#AtoZchallenge – USS Birmingham (CL-62)

#AtoZChallenge 2021 April Blogging from A to Z Challenge letter B

USS Birmingham (CL-62) was a Cleveland class light cruiser named for the city of Birmingham, Alabama, the “Pittsburgh of the South”. She was launched by Mrs Cooper Green, wife of the president of the Birmingham City Commission on 20th March 1942. She earned eight battle stars and received heavy damage on at least three occasions.

Birmingham gave gunfire support during the invasion of Sicily in July 1943. Afterwards she was assigned to the Pacific Fleet, taking part in battles on Tarawa, Wake Islands, and Empress Augusta Bay. Also participating in those actions were her sister ships Cleveland, Columbia, Montpelier, and Denver marking the first major action by the new Cleveland class light cruisers that were just entering the fleet.

During 1944-45 Birmingham took part in eleven major raids and battles. They included such actions as Battles of Saipan, Okinawa, Leyte Gulf, and Iwo Jima. She was damaged for a third time when a Japanese kamikaze hit her up forward. Forty-seven sailors were killed, 81 wounded, and 4 were missing in action.

Following repairs, she steamed to Brisbane, Melbourne and other Australian ports and returned to San Francisco in 1946. She was taken out of commission and placed in reserve in 1947. Then, in 1959 she was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register and scrapped at Long Beach, California.

#AtoZchallenge is not only about me. Many, many other bloggers are participating this year. I encourage you to visit a few. Don’t forget to like and comment so we know who you are so we can thank you. Additionally, you may find a blog or three you like enough to follow. If you do, hit those subscribe buttons and get to reading! Thanks for coming by today; here are a few suggestions you might want to look at:

So, come back to see me, won’t you? See ya tomorrow!

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About Ol' Big Jim

Jim L. Wright is a storyteller with a lifetime of experiences as colorful as the characters he creates. Born and raised in Piedmont, Alabama, Jim’s connection to the land, history, and people of the region runs deep. His debut novel New Yesterdays is set in his hometown, where he grew up listening to stories of the past—stories that sparked his imagination and curiosity for history. Today, Jim lives in Leeds, Alabama, with his husband Zeek, a tour operator who shares his passion for adventure and discovery. Known affectionately as “Ol’ Big Jim,” he has had a diverse career that includes time as a storekeeper, an embalmer, a hospital orderly, and a medical coder. There are even whispers—unconfirmed, of course—that he once played piano in a house of ill repute. No matter the job, one thing has remained constant: Jim is a teller of tales. His stories—sometimes humorous, sometimes thought-provoking—are often inspired by his unique life experiences. Many of these tales can be found on his popular blog, Ol’ Big Jim, where he continues to share his musings with a loyal readership. Jim’s adventures have taken him far beyond Alabama. For seven years, he lived in Amman, Jordan, the world’s oldest continuously inhabited city. His time there, spent in smoky coffee shops, enjoying a hookah and a cup of tea while scribbling in his ever-present notebook, deeply influenced his worldview and his writing. When Jim isn’t writing, he’s thinking about writing. His stories, whether tall tales from his past or imaginative reimagining is of historical events should read from his past or imaginative reimaginings of historical events, reflect a life lived fully and authentically. With New Yesterdays, Jim brings readers a rich tapestry of history, fantasy, and human connection. Visit his blog at www.olbigjim.com to read more of his stories, or follow him on social media to keep up with his latest musings and projects, one of which is a series that follows Bonita McCauley, an amateur detective who gets into some very sticky situations. His book, New Yesterdays, can be found at Amazon US, Amazon UK, Smashwords, and Barnes and Noble.
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1 Response to #AtoZchallenge – USS Birmingham (CL-62)

  1. Thanks, Jim. I always hate to hear that these ships have been scrapped. I know the families of those who served and died on them would miss them as well as their loved ones.

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