Obituaries

Continued from Page 55 ordered to bombard Henderson Airfield on Guadalcanal with the objective of the destruction of the U.S. air power.

Adm. Got was born thousands of miles from Indiana, in Ibaraki prefecture in 1888. He was graduated from the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy, class of 1910. As a midshipman, he served on battleships, cruisers, submarines, and destroyers.

World War I found him on land in the South Pacific as a radio operator and serving on warships. During the 1920s, he began to command destroyers. He made captain in 1933, and by 1935 was a rear admiral and in command of a cruiser division.

On Sept. 10, 1941, he commanded Cruiser Division 6 in support of the invasion of Wake Island. Later on Aug. 8, 1942, Got ’s Cruiser Division 6 fought in the Battle of Savo Island, where one of his four cruisers was sunk. In October 1942 Got was approaching Cape Esperance.

Naval battles are most confusing events, with many moving parts to keep in mind. It seems that everyone is going off on their own tangents. Who is in charge? Who knows what is happening all around him? A ball of watery and fiery confusion. The Battle of Cape Esperance is the epitome of the effect of the fog of war and the role of chance and fortune in the lives of men and nations. Let us see if we can unravel this knot.

Prior to the meeting of the fleets, both air forces attacked, defended, and reconnoitered. It was an American aircraft that sighted Takatsugu J jima’s reinforcement Group at 2:45 p.m. and inaccurately reported sighting two cruisers and six destroyers.

Thus Scott was warned of an approaching enemy fleet and sailed to meet it. Any encounter would take place in the night and Scott knew that all previous night engagements had ended in Japanese victories. Not one Japanese ship had been lost in battles off Guadalcanal. To keep things simple, Scott planned a single column formation with destroyers at front and cruisers in the rear.

Got was blithely sailing toward Guadalcanal without any notion of the presence of U.S. naval forces. As Scott reached Cape Esperance, he ordered TF 64 into battle formation. At 11:30 p.m., U.S. radar revealed ships approaching from the north. The Japanese, without radar, remained blind to the danger toward which they were sailing. A failure to communicate caused Scott’s TF 64 to break formation which caused further sightings of Japanese ships to be mistaken for U.S. ships.

It was not long before USS Duncan launched a torpedo attack on Got ’s fleet without informing Scott. Unbeknownst to Scott, a classic crossing of the T by his fleet was about to occur. Another miscommunication between Scott and USS Helena caused TF 64 to commence fire without Scott’s order. So far luck was smiling on Scott.

The Japanese fleet was totally surprised as shells began to strike Got ’s flagship, Aoba. Even then Got thought that the fire was coming from J jimba’s fleet and thus withheld fire. Within minutes, Got lay mortally wounded on his bridge. His last words being, “Bakayuro! Bakayuro!” (Stupid bastards!)

Scott was still confused as to who his ships were firing on and ordered a cease fire. His order was only partly obeyed. Aoba turned away from the bright blast, leaving the cruiser Furutoka next in line to receive U.S. fire. Soon Furutoka began to sink. The remainder of Got ’s fleet began to reverse and flee. Scott ordered TF 64 to pursue. More death and destruction visited both fleets.

Finally, at 12:20 a.m., all firing ceased and the fleets disengaged. Scott had just won the first American naval victory in the Battle for Guadalcanal. The physical results of this battle are as follows: American: 1 destroyer sunk, one cruiser and one destroyer damaged and 163 killed in action; Japanese: 1 cruiser sunk, three destroyers and one cruiser damaged, more than 400 killed in action and 111 POW’s.

The effect on the Home Front morale was tremendous. The battle news spread throughout America. Scott was the man of the hour. TF 64 had done its duty by protecting the convoy carrying the 164th Infantry Regiment to Guadalcanal. Vital troops and supplies were delivered to the weakened U.S. Marines.

Even though Got ’s fleet, and mission, were defeated, the U.S.Navy did not stop J jimba’s Reinforcement Group from landing needed troops and materials to support their impending offensive against U.S. forces at Guadalcanal.

Thus the naval battle at Cape Esperance was a tactical American victory and a strategic draw. Chance and fortune played a larger role in the conclusion of the battle than either commander.

But as Napoleon stated, he preferred his generals to be lucky rather than good. Though chance was the superior commander, it is fate that is the unseen hand.

Of the two opposing captains, of whom it could jokingly be said were separated at birth, one, Got , was dead. As Alexander Pope wrote, “A brave man struggling in the storms of fate and greatly falling with a falling state,” was Admiral Got ’s destiny. Adm. Scott would follow Got within a month. His epitaph could come from the Roman poet Terence’s poem “Phormio” wherein he wrote, “Fortune aids the brave.”

Next week: Stalingrad VICKERS COOPER BARRETT Ocean City

Vickers Cooper Barrett, 74, of Ocean City, Maryland, died Sept. 21, 2022, at the Johns Hopkins Hospital after a valiant battle with acute myeloid leukemia. Vicki, as she was known, was born in Wilmington, Delaware, the daughter of R. Mark Cooper and Wanda Vickers Cooper. She was raised in Kennett Square, Vickers Barrett Pennsylvania, graduating from Tatnall School, Wilmington.

Vicki attended Pine Manor Junior College (now Pine Manor Institute for Student Success of Boston College) in Brookline, Massachusetts. She received a bachelors degree from the University of Colorado, Boulder.

From 1969 to 1991, Vicki served on the faculty and administration of Meadowbrook School, Weston, Massachusetts, teaching art in the elementary grades. She later served as the school’s director of development.

In 1991, she became director of the Young at Arts program at the Wang Center for the Performing Arts (now the Boch Center) in Boston.

In 1999, Vicki and her husband, Charles A. Barrett, whom she married in 1972, relocated to Ocean City, Maryland, where, until last year, they owned and operated the Inn on the Ocean, the resort’s only ocean front bed and breakfast.

Vicki was president of the Maryland Bed and Breakfast Association.

Nothing New Under the Sun, a cookbook containing many of the recipes she developed and served in the inn and at catered events, was published in 2006.

Renowned and respected for her energy, generosity and gracious hospitality, Vicki received the Ocean City Chamber of Commerce’s Citizen of the Year award in 2012 for her extensive volunteer efforts promoting tourism and business development in the town.

She served on the Public Art Committee of the Ocean City Downtown Development Corporation and chaired the Boardwalk Development Committee of the OCDC.

Active in the Downtown Development Association, she co-chaired creating a scavenger hunt for children visiting Ocean City.

She also co-chaired the Ocean City Beach Birds, a much-replicated public art project which placed 82 fiberglass bird sculptures in Worcester, Wicomico and Somerset counties.

A supporter of creative education, Vicki developed an elementary school curriculum for use at the Teackle Mansion, an historic house museum in Princess Anne, Maryland, and served its owner, the Somerset County Historical Society, as a board Continued on Page 57

Continued from Page 56 member and volunteer docent at the museum.

She also organized professional development sessions for county teachers sponsored by the society in conjunction with the Maryland Historical Society.

Vicki’s leadership inspired the creation of the Julia C. Ford Endowment Fund by the Friends of Teackle Mansion honoring a colleague and fellow teacher to be used for educational programming at the mansion.

She led several other volunteer arts and preservation efforts in Somerset County.

Vicki is survived by her husband and cousins, Martha Perry of Jacksonville, Florida, and Helena Perry of Baltimore.

Funeral services will be held Friday, Oct. 7, 2022, at 11 a.m. at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 30513 Washington Street, Princess Anne, with internment in the church’s cemetery adjacent to Manokin Presbyterian Church, 11890 Somerset Avenue, Princess Anne.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be directed to the Friends of Teackle Mansion Julia Ford Endowment c/o Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore, 134 Belmont Avenue, Suite 401, Salisbury, Maryland 21804.

Arrangements are in the care of Hinman Funeral Home, P.A. of Princess Anne, Maryland.

To express condolences to the family, visit www.hinmanfuneralhome.com.

SHIRLEY T. WHITMAN Salisbury

Shirley T. Whitman, age 79, of Salisbury, Maryland, died Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2022, at TidalHealth Peninsula Regional in Salisbury. She was born in Baltimore and was the daughter of the late Ernest Taylor and Nell (Meade) Taylor. She was a nurse and had worked at 10th St. Medical Center for many years, which she truly loved, and knew and loved all her patients.

She is survived by a daughter, Angela W. Eschenburg (Tyler) of Severna Park, Maryland; a son, Jason M. Whitman (Amy) of Snow Hill; two brothers, Robert Taylor of Carlie, Pennsylvania, and Roger Taylor of Berlin; a sister, June Smith of Edgewater, Maryland; and six grandchildren, Haden, Emma, Rowan, River, Baylee and Jagger.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Frederick E. Whitman, and a twin sister, Sharon Church.

A funeral service was held on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022, at BishopHastings Funeral Home in Selbyville with Pastor Daniel Bradford officiating. Burial was in Sunset Memorial Park in Berlin.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to her grandchildren’s college fund. Please see her obituary on the funeral home website for more information.

Condolences may be sent by visiting www.bishophastingsfh.com.

CLIFFORD L. HUDSON Berlin

Clifford L. Hudson, 75, died Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022, at Hospice by the Lake in Salisbury.

He is survived by his sister, Elaine Voss of Ocean City; his son, Scott Hudson and wife, Karen, of Berlin; two grandchildren, Jason Hudson and Cody Hudson; three step-grandchildren, Ronnie Dieter, Brandan Dieter and Mindy Dieter; and three great-grandchildren, Mason, Cole and Gatlin.

Clifford worked for Granville Trimper and the Trimper family from 1965-2012 when he suffered his first stroke. He managed the Haunted House attraction on the Boardwalk for over 30 years.

Clifford served in the US Army from 1966-1971 and was a veteran of the Vietnam War. He also served as a volunteer with the Ocean City Volunteer Fire Company, and the Milton Volunteer Fire Company.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Barbara C. (Davis) Hudson and Clifford Lloyd Hudson; a brother, James P. Hudson; and grandparents, Elsie F. and Owen L. Davis.

A funeral service will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 10, 2022, in the chapel of Short Funeral Services, 416 Federal Street, Milton, Delaware. A time of visitation will begin at 10:30 a.m.

Interment will follow at Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Millsboro.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to the funeral home to assist with Clifford’s funeral expenses.

Online condolences are welcome at www.shortfuneralservicesandcremation.com.

LEMUEL B. CROPPER, III Berlin

Lemuel B. Cropper, lll, age 83, died on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2022, at his home in Ocean Pines, Maryland. Born in Long Island, New York, he was the son of the late Lemuel B Cropper, Jr and Frieda (Kurtz) Frost. He is survived by his wife, JoAnn (Simone) Cropper; and daughter, Jennifer Cropper-Rines and her husband, George Rines.

Also surviving is his brother, Timothy Cropper and his wife, Rosalie; sister-in-law, Marietta Bosco and her husband, Andy; many nieces and nephews and a host of friends.

Lemuel had served in the United States Navy. Later in life he owned a business that manufactured rubber candy molds in Newark, Maryland.

He was an avid fisherman and commercially crabbed for many years. He was happiest on his boat.

He was a loving, protective, husband, father and friend, offering quiet strength and a level head always.

He was a fabulous cook and generous spirit. Above all else, he loved his girls.

Cremation followed his death. Services will be private for the family.

A donation in his memory may be made to: Worcester County Humane Society, P.O. Box 48, Berlin, Maryland 21811.

Letters of condolence may be sent via: www.burbagefuneralhome.com. Arrangements are in the care of the Burbage Funeral Home in Berlin.

Shirley Whitman Cropper Lemuel OBITUARY NOTICES

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