Precious cargo: Bronze bell from World War II ship moved from S.I. to small Alabama town

By Virginia N. Sherry on December 06, 2015

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- It took four strong men to lift the 320-pound bronze bell once used on the USS Chilton -- a World War II attack transport ship commissioned in 1943 and scrapped in 1974 -- onto the back of an Alabama-bound silver pickup that was parked on Canal Street in Stapleton early Friday afternoon.

The occasion linked New York's Richmond County with Alabama's Chilton County, population 44,000.

The 492-foot-long attack transport ship was named in honor of the residents of Chilton County, who gave generously to purchase war bonds as World War II raged.

"This ship had such a history, and Chilton County is where this bell belongs," said native Staten Islander and U.S. Navy World War II veteran John Bottone, who served on the USS Chilton from 1944 to 1946 in the Asia-Pacific Theater.

The bell "was under the forward 5-inch gun on the starboard side," he recalled.

The attack transport ship participated in the assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto (March 26 to April 30, 1945), and was the target of over 150 Japanese kamikaze (suicide) raids.

The Chilton was also the first U.S. Navy ship to enter Hong Kong harbor after World War II, according to Bottone.

FROM MISSOURI TO STATEN ISLAND

The bell passed into the hands of Bottone -- a Westerleigh resident who will celebrate his 91st birthday on Dec. 15 -- thanks to the Internet.

As Bottone recounts the story, the Chilton's commission bell, painted over, was in a U.S. Navy construction battalion warehouse in Missouri.

When the paint on the heavy bell was chipped away, it revealed this lettering underneath: USS Chilton 1943.

An Internet search in Missouri led to a surprise phone call to Bottone, who is active in the USS Chilton Association, a group of veterans who served on the ship.

"I've got something here you might want," a Navy officer from Missouri explained to Bottone in 2004.

That's how the bell traveled from Missouri to Staten Island, with a stopover in Charleston, West Virginia.

Since 2004, Bottone has housed the prized bell in the garage of Carparts, the family business at 150 Canal St. in Stapleton.

U.S. Navy veteran John Bottone, a native Staten Islander who lives in Westerleigh, served on the USS Chilton during World War 2. He is pictured here with the ship's bronze "commission bell," outside the Carparts garage at 150 Canal St. in Stapleton. Dec. 4, 2015.

The bronze "commission bell" of the USS Chilton, inside the Carparts garage at 150 Canal St. in Stapleton. Dec. 4, 2015. (Staten Island Advance/Virginia N. Sherry)

Precious cargo: Bronze bell from World War II ship moved from S.I. to small Alabama town

U.S. Navy veteran John Bottone, a native Staten Islander who lives in Westerleigh, served on the USS Chilton during World War 2. Dec. 4, 2015. (Staten Island Advance/Virginia N. Sherry)

Seated on the USS Chilton bronze "commission bell" is U.S. Navy veteran John Bottone, who served on attack transport ship during World War 2. Standing, left to right: Billy Singleton of Chilton County, Alabama; Vietnam veteran John E. (Shawn) Bottone, and Tony Wearren of Chilton County, Alabama. Dec. 4, 2015. (Staten Island Advance/Virginia)

PERMANENT HOME IN ALABAMA

The Richmond County-Chilton County connection came about when a local reporter in Alabama found Bottone's contact information on the Internet "and called me out of the blue."

This led to an article in the local paper and Bottone's wish to move the bell to Chilton County.

"It's a huge deal for us –- all our veteran groups wanted to get involved -- there's a huge amount of interest," said Billy Singleton, an Alabama native and commercial airline pilot who has lived in Chilton County for 28 years and has always been interested in its local history, he told the Advance.

Singleton and Bottone had numerous long telephone conversations, became fast friends and set in motion the plan to bring the bell to Alabama.

Singleton arrived on Staten Island Friday, driving directly to Carparts on Canal Street, where he met Bottone for the first time.

Accompanying Singleton on the whirlwind 1,000-mile road trip was his longtime friend Tony Wearren, an engineer who works for the Chilton County Commission, the area's governing body, with functions similar to New York's elected City Council.

The bell, packed up securely, left Staten Island on Friday afternoon and arrived safely in Chilton County late Saturday night, Singleton reported.

After the Alabama Department of Archives and History restores and polishes the bell, it will be installed in the main foyer of the courthouse in Clanton, the county seat, with a dedication ceremony planned for Memorial Day 2016, Singleton said.

 

Seated on the USS Chilton bronze "commission bell" is U.S. Navy veteran John Bottone, who served on attack transport ship during World War 2. Standing, left to right: Billy Singleton of Chilton County, Alabama; Vietnam veteran John E. (Shawn) Bottone, and Tony Wearren of Chilton County, Alabama. Dec. 4, 2015. (Staten Island Advance/Virginia)

Preparing to load the USS Chilton's 320-pound commission bell into the back of a pickup bound for Chilton County, Alabama. Dec. 4, 2015. (Staten Island Advance/Virginia N. Sherry)

U.S. Navy veteran John Bottone, a native Islander who lives in Westerleigh, blows a farewell kiss to his beloved historic bell before it was transported from Staten Island to Chilton County, Alabama. Dec. 4, 2015. (Staten Island Advance/Virginia N. Sherry)

   
Russell M. Branch
Dec. 21, 1925 to Dec. 27, 2014

Russell M. Branch, 89, went to be reunited with his wife in Heaven on Saturday, December 27, 2014. Born in Burke County, NC on December 21, 1925, he was the son of the late Russell McKinley Branch and Dora Mable Lefever Branch. Russell was a member of Glen Alpine First Baptist Church. Mr. Branch was a U.S. Navy veteran of WWII, having served aboard the USS Chilton, stationed in the Pacific. He was one of the first employees of Western Carolina Center and worked there for over 30 years. Russell was a member of the Junior Order of the United American Mechanics and the Veterans Chat Group.

Russell is survived by his children, Beverly Branch Hyatt and her husband, Jack, and Steve M. Branch and his wife, Barbara, all of Morganton; grandchildren, Stacy Costner and her husband, Billy, Tonia Laws and her husband, Jonathan, Caroline Nelson and her husband, Jimmy, Jackie Hyatt, and Josh Branch and his wife, Jessica; and great-grandchildren, Josie, J.W., Daisy, T.J., Anna, Savannah, Scarlett, and Sophie.

In addition to his parents, Russell was preceded in death by his wife of 66 years, Joyce Ann Propst Branch; and a brother, Charles L. Branch.

From John Bottone:

Russell was a seaman in the Hydro-graphic section of The Beach Party attached to the USS Chilton in WW-II as I also was. He was aboard 1944 to 1946. I was one of his best friends over the years. We where together for nine months of tough Beach Party training and where on two APA ships together also got discharged from the Navy together. 

I had close to a two hour phone call with him on his 89th Birthday on Dec. 21th. He seemed fine and his memory was as sharp as a tack as the saying goes. I am very saddened by him getting his transfer to his new duty station and I sure will miss him.

John Bottone 

 

Chilton Contacts:

George Palisin at 440-234-2853 E-mail artist0043@wowway.com 
John Bottone at 718-447-2455 E-mail bottjohnjack@aol.com 
Bill Shields at 215-330-1802 E-mail jdubois42@msn.com 

Image below is the USS Chilton in Panama in 1957 sent by Dave Cupples   MM/2   USS Norris  DD-850

I received a E-mail from Jill Satterley Daughter of James Munson RM3/c 1944 ~ 1946. Jill informed me that her Dad and USS Chilton Shipmate received his Transfer Papers on Nov. 1, 2009. Jim turned 85 on Sept 6th of this year. The past 17 months of bad health with heart problems and Dialysis 3 times a week had been rough on Jim and it was the cause of his Transfer Papers coming down. The VFW honored him with  a full Military Service .

Jim just found out about the USS Chilton Association in 2007 and I had a chat with him about the old war years and our mutual buddies. I referred him to Bill Shields and he signed up for the Orlando Reunion. His daughter went to the Reunion with him and she informed me that they really enjoyed themselves and he was looking forward to the next Reunion.

I am sure James Munson will enjoy his Transfer to his new duty station as I have heard that they have a great Captain in charge of it up there.  John Bottone
Daughter Jill Satterley E-mail jillsatterley@yahoo.com

============================

On Oct. 1, 2009 the Transfer Papers came down for former Shipmate George McCormick, RM2/c, Beach Party, 44~46. George was 89 years of age. He had a coronary violation that prompted his transfer.  I am told that his transfer was peaceful and he was surrounded by many of his friends. Mack as we called him lived in Manhattan Beach, California.

 He attended Chilton reunions in the past until his illness prevented him from traveling. Mac was a likable guy as the people that met him will attest to.

 I am sure Mac will be happy with his transfer to his new duty station------

John Bottone, MoMM1/c, Beach Party, 44~46