Former student traces roots to father who died heroically at sea
by Maria Ragle, reporter

    Most Americans do not realize what the cost of freedom or the ultimate sacrifice truly means.

   One local man believes these words deserve a very special tribute.

   For that reason, Richard Don Simms has donated copies of a book detailing the U.S.S. Franklin and its role in World War II to the TCC libraries.

   Simms was only 7 years old when he lost his father in one of this country’s most memorable, but often forgotten, pieces of history.

   Memories of receiving the telegram, the delivery of the box containing personal effects and events too painful for his mother to discuss even years later left Simms with questions about his father.

   “I knew my dad was special to me; I did not know how special he was to so many others,” he said.

   After his mother came to him with a box of his father’s things in the early ’80s, Simms began actively searching for people who knew his father.

   He sought out and attended reunions for Veterans.

   After meeting several shipmates of his father’s, he began to discover the real story of what happened on that historic day.

   Omer D. Simms was a Seaman First Class aboard the U.S. Navy carrier the U.S.S. Franklin (CV13) on March 19, 1945.

   The Franklin was leading the largest armada ever assembled, spanning over 50 nautical miles.

   Their mission was to attack the Japanese mainland and destroy airfields and grounded aircraft in Kyushu, Shikoku and western Honshu, Simms said.

   On this date, in the Sea of Japan, 55 miles east-southeast of Shikoku, the Franklin was struck by two 500-pound bombs from a Japanese dive-bomber.

   When the bombs hit, Omer Simms, a cook, was peeling potatoes.

   The explosion of the bombs detonated the Franklin’s fully stocked munitions and fuel tanks turning the flight deck into a raging inferno.

   In the enlisted men’s mess hall, 300 were trapped.

   Survivors credit Omer Simms for saving their lives after being trapped under-hatch for more than 45 minutes.

   Simms apparently died from asphyxiation and was buried at sea with full honors. Later, he received the Asiatic/Pacific Medal and Purple Heart for his heroic and life-saving acts.

   Frank Turner started a reunion for the shipmates of the Franklin, and in 1980 Don Simms attended.

   On August 7, 1982, Simms became an honorary crew member of the U.S.S. Franklin, the same ship, now decommissioned, that his father had served on in World War II.

   “Last year I had the pleasure of meeting George Fain Black. When he said ‘your father saved my life,’ I truly began to realize the effect of my father’s actions on others,” Simms said.

   Fain had been one of those to jump from the deck of the burning ship after being rescued from the trapped hatch opened by Omer Simms.

   “I kind of stumbled onto the book, Saving Big Ben, written by Dr. Peter Prato, in a conversation with Ray Bailey, a man I met at one of the reunions,” Simms said.

   “After contacting Dr. Prato by phone, he graciously sent me an autographed soft cover copy of the book, in memory of my dad,” he said.

   Since that time, Simms has been able to help distribute numerous copies of Saving Big Ben to others interested in the history of the U.S.S. Franklin and WW II.

   “Being able to distribute Dr. Prato’s book to such prestigious people has been more than I could ever ask for, and the fact that my father played a part in the story makes me feel very proud,” he said.

   “Dr. Prato is a very generous man to donate such that he has,” he said.

   Simms has delivered copies of Saving Big Ben to U.S. Rep. Kay Granger, U.S. Rep. Joe Barton and Sam Johnson, a decorated 29-year veteran of the U.S. Air Force.

   The younger Simms also has delivered copies to the libraries of Bedford, University of Texas at Arlington, University of North Texas, Texas Christian University and the Southwest Theological Seminary.

   Simms and Prato have also donated copies to each of the libraries on the campuses of the Tarrant County College District through connections with Dr. Steven Hagstrom, NE Campus director of library services.

   “Something came open, and the interest in the book was there,” Simms said.

   “I am glad that I have been able to have a hand in helping to get Dr. Prato’s book out,” he said.