PLEASE NOTE I ONLY HAVE THREE USS WARD COMBO SIGNED ITEMS REMAINING. ONCE THEY SELL I WILL BE PERMANENTLY SOLD OUT.

This auction is for a RARE Pearl Harbor USS Ward (DD 139) AUTHENTIC HAND AUTOGRAPHED COMBO SIGNED 11x14 inch photograph autographed by eight USS Ward veterans: Kenneth Swedberg, Richard Thill, Eugene Hiberger (later served during the Battle of Iwo Jima), Maurice Gatewood, John Entenmann, Donald Peppin and Walter Camipon.

BIO: The USS Ward was the first Navy ship to engage the Japanese during the attack on Pearl Harbor and fired the first shot of the Pacific War when she encountered a Japanese Ko-hyoteki class midget submarine, attacked and sank it.On the morning of December 7 th , 1941 the USS Ward was conducting a precautionary patrol off the entrance to Pearl Harbor when she encountered a Japanese Ko-hyoteki class midget submarine, attacked and sank it, thus firing the first shots of the Pacific War a few hours before Japanese carrier aircraft formally opened the conflict with their attack on the U.S. Pacific Fleet inside the harbor.

In 1942 the USS Ward was sent to the west coast for conversion to a high speed transport. Redesignated APD-16 in February 1943 she steamed to the South Pacific to operate with U.S. forces in the Solomon Islands area. She helped fight off a heavy Japanese air attack off Tulagi on April 7 th , 1943 and spent most of the rest of that year on escort and transport service. In December she participated in the Cape Gloucester invasion. During the first nine months of 1944 the USS Ward continued her escort and patrol work and also took part in several Southwest Pacific amphibious landings, among them the assaults on Saidor, Nissan Island, Emirau, Aitape, Biak, Cape Sansapor and Morotai.As the Pacific War moved closer to Japan the USS Ward was assigned to assist with operations to recover the Philippine Islands. On October 17 th , 1944 she put troops ashore on Dinagat Island during the opening phase of the Leyte invasion. After spending the rest of October and November escorting ships to and from Leyte in early December the USS Ward transported Army personnel during the landings at Ormoc Bay, Leyte. On the morning of December 7 th , 1944, three years to the day after her Number Three Gun fired the opening shot of the War, she was patrolling off the invasion area when she came under attack by several Japanese aircraft. One bomber made a suicide crash into her hull amidships, bringing the ship to a stop. When the resulting fires could not be controlled, Ward's crew was ordered to abandon ship and she was sunk by gunfire from USS O'Brien (DD-725), whose Commanding Officer, William W. Outerbridge, had been in command of Ward during her action off Pearl Harbor three years before.Richard Thill He earned his first battle star when the USS Ward fired the first two shots of World War II, sinking a Japanese submarine that was trying to sneak into Pearl Harbor an hour before the air attack started on Pearl Harbor. He also manned a 30 Cal machine gun while at this station in case of air attack. Mr. Thill participated in 12 amphibious landings and 2 shore bombardments earning 4 more battle stars in the Asiatic-Pacific Theatre. He received the following medals and awards Navy Unit Commendation; American Defense Medal with one battle star; Asiatic-Pacific Medal with 7 battle stars; American Theatre Campaign Medal; Good Conduct Medal; World War II Victory Medal and the Pearl Harbor Survivors Medal.Kenneth Swedberg Was a Fireman 1st Class his battle station was gunner on the 3" AA gun. Mr. Swedberg was involved in many battles, including Tarawa, Okinawa, Attu, Kiska and was engaged in the battle of the Komandorski Islands which was the longest running battle in Naval history (4 hours long).

I ONLY SELL AUTHENTIC HAND AUTOGRAPHED MEMORABILA. I do not sell reprints or facsimile autographs. When you bid on my items you get the real deal authentic hand autographed items. You will receive the same autographed 11x14 photograph that is pictured in the scan. This would make a great investment or gift for any collector of military memorabilia. If you have any questions feel free to e-mail me

THIS IS AN AUTHENTIC HAND AUTOGRAPHED 11x14 PHOTOGRAPH. I ONLY SELL AUTHENTIC HAND AUTOGRAPHED MEMORABILIA. I do not sell reprints or facsimile autographs. When you bid on my items you will receive the real deal authentic hand autographed items. You will receive the same signed 11x14 photograph that is pictured in the scan. If you have any questions feel free to e-mail me. I combine S&H when multiple items are purchased. I ship items internationally the price for international S&H varies by country. I currently have other rare autographed military and historical signed items available. Please take a look at my other auctions of rare military and historical autographed items.