US Navy Signalman 2class James Herman Stroud was born in 1921 in Louisiana, the son of Joseph Archer Stroud (1883-1938) and Lou Emma Austin Sandahl (1888-1963 Barrancas). His father supported his family as a laborer and a fireman at a sawmill before his death in 1938 from tuberculosis and traumatic psychosis at the state hospital in Terrell, Texas. His mother would remarry to Christian Sandahl (1890-1978), a WWI & WWII US Navy veteran. In the meantime, James would attend Pensacola High School but left before graduation. His brother Andrew George (1922-2011) would graduate in 1943 before enlisting in the US Army during WWII.
James would enlist in the Navy himself on February 14, 1940 and was sent to Birmingham for processing and orientation. When all the paperwork was completed, he boarded a train for Norfolk, Virginia. The training station at Norfolk was the largest of the four boot camps as compared to Great Lakes, Newport, and San Diego. Finally, with his initial training out of the way, he was selected for advanced training in New London, Connecticut where he attended the "signalman" school. Afterwards, the young sailor headed for the fleet where he was assigned to the destroyer USS Thomas (DD-182) on August 10, 1940. And there he remained until his transfer to the USS Broome (DD-210). The ship was stationed with the Atlantic Fleet and soon after his arrival, she would begin convoy escort duty as well as patrolling the east coast and conduction training operations.
On April 30, 1943, he was transferred to the newly launched destroyer USS Turner (DD-648) who began its duties escorting convoys and anti-submarine patrols. On one such convoy on October 23, 1943, she attacked a German submarine and depth charged it. Witnesses said they saw it sinking but further proof of its destruction was not forthcoming. She rejoined the convoy, safely arriving in New York before leaving on her final voyage on November 23rd. After escorting her ships to Europe, she picked up another convoy heading back to New York. At the end of the voyage, the Turner anchored at Ambrose Light late on January 2. 1944. Ambrose Light was the light station at the junction of several major shipping lanes in Lower New York Bay, including Ambrose Channel, the primary passage for ships entering and departing the Port of New York and New Jersey.
Early on January 3rd, the Turner was rocked by multiple internal explosions that continued until 7:50 AM. At that time, one final and gigantic explosion sent the destroyer along with 138 of her crew to the bottom of the Atlantic. There were a few survivors that were picked up and rushed to the hospital at Sandy Hook, NJ where a Sikorsky helicopter flew two cases of plasma to their aid. It was the first time a helicopter was ever used in a lifesaving role. James Herman Stroud's body was never recovered, and his name is etched on the East Coast Memorial at Battery Park, New York. Back home his mother received the dreaded telegram informing her that her son was now dead and would probably never be recovered. Thus, another Pensacola mother placed a "Gold Star" banner in yet another local window.
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