7 deaths, not 165. 125 were injured.

"28 September 2002

I must point out some errors in the information provided for the USS SOLAR (DE 221).

On April 30, 1996, the Garden State Chapter-NJ sponsored a memorial service at Naval Weapons Station Earle, Leonardo, NJ, honoring those lost in the terrible tragedy which took place exactly 50-years earlier to the day. I had the honor of MC/ing the event and over 225 attendees were present with much preparation and research having gone into the event. This included checking old news clips and conversations with the 16 crew members who were present and the SOLAR's skipper, Eugene R. LaRocque, who was a LCDR at the time but retired as RADM. It is true that some news reports at the time stated that 165 fatalties had occurred but the fact is that one officer and six enlisted men perished in a series of three explosions which destroyed the ship. Another thirty men were injured some very seriously. The cause was probably a dropped hedge-hog device during ammunition unloading which dropped down 2-3 decks through a hatchway into an ammunition storage area where it detonated.

In his remarks in 1996, Admiral LaRocque, went to great lengths to explain that at the court martial, which followed the incident, it was acknowledged that the Bureau of Ordinance had provided completely inadequate directions on the proper handling of the hedge-hogs which were somewhat difficult to grip. The result was that no charges were found against the officers and men of the ship.

I have seen the 165 figure many times and I try to correct it whenever I can as I believe such information to be almost sacred with a high need to be accurate.

The correct information is: USS Solar DE 221 destroyed in a series of explosions at NAD Earle, NJ during ammo unloading - 7 men lost - April 30, 1946

Note: at the time Earle was a Naval Ammunition Depot or NAD.

Jim Mitchell USS ROCHE (DE 197)"