World War II
From the invasion of Poland in 1939 to the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, World War II would prove to be the most devastating war in human history. A total of sixty-one countries and 1.7 billion people participated in the Second World War. Historians estimate that nearly 55 million people lost their lives- 25 million military and 30 million civilian. This figure does not include the approximately 6 million Jews killed in the Holocaust.
Approximately 166,119 South Carolinians served in World War II, including African-Americans and women. Five South Carolinians were awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for their service.
LEFT: Prior to World War II, John S. Drummond served in the 263rd Coastal Artillery. Drummond transferred to the U.S. Army Air Corps, where he served as a fighter pilot and Captain in the 405th Fighter-Bomber Group on the Western Front. On July 27, 1944, Drummond was shot down over Normandy and captured by the Germans. Drummond earned the Distinguished Flying Cross, two Purple Hearts, nine Air Medals, three Battle Stars, and a Presidential Citation. After the war, Drummond served as a United States Senator from South Carolina.
RIGHT: Women’s Army Corps uniform of Valma Jeffcoat. She joined the WAC on April 26, 1943. Shortly thereafter, Jeffcoat went overseas and served with the Headquarters Air Service Command.
Pennant from soldiers training at Fort Jackson, Columbia.
USS Columbia
In addition to the World War II Collection, the SCCRRMM houses the archives of the USS Columbia. The sixth Columbia (CL-56) was launched December 17, 1941, by New York Shipbuilding Corp. in Camden, New Jersey. Miss J. A. Paschal sponsored the ship. The launch took place ten days after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, adding the Columbia to the American Navy wartime arsenal just in time to begin the war effort.
Some of the heaviest fighting endured by the Columbia occurred during the winter of 1944-45. On January 6th, a kamikaze suicide plane crashed close aboard while attempting to hit Columbia. Soon afterwards, another kamikaze struck on her port quarter. The plane and its bomb penetrated two decks before exploding, killing thirteen and wounding forty-four, putting her after turrets out of action, and setting the ship afire. Prompt damage control measures enabled Columbia to complete her bombardment with her two operative turrets, and remain in action to give close support to underwater demolition teams.
On the morning of January 9th, a kamikaze again hit the Columbia. The damage knocked out six gun directors and gun mounts. Although twenty-four men were killed and ninety-seven wounded, the crew extinguished fires, repaired damage, and continued to support the invasion force. Columbia received a Navy Unit Commendation for her crew’s effort to save the ship and continue their mission. In addition to this accolade, the Columbia received ten battle stars for World War II service.
Learn More about the USS Columbia
A USS Columbia sailor decorated this government-issued handkerchief "Kill Flag" with hash marks denoting the cruiser’s victories in her first combat cruise. The symbols indicate five shore bombardments, six enemy aircraft downed, and a surface ship sunk. A similar “scorecard” was kept on the ship’s bridge throughout the war.
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