steps from this marker); Lands End (within shouting distance of this marker); Port of San Francisco

FDR and his Naval Aide, then-Capt. Daniel J. Callaghan, 1940 image. Click for full size.

Photographed By U.S. Navy

3. FDR and his Naval Aide, then-Capt. Daniel J. Callaghan, 1940

(within shouting distance of this marker); The Golden Gate (within shouting distance of this marker); Navigating the Golden Gate (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in San Francisco.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. To better understand the relationship, study each marker in the order shown.

Also see . . .
1. The USS 'Frisco' Memorial at Land's End. USS San Francisco Memorial Foundation website entry (Submitted on October 9, 2012, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland.)

2. USS San Francisco (CA-38). Wikipedia entry (Submitted on October 8, 2012, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland.)

3. Herbert Emery Schonland. Wikipedia entry:
Medal of Honor recipient for his actions as damage control officer at the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal. (Submitted on May 11, 2021, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

4. RADM Daniel Judson Callaghan, USN. Wikipedia entry:
Medal of Honor recipient for his leadership during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal. (Submitted on October 8, 2012, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland.)

5. RADM Bruce McCandless, USN. Medal of Honor

Capt. Cassin Young (<i>San Francisco's</i> C.O., K.I.A. at Guadalcanal), image. Click for full size.

Photographed By U.S. Navy

4. Capt. Cassin Young (San Francisco's C.O., K.I.A. at Guadalcanal),

receiving his Medal of Honor for heroism as C.O. of Vestal at Pearl Harbor from Admiral Nimitz, 14 Aug 1942.

recipient for his actions as communications officer during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal. (Submitted on October 8, 2012, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland.)

6. Capt. Cassin Young, USN. USS San Francisco Memorial Foundation website entry:
Commanding officer, USS San Francisco, killed in action, 13 Nov 1942 at the "Naval Battle of Guadalcanal."
Medal of Honor recipient as Commanding Officer of USS Vestal at Pearl Harbor. (Submitted on October 28, 2012, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland.)

BM1/c Reinhardt J. Keppler, image. Click for full size.

Photographed By U.S. Navy

5. BM1/c Reinhardt J. Keppler,

posthumous Medal of Honor recipient for his heroism aboard San Francisco in the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal.

Medal of Honor recipients: CDR Herbert E.Schonland (left) & LCDR Bruce McCandless image. Click for full size.

Photographed By U.S. Navy

6. Medal of Honor recipients: CDR Herbert E.Schonland (left) & LCDR Bruce McCandless

(right), San Francisco's senior surviving officers, with CINCPAC, ADM Chester W. Nimitz in Pearl Harbor upon the ship's return from the South Pacific.

"The Honored Dead" image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Grace C. Miller, October 7, 2012

7. "The Honored Dead"

Plaques listing Sailors and "Marine Detachment" crew members lost during the Guadalcanal Campaign.

USS <i>San Francisco</i> passing under the Golden Gate Bridge, December 1942</b> image. Click for full size.

Photographed By U.S. Navy, October 11, 1942

8. USS San Francisco passing under the Golden Gate Bridge, December 1942

“USS San Francisco off Mare Island, Dec. 1942 showing location of enemy hits.” image. Click for full size.

Photographed By USN Photo # 19-N-44715, December 1942

9. “USS San Francisco off Mare Island, Dec. 1942 showing location of enemy hits.”

Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 8, 2012, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. This page has been viewed 991 times since then and 24 times this year. Last updated on January 25, 2014, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 8, 2012, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. 4. submitted on October 28, 2012, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. 5. submitted on October 29, 2012, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. 6, 7, 8. submitted on October 8, 2012, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. 9. submitted on September 7, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.