During the closing months of 1944, the United States military was pressing for the end of the war in the Pacific theater by attacking positions being held by the Japanese throughout the region. U.S. Naval Task Force 38 was one of the components being used to execute the American military plan. Mid-December found the task force operating in an area approximately 300 miles east of the Philippine Islands.

Having spent several days conducting offensive operations against Japanese-held positions, several ships were running low on fuel. On December 17, the task force command gave the order to commence refueling of several of the vessels, particularly the destroyer escorts that had been assigned to provide defensive support for the aircraft carriers.

Seas began to build and wind velocity increased as ships attempted to get into position to allow the replenishing of fuel stores. After several attempts in which lines used for the transfer of fuel from ship to ship were ruptured, the decision was made to postpone refueling until the next day in the hope that the weather might moderate.

The vessels that were to take on fuel had purged their salt water ballasts to enable them to take a commensurate amount of fuel. Due to the time it would require to replace the ballast and then discharge the tanks once again on the following day for refueling, some ship captains decided to attempt to ride out the storm with empty ballast tanks.

The following day did not bring an improvement in weather conditions; they steadily worsened. The rough seas continued to build until Task Force 38 found itself facing a full-blown typhoon. Typhoon Cobra (as the storm came to be known) was soon carrying winds approaching 140 miles per hour and producing towering waves.

Three of the ships whose stability had been compromised for want of proper ballast were unable to maneuver effectively and were lost to the storm. One of the destroyers that sank that day, the USS Spence, carried a crew of 339 men. Only 24 survived.

A personal connection to this story

Seaman First Class Cleo Parson Whited, known to his family as Joe, was among those lost with the ship. He was 21 years old and was my mother’s youngest brother.

This bit of family history is poignant when we consider what that young man might have become. At the same time, the story is hopeful because of what we read in the book of Revelation: “And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books” (Revelation 20:12).

God’s plan holds out the prospect of all of us reuniting with family and friends who have departed this life and are in the grave awaiting that time when they will be called forth and given their opportunity to learn about and to embrace the salvation offered to them through Jesus Christ. It is exciting to think about having a part in introducing them to that marvelous truth.

The prophet Ezekiel, wrote about those of the house of Israel who had died and gone to their graves: “Also He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.’” So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army” (Ezekiel 37:9-10).

God’s marvelous plan, outlined in His annual holy days, (Leviticus 23) teaches and reminds us that hopelessness is unfounded. Their hope is not lost; their time is yet to come, their hope is yet to be found. And we, if we hold fast and endure to the end, can have a part in revealing to them that same miraculous hope that God has given us.

To learn more about God’s holy day plan and exciting opportunities in store for all mankind, request our free booklet God's Holy Day Plan: The Promise of Hope for All Mankind.