Person:Hal McKay (1)

WWII Veteran SKV2 US NAVY

McKAY, HAL FLOYD, on Tues., July 31, 2001; beloved husband of Sadie McKay (nee Miller); loving father of Karen Maupin (Rich) and Marlene Buren; dear brother of Norman McKay (Ginny) and Jerry McKay; dear grandfather of Jay Draper, Barbara Buren and Dianna Walker; great-grandfather of 4; our dear uncle, cousin and friend. Mr. McKay was a U.S. Navy veteran of WWII; a retired police officer of the City of St. Louis. Funeral service at HOFF-MEISTER BROADWAY FITZGERALD Chapel, 7814 S. Broadway, Fri.

During WWII, Hal served on the USS Chester (CA-27), a Northampton class Heavy cruiser.

One of the most notable events involving the USS Chester includes her being hit by a torpedo on 20 Oct, 1942 by the Japanese submarine I-176 some 120 nautical miles southeast of San Cristobal, Solomons Island.

The USS Chester was hit on the starboard side in her No. 1 engine room, killing 11 and wounding 12. She went dead in the water but after two hours was able to slowly steam toward Espirtu Santo where she arrived on 23 October for emergency repairs.

Before the torpedo hit, Hal was working in the engine room and got a metal shard caught in his eye. The torpedo hit while Hal was top side to see the medic about his eye!

Officer Hal McKay

Hal did enjoy fishing but, the newspaper clipping is an obvious prank for anyone familiar with the River Des Peres.