ROLE IN THE MILITARY
Vernon Averhart boarded his first naval vessel, the USS Wright, on July 1, 1938. His rank upon enlistment was Mess Attendant 1st Class (Matt 1c). On October 1, 1942, he moved up to the position of Officer’s Cook 3rd Class (OS3c). The significance his role is the fact that both ranks were a subset of the Messman/Steward Branch. This branch’s main job was to feed and provide for the officers a part of the U.S Asiatic Fleet. However, the Messmen and Steward branches were created as a result of racial discrimination within the United States Navy; therefore, prohibiting white sailors from serving. This would leave the job for mostly for African Americans but was also populated by Southeast Asians recruited overseas. This branch caused for major controversy domestically, especially amongst minorities, but the overall branch would stay segregated despite the extreme backlash it received until 1950. With this segregated branch in place, the government created a system that would allow it to prevent enlisted minorities from achieving any rank past Petty Officer status.
MILITARY EXPERIENCE
After a brief period, only three weeks, Vernon transferred from the USS Wright to the USS Cushing on May 16, 1939. During his time on the USS Cushing, Vernon would take part in the Cushing's missions including convoy escort between the contiguous US and Hawaii, Vessel and Convoy Patrol around the Midway Islands, and his final mission: The screening of major naval vessels during the Battle of Guadalcanal. Averhart would spend his military tenure aboard the USS Cushing and although reaching the status necessary to receive an honorable discharge on March 9, 1942, Vernon decided to remain on board for an additional two years and anticipated to retire after the extension had reached its end.
Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands
After being assigned to the Pacific Battle Fleet, Averhart along board the USS Cushing was ordered to screen the aircraft carrier, USS Enterprise, during the defense of the Santa Cruz Islands on October 26, 1942.
The battle would begin that morning as the Imperial Japanese Army sent in armed forces to try and retake the local airstrip, Henderson Field. Although the intial attack suprised the Allied Forces, the battle would soon grind to a standstill throughout the majority of the afternoon as powerful storms passed over.
Although the Allied forces on the island were able to combat the suprising initial attack, the naval force proved not so lucky. As the landing forces attacked that morning, the Imperial Carriers, Shokaku, Zuikaku, Hayataka, Zuiho, and Hitaka ordered aerial assaults on the Allied major vessels. Despite the hardwork of the screening ships such as Cushing and the naval aircraft onboard the Allied Carriers at hand, they would lose one carrier, USS Hornet, and the Enterprise would prove to be too damaged to continue in battle; thus causing the forces to retreat. This series of naval skirmishes would prove to be the beginning of the end for both the USS Cushing and, unfortunately, Vernon Averhart as well.
The battle would begin that morning as the Imperial Japanese Army sent in armed forces to try and retake the local airstrip, Henderson Field. Although the intial attack suprised the Allied Forces, the battle would soon grind to a standstill throughout the majority of the afternoon as powerful storms passed over.
Although the Allied forces on the island were able to combat the suprising initial attack, the naval force proved not so lucky. As the landing forces attacked that morning, the Imperial Carriers, Shokaku, Zuikaku, Hayataka, Zuiho, and Hitaka ordered aerial assaults on the Allied major vessels. Despite the hardwork of the screening ships such as Cushing and the naval aircraft onboard the Allied Carriers at hand, they would lose one carrier, USS Hornet, and the Enterprise would prove to be too damaged to continue in battle; thus causing the forces to retreat. This series of naval skirmishes would prove to be the beginning of the end for both the USS Cushing and, unfortunately, Vernon Averhart as well.