In memory of dad
PATRICK McGlew had never visited Australia but his family ties here were strong.
On the eve of the 75th anniversary of the start of Battle of the Coral Sea, he flew from New York to North Queensland to see for himself the watery graveyard his father and just a handful of other sailors survived.
Mr McGlew visited Cardwell on Sunday and Townsville on Monday with USS Lexington survivor Cecil Wiswell, for services commemor- ating the historic World War II battle in which US and Australian naval and air forces took on the Imperial Japanese Navy.
“My father had long wanted to come back here but was prevented for a number of reasons … and then he passed away two years ago,” he said.
“It’s perhaps the last time one of his shipmates will be here and I wanted to come and honour the service not only of Cecil but of all his shipmates but also to represent the family and the memory of my father.”
Edwin N. McGlew Junior, joined the US Navy when he was 19 and was transferred, as a military photographer, to the USS Lexington aged 20.
On May 8, 1942, on arguably a suicide mission, it was McGlew Jr’s job to capture motion picture film from the flight deck at the exact moments enemy planes were dropping bombs.
“I think he survived because it just wasn’t his time,” Patrick McGlew said.
“When the order ultimately was given to abandon ship he tied his camera up, secured it as best possible and tried to get it water tight.
“But when he got into the Coral Sea, water got into the camera and ruined the film.”
Patrick McGlew said he often wondered what was on his father’s camera.
“I’ve thought of both what an amazing opportunity it would have been to see that film but also how terrifying it would have been to be seeing through my father’s eyes at that moment,” he said.
Patrick McGlew said the word hero never sat comfortably with his dad or any of the other crew members who saw saving Australia from enemy invasion as doing their job.
Patrick McGlew said despite the notion that Americans fought and lost their lives to save Australia, there were never any ill feelings about the cost of the battle.
“They were all in the same fight for all the same reasons,” he said.
“Australians were just viewed as wonderful people and allies and folks that needed help.
“A different people.” flag but one