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Johnston began taking hits during
her retreat, 14 -inch projectiles from the battleships, 6-inch from the
cruisers. “After the torpedo attack we made a sharp turn,” recalled Bob
Hollenbaugh. “Hauling ass, I mean we were going! I was down on the deck of
the gun house trying to clear some powder cans out of the chute when all of
a sudden I heard this big ‘Thump.’ It was a shell hitting on the port side,
just forward of mount 4. It pierced the deck, apparently hit the reduction
gear and knocked out one of our engines. The stern just came up out of the
water and slammed back down. I lost communication with the director. I heard
Bobby Chastain, the trainer and Sam Moody the pointer saying. ‘Boats, we got
no power.’” (excerpt from
The Last Epic Naval Battle, Voices from Leyte Gulf)
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