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Page 1 MEMORIES OF WAR

Jack Harman, 87, with his medals in his home in the Thornridge section of Levittown in Falls. “There are some things that stay with you. I can’t forget them, even after all this time,” he said.

“Almost 70, almost. For me, these memories are triggered, but I’m just never sure by what,” Harman said, sitting at the kitchen table of his home in the Thornridge section of Levittown.

He is 87 (“Soon to be 88,” he told me), and is a retired Bris- tol Township police officer. In front of him are medals from the campaigns he was in as a member of the U.S. Navy in World War II.

He’s one of 10 children who grew up in Bristol, the son of a railroad engineer. When his younger brother, Edward, enlisted in 1945, it was front page news in the Bristol Cou- rier. That’s because Edward was the sixth of the Harman children, including two sisters, to enlist in wartime service.

Jack Harman enlisted in the Navy in 1943, two months be- fore he turned 18. Enlisting gave him the option to choose Jack Harman and memories of war his service. “Growing up in Bristol, I had been around water all my life; I liked boats, so I picked the Navy,” he said.

Even after all these years, Jack Harman cannot ditch the war “I was assigned to an outfit called the Armed Guard. It’s memories. Convoy burning at sea. The frightened eyes of really an unknown branch of the Navy,” he said. “Two thou- a soldier headed to raging battle without a rifle. A childhood sand men were killed in this outfit in the war, and about 360 friend from Garden Street, gone now, what is it, 70 years? ships were sunk. We were the gunners on merchant ships A merchant vessel identical to those on which Jack Harman served as a gunner during World Continued on page 21 War II. If struck by enemy fire, orders were that the gunners were not to leave their posts until the “decks are awash.” Even the captain could leave before the gunners.

Page 2 “Cover Photo Credit:“Cover © John Minchillo | AP / Layout and Design: Piland” Karmen Officers for 2013/2014 Charles A. Lloyd, Chairman & Sec.Treas. 1985-2013 115 Wall Creek Drive Rolesville, N.C. 27571 1-919-570-0909 • [email protected] Ron Carlson 616 Putnam Place Alexander, VA 22302-4018 Board of Directors C.A. Lloyd...... NC CA’s LETTER TO CREW John Stokes...... CA Dear Y’all which includes the widows and orphans and other friends: 6/25/13 Don Gleason...... KS Clarence Korker...... FL Joe Colgan...... MD I will start this “Letter to the crew” to let you know we are still around. If you care Gerald Greaves...... RI to, you can turn now to page 34 and read a precious letter from Arnie Latare and the Al Sniff...... FL Ia/Wi Ag/MM crew. I know it came from the hearts of each of them and I really Kenneth Sneed...... IN Ralph McNally...... OK do appreciate what he had to say. I will take it into consideration and try to fade out Ernest Stoukas...... NJ sometimes after the Christmas Holidays or sometimes in 2014 IF DONATIONS Richard Hudnall...... AZ CONTINUE. I just went through a six day postal delivery recently and I thought, Zed Merrill...... OR “IS THIS ALL” and then more came in. I hope I can give a (2) “two” year window . Joe Esposito...... IL None of us are getting younger but it’s great for us survivors like you and I. Latare Bernard Stansbury...... VA Forrest Flanagan...... WV sent me his 65 page service time and I hope to put into a booklet and maybe a CD. D. Wayne Sherman...... MO If you care for a copy, let me know so I will know about how many to print.. Arnold Latare...... IA Bob Ober...... OH I had put off the S.S. JOHN W. BROWN Museum crew over a year, and 2 docents, J.F. Carter...... LA Howard Long...... SC Norman Feil and Bob Jackson from Pa. who are on the staff came down and took a James Duncan...... GA lot of material back to the from one room. Now, I have to clean up my computer Tom Dufrense...... MA room and I sort out more material, I hope they can return, or; I can get someone going John Haynes...... IN to to take it. Norm E-Mailed me to say they had sorted things out and had on the BROWN to be looked over and placed for others in charge to look over and Trustees placed where needed. My navy knife is already on display. Some things of MM nature C.A. Lloyd...... NC Theo Schorr...... PA was placed in the MM part of the Museum. MM get your things in also. Nathan Phillips...... TX Arthur Fazzone...... NY They left the letters from the crew that I had saved that they couldn’t use so I Louis Tew...... CT called the N.C. Military Archives in Raleigh and they said not to throw anything Jay Wildfong...... WI Henry Harrison...... WA away and to save the rest for them to look over. After I had sorted out all the po- Mervil Yarbrough...... NV litical letters and “Dirty Joke” letters, he took six boxes of material with him and Leo Feist...... WV I had 5 more ready to go now and they are there now. Now, I have one more room Chaplains to sort. Latare’s will be in the next boxes to go. Students will look at them in years Lyle Kell...... WA to come and get the feeling of where you went and what you did in WW II. Many Buck Donaldson...... TN photos went to the BROWN and a lot went to Raleigh so generations may read a letter to me from you, but there were so many, it is impossible to say whose went ATTENTION where. If you have any items or letters to your Mom and Dad, your girl friend (or You know where you are. some one else’s girlfriend) you would like to have in the Archives, send items to You know where we are. the ship, or; letters to me. Send them now. “Do Not” let them be trashed. We know where we are. But we don’t always know I have saved many photos I located that was taken in the past and sent to me and I where you are. have inserted into this POINTER if there is room. Many have already gone to be Please notify us when you move. with their Maker and ancestors. It was a hard decision to sort out individual ones Non-Profit Organization so I picked them at random and clarity and they all represent all of the crew. I hope Tax Exempt No. 74-2316668 you understand and remember the reunions where most were taken or the places in the WW II photos, if you were there. I hope to have more in POINTERS to come. Remember, I “STILL” can’t move as fast Had one is of the late George Carpenter who held the first meeting at Winchester, as I did when I was in my twenties! When Ky. who started it all but I misplaced it again.. I hope he has followed us all the way. you call, let the phone ring so I can get to it! -CAL Officers - Gunners - Signalmen - Radiomen - Corpsmen - Waves - Boatswains - Coxswains - Ship’s Company - Radarmen Page 3 CA’s LETTER TO CREW

Fred Mullinax of the Ozark College student tour group kept me informed daily by E-Mail on tour. It was like being there and having a front row seat. I forwarded it out to many of you. I saved it so if you want it, E-Mail me your request. Hope- fully, they will make a CD of the sites visited. Fred asked me to go and 3 more AG. I couldn’t go and I suggested he make it 2 AG and 2 MM as we were on the same ships delivering the men and goods and he agreed. Thanks Fred for giving both crews the honor to be represented along with your 4 Air Corps men.

Hope to get another POINTER out for the fall so have a great summer. Remember, if I haven’t heard from you st since 2010, I will have to put you on until I do. Take care-YOU HEAH! (calloyd)

LETTERS FROM THE CREW H H H H H H H H H O O O

Hi, Lloyd, I am the guy who wrote a vet- Saw your E-Mail in the Susquehanna eran profile of Gene Alexander in the No- Valley Mariners Chapter and thought you vember and December 2012 issues of the would like to see this. If it goes through, I can 50-Plus Senior News, a free monthly news- send you the one before this one. Have a great paper circulated in six south-central Penn- WEEKEND--LUCKY. Lucky you didn’t sylvania counties. Through Gene, I met go to MURMANSK!! SEE page 39. another Navy/Armed Guard veteran, Al- Enjoy. Advise if received. calloyd vin T. Kemble Jr., who survived 34 days in H H H H H H H H H a lifeboat with 18 others, whose merchant ship was sunk in the North Atlantic by a German sub in 1943. It was so interesting, NEW BOOK BY ARTHUR WEB- I divided it into four parts since I couldn’t STER “DOWN TO THE SEA” The book get it all into one edition. The first part was covers the period from 1944 thru 1956 in the February issue and Part 2 is in the March issue. You should be able to access Webster joined the Merchant Marine at these through the internet. The website is the age of 16 and sailed for 11 years. This 50PlusSeniorNewsPA.com. Click on the book is a factual biography of his experi- Local/veterans tab at the top left. Be sure ences while at sea and ashore around the to click Read More at the end of the ar- world. The book is divided into 12 sepa- ticle to get it all. Should you have difficulty rate stories and is a good read for anyone accessing it, please let me know and I will who had been there and loves the sea. send you newspaper copies. I was going to Webster relates the exploits of the Navy notify you after all four parts had been pub- Armed Guard while on the tanker S.S. lished. Many thanks for your service. FYI, SMOKEY HILLS and how one young I AM NOT A VETERAN BUT AM gunnery officer put his own life in danger A STRONG SUPPORTER OF OUR to save the ship. The story telling of the TROOPS, PAST AND PRESENT, mutiny during the Korean War shows AND HAVE ENJOYED WRITING that even the best intentions, are at times, veteran profiles as a volunteer freelance subject to dreadful consequences. The writer in my retirement. books are available by contacting Arthur Webster, 7032 Partridge Place, Carlsbad, H H H H H H H H H Alvin S. Goodman Ca. 92011 760-804-7365 toroweb@aol. 4127 Deerfield Drive com Book prices: Hard cover $ 27.25….. Harrisburg, PA. 1711202860 Paperback $$22.25 I hope I got these right.. email: [email protected] O O O be safe Jo Ann Bernstetter home phone 717-541-9889 This is a great Fictious book based on true H H H H H H H H H PS Thanks for the Pointer stories and highly recommended. calloyd Page 4 LETTERS FROM THE CREW

Hi again here is a photo of the USS SYLPH (PY-12) before WWII started, Ernie wasn’t aboard yet. He came aboard about a month after the WWII started, I am 2nd from end, left on bottom row. Elmer Rago

This is the USS SYLPH when she had her sails – Rago

Here is a photo when I was an instructor at the armed guard gunnery school at south ferry NY – Rago

Rago this is the one when I told you they wrote a book about me at the daytona speed- way (SEE PAGE ???) and I said we help out so many people I am so far behind I’m never going to die, she bust out laughing and she put it in the book. Are you getting tired of readind yet? Elmer Rago

H H H H H H H H H After Japan’s sneak attack on Pearl Har- off from much farther out in the Pacific bor, with the reeling and Ocean than they had counted on. They Everyone knows the story of the Doolit- wounded, something dramatic was need- were told that because of this they would tle Raid on Tokyo in April, 1942. Here is ed to turn the war effort around. Even not have enough fuel to make it to safety. a good story about the Doolittle Raiders. though there were no friendly airfields And those men went anyway. close enough to Japan for the United It’s the cup of brandy that no one wants States to launch a retaliation, a daring They bombed Tokyo, and then flew as far to drink. plan was devised. Sixteen B-25s were as they could. Four planes crash-landed, modified so that they could take off from 11 more crews bailed out, and three of On Tuesday, in Fort Walton Beach, the deck of an aircraft carrier. This had the Raiders died. Eight more were cap- , the surviving Doolittle Raiders never before been tried -- sending such tured. Three were executed. Another died gathered publicly for the last time. They big, heavy bombers from a carrier. of starvation in a Japanese prison camp. once were among the most universally The 16 five-man crews, under the com- One crew made it to Russia.The Doolit- admired and revered men in the United mand of Lt. Col. James Doolittle, who tle Raid sent a message from the United States. There were 80 of the Raiders in himself flew the lead plane off the USS States to its enemies, and to the rest of April 1942, when they carried out one of Hornet, knew that they would not be the world: We will fight. And, no mat- the most courageous and heart-stirring able to return to the carrier. They would ter what it takes, we will win. Of the 80 military operations in this nation’s his- have to hit Japan and then hope to make Raiders, 62 survived the war. They were tory. The mere mention of their unit’s it to China for a safe landing. But on celebrated as national heroes, models of name, in those years, would bring tears to the day of the raid, the Japanese military bravery. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer pro- the eyes of all of the grateful Americans. caught wind of the plan. The Raiders duced a motion picture based on the Now, only four survive. were told that they would have to take raid; “Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo,” star- Page 5 LETTERS FROM THE CREW ring Spencer Tracy and Van Johnson. It visited her every day. He walked from O O O was a patriotic and emotional box-office his house to the nursing home, fed his hit, and the phrase became part of the wife and at the end of the day brought To all the 80 of America’s greatest heroes, national lexicon. In the movie-theater home her clothes. At night, he washed you are remembered here in the USN previews for the film, MGM proclaimed and ironed her clothes. Then he walked Armed Guard WW II Veteran’s POINT- that it was presenting the story “with su- them up to her room the next morning. ER magazine in hopes someone who has preme pride.” He did that for three years until her never heard of the - death in 2005.” ERS, will read of their bravery that was Beginning in 1946, the surviving Raid- done to help save mankind from the try- ers have held a reunion each April, to So now, out of the original 80, only four anny of it’s era. commemorate the mission. The re- Raiders remain: Dick Cole (Doolittle’s (calloyd) union is in a different city each year. co-pilot on the Tokyo raid), Robert Hite, In 1959, the city of Tucson, Arizona, Edward Saylor and David Thatcher. All H H H H H H H H H as a gesture of respect and gratitude, are in their 90s. They have decided that presented the Doolittle Raiders with a there are too few of them for the pub- Dear Mr. Lloyd, set of 80 silver goblets. Each goblet was lic reunions to continue. The events in I recently wrote a column for my news- engraved with the name of a Raider. Fort Walton Beach this week will mark paper about Jack Harman, a World Every year, a wooden display case bear- the end. It has come full circle; Florida’s War II vet, who spent his service in the ing all 80 goblets is transported to the nearby Eglin Field was where the Raid- Armed Guard. His wife, Pat, asked me reunion city. Each time a Raider passes ers trained in secrecy for the Tokyo mis- to contact you about the article, since away, his goblet is turned upside down sion.The town is planning to do all it you wish to republish it in your news- in the case at the next reunion, as his can to honor the men: a six-day celebra- letter. You are welcome to publish the old friends bear solemn witness. Also tion of their valor, including luncheons, piece, as well at the photos that accom- in the wooden case is a bottle of “1896 a dinner and a parade. pany it. The link to the column is below. Hennessy Very Special Cognac”. The year is not happenstance: 1896 was Do the men ever wonder if those of us Best, when was born. for whom they helped save the coun- J.D. Mullane • Columnist try have tended to it in a way that is Bucks County Courier Times There has always been a plan: When worthy of their sacrifice? They don’t Newsroom 215.949.5745 there are only two surviving Raid- talk about that, at least not around Mobile 215.704.8116 ers, they would open the bottle, at last other people. But if you find yourself drink from it, and toast their comrades near Fort Walton Beach this week, O O O who preceded them in death. As 2013 and if you should encounter any of the began, there were five living Raiders. Raiders, you might want to offer them SEE page 2 and continued on page 21 Then, in February, Tom Griffin passed a word of thanks. I can tell you from away at age 96. What a man he was. firsthand observation that they appre- H H H H H H H H H After bailing out of his plane over a ciate hearing that they are remembered. mountainous Chinese forest after the The men have decided that after this fi- CONTACT: USS SLATER, Tokyo raid, he became ill with malaria, nal public reunion they will wait until a Rose Gipe, and almost died. When he recovered, later date -- some time this year -- to Marketing Coordinator, 518-431-1943 he was sent to Europe to fly more com- get together once more, informally and bat missions. He was shot down, cap- in absolute privacy. That is when they Naval Support Activity Saratoga Springs tured, and spent 22 months in a Ger- will open the bottle of brandy. The years will commemorate the Battle of Midway man prisoner of war camp. are flowing by too swiftly now; they are on Tuesday, June 4, 2013 at 9:00 a.m. not going to wait until there are only aboard USS SLATER in Albany. There The selflessness of these men, the sheer two of them. will be a brief ceremony and wreath lay- guts ... there was a passage in the Cin- ing. The public is invited to attend. cinnati Enquirer obituary for Mr. Grif- They will fill the four remaining up- fin that, on the surface, had nothing to turned goblets. This year will mark the 71st Anniversary do with the war, but that emblematizes of the United States’ most historically sig- the depth of his sense of duty and de- And raise them in a toast to those who nificant naval victory. The Battle of Mid- votion: When his wife became ill and are gone. way occurred on June 3-7, 1942, changing needed to go into a nursing home, he Sent in by: H.A. Glass-AG Wave the tide of the war in the Pacific. The U.S. Page 6 LETTERS FROM THE CREW

Fleet inflicted the first major defeat of the At 12:38 hours on November 20, 1942, I am grateful for each and every one of Imperial Japanese Navy in the waters off Anson number 3279, piloted by Lt Clegg you, for what you did during that war. a small Pacific Atoll. Their daring combi- with crewmen Lac Bryant, Lac Hether- Sincerely, nation of intelligence, tactics, courage, and ington and A/C Cowall spotted a lifeboat Diana Mann O O O sacrifice forever changed the course of the with seven occupants, red sails and four war and world history. oars drifting in the Indian Ocean at posi- tion 34° 08’ S 26° 17’ E (about 20km Diana, NSA Saratoga Springs’ primary mis- south of Bird Island). What city were you born in Russia? Near sion is to provide operational support to Murmansk? If you still have the story you NPTU Ballston Spa and to perform host They dropped rations, water and a mes- sent in the computer, could you resend? If command functions. Secondary missions sage reading: “Help is coming”. not, send what you remember of it. I did hear include providing services to all Depart- from you--just forgot!! AGING PROCESS! ment of Defense personnel in the New The Air Schools were part of the joint York state capital area, Massachusetts, and South African Air Force / Royal Air I am glad you enjoy America. I can’t believe Vermont. Force Joint Air Training Scheme during what those idiots did in . They are sick WW2. in the head. They should have run over the USS SLATER, a National Historic trailer he was hiding in like he did his brother Landmark, is the only restored World Posted by Ivor Markman on May 29, and it would have saved the tax payer bil- War II escort afloat in Amer- 2013, 8:20 am, in reply to “Re: Informa- lions of dollars. ica. The ship is open to the public tion needed about S.S. Excello” Wednesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to I do thank you for rearing your 3 boys the H H H H H H H H H 4 p.m. Admission is charged. For more American way and tell them all that was information please visit the website at passed down by your mother of what Amer- www.ussslater.org. Dear Mr. Lloyd, ica did for Russia and it’s people during Several years ago I sent you my grand- WW II. My brother, Whitson, was on the H H H H H H H H H mother’s story that tells about meeting S.S.EXPOSITOR with a load of Ammo MM young men in Archangelsk during and was sunk coming back and was lucky Information needed about S.S. Excello WWII when she was 15 years old, and they didn’t get hit going up like the LUCK- how they helped each other. ENBACH ship did. I see your message was posted four years ago so I hope you’re still searching for I have been receiving POINTERS since He was killed in the sinking of the S.S. news about the Excello. Hope this helps: then and really appreciate the living his- BLACK POINT, May 5, 1945. Sunday is The survivors of the Excello were located tory I discover through the articles. the 5th. calloyd by members of 44 Air School (Graham- O O O stown) and then again by members of 42 I am Russian. I lived in VA for the last 13 Air School () who diverted years. I am married and am raising 3 won- the hospital ship “Atlantis” to go to their derful young men. My older son, Daniel is Thank you, Mr.Lloyd, assistance. a 2nd class Boy Scout. Just finished reading your next e-mail. It

Special to the crew Many of you have asked to put your loved ones Obituary and picture in the POINTER. It is with regret that I have to tell you that I have to draw the line on EVERYONE. If I did it for one, I would have to do it for all and I wouldn’t have room for a POINTER. I did it on the late Tom Bowerman who put the AG Web Site together and I thought he was deserving and the World should know. Many more were deserving like Ernie Cochran, Alex Lombardi, Neal Vermillion, Carl Winder, Rudy Kozak, My Brother L.D., and many more. I was about to leave out Mike Molinari who made the Murmansk Run and had severe frostbite on the feet. Mike came aboard way back and immediately started the Brooklyn Chapter and helped get a plaque at the old Brooklyn AGC and got the old Flag Pole restored there and flowers placed at the Battery Park Park Memorial to honor those KIAs in the Eastern Atlantic, half way across the Atlantic. Cambridge, England got the honors for those killed from there all the way to Russia. I do hope you understand my position. calloyd

Page 7 LETTERS FROM THE CREW is good to know that the heroes are rec- Mr. Lloyd: ticle on the AG written, and hopefully ognized even if so many years later. On Thank you for sending the “JANUARY- it will be appearing in World War II the monument to the unknown soldier in MARCH edition of the “ POINTER” magazine. Now that it is done, I want to Russia it is written “No one is forgotten, which arrived yesterday. It was nice of get started writing a book about the AG. nothing is forgotten.” We will remember you to keep me on the mailing list for Could you include this request for infor- your brother, Whitson. the POINTER magazine. My son en- mation in the next Pointer? Feel free to joys reading them also. I will be sending modify it however you want. I was born in Moscow. My grandmother a donation to you for the Naval Armed is from Ukraine. She was in Archangelsk Guard and would appreciate notifica- Gentlemen of the Armed Guard: My because of her dad being in the military. I tion of receipt when it reaches you. Last name is Rusty Corder, I am the Direc- grew up living in Latvia, and visiting my couple of weeks been receiving requests tor of the Mine Creek Battlefield, Kan- dad’s family in Moscow and my mom’s for many donations. I am happy to sas State Historic Site. family in Moldova. send donation to your group The NA- VAL ARMED GUARD. I have also Currently I am doing research for a I will need some time to find the paper responded to U.S. Navy Memorial and book I am writing on the Armed Guard, copy of the story. My previous PC stopped Disabled American Veterans requests and I need your help in completing this working and the story was on its hard drive. for donations. Now have request from task. I need stories about your experi- I will e-mail it to you as soon as I find it. U.S. Naval Institute! Haven’t decided ences in the Armed Guard, from train- on that one. Can’t join all of them! ing, to the ships you served on, combat, The response to the tragedy in Boston and the places you saw. Although there and support from so many people really Hope you are and your wife and fam- are many good books on the AG, I want shows the character of our nation. ily doing well. You’ve done very well this one to be told from your perspective. representing the Naval Armed Guard My interest in this is very personal, since Thank you for staying in touch and shar- and hope you can continue a while both my grandfathers served in the AG. ing your thoughts. longer. Dean was always very proud Please let me know if you would be will- Sincerely, of having served in the Naval Armed ing to help in this project. Diana Mann Guard. Haven’t had chance to read my O O O POINTER magazine yet but I finally My phone number is 913-352-8890 (w) got my income tax done so hopefully I or 913-352-8275 (h). Email is drover@ To save me time in search, : Did you ever send will read it soon. We have lots of snow ckt.net or you can send via regular mail story? I have had computer problems, too. calloyd in our yard. Looking forward to warmer to me at 20712 E. 750 Ln., Pleasanton, weather too! Had to have the drive way KS 66075 Thank You, Rusty Corder O O O plowed again today. Best wishes to you H H H H H H H H H and your family. Dear Mr.Lloyd, I had sent the story “Friends and Time” MRS. DEAN (HELEN) LEICH Dear Mr. Lloyd – back in .... I think 2007. Not 100% sure, 29396 M-62 West, DOWAGIAC, MI Below and attached is a list of possible though about the year. I have a hard copy 49047 [email protected] members of the 16-man Naval Armed somewhere. I will look for it next week Guard on SS POTLATCH, US flag, H H H H H H H H H and resend it to you. sunk by U-153/Reichmann east of An- tigua 27 June 1942. 47 survivors made I am homeschooling my boys. The school Veterans History Project it to the Bahamas after 27 or more days year is almost over. I will have more time Att: Bob Patrick in an open lifeboat and rafts: after this Thursday. 101 Independence Ave. SE (L.O.C.) Goodman, Solomon (Sol) Sincerely, , D.C. 20540-4615 Jatho, Jake Luther Diana Mann 202-707-5000 King, Thomas Marion Contact them and tell them your service Lovins, Loui Howard O O O time for history. I am in already. calloyd Lybrand, Dorsey Mack Micriel, J. H H H H H H H H H Thanks. Hope your boys make 100 on all ex- Perriman (Perlman?), Ted ams!! Have a great day. calloyd Rissan, V. R. Mr. Lloyd, I am back pestering you one Rivera, V. R. H H H H H H H H H more time. I have finally gotten my ar- Ruggles, Estil Dempsey

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Smith, Joe “Smitty” Thanks CA Please let me know develop- Taipcet, Curtis (sp?) ments if any Also you should find a few Tex (nickname only) dozen Navy Gunners in my list of 4,400 Vanick, William (Vanuk?) sailors attacked by U-boats – German Vasquez, Ralph and Italian – off Bahamas 1942 – 44…. Hope you feel better This list, believe it or not, is from a list Best, Eric of a Red Cross commandant in Nassau O O O Bahamas and was “lost” between 1968 and 2012, only found last week behind I thought I would update you and share the bureau of the wife of one of the Mer- Eric, Can you re-send the article on S.S. these photos. Since it is the first email I’ve chant Marine Cadets who survived the POTLATCH . Can’t find it. cal received from the JATHO family (pro- POTLATCH sinking. By a series of O O O nounced Jado) I don’t want to inundate small miracles I was able to obtain it… them w/ queries. I interviewed Mr. Jatho and didn’t get the names of any other I am in touch with Ruggles and Jatho Hi CAL NAG or crew from him... who are alive and have details on King, Here is a “long” version - the Jan 2013 Goodman, and Lybrand. Lovins and Script and a “short” or 20-or-so-pages PS a journalist named Maureen Hous- “Tex” are doubtful. Some of these man version of the POTLATCH incident. ton from the Belleville Globe Democrat, may have been merchant marine sailors a local paper, brought a film crew to the on the POTLATCH. For an even shorter version see www. reunion and is planning an article about uboatsbahamas.com, then go to “Attack it / them. Can anyone provide an accurate list of Narratives” tab and use the drop-down. survivors of the POTLATCH, including All my best the names of her Naval Armed Guard? Please note that all of these are “ROUGH Eric Provide advice on where I might look? DRAFTS ONLY” and should not be NARA and the Weyerhaeuser Steamship published verbatim, but edited, shortend, H H H H H H H H H Co. archives have been referenced already. summarized...I will send some contem- porary accounts next. Cal; Thanks much for posting the article Thanks/best about the CD’s for sale in the Pointer. I Eric T Wiberg Norwalk CT USA Best regards and thanks for your interest ordered 3 and got one free. Watching the www.uboatsbahamas.com Eric CD’s, Convoys to Russia it was reported Cell 1 (203) 856 9677 O O O the separation of time between convoys Email: [email protected] PQ17 and PQ 18 was six months that is www.linkedin.com/in/ericwiberg Dear CA - an error, it was six weeks. PQ 17 was July Good news! NAG vets from POT- O O O 1942 and PQ 18 was September 1942. LATCH Jake JATHO and Estil This I know because I was on the S S Dempsey RUGGLES arranged their White Clover and we were in Scotland Eric, IF FINDING 3 NEW OLD SALTS own reunion outside St Louis MO this waiting that six week for the decision to IN ONE DAY DON’T MAKE YOU winter. Attached are photos. be made if convoy PQ 18 was going to go FEEL BETTER, NOTHING WILL. to Russia. Information from the comput- #22762 I HAVE LOCATED OUT OF On top of that, I am hoping to visit Jatho er to follow as more proof. Yes your pic- 144,970 LESS ABOUT 400 MM AND in St. Louis as soon as 20 April, though it ture is on those CD’s. Thanks for putting INTERESTED PEOPLE. 1810 KIAs is not confirmed. history on record for the young people to Ruggles was asleep at 7:30 pm. Jake Jatko see. You are doing a terrific job. Look to was wide awake and was glad I call. I will the East. Fraternally, Ken Wright. contact Estilo tomorrow if I have time. Sending both about 1 POINTERS and an Order of battle for Convoy PQ 18 From Armed Guard cap. It’s expensive but many Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump donate enough to take care of the other. to: navigation, search Convoy PQ 18 was This made my day complete. calloyd the last of the PQ/QP series of arctic con- O O O voys during World War II, bound from US and British ports via Reykjavík to the Page 9 LETTERS FROM THE CREW

White Sea ports of the Soviet Union, My question, do you have any details Dad’s story, which appeared in our news- particularly Murmansk and Archan- about this situation or can you point me letter in 1999, is attached in MS Word. gel. The convoy sailed on 2 September in a good direction? Please let me know if it will not open. 1942 and arrived three weeks later on Best regards, 21 September 1942. It was opposed by Thanks for your help. Joan Burke O O O German sea and air forces based in oc- Pat Mason O O O cupied Norway. Joan, Do you have anything you may be able SEE page 33-34 The convoy comprised 40 merchant ships to help out Pat Mason in the S.S. LEOP- H H H H H H H H H and 4 naval auxiliaries, plus contingents OLDVILLE sinking? calloyd to and from Iceland (48 in all) and was O O O defended by a close escort and a “Fight- Dear Mr. Lloyd, ing Destroyer Escort”, as well as local es- Thank You for your kindness - the Point- cort forces, and two distant escort forces Dear Pat Mason, er magazine from Feb 14-2013 which I (74 warships in total). These were sup- Mr. Charles Lloyd forwarded your re- have received 2 days ago. I have read it ported by aircraft of the RAF based in quest to me. I edit the newsletter for with great interest. I am very pleased to the Soviet Union. Project , in Baltimore. have the good and systematic contacts with my war friends. The German forces comprised a U-boat After being out of print for some years, group, code-named “Ice Palace”, of 12 “Leopoldville: A Tragedy Too Long Sincerely yours, U-Boats, and a surface attack force of 8 Secret” by Allan Andrade has been up- Prof. Anatoly Lifshits warships, though in the event these were dated and reissued. It’s former title was Tel./Fax: +7 812 234 5633 Mobile: +7 not engaged. These were assisted by the “S.S. Leopoldville Disaster: December 911 905 0345 E-mail: Anat.Lifs@gmail. aircraft of Luftflotte 5. 24, 1944”. There is also “ A Night Before com 55 Kamennoostrovsky Prospekt Christmas” by Jacquin Sanders. Both are Apt69, St Petersburg, 197022, Russia H H H H H H H H H available from Amazon. H H H H H H H H H The SS Leopoldville sinking on Decem- Unlike other WW II events, there are ber 24, 1944 in the English Channel few books on this subject, probably ow- Hello,dear Charles April! Now I know ing to the enforced secrecy surrounding what your full name is. Thank you so Mr. Lloyd, the sinking. Forced secrets like this have much for the letter.Yes I opened it.It Thank you so much for sending me the a way of festering in the soul, and I can’t was interesting to read. I see you are so Pointer with our article written in it and imagine having been part of this horren- blessed person. I am lucky I know you. the back issues also. (As a reminder to dous experience and then being warned Ill be looking for the stories to write to you, the article you helped me with ear- (threatened?) not to talk about it to any- you. We still have snow here in my town. lier was about Henry Thurman Phipps.) one. Many survivors never spoke about It was little raining today. I stayed home I have read several articles out of the their ordeal due to this order and car- watching TV all the day. I have so good books. They are all interesting. You sure ried the secret knowledge to their graves. memories about my friendship with the do a wonderful job coordinating all those From the accounts I have read, it was a Americans. I was lucky to see your coun- communications for the soldiers. burden that did a lot of damage to many try and to meet nice people.I have been of them. in Washington, D.C. this winter. I was I am working on another family mem- walking for hours at Washington and ber’s history. He was in World War II My Dad, who died in 2009, was on the watching the beauty and the mighty of and was being transported on the SS Leopoldville almost three months to the the buildings. I made wonderful pictures. Leopoldville along with hundreds of day before she was torpedoed. He told I will send you later some of them. It is so other troops from France to England via me he didn’t remember ever having a life- good I know English and we can com- the English Channel. The ship was hit boat drill and they waited for some hours municate. I am also interested in history with a from a German U-boat after boarding for the rest of the cross- of WW II. You know why? --I was raised number U-486. The ship sank, the Bel- channel convoy to form before leaving with my grand dad who told me a lot gium crew got into lifeboats and left the for , so there would have been about the war. My father used to be an ship and hundreds of American soldiers enough time to conduct such a drill. I Army doctor and my husband used to be died. The details of the sinking was not can only surmise they were overconfident a navy captain. So, I am a child and a wife publicized until after 50 years. about the safety of the English Channel. of a military family. Page 10 LETTERS FROM THE CREW

I have read about PQ-17. It was of times were close and “God’s will be remained under the British flag until named”Not Successful”. So many people done,” or did they just pray we’d be vic- 1967 when they went for scrap in the Far were killed and most of the cargo was torious? You were there...are you able to East - one to China the other to Taiwan.I not delivered but, anyway, I have heard answer me that question? did sail in an ex-American from the people that it helped them sur- making two trips on her as Radio Offi- vive from starving because ships brought Thank YOU for your service, dear Cal!!!!!!! cer in the well known Blue Funnel Line food. People were staving a lot during the And thank you for The Pointer (not just of who named all their ships war in Arkangelsk. I will get you some the copies you’ve sent me so generously with Greek Mythology names; this one survivor’s stories. With best regards. Lilly but for providing it for all who care!!!!!!) being the MYRMIDON, sailing from Zankova--Russia. WELL DONE!!!!! God bless you and Birkenhead (opposite side of the Mersey) [email protected] THANK YOU! to Liverpool, to the Far East and back to Liverpool. I have also sailed in Glen H H H H H H H H H Dianne and Frank DiCicco 17 Keenan Line ship 3 times to China during the St., Glen Falls, NY 12801 ladee147@ho- Cultural Revolution in 1969 which was VHS and DVD named “GRAVEYARD tmail.com in full swing, amazing huge demonstra- O O O of the ATLANTIC” by Kevin Duffus. tions in the streets and on large, old multi He had sent me this some years ago and deck river boats all covered in slogans and I misplaced it and it is great. They can Dianne and Frank, It would be interest- pictures of Mao and bands playing at full be orders by phone: 1-800-647-3536 ing how the World will turn out in the next blast. As they past foreign ships like us, all P.O. Box 98985, Raleigh, N.C. 28624- generations after we are gone. Maybe those on board the river boat piled over to one 8985 www.lookingglassproductions.org reading a POINTER 50 years from now side to get a better look at us resulting in $19.95. He has several more ones on of will judge whether you were right or wrong. a huge list !! It was amazing it did go over Cape Hatteras, etc. Contact him now! (cal) on her ends !! We had loudspeakers You’ll be glad you did. calloyd 6/12/13 on the quayside blaring out all day long H H H H H H H H H from 0600 to midnight? Neon signs were H H H H H H H H H very few and had only one color--- guess Hi Cal, what Red. Hi Cal--yes, I received The Pointer at- Thank you so much for sending the most tachment you sent and it was awesome, interesting Pointer Jan/Mar 2013 I shall There was only two places we could go as always!!!! You have provided such an read it cover to cover, although I have al- in Shanghai; the Friendship store, or; the invaluable service not only to the AG ready read which you were kind enough Seaman’s Mission. The former was a bit but the MM as well. If you hadn’t done to send by email. I see there is a great of a misnomer as there was huge wide it, who would have? I fear the answer is following for the Liberty Ship JOHN staircase. The next floor up was supported NO ONE. THANK YOU on behalf of W. BROWN doing trips around Chesa- by huge square pillars on which there was my late father, Harold K. Brown, and all peake Bay this summer. I saw dozens and anti-Russian posters. One side of the pil- those AG and MM’s of WWII! It is a dozens of Liberty’s in the ‘50s. There were lar had “Kick Brezhnev Head In”. On crime that our liberal schools, under the a lot bought by British ship-owners to re- the opposite face of the pillar “Kick Kosy- influence of the devil himself it seems, are place war losses, as well as others such as gin’s Head In”. The classic piece of hatred determined to wipe out the history of this the Dutch and Greeks. I remember see- was an effigy of Kosygin strung up by the country. Sure sounds familiar, doesn’t it?! ing a Russian Liberty towing two gun neck over the stair case, and imitation boats across the Bay of Biscoe around the blood dripping down his body from a Soon the Baby Boomers will be gone also time of 1963, and wondered where it was knife. It was at the time when there were and then who will tell the stories at all?!! bound, possibly Cuba ? A local tramp big clashes with the Russians across the I never thought I’d ever see this country ship owner 20 miles from here at Whitby Usuri River separating the two countries. follow in the footsteps of the tyrrants The had, I believe, the two last remaining un- Outside the Seaman’s Mission, in what Greatest Generation gave their lives to der the British flag and named them after was once a colonial building on the fa- destroy it! But here we all are. When I small villages around Whitby, these two mous Bund, were hundreds and hun- pray, I ask God’s protection for this coun- were named SANDSEND and SNEA- dreds of Chinese who, as we went in the try but I also add “Your’s will be done” TON, I know them well. Captain Cook crowds, made it open up to let us pass because the Bible has predicted what the who became the famous British naviga- through, and when we did so, they closed end times will be like. I often wonder if tor grew up in Whitby and sailed in ships in behind us. But we were never harmed. people back in the 40’s prayed that way to carry coal from the North East Coast Every street had loudspeakers blaring the for this country, wondering if the end down to London. The two above ships tirades wild with emotion. At the mission Page 11 LETTERS FROM THE CREW we could get decent meals and Tsingtao and all your wartime buddies, long may the night.” From where it came from or Beer. Here was the famous little Red you all live on. who authorized it was never revealed. Book in about 40 different languages Naturally, we stared at each other and and propaganda magazines, also in many David Sibley-Historian Moorcroft,Castel the playing of the cards stopped. True languages. No photography of any kind Ln E,. Ayton, Scarbough-UK david@ enough, the next day, we were headed was permitted and radio’s on board had sibley.myzen.co.uk for Normandy, arriving off to be locked up in the bond. On arrival in on the P.M. of June 7, 1944, where we H H H H H H H H H the Yangtze River, we had to drop anchor were anchored about one mile off shore and wait for officials and guards to come until November 3, 1944. on board. The Officers and Captain, hav- Dear Lloyd, Jan. 13, 2013 ing to assemble in the lounge, while the The writing appearing in the POINT- Why we were there so long? Well, be- Chinese crew; some from China, others ER for Aug/Dec. prompted me to write cause of our Multi-Purpose duties, in- from Hong Kong had to assemble in about the S.S. THOMAS B. ROBERT- cluding: supplying supplies, line, tools, their messroom whilst the Chief Mate SON, which was different from the vast emergency medical aid, etc. to small had to take the guards around the ship majority of the Liberty Ships in as much craft, including two boats skippered looking into cabins and other places. as larger amount of armament and Naval by two college classmates; Harris and Meanwhile in the lounge, the Red book personnel when she left the New York Tucker, directing incoming ships to un- was handed out to everyone, and an Of- harbor in late winter of 1943. She had loading spots and anchorages; and treat- ficial would ask the Captain who had to a crew of 30 plus in the Armed Guard ing enemy soldiers who were brought read a quotation of Chairman Mao, I still Crew under the command of Lt. Sauer, aboard for medical aid under the care can remember a couple of these quota- Senior Gunnery officer; Lt. Widermann, of Captain Richards and his men be- tions “A single spark can start a prairie Communications Officer and I, Beniah fore being transferred to a hospital ship fire” and “Political power grows out of a C. Harding as Junior Gunnery Officer. further off shore or to England. Most of barrel of a gun”. How all the drabness of The former two were lawyers and Wider- the Nazis were covered with mud from all of Shanghai that we could see, and the mann always sought shelter, with his bi- Allied shelling. I still recall the red hot colors the Chinese clothing was either ble, whenever there was any action. The projectiles that flew over us from the grey or khaki and guards wore olive green Navy crew was excellent, including Eli cruisers and battleships behind us, into with a Red Star on their Cap.Inside the Benjamin as the signalman, Roy Walker, enemy installations. little Red Book was a photograph of GM3/C and an outstanding bosun. Mao, and when the ship was ready to sail, As Fall approached and the enemy fell another inspection took place presum- The Atlantic crossing was normal but the back, our needs diminished, so in early ably for stowaways but in the cabins, if Irish Sea was hell. For several weeks, we November, we headed to Cherbough they saw a Red Book, they opened it to were shuttled from one port to another in where we joined a convoy headed to the see if anyone had defaced the picture of England and Wales; a nice tourist sight- United States. It was a very slow voyage Mao by showing him wearing glasses or seeing trip. Finally, at Milford Haven, the to Charleston, South Carolina due to a moustache! Going up and down the ship’s interior was altered. More bunks the accumulation of seaweed and algae Whang Po river to Shanghai, we were were added and a small hospital was in- on the boat’s bottom while being an- not allowed to use the echo sounder or in stalled. Ultamately, we had a temporary chored too long. The United States sure the Yangtze estuary. How Shanghai has home port, Plymouth where we all knew looked good and most of us would be changed. It looks like an American big we were headed for an invasion of Europe. able to spend Thanksgiving, Christmas city with huge sky scrappers and many in Many bets were placed on to –WHERE? and New Years at home. It was good to western clothes and looking prosperous. Suddenly, word came that everyone, in- be back in the States!! I do not recognize it all. My only regret cluding the skipper, was confined to the is we were never allowed to take photo- ship. Within a couple of days, the skipper Greetings from Mid Coast of Maine graphs of the scenes I witnessed. Because and Lt. Sauer were allowed ashore for a and A HAPPY 2013. of the mighty upheaval there, it appeared conference, coming back—not saying a to be short of labor to work the cargo word about the meeting. After serving nobly for the Navy, the as in the holds there were a few men in S.S. THOMAS B.ROBERTSON was each hold but had boys also; whilst on Shortly, thereafter, on the evening of returned to her owner, The Mississippi the quayside girls were hauling large trol- June 5, 1944, while Capt. Richards, Shipping Company and thereafter, car- leys or wheel barrows with cargo wooden M.D. –U.S. Army and I were play- ried cargo to Central and South Ameri- cases or whatever was the cargo. Anyway ing cards, a pleasant female voice came can Ports. When she became aged, that is all for now. Best Wishes to you over the radio and said, “Tonight is she was sent to where Page 12 LETTERS FROM THE CREW she was built; to be scrapped. She had Club in Scotland this year because we are I opened my shirt and found that I had been named for a Governor, all getting older and no one would take it been nicked by shrapnel on my right rib Thomas B. Robertson and I know he upon themselves to take up the vacant po- cage. It didn’t even bleed. I looked at my would be proud a ship named for him sitions to keep the show going. Anne and dog tags and sure enough I had a dent in served his country well. I were up at our Memorial at Loch Ewe my dog tag. Still have the dog tag. That’s to lay a wreath as usual on Remembrance my story and I’m sticking to it. Thanks for Beniah C. Harding Day weekend in November. The Museum taking the time to read it. 36 Gleason St., Thomaston, Me. 04861 Community are busy raising money for Leo Gullage a Memorial there to Honor those who 2213 Malachite Ct., Lakeland, Fl. 33810 H H H H H H H H H sailed in and out of Loch Ewe and es- [email protected] pecially to those on the Murmank Run. O O O AHOY C.A., A Russian Oil Magnate gave them Fifty I hope this note finds you in the best of Thousand Pounds when a friend from health, or; as good as can be for folks our Orkney who does business in Russia told Leo, I was talking to Bob Patrick at the Li- age. I have received my annual letter from him about it. So far, no building has taken brary of Congress this morning and these one of my British Merchant Navy mates, place but we wish them well. We are too are the stories he needs. Get all your story David Craig of Scotland who was a Ra- old to take on anything like this. together of ship, date, etc. or just call them dio Operator on the Russian Convoys. and tell them about putting your story from As you will read, the British Government I phoned Geoff Shelton to keep in touch. Little Creek, Va. Gunnery School until V-J will not allow the Russians to award this He told us he had received the Russian Day. Tell him about our being together at new medal to the Brits for their bravery Medal. I am enclosing a letter from the the Navy Memorial dedication representing on the “Murmansk Run” during WW II. Russian Ambassador which shows you the Armed Guard. (cal) “PS: Leo did and I sent a letter to my old friend, First Sea how our government feels as we have al- is sending over 30 pages of his AG Service Lord, Mark Stanhope, asking for his help ready received four Russian Medals in the Time. to help the Brits out in getting this honor- past. We are very angry with our govern- H H H H H H H H H able Award. I sincerely wish that the year ment and I am trying to get publicity in 2013 will be good to you and the family. the papers around the WORLD to show CSM Bill Ryan how our British Government is behaving. For those who want their ships records, con- 445 Grove Lane, Melbourne, Fl. 32901 I will also send yo a letter that I have sent tact them giving name of ship and time on to the HERALD Editor. and off. You don’t want the ship log for the H H H H H H H H H time you won’t on it for the ship may have David Brownlie Craig- Scotland. (En- been in service 20 years and you were on a Dear Bill, closed-Both letters) few months. Six of us Russian Veterans, including Aus- Modern Military Records H H H H H H H H H tin Byrne, were taken on an all expenses 8601 Adelphi Rd. Room 2400 paid cruise visiting Norwegien ports, then, College Park, Md. 20740-6001 arround the North Cape to Murmansk Hi Charles, [email protected] and Archangel in June. The cruise lasted This June 7. I must tell this to some- Tel. 301-837-3510 23 days and they called it: “The Route of one. My kids and family know very little (which may have changed.) the Russian Convoys”. Our job was to about WWll but 69 years ago today The talk to the passengers about our time on Pearl Harbor with Leo Gullage and the There is a charge for each ship and they can the “RUN” and I was able to give infor- best gun crew in the Armed Guard went tell you HOW MUCH. If you have the ex- mation to people who had lost relatives on to Omaha Beachead to unload a bunch act date, it will be easy for them and you. You the Russian Run. We had only one day of engineers. It was one of the few nights deal with them. E-Mail me or make copies in Murmansk and managed to visit the when the Luftwaffer showed up and as when you get them if you don’t mind. Hope museum in Gymnasium School and met you know all we did was put as much this is clear. Have a great week. calloyd Yekaterina and Natasha. We were using a flack up in the air as possible and have H H H H H H H H H Group Visa which meant we had to go the planes run into it. Well I stood on the with the organized tours so we could not aft gun deck and actually heard the flack go around on our own. We did not man- hit the deck as if it was raining. This went CAL, age to visit the Northern Naval Museum on for a long time but as you are aware You nailed it. We had a fantistic time. It where my wartime uniform is on display. it only seems long and it seemed that was the greatest group I have ever trav- We had to disband the Russian Convoy way to me. When things settled down eled with, especially the two that were my Page 13 LETTERS FROM THE CREW escorts. If we had a lot more of our youth ing, we were loaded on boats forget it. It was on the night of Decem- like this group, I would have no worry and went across to a Mississippi River to ber 2nd 1943”--- The other gentleman about the future of our Great Nation. It Shell Beach Louisiana firing range. There interrupted and said “ Were you in Bari was a real highlight to meet up with our we trained 10 hours each day to learn the night the Germans came over and “Limey” friend, Austin Byrne, and have about Navy guns and war in the navy bombed us?” “Yes”, I answered. “We him join us in Liverpool. Paul Baker took (fast and furious duty and YES it rained had 30 ships in the harbor and they a photo of Bill Ryan, Austin and myself and rained) At night, they loaded us back sank or badly damaged 23 of them in to send to you for the Pointer. The only in boats took us back to Navy about 21 minutes”. At that point, the down side of the trip was Don Ellwood ICU base. After14 days of raining and other gentleman said, “I was there, also, fell and broke his hip and had to stay be- training we were transferred to the OGU. but I was only eight years old. You see, hind a bit. He was very well taken care of I lived in the City of Bari with my fam- and should be home soon. Thanks for all Then came the real thing which was an ily and I, too, will never forget”. ...At you did to make this trip possible. eye opening experience for a teen age boy this time they struck up a close friend- from Heath who had hardly been out of ship and at this writing they live just John Haynes, 13887 Rue Charlot Ln., McCracken County. I served on 5 ships across the road from each other in Palm Mccordsville, In. 46055 317-514-0100 in the thick of it all, both, Atlantic and Coast....At this juncture I will close & [email protected] Pacific theaters of war, went all over the let Dominic Scarola write of his re- world but always wiggled my way back memberances of that night ...... / O O O to my home port, good ol’ NEW OR- LEANS. Dominick”s story...... SEE PAGE 27 FOR THE STORY! My name is Dominick Scarola. On I said, that to say this some 63 years later, New Year’s Eve 2012 I was fortunate to H H H H H H H H H I still have a warm place in my heart for meet a gentleman by the name of Frank my home port of New Orleans and it’s Hedrick. a former US Navy Armed Cal this was my letter to Paducah,Ky Sun waterways and railways which definitely Guard of WW II. During the conver- daily paper in sept. 05 played a very major important role in sation with my friends, Mr. Hedrick winning WW11 that saved the WORLD realized I was from Bari on Dec. 2, Regardless of what is happenings now from some very evil atheistic dictators. 1943. I was eight years old. I was with or next, “I still say New Orleans and The THANKS, BIG EASY, GOD BLESS. my father and sister. We were watching Navy Armed Guard was very instrumen- a movie by the name of “IL MISE- tal in winning WWII” GC Carneal Paducah, KY. RABILE”. (we know it as LE MIZ). While we were watching the movie, H H H H H H H H H Sincerely, GCC there was a scene of gunfire re-enacting the civil war in France. Several minutes After high school at Heath, KY, I was Dear Charles, later we were told to take cover due drafted into the US Navy after 6 weeks My apololgies for the long delay in send- to the fact we were being bombed....I boot camp at Great Lakes, I was put on ing this writing !! Here goes Frank’s story can remember going home to get my troop train in Chicago. No one told us now!! Maggie H. Mother. where we were going. Two days later, the old coal fired steam powered train had A new twist to the Bari, Italy air strike Then, when Frank loaned me the book chugged to our destination, it was night of December 2nd, 1943. This story titled “The Disaster at Bari”:..While and YES, raining and they told us we has been told a number of times in the reading this book, I recognized a build- were in the New Orleans Train Station. Pointer but now, there’s a twist... Frank ing that was blown in half and I actu- We were loaded on army trucks which Hedrick of Palm Coast, Florida tells the ally remembered seeing that particular had canvas top that leaked, they took us story ..While he and his wife were cel- building whilst running as a little boy across the Mississippi River to Algiers ebrating their 53rd wedding anniversary, for my safety. Unfortunatly, during this Navy Base barracks. New Orleans would they were sitting at a table with 4 other time it was not uncommon for us to see be our HOME PORT. The base had people, one whom they didn’t know. That planes being shot down daily, on our two sections, ICU--incoming unit and gentleman asked Frank if he was in Italy way to school, church, etc.. This was our OGU---out going unit. during WW II. Frank replied, “Yes, and life for approximately 5 years.. I have I do remember very well. I was in the shared this story many times over the My company stayed in ICU section 14 U.S.N. Armed Guard on the ship, S.S. years with my close friends...I was very days to prepare for sea duty. Each morn- GRACE ABBOTT at Bari. I’ll never touched when I read this story that I Page 14 LETTERS FROM THE CREW had lived as a young boy . The saddest rescued 20 Feb. 18th and USS ROCK H H H H H H H H H memory I have from this time is while (SS-274) rescued 15 March 9th. my friend and I were walking home Bob Taylor Dear crew and people who may read this in from school through a wooded area. H H H H H H H H H years to come. The Armed Guard and Mer- A plane had been shot down and my chant Marine has a beautiful Plaque along friend approached the plane and the with many others at the memorial for people plane exploded, killing my little friend. Charles, to see as long as it stands. It is a beautiful Fortunately, my family and I survived I haven’t contacted the Commandant memorial dedicated to not only the brave 19 the war. After the war, my parents had until you had seen my uncle Williams of Bedford Boys but to all those killed dur- four more children; three girls and a details. In March 2009, the US Coast ing WW II. Future generations are now boy making our family of six. My Fa- Guard, after a lot of hassle, released his being called on to remember them and keep ther passed away in 1995 at the age of file to me. In the file were two letters financed forever. Pull them up on their Web 84....My Mother passed away two years sent to the Commandant in 1947-1948 Site. (calloyd) ago at the age of 97. I want to thank ev- by his brother John enquiring about SEE page 24 and 25 eryone in taking part of allowing me to Williams whereabouts. Their reply reminiscence this part of my childhood. was that if he is employed on a United H H H H H H H H H My best wishes to Frank Hedrick & his States Army Transport or a vessel op- wife for loaning the book to me, thus, erating under a Registry other than This letter was written 5/19/84 to Bob allowing me to remember the disaster that of the US this office would not Rigg who was host for the 1984 National at Bari. receive any record of his service. They Reunion in Austin, Texas along with John did say that they had no record of him Shirley and will go into the N.C. Mili- Dominick Scarola after July 1942. While I was research- tary Archives as it is typed, tells the story 500 Canoply Walk Ln., A-522 ing William I got most of my infor- mostly of our defense on the West Coast at Palm Coast, Fl. 32137 631-561-1566 mation through Ancestry and found it the start of WW II. And honors the two [email protected] was identical to the details in his Coast H H H H H H H H H men mentioned. (calloyd) Guard file except for one record To: Mr. Robert F. Riggs-Host, Mor- Forgotten Valor - SEE page 26 This record was for MS Bidwell ar- gans Point 39 Cliffsides Dr., Belton, riving in New York port on 8th Sept. Tx. (Dec’d) Whew !! 1942. This entry was in New York Pas- I have just watched the above DVD. senger lists 1820-1957. On the ships Dear Mr. Riggs, I am responding to the It sure does remind me of how much I manifest were details of the ships crew reunion notice in the last DAV issue on have to be THANKFUL for consider- arriving from Aruba, Venezuela. Under the USN Armed Guard . I have often ing I spent 17 months sea duty from the Masters signature was a list of nine wondered why we never got together 1943 to 1945; all in the North Atlantic. individuals including a William Casey. like most other Military and Naval Many Thanks ZED!! Joe Cunningham I have written to the New York Coast Units. I suppose you want some info guard to get them to give me some in- O O O for identity sheet on WHO is WHO. formation about these individuals but I I was Naval, enrolled from Wahington, have never received a reply Contacting D.C. on September 9, 1941 because Zed and I get a lot of these THANKS. (cal) them by letter which they prefer takes I was bored with employment at the any thing up to six weeks to get a reply. H H H H H H H H H Sergent General Office of the War Hope this helps you Cal. Department. I took BOOTS at Nor- Thanking You folk, Va. and went through Commu- S.S. PETER SYLVESTER Sunk in In- James McCann nications School at San Diego, Ca. for dian ocean Feb. 6, 1945 (Missed 4/29/43 [email protected] O O O Flagman and Radio Operator. The war by 2 torpedoes that went under ship) Art came Dec.7, 1941 while I was still in Moore’s book lists 317 Army Mules, 42 school. Believe it or not, I spent 1 week Crew Members, 26 Armed Guard and James, Did you try to contact the: dragging an old WW I rifle up and 106 US Army personnel. Of these, 1 COMMANDANT down the beach between San Diego MM, 7 Ag , 27 Army and 317 mules. U.S.COAST GUARD and Los Angeles waiting for the Jap S.S. CAPE EDMONT rescued 15 Feb. WASHINGTON, D.C. 20593-0001 fleet to land. My home port of assign- 8th; USS CORPUS CHRISTI (PF-44) H H H H H H H H H ment upon graduation in May of 1942 rescued 62 Feb. 13th; HMS ACTIVITY was to the Port Authority of New York Page 15 LETTERS FROM THE CREW

City. I was based for records, etc. at 1ST Hi Cal. We communicated a while back Ave.-52nd St. South Brooklyn, N.Y., an when I was doing some research on my old National Guard Armory, sitting right fathers Navy career. Just wanted to let on the Hudson River. My first assign- you know that there is an interesting ment was to Norfolk Naval Yard, Vir- and informative web site called “Hy- ginia. I believe my first ship was the S.S. perwar: A Hypertext History of the ROTTERDAM, which was re-activated Second World War” that is attempting following it’s capture and mothballs after to document much of the history of WW I. World War II.

I had a dozen ships or more through This web site is totally supported 1945. Most of them were without op- by volunteers, and driven by Patrick erators and headed for convoy. I also had Clancey, who has done a great job pull- a few “loners”-no convoys-they were a ing together considerable information. mixed bags----oil tankers and ammos. Much of the information is from origi- We used to pick up oil in South America nal material provided on loan from the and the ammo at dockside in New Jersey. Navy, and due to the age of the ma- It was not unusual to walk off the dock terial, most of it has to be entered by on to the deck of an overloaded ammo hand. I recently completed entering a FORGOTTEN SACRIFICE by Michael ship. You have heard of double watches volume entitled “Office of Naval Op- G. Walling. ISBN: 978 1 84908 718 6 and it was not unusual to break Radio erations, Arming of Merchant Ships Purchase at: Amazon.com Seal outside the harbor and days later, get and Naval Armed Guard Service”. the first relief when Coast Guard Patrols This is now available on line for any I wrote my letter and was ready would come on board and seal the radio interested researcher to use, at the fol- to go to print of this POINTER as you enter Scotland; England, etc.. lowing web site: http://www.ibiblio. and saw where something was org/hyperwar/USN/Admin-Hist/172- missing. I had left out the passing I was the radio operator for convoy Com- ArmedGuards/index.html#index of Alcester R. Colella of St. Peters, mander Weems out of Annapolis, Mary- Mo. who was one of the 5 surviving land for several trips. I entered the Navy as Through my urging, Mr. Clancey has Armed Guard Crew in the sinking an apprentice seaman and was discharged managed to secure a copy of the volume of the S.S. BLACK POINT, sunk Sept. 1945 from the Bethesda Naval entitled “UNITED STATES NAVAL May 5, 1945 just 3 ½ miles off Point Hospital C of D with the rank of Ra- ADMINISTRATION IN WORLD Judith, RI., 3 days before Germany dioman (RM 1/C) and well qualified as WAR II: History of the Naval Armed surrendered that our brother Whitson Chief. I am married, with 4 children and Guard Afloat, World War II”. I will was killed with 11 Merchant Seamen. 4 grandchildren. I am retired from U.S. be starting work on entering that one Al was detrimental in helping find Government Service where I worked as shortly, so more information on the many of the AG/MM crew survivors an Investigator; Claims Examiner BEC; Armed Guard will be available to re- and he and wife, Wanda, were the Hearing Examiner for D.C. Workman’s searchers, veterans, and their families. hosts for our St. Louis National Comp. Commissioner and 12 years with Would it be possible for you to men- Reunion. They took time out of their Agriculture Dept. doing semi-legal work tion this web site in a future issue of the lives to come to North Carolina and as Claim’s Examiner on a variety of pro- Armed Guard newsletter? I think that pay tribute to Whitson as we visted grams. I also worked as N & O with the others will find it interesting as well. the Veteran’s Memorial in Heritage/ D.A.V. for approximately 10 years. My Thanks, and keep up the good work. Wake Forest, N.C. and the memorial, first U.S. Naval Office aboard ship was in Looking forward to seeing another is- Brother L.D. and I placed at our family 1943. My shipping assignments request sue of the newsletter soon! cemetery near Mitchell’s Mill where the possession of a U.S. Communica- we were raised which is about 4 miles tion Code Book and the Identity Papers Regards, from where I sit here in Rolesville. on the U.S. Gunners onboard in case of Rick Pitz The world lost another of the death, transfer, etc.. 105 Penngrove Ave GREATEST GENERATION. Thank you, James Williamson, Penngrove, CA 94951 University Park, Md. (Deceased) [email protected] (calloyd) H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H

Page 16 LETTERS FROM THE CREW

USN ARMED GUARD MEETINGS AND REUNIONS FOR 2013 NOTICE: Hosts Names, Address, Zip Code, Tel., E-Mail and meeting places may change anytime so it’s up to you and the hosts to keep each other notified. Any changes hopefully will be in the next POINTER. If your group or area is not included or needs corrected, advise NOW for THE NEXT POINTER. Help your leader to carry on!

The ROANOKE, Va. MM/AG Crew Buckley, Wa . AREA contact is still The TEXAS USN Armed Guard Re- meets on the second Friday of each Hank and Sandy Harrison, 27014 union will be held in Fredericksburg, Tx. month for 12 NOON lunch at the FA- Lower Burnett Rd. E., Buckley, Wa in 2014. Hosts are Polly and Harold Luke- MOUS ANTHONY’S at 6499 Wil- 98321-360-897-9381 Cell: 253-222- fahr, 1356 CR 453, Bay City, Tx. 77414 liamson Rd., Roanoke, Va. Contact: 3025 [email protected] and they still and their 2 daughters, Cindy Skinner, Rocky Rhodes, 5390 Merriman Rd., meet at Elmer’s 7427 Hosmer, Tacoma, 6475 CR-258, Cameron, Tx. 76520 979- Roanoke, Va. 24018 [email protected] Wa. 98408 253-473-0855. 364-2375 and Cathy Willis PO BOX They had 12 at their Dec. Meeting. 161210, Austin, Tx. 78716 512-565-7117 They would love to double or triple that Cleveland, Oh. Ag/MM Crew meet [email protected] Number. Come talk SALTY! (rr) 1st. Sat of each Mo. at Denny’s, 4431 W.150th St., Cleveland.(I-71) Con- The Texas AG Crew meet on the 1st George E. Hale has informed me that tact: A.H. Borgman 25534 Chatworth Monday at 9 AM at Ramsey’s Res- the American Merchant Marine has Dr., Euclid, Oh. 44117 216-481-1142 taurant 1401 N. Navarro, Victoria, Tx. started a “GETTA MEMBER” drive Host Norm Neureuther, 361-578-7900 to get the MM and AG plus other The SOUTH New Jersey Pinelands [email protected] WW II Veterans together. Hale is the Armed Guard Unit meets the 4th CEO of the Carl W. Minor Chapter Thurs. of the mo. at 12:30 PM at THE Destroyer Escort Association address Central Coast California and states CAPTAINS INN. 304 E Lacey Rd., has been changed to DESA, P.O. Box they are a hundred or more miles from Forked River, NJ 609-693-3351. The 488, Henderson Harbor, N.Y. 13651- other known chapters and would like hosts are: Mike Chengeri 908-486- 0488. Phone: 315-938-7000 Please to get more Veterans together. They 6577, Al Messina 732-350-1304 and contact Dori Glaser (800) 603-3332 meet at noon in COCO’S BAKERY Wm. Wilkie 609-597-2946. They ask for their Reunions and meetings. Their RESTAURANT 411 Five Cities Dr., all NJ Armed Guard members to come 38th Annual Convention will be held Pismo Beach, Ca. on the 2nd Tuesday join in with them. Wives & Widows of Sept. 8-12, 2013 in Albany, N.Y.. of ODD NUMBERED MONTHS! the members are welcomed to attend a George E. Hale, 7862 Santa Ynez great “sit down” luncheon and view the The Harrisburg. Pa. Area new hosts Ave., Atascadero, Ca. 93422 gnnhale@ Forked River. Come on down and join Charles Hastings, 300 Old Orchard gmail.com 1-805-461-1268. us. Those outside of NJ are welcomed, Ln., York, Pa. 19403 717-843-6231 and too. (Mike Chengeri) Eugene Alexander 1147 Galway Ct., ARIZONA: Pat and Fred Gustin, 1221 Hummelstown, Pa. 17036 717-220- E.Clearwind Pl., Oro Valley, Az. 85755 NORTHERN N.J. CREW is now 1090 meet at 11 A.M. 1st Thurs of mo. 520-825-7531 continue to meet at meeting at STASHES RESTAU- except Jan.,Feb., Mar. at: THE OLD 10:30 AM to 12:00 in their area at the RANT, Wood Ave.(Off Rt.1 North) COUNTRY BUFFET 5083 Jonestown OLD TIME KAFE 1425 W. Prince Linden. N.J. on the 1st Tuesday Rd. (Rt-22), Harrisburg, Pa.. Rd., Tucson, Az. 85742 293-2324 on (Monthly) at 12 noon. Hosts: Ernest the 2nd Thurs. of each month, Sept. Stoukas, 65 Webb Dr., Fords, N.J. The Suncoast Ag/MM WW II Vet- through May and welcome more to at- 08863 732-225-2054. erans will continue meet at Kally’s K’s tend. Contact them for further info. RESTAURANT ON the 2nd Satur- Iowa/Mn/Daks still meet the 2nd day of the month @ 11:30 AM. Con- The Long Island AG Chapter meet Wednesday monthly at 10 A.M. for tact Bob Bouschor, 73 Hickory Branch at the Farmingdale, N.Y. Library, 4th coffee and gab monthly at the Machine Lane, Safety Harbor, Fl. 34695-4645 Wed. at 11 AM. Contact: Dot and Jas. Shed on the West Side of Des Moines, 1-727-725-1830 or Fred Simonson, Pellegrino, 527 Livingston St., West- Ia. off Exit 125 on I-80/I-35, the Hick- 1-352-563-1859. bury, NY 11590 516-997-5585. man Rd. Contact Arnie Latare, 4400 E.P. True Pkwy #59, W.Des Moines, Ia. 50265 515-225-1084 malata@q. com . All the AG/MM and family are welcomed. Page 17 REUNIONS

THE SARASOTA MANATEE The Armed Guard/Merchant Marine Northern New England Navy Armed CHAPTER of the AMMV along with meet the 2nd Friday of the Month at Guard Veterans of WW2 will hold the Armed Guard in the area have moved the American Legion Post #470, 9091 their Fall 2013 meeting Wednesday their meetings to DUFF’S, 6010 14th St., E. 126th St., Fishers, In. 46038 at Oct. 9 at the Red Blazer Restaurant in Bradenton, Fl. and meet the last Wed. of NOON Armed Guard John Haynes is Concord, NH. Meet at 1,eat at 2. Sign the mo. (excluding-July/Aug) at 12:30 Secretary and would like to have all the up by with Bob Norling, 6 Tow Path P.M. but most go at 11:30 to enjoy the Armed Guard to join in. Lane, Concord N H - 03301, e-mail buffet lunch and hold their SEA STO- is [email protected] or phone 603- RY Session. Ed Cleary (AG) attends and The Rochester, N.Y. Area AG/MM meet 224-4927 wants more AG to join in. New Host: on the 2nd Tuesday 11 A.M. at the JAY’S Richard J. Arcand, 5674 Bay Pines Lakes DINER 2612 W.Henrietta Rd., Roch- , Tenn.Crew will hold their Blvd., St Petersburg, Fl. 33708(727)392-5648. ester, N.Y 585-424-3710. New Host Meeting Aug. 23rd, 2013 at Shoney”s is: Forest Lane 14 Hanna Ln., Webster, at 11:30. They invite all WW II and The SOUTHERN Calif. Region of N.Y. 14580 585-217-9897 coolforest@ other Veterans in the area to attend. Armed Guard meet every 2 mos. alter- frontiernet.net Their host, John Shevlin They had over 60 attending their last nating starting with the WEST BUF- who held the group together for a long meeting and have guest speakers and FET in Carlsbad, Ca.. at 11:30 AM and time, sailed on into Eternity to be with a great time. Contact Bill Oehlecker, San Diego FAMILY Restaurant,Chula his Maker in Jan. 2013. 1521 War Eagle Dr., Crossville, Vista. Contact: John Stokes 15308 Edge- Tn. 38572 931-788-6222 bolecker@ moor St., San Leandro, Ca. 94579 510- Albany, NY Area Armed Guard/Mer- yahoo.com 352-6764 [email protected] I want to chant Marine WW II meet the 4th THANK Howard Wooten for keeping Thurs. of month at Schuyler Inn, 545 them together for so long. (cal) Broadway, Menands NY at 11:30 AM. Host are Art and Marion Fazzone 3936 R. I. Host Gerry Greaves 1287 S. Broad- Albany St, Schenectady, NY 12304 way, E. Providence, RI., 02914 401-431- 518-374-5377 [email protected] 0011 [email protected] our official and Peter Falasco, 49 Monroe Ave., meeting will still be held on the first Latham, NY 12110 518-785-7890. Thurs. of Oct. at the same place. The IMPERIAL ROOM at 1 Rhodes Place, Patrol Craft Sailors Assn. Reunion Contact Cranston, RI. at 11:30 A.M.. Duane “Bucky” Walters, 103-Cross Rd., Camillus, NY 13031 315-487-2623 buck- Wisc/ meet at the Sturtevant [email protected] Driftwood Restaurant at Noon. Hosts are Jay and Jane Wildfong, 13211 Durand Northern New England U.S. Navy Armed Ave., Sturtevant, Wi. 53117 262-886- Guard Veterans of WW2 will hold their 2966 Everyone welcomed. Fall 2013 meeting Oct. 9 at the Red Blazer Restaurant in Concord, N.H. Meet at 1, eat US Navy Armed Guard & Merchant at 2, Sign up by Oct. 5 with Bob Norling, Marine Veterans of WW ll. Meet ev- 6 Tow Path Lane, Concord NH - 03301. ery third (3rd) Sat.of the month, except E-mail [email protected] or phone 603- June,July and August at Marsh Landing 224-4927. Restaurant at 44 North Broadway, Fells- mere, FL. For information, contact Clar- Oregon MM/AG host Ruth Ann Heinek- ence F. “Korky” Korker 772 571-0230 E- en, 7055 SW 184th Ave., Portland, Or. Mail: [email protected] 97007 503-848-7031 asks all in the area to join them at the HOME TOWN BUF- The LOGANSPORT, IN. AREA meets FET 1300 Pacific HiWay. The CRUISER at the VFW POST 1024 Erie Ave. on the SAILORS Assoc. National Reunion will last Friday of each month at 11:30 except be heldi in Portland, Or. May 18-22, 2014 December. Hosts are William and Betty at the Sheridan Portland Airport. Tel. 508- Zwyers, 9239 N State Rd 29, Frankfort, 252-3524 www.navycruisers.org President In. 46041 765-258-3353 Channing M. Zucker Page 18 FOUGHT BOTH GERMANS AND JAPANESE

Don Wardell, 90, of Willoughby, served in A snapshot shows Don Wardell looking fierce Don Wardell wanted to go to radio school the Navy and fought both the Germans and aboard a PT boat in New Guinea. A cap- but was assigned to the Navy’s Armed Japanese during World War II. He had no tion on the margin notes, “This is why the Guard, manning a 4-inch/50-caliber doubts about eventual victory. “I knew we Japanese surrendered.” cannon aboard Merchant Marine ships. were going to win, ‘cause we’re America, right?” he says.

Don Wardell fought both Scary? “I don’t remember, that was too aircraft that attacked U.S. convoys of Germans and Japanese long ago, but I’d say yes,” Wardell, 90, Merchant Marine ships. during World War II (video) quipped. It didn’t take long for the young sailor to There were more than enough scares to discover the risks of that duty. His first “There are no ordinary lives,” said Ken go around during his sea duty that was voyage aboard a ship carrying crude oil Burns of those who served in a global almost grounded before it began. came to an abrupt end when it was tor- cataclysm so momentous that the film- pedoed by a German . maker simply entitled his 2007 docu- When the Japanese bombed Pearl Har- mentary “The War.” bor in 1941, prompting America’s entry “I was on the stern watch and I was into the war, Wardell was working as a relieved at 6 o’clock. At 7 o’clock we Many who served in so many different milk deliveryman who’d dropped out of got torpedoed, and the man who had ways during World War II are gone now. Maple Heights High School. relieved me was blown overboard,” Wardell said. Some took their stories with them. But He quit his job, sold his car, gave away not this one. his clothes and enlisted, only to be told The gun crew stayed with the ship un- he was unfit for military service due til the last possible minute, hoping for When visitors call at his Willoughby to bad feet. “I told them I have no car, a shot if the sub surfaced. Then they home, Don Wardell greets them with I have no job, no place to live and no jumped into waves topped with thick a hearty “Welcome aboard,” reflecting clothes except what’s on my back. You black oil from the sinking ship. his Navy service on two fronts during gotta let me go,” Wardell recalled. World War II. “Thank God for the oil, because the “So they did, and when I got to Great place was loaded with sharks. But the After facing German and Lakes (the Navy’s training center), they sharks wouldn’t come into the oil,” aircraft as an Armed Guard gunner didn’t even look at my feet. They passed Wardell said. “It’s the only thing that aboard Merchant Marine ships carry- me right through.” saved us from being chewed up.” ing war supplies to Africa, Europe, and Russia, Wardell yearned for a bit more Wardell was assigned to the Navy’s On his second ship in a convoy that action. So he traded freighters for PT Armed Guard, a force of nearly 145,000 was carrying supplies to Russia, Wardell boats and battled Japanese naval forces officers and enlisted men who manned heard a hauntingly familiar sound in the in the Pacific. guns to battle German submarines and water nearby -- a distinctive swishing -- Page 19 FOUGHT BOTH GERMANS AND JAPANESE and ran on deck, yelling that they were battleships, heavy cruisers and 32 years, enjoy a retirement that has in- under attack. at the Surigao Strait. cluded several ocean cruises and stories of the war he tells to their grandchildren. “Everybody looked at me like I was nuts, Some 39 PT boats were the first line of and just then the ship right in front of us defense, and though their torpedoes ini- They’re mostly good stories from an got hit by a torpedo,” he recalled. “That tially made no hits, they provided infor- old sailor who recalls his service with a ship sunk immediately. It was loaded mation that helped American destroyers mustache-topped grin and says, “I made with ammunition, just like us.” and battleships cripple the Japanese of- a lot of friends, met a lot of good-looking fensive. women.” Some 13 ships were claimed by German bombers or subs, on that convoy. Wardell said his PT boat fired two torpe- He fondly remembered the voyage when does at a Japanese cruiser and missed, but their cargo consisted of Italian prisoners At times, the challenges came from the hit and sunk an enemy minesweeper that of war. “We had a great time. They enter- sea itself, in fierce storms that once came was following the cruiser. tained us, serenaded us, helped us scrub close to overturning his ship. the deck and everything else. They were Everybody still asks if he knew John F. just happy to get out of the war,” he said. On other voyages the only enemy to Kennedy, a PT boat officer in the Pacific be battled was boredom. That’s when and future U.S. president. Wardell smiles But the war also taught a few hard lessons Wardell decided to jump ship and join a and gives his oft-repeated answer, “No, he to a veteran who now blames his hearing PT boat squadron headed for the Pacific was long gone by then.” loss on his proximity to gun blasts, and theater. can’t stand to watch war movies. After the war, Wardell got his high “Most of the time we were just cruising school degree, married and tried to be- “I learned a lot,” Wardell said. “I learned up and down the coasts of New Guinea come a professional singer. As children that I wasn’t a coward. I learned that we and the Philippines, shooting up barges came along -- he had four with his first had to fight our enemies. and land forts,” Wardell said. wife -- he dropped that dream and went to work selling Encyclopedia Britannica “And I learned that I wish the world But he also fought in part of the epic bat- books until he retired. would learn to live together and not tle of the Leyte Gulf in 1944, when U.S. fight.” Navy forces faced an armada of Japanese He and Jan Wardell, his second wife of

This bunch of AG Yankees came down from New York and met with us Rebels for a North Carolina Pig Picking at the Raleigh Fireman’s Club

Page 20 MEMORIES OF WAR

that ran in convoys in the North Atlan- til I picked it up. I put it down. I kept tic, Pacific. The crews were Merchant moving. But you know, I never forgot.” Marine, but the gunners were all Navy.” Coming home is a memory, too. He More than 8,000 Merchant Marines had spent a week on the troop train were killed, 11,000 wounded and about traveling from Washington state. It was 600 taken prisoner in WWII. sunset when he arrived in Bristol.

Continued from page 2 The Navy gunners protected the ships “It was about 6 o’clock in the evening. from the enemy. Guys like Harman My mother had no idea I was coming were under orders to fire on the enemy home. She hadn’t heard from me in until their guns could no longer fire, or months; I had been at sea, and there is the decks of the vessel were awash. no outgoing mail. She thought I was dead. I come through the door and I “Even a captain could leave before us,” thought she was having a heart attack. said Harman. “I went from being a kid You know, it’s good to come home.” Jack Harman served in the U.S. Navy’s to being a man. Quite an education, Armed Guard as a gunner aboard merchant and the first lesson is hit them before It was a time spiked with sadness, vessels during World War II. they hit you.” though. His mother had saved a story from the Courier reporting that his ing over Austria Feb. 1, 1945. In May, He sailed from New York to Mur- childhood friend, Jim Boyle, was miss- he was declared dead. A memorial Mass mansk, Russia, then to North Africa. ing and had been declared dead. He still was held at St. Mark Church. , Panama Canal, the Pacific. has the clipping. It is framed. “There’s a plaque with his name on it “The Pacific is where I spent most of “We moved to Bristol when I was 2, and in front of the Consolidated Fire Co. my time, and where I remember that our friendship started soon after that. When I’m passing through town, I stop one guy,” he said. He was wonderful guy, a good friend. and I go there and I see his name, and I We shared cigarettes and good times.” think about him. Time goes so fast.” An Australian soldier. The news story said Army Air Force J.D. Mullane can be reached at 215- “About my age. We were friendly. We Staff Sgt. Robert James Boyle, a gun- 949-5745 or at jmullane@phillyburbs. talked a lot. He came aboard when ner aboard a B-17, was reported miss- com. Twitter @jdmullane. we picked up a lot of Australians and headed to Borneo. The Australians were headed to a fight, an invasion. We get there and you could hear the fight- ing on the beach. Well, this young guy is going over the side right by my gun station, and all of a sudden he drops his rifle into the water. At that moment, our eyes met and he went over the side. I have wondered ever since what hap- pened to him, without a rifle on that beach.”

Another memory, from Biak in the Marshall Islands: “I was ashore and there had been a big battle a week be- fore. All kinds of stuff scattered all over the ground. Something caught my eye and I picked it up. It was someone’s jawbone. The teeth were still intact, perfectly intact. I didn’t realize this un- Page 21 BRISTOL NATIVES REFLECT

ing a cigarette to one officer and when I reached for my pack of matches to hand to him, he dropped dead from machine- gun fire.”

Moss said he had to lay nearly flat on the beach to avoid being seen and fired upon.

“The Germans had years to fortify that beach,” he said. “We couldn’t even see the enemy. We were pinned down by gunfire and I remember how the beach was full of these little stones; it wasn’t like the sand you find at New Jersey beaches at World War II veteran Al Moss talks about the day he landed on the coast of France on June all. If you moved your head up or got off 6, 1944 in his Bensalem home Wednesday. your stomach, you were dead.” For two Bristol natives, just moved to Jefferson Avenue in Bristol Part of his job was to bring the Higgins D-Day anniversary from Delaware. boat back to the transport ship. is a time to reflect “We were really good friends,” said Moss, a “I had to swim about 50 feet to the land- Bensalem resident. “I remember we used to ing craft in all of my clothes and wearing Al Moss still remembers bullets buzzing climb trees and swim in the Bristol Canal.” by his ears on a beach in Normandy more my boots,” said Moss. “I pulled myself into the boat and, thank God, made it than a half century ago. The men have stayed in touch throughout back to the main ship, which was about the years and still talk on a regular basis. He also remembers growing up with one 10 miles off the shore.” of his best friends, Jack Harman, and “Being in the Navy is a bond between us,” Epic battle swimming in Bristol during the 1920s. said Harman, who lives in Falls. The D-Day invasion of June 6, 1944, Harman, 87, and Moss, 88, both served On June 6, 1944, Moss was aboard a 36- was of epic proportions. in the Navy during World War II. They foot landing craft headed to . each enlisted in 1943 and served until The boat, designed to hold 36 troops, had 1945. Harman was assigned to the Navy 44 men inside. He was tasked with drop- Armed Guard and traveled with convoys ping the soldiers off on the shore and bring- around the globe. Moss operated a Hig- ing the craft back to the main ship, the USS gins boat, a diesel-powered landing craft Anne Arundel. made out of plywood that carried troops from transport ships to land. “I took some of the first troops from the Army’s 1st Division to the beach,” Moss Sixty-nine years after D-Day, which took recalled. “Our boat had too many men on place June 6, 1944, both men vividly re- board and there was a mechanical failure, member where they were and what they so we were taking on water. I told one of were doing on that day. the officers to instruct the troops to start scooping out water with their helmets so D-Day is the name given to the Allied we wouldn’t sink. Nobody moved or said invasion of the coast of Normandy in anything; everyone was paralyzed with fear France to free Europe from the reign of of what was on that shore.” Moss and the German dictator Adolph Hitler during troops landed in the so-called Easy Red World War II. Sector part of Omaha Beach.

Harman and Moss met when they were 4 “American soldiers were getting shot all A photograph of Al Moss at 18 when he and 5 years old, respectively. Harman had around me,” he said. “I remember giv- entered the U.S. Navy. Page 22 BRISTOL NATIVES REFLECT

“There was a Japanese fighter plane circling us, but it was out of range of the ship’s guns,” he recalled. “The next morning at sunrise, we were on watch and we heard an engine roar and saw a plane coming straight at our ship. The plane strafed the port side and killed two gunners that I knew before flying away. If I had been on that side of the ship, I wouldn’t be here today.”

After completing his service in 1945, Harman came back to Bristol and held several jobs before enlisting in the Army and fighting in Korea as a tank com- A photograph of Jack Harman,center and his shipmates. mander in 1950. When he came back, he joined the Bristol Township Police De- An armada of 5,000 vessels transported ber thinking what might have been going partment, where he served for 30 years more than 150,000 men and nearly through those troops minds at that time. before retiring. 30,000 vehicles across the English Chan- I couldn’t imagine having to face what nel to France in one operation. Six para- they did.” Harman and Moss have managed to stay chute regiments of more than 13,000 in touch during the last six decades and soldiers simultaneously deployed over Still, Harman saw his share of the grim have routinely gone on fishing trips. Normandy from more than 800 planes. realities of war while he was on the other An additional 300 planes were used to side of the globe. “I need to give Jack a call soon to see how attack enemy fortifications with 13,000 he’s doing,” said Moss, with a smile on his bombs. In 1944, while he was on board a trans- face. port ship unloading Australian troops By the time the sun went down on June in the Brunei Bay, his ship came under Dan Perez is a freelance writer. He can be 6, more than 5,400 Allied soldiers and attack. Harman manned a turret gun on reached through editor Carl LaVO: 6,500 German troops were dead. But the starboard side of the ship. 215-949-4227 or [email protected] 100,000 others had overrun the Nazis and secured landing zones for the suc- cessful push toward Paris and Germany to finally topple Hitler’s Third Reich.

When Moss came back to Pennsylvania in 1945, he got married, had four children and worked at the U.S. Steel plant in Falls for 30 years until his retirement.

As a member of the Navy Armed Guard during World War II, Harman’s job was protecting ships as they traveled in con- voys around the world. He didn’t fight in Normandy on D-Day, but he remembers where he was on that day.

“I was near North Africa on a that was delivering war materials to the Middle East for Russia, and I remember being told by someone that the invasion WWII veteran Jack Harman reminisces about his days in the U.S .Navy and the battle to in France had begun,” he said. “I remem- take Omaha Beach on the French Coast at his Falls Township home. Page 23 D-DAY MEMORIAL FOUNDATION

Page 24 D-DAY MEMORIAL FOUNDATION

Jeff Fulgham has informed me that they will be having a HUGE 70th Anniversary next year. (Cal)

Page 25 FORGOTTEN VALOR

It’s an alarming fact that WWII is not being taught as history in our schools anymore.

Sadly, young people today have no clue what America sacrifi ced in both combat and on the home front to help save our freedom.

If you already own one of these videos, or are buying for the fi rst time, then now is your opportunity to do what many of my customers and I have started doing: Buying extra copies to donate to schools and libraries! – Zed Merrill, WWII US Navy Armed Guard

FORGOTTEN VALOR THE WINTER WINDS BETRAYAL IN THE THE LAST DAY DISASTER AT SUNDOWN Only video made about OF HELL NORTH ATLANTIC OF INNOCENCE To this day, only a few the U.S. Navy Armed Thousands perished on The mystery concerning How one town faced war know the truth about the Guard. They were for- poorly armed merchant the PQ-17 convoy is still and helped to create the raid on Bari, Italy. For gotten for more than 60 ships in the icy North debated. Some call it one miracle of the 20th century. over 60 years the U.S. years, until this release Atlantic. Convoys simply of the most treacherous They accomplished the and her allies kept the helped in getting their vanished. Awarded one acts of betrayal in naval impossible with their truth hidden. One of the heroics into the U.S. of the most outstanding history. hearts, their patriotism big cover-ups of the war. Congressional Record. WWII videos. and their blood.

Available in either DVD or VHS format. Specially priced at $14.95 each, plus $4.50 shipping & handling no matter how many you order. PURCHASE ANY 3 OR MORE AND RECEIVE AN EXTRA VIDEO OF YOUR CHOICE ABSOLUTELY FREE! Simply indicate by title which is your FREE video. Or go to our website zedmerrill.com and place your order immediately! ZED MERRILL & ASSOCIATES * Dept. B * PO Box 19608 * Portland, OR 97219

Page 26 England Trip 2013 England Trip 2013: 8th USAAF and Battle of the Atlantic 70th Anniversary Tour ND

John Haynes to know Christ.” This beautiful statement continue to lead our country in the future. brought us to tears. John has been alive John Haynes has shown us what it for 90 years. He served his country with means to live life and life it well. He valor in the Naval Armed Guard during has a disposition of wisdom and valor WWII. He persevered through many that is clear to everyone. When John obstacles to achieve his dream of becom- talks, people listen, and they listen well. ing a Navy pilot. He worked his way into He has spoken so much biblical truth prestigious positions in the Federal Avia- as well as truth that he has gathered tion Administration. He has lived all over from his own experiences. One thing the United States and all over the world. we noticed was that his life has been He has a beautiful wife of 67 years and composed of several different seasons; four successful children. He is loved and some adventurous and exciting, some respected by every person he meets. All of slow and still. but he taught us that this, yet he will still say at 90 years looking every moment is important and plays a back on the rich and full life that he has part in life’s full story. lived, that knowing Christ is THE most important thing, because Christ is what We both cannot explain how much we Where to start when given the honor to bridges the gap between their genera- have grown to love and respect John write about a man who so humbly has tion and ours. God was with our veterans Haynes. Our lives have been forever lived a truly remarkable life. It is the last when they were fighting in the war, He changed. full day in England and we are headed is with us today as we travel back to the Arielle Pearson, junior back to London where we will fly home places where our men fought, and He will Duncan Tillack, sophomore tomorrow morning. We feel so blessed to be able to write this far into into the trip because Mr. John Haynes has impacted us more and more every day.

A couple days ago, we had the opportu- nity to sit down with John over a cup of coffee and just talk about his entire life. John was so gracious and transparent in sharing his experiences with us and an- swering our continuous stream of ques- tions. After listening to John’s story from the very beginning to current day, we asked John to give us his most valuable piece of life advice. Without hesitation, he looked at us and said: “The most valu- able thing that you can do with your life is to know Christ and to raise your family

Page 27 England Trip 2013

Hello Mr. Lloyd, Dr. Mullinax asked me to send these photos to you. These were taken last weekend during our time in England for the 70th anniversary of the Battle of the Atlantic.

The description for Group1 photo is, “World War II Armed Guard and Mer- chant Marine Veterans Mack Paynter, Don Ellwood, John Haynes, and Bill Ryan with Austin Byrne (front) of the British Merchant Marine. Photo by: Paul Baker”

The description for Group2 photo is, “World War II Armed Guard and Mer- chant Marine Veterans Mack Paynter, Don Ellwood, John Haynes, and Bill Ryan with Austin Byrne (front) of the British Merchant Marine and Fred Mullinax (center), Executive Vice Presi- dent of College of the Ozarks. Photo by: Paul Baker”

Paul Baker • Travel Coordinator The Keeter Center for Character Education College of the Ozarks P.O. Box 17 • Point Lookout, MO 65726 417-690-2276 • [email protected]

Don Ellwood On Don Ellwood’s eightly-fifth birth- several ships carrying not only cargo, but day, he reflected on his past memories prisoners of war and troops back and forth and experiences, and depicted a life full across the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. of adventure and intrigue. Imagine being seventeen years old and steering a massive During his service with the Merchant merchant ship into the throws of a hur- Marines, Don encountered incredible ricane. Or imagine that saving this mer- feats and challenges for his adolescent chant ship is not only vital to your own mind. His first voyage brought him to life but the lives of troops fighting in the where we are visiting today: Liverpool, war in desperate need of supplies. For England. Here his first convoy hauled Don Ellwood, this was not some made up tanks, cigarettes, and other cargo for the scenario but his reality as a young Mer- soldiers on the front lines. His second chant Seaman. When he was just 16 years mission, however, was more dangerous old, Don saw an ad in the newspaper for and serious in nature. Don said that he help needed as a Merchant Marine. Since did not understand some of the secrecy on he was too young to be in the military, the ship, at the time, and was confused by Don decided signing up for the Mer- the limited supplies they carried to Swan- chant Marines was his only chance to be sea, Whales. After unloading, they made a a part of the war and left his senior year of stop in Cherbourg, France, and Don sud- high school to take the call. He served on denly realized their true mission--trans-

Page 28 England Trip 2013

Hello Mr. Lloyd, Dr. Mullinax asked me to send these photos to you. These were taken last weekend during our time in England for the 70th anniversary of the Battle of the Atlantic.

The description for Group1 photo is, “World War II Armed Guard and Mer- chant Marine Veterans Mack Paynter, Don Ellwood, John Haynes, and Bill Ryan with Austin Byrne (front) of the British Merchant Marine. Photo by: Paul Baker”

The description for Group2 photo is, “World War II Armed Guard and Mer- chant Marine Veterans Mack Paynter, Don Ellwood, John Haynes, and Bill Ryan with Austin Byrne (front) of the British Merchant Marine and Fred Mullinax (center), Executive Vice Presi- dent of College of the Ozarks. Photo by: Paul Baker”

Paul Baker • Travel Coordinator The Keeter Center for Character Education College of the Ozarks P.O. Box 17 • Point Lookout, MO 65726 417-690-2276 • [email protected]

Don Ellwood On Don Ellwood’s eightly-fifth birth- several ships carrying not only cargo, but porting five hundred German prisoners has accomplished. “I have loved well and day, he reflected on his past memories prisoners of war and troops back and forth of war back to the states. Young Don was been loved well. I have raised my sons to and experiences, and depicted a life full across the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. amazed that these prisoners were boys of be good fathers. I have everything I need. of adventure and intrigue. Imagine being twelve and thirteen years of age mixed I am not afraid to die.” These were some seventeen years old and steering a massive During his service with the Merchant with elderly men. During his voyage back, of the precious sentiments he shared with merchant ship into the throws of a hur- Marines, Don encountered incredible his ship encountered a massive hurricane us after a meaningful eighty-fifth birth- ricane. Or imagine that saving this mer- feats and challenges for his adolescent that put Don’s training to the test as he day on this Patriotic Tour. We have been chant ship is not only vital to your own mind. His first voyage brought him to steered through the storm. Though many so blessed to hear his stories and life les- life but the lives of troops fighting in the where we are visiting today: Liverpool, were terrified, Ellwood was exhilarated at sons, and our lives will forever be changed war in desperate need of supplies. For England. Here his first convoy hauled the chance to play such a central role in by what this man has shared with us. Our Don Ellwood, this was not some made up tanks, cigarettes, and other cargo for the this situation. Few men can say that they hope is that, at the end of our lives, we can scenario but his reality as a young Mer- soldiers on the front lines. His second encountered such adventure at such a be like Don. We can look back at every- chant Seaman. When he was just 16 years mission, however, was more dangerous young age. thing we have gone through and say, we old, Don saw an ad in the newspaper for and serious in nature. Don said that he have lived life well, we have everything we help needed as a Merchant Marine. Since did not understand some of the secrecy on After several more missions with the need, we can die knowing that we have he was too young to be in the military, the ship, at the time, and was confused by Merchant Marines, Don enlisted in the made a difference. Don decided signing up for the Mer- the limited supplies they carried to Swan- Navy where he served his country for chant Marines was his only chance to be sea, Whales. After unloading, they made a thirty-four more years. Now, after hav- a part of the war and left his senior year of stop in Cherbourg, France, and Don sud- ing lived eighty-five years, Don can look Kristiana Nordstrom, sophomore high school to take the call. He served on denly realized their true mission--trans- back on his life and be proud of what he Rick Koretoff, senior

Page 29 England Trip 2013

tour of the Liverpool Cathedral and all of was drafted at 16 while working on a farm its grandeur while enjoying music played in Ohio. Today’s theme of making a joy- from one of the largest pipe organs in the ful noise applies especially to Mr. Paynter. world. Following the tour we attended an Not only in his spare time does Mack en- afternoon service accented by a visiting joy making musical instruments and lis- boys’ choir. tening to bluegrass in particular. He has no hesitations about making a joyful noise On the night of the 25th we attended a and has a song for every occasion. More charity concert commemorating the 70th than once on the trip Mack has led the anniversary of the Battle of the Atlantic. group in a spontaneous song and has con- Mack Paynter This event was played by Her Majesty’s sistently maintained a joyful demeanor. Royal Marines, Portsmouth accompanied All in all these past two days have been by a local choir and soloist. The world a good example of Mack Paynters’ life We arrived in Liverpool on the 24th of class concert was rousing with a sense of by honoring the Lord with song, and May and enjoyed some free time explor- patriotism and exuberance surrounding beauty coming out of the ashes, much as ing the many aspects the town had to offer. the commemoration. the beautiful town of Liverpool has risen After a dinner together there was time to from the ashes of WWII. experience the beautiful night lights and Mack Paynter, 88, was a Gunners Mate unusual architecture of the town. The fol- Third Class (GMC3) aboard the- mer Laura Virnig, junior lowing morning, the 25th May, we took a chant SS Benjamin Huntington. Mack Brock Schrag, sophomore

loader for the deck guns. Coming back Republic for six months in 1965. In 1966, to America, he was a 17 year old with an Bill became a Sergeant Major. When the already incredible story. But he did not Vietnam War began, Bill served two tours stop there. before coming back to America in 1970.

In March, 1943, Bill decided to join the Bill has an incredible accumulation of army. He became a paratrooper with the medals and ribbons that he received in 82nd Airborne. Because of the horren- his 30 years of service. Among these are dous losses suffered by the 1st Infantry two Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star. He Division in Italy he was attached for duty retired in 1973 in Melbourne, Florida, with this division. He landed with this where he still resides today, volunteering division on Omaha Beach on D-Day. as a director of the Liberty Bell Museum. Bill Ryan was born and raised as a Catho- Wounded he returned to England and He is now a honorary member of the lic in Boston, Massachusetts on Decem- once recovered reverted back to the Air- French Foreign Legion and many other ber 3, 1924. His father was often away, borne in time to parachute into Holland similar organizations. He now makes fre- serving in the Navy, and his mother died on September 17, 1944 for “Operation quent trips to Europe as an 88 year old of cancer when he was 12 years old. It Market Garden.” He later was assigned man that’s still ready to go to war. He has makes sense that when WWII began, Bill back to the 1st Infantry Division, where a lot of energy and quite the sense of hu- tried to fake his age and join the army at he served all total for 12 years. mor. It has been an honor to get to know 16. They found out he did not meet the Bill, he is a great man, and a true Ameri- 18 year age requirement and referred him During his service in the army, Bill can hero. to the Merchant Marines. He joined on quickly gained rank. He went from be- Anna Zachary, senior December 8, 1941, the day after the attack ing a squad member to platoon leader at Eddie Sterling, sophomore on Pearl Harbor. He served in the Mer- about 20 years of age. He was younger chant Marines from 1941-1943. During than most of the other members, but the those two years, Bill made three convoys leadership responsibilities were given to to the North Russian ports of Murmansk him. Bill fought through the Battle of the and Archangel. He made 3 separate con- Bulge in 1944 with the 1st infantry. In voys to Russia throughout his 17 months addition, his unit liberated the last con- with the Merchant Marines. His role on centration camp in Czechoslovakia. In the ship was in the engine room, located addition to WWII, Bill served in the Ko- 31 feet below sea level, and as a second rean War, and then served in Dominican Page 30 70 YEARS IN THE WAITING Veteran, 89, who spent 70 years waiting for Arctic Father-of-two Mr Jacobs, from Box, Convoy medal dies with it Wiltshire, then passed away just ninety in his hand just 90 minutes minutes after he finally received the hon- after receiving it our he had always deserved. • Herbert Jacobs made several voyages delivering supplies to Soviet Union Mike, 64, said: ‘I applied on his behalf earlier this year, but heard nothing. I then • He was one of many who applied for saw David Cameron on the television an- Arctic Star to recognise heroism nouncing it, so I got back in touch. • Held medal in his hand on his death bed after it arrived on day he died But by the end of April, my dad was fad- ing fast, and I got on to them again and A Royal Navy veteran awarded the Arc- told them his life was coming to an end. tic Star in recognition of his heroism bat- ‘It came in the post the next day, and it tling the Nazis 70 years ago died just 90 was really special. He got to hold it, he minutes after receiving the medal. got to see it, he knew what it was, what it Mr Jacobs was one of thousands of sailors was for and what it meant. Herbert Jacobs, 89, was one of thousands who made what Churchill described as ‘the of sailors who made what Churchill de- worst journey in the world’ to the Russian ‘An hour and a half later he passed away.’ scribed ‘the worst journey in the world’ ports of Arkangelsk and Murmansk during During the war Mr Jacobs helped land to the Russian ports of Arkangelsk and WWII as part of the Arctic Convoys. Mr tanks on the shores of Normandy during Murmansk during the Second World Jacobs is also pictured, right (seated, centre), D-Day, where a shell missed his head by War as part of the Arctic Convoys. in 1950 inches.

The father-of-two held the new Arctic two weeks before the official medal-giv- He reached the rank of Petty Officer Star medal in his hand as he lay on his ing ceremony. in his spell in the Navy, which ended in death bed after he received the honour on 1953 when he moved on to become a the day he died. Mr Jacobs, who joined the forces aged stonemason. 15 in 1939 and served aboard the HMS Sheffield for two years, received the med- The Government’s decision to issue med- Mr Jacobs dodged U-boats and icebergs al in the post on April 24 - and was to als to Arctic heroes came after decades of while making several voyages as part of able hold the bronze six-pointed star in campaigning by veterans’ groups. the Arctic Convoys - delivering vital sup- his hand as he lay on his death bed. plies to the Soviet Union.

He was one of many men and women who applied for the new Arctic Star medal to officially recognise their hero- ism.

The medal, officially awarded for the first time last week, is to honour those who suffered as they made harrowing journeys through icebergs and enemy-infested waters.

But because he was dying from vascular and respiratory problems his son Mike Voyage: A photograph taken by Mr Jacobs in Kola Inlet, near Murmansk, Russia during his begged officials to give him the honour time on the WW2 Arctic Convoy Page 31 70 YEARS IN THE WAITING

Kingdom, Iceland, and North America to northern ports in the Soviet Union.

There were 78 convoys between August 1941 and May 1945 sailing over several seas of the Atlantic and Arctic Oceans.

About 1,400 merchant ships delivered vi- tal supplies to the Soviet Union under the Lend-Lease program, escorted by ships of the Royal Navy, Royal Canadian Navy, and the U.S. Navy.

Eighty-five merchant vessels and 16 Royal Navy warships - two cruisers, six destroyers, eight other escort ships - were lost.

Weaponry: A photograph of a battleship in Kola Inlet, taken by Mr Jacobs when he was serv- The Nazi German Kriegsmarine lost a ing as part of the Arctic Convoy number of vessels including one battle- The sailors are now being awarded the Mr Jacobs, who had several grandchil- ship, three destroyers and at least 30 U- medal for playing a vital role in keeping dren, was married to Barbara, who died boats as well as a large number of aircraft. Soviet Russia supplied in their desperate in 2009. fight against the Nazis. Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/ ‘THE WORST JOURNEY IN THE article-2324897/Herbert-Jacobs-Veteran- Mike, a professional driver, added: ‘He WORLD’: THE ARCTIC CON- 89-spent-70-years-waiting-recognition-Arc- was one of many brave young men that VOYS tic-Convoy-dies-medal-hand-just-90-min- went to war. I’m so proud of him, of utes-receiving-it.html#ixzz2XG4rGQwU course. I’m going to cherish the medal The Arctic Convoys were oceangoing Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | Daily- forever.’ convoys which sailed from the United Mail on Facebook

Herbert Jacobs (pictured with his wife Bar- bara) died just 90 minutes after receiving the Arctic Star in recognition of his heroism Bravery: Mr Jacobs joined the forces in 1939 (left) and was awarded his Arctic Star (right), while delivering vital supplies to the Soviet to honour his bravery while taking part in the Arctic Convoys, on the day he died last month Union during the Second World War Page 32 VIEW FROM THE

A Soldier’s View from the to the dock. It was a cool, damp, foggy were all going home! We sailed on the Troopships morning, and I remember how green SS Bardstown Victory from Bremer- Michael F. Connor the countryside was, with thatched- haven, Germany on March 5, 1946. The roof cottages on the hillsides near the builder’s plate showed she was built at harbor. Bethlehem-Sparrows Point Shipyard, During 1999 I was aboard the SS John another link with home. W. Brown as a sightseer, for the Chesa- A British army band greeted us and we peake Bay Fall Cruise and the Veteran’s immediately boarded a train at dock- As a postscript I must talk about the dis- Day WWII Homecoming reenactment side. We traveled all day and through turbing and bizarre fate of the SS Leo- cruise, and I became a PLS member. the night, passing through Edinburgh, poldville, in which I crossed to France. These events brought recollections of Doncaster, Birmingham and other cit- She was a converted Belgian liner and my own experiences on several troop- ies. British Red Cross workers served had carried passengers between Ant- ships in revealing to the European us coffee, tea and scones at various werp and the Belgian Congo, and was theater in WWII and returning home stops. We reached Eastleigh, just out- used for summer cruises on the Medi- after the war. side Southhampton, about 0500 the terranean. The ship’s officers and gun next day. Then we were loaded onto crews were mostly British, and the crew When the D-Day invasion of Nor- trucks and went directly to the harbor were mostly African, who spoke only mandy occurred, I was in infantry at Southhampton French. training with the 100th division in Fort Bragg, NC. Shortly after that, our regi- By this time we realized we weren’t go- In the late 1980’s I read an article by an ment was tapped for replacements for ing to get to spend any time in England. ex-GI from the U.S. 66th Infantry Divi- overseas duty, and my call came in early We were herded into a large, warehouse sion. His division was being rushed to August, 1944. Our group was shipped of a building, and then out to the dock France to reinforce the troops engaged to Fort Meade, MD for processing, where we boarded the SS Leopoldville in the Battle of the Bulge. There were and then to Camp Shanks, NY several to cross the English Channel. I think about 2,200 men crossing on the Leo- weeks later, before embarkation. it’s only about 30 miles across at this poldville that Christmas Eve in 1944. point, but the Leopoldville pulled out She was struck by a torpedo from a We sailed for Europe from New York into the Channel and had to wait for German sub when she was only about with other ground forces and air cover the rest of the convoy to assemble. We seven miles from her destination of replacements on September 10, 1944. finally got underway after nightfall, Cherbourg. This GI survived the sink- Our carrier was the converted French and reached France the next afternoon. ing only because he was seasick and was luxury liner, Ile de France, and she was Landing craft took us to the tempo- on deck getting some fresh air when loaded with about 10,000 G.I.s. The rary docks at the Omaha Beach D-Day the torpedo struck. Many others be- voyage was uneventful, with warm, sun- landing site. We climbed the bluffs and low decks drowned when the ship went ny weather and calm seas. Our quarters camped nearby in our first replacement down. A British escort destroyer rescued were on D deck (pretty far down), and depot, near the beach. many, but around 800 men perished that our canvas bunks were stacked four night, by drowning or from hypother- high. We had daily boat drills and had After a week at this depot, our group be- mia, as they waited in the icy water. two meal sittings each day, with the gan its journey by rail and truck through times staggered to accommodate the replacement depots near LeMans, then Surviving eyewitnesses claim the of- large number of troops. I believe our into Belgium, and finally to Holland. ficers and crew got off safely, with lit- meal times were at 1000 and 1500, and The Dutch depot was near the German tle regard for the thousands of troops we ate a lot of bully beef (the British border and the city of Aachen, then un- still on board. The History Channel term for canned corned beef ) and hard- der siege by U.S. troops. They assigned recently aired a program about this boiled eggs served up by British cooks our group of replacements to the 29th tragedy, and it is also mentioned in the and helpers. I think we had one shower Infantry Division, well known to me as book by James Baxter Denney, “When with salt water during the 9-day trip. the -Virginia National Guard Duty Called”. Denney was stationed Division. I went to division headquar- in Cherbourg when the distress signal As we approached the southwest coast ters, and remained with the 29th for the came in from a U.S. destroyer, and he of England, two British destroyers ap- duration of the war. was on one of the rescue boats sent out. peared and escorted us through the Irish Sea to the Scottish port of Gourock, My third and final experience on a When the rescuers arrived all they near Glasgow. We disembarked the Ile was the happiest, because we could do was retrieve about 600 dead de France on lightships, which took us Page 33 VIEW FROM THE TROOPSHIPS soldiers from the water. Survivors were reasons, and later . . . as a cover-up by plete manifests, all kept secret for a under strict orders not to mention the those in authority? half-century. sinking and loss of life, just as though it had never happened. Families of the Many who were interviewed later con- It gives me an eerie feeling whenever deceased were notified that their rela- cluded that if certain people had done I think of the Leopoldville, knowing tives were “missing in action”, though their jobs more diligently, many of the I was on her just three months be- the authorities knew this was not the soldiers lost could have been saved. fore this happened, crossing the same case. Many never learned the truth, The lack of boat drills, the mis-routing stretch of water. I can only wonder even after the war ended. It was 50 of the early distress calls to Liverpool why after the war the authorities saw years before documents regarding this (instead of Cherbourg), the ignorance fit to keep the fate of the soldiers a se- event were declassified. The truth was of other convoy ships of the troops cret from their loved ones, and from withheld - at the time for security presence on the Leopoldville, incom- the public.

Page 34 MORE LETTERS FROM THE CREW

H H H H H H H H H school and several weeks of persuading, to write the enclosed outline, (portions my father agreed to sign if I could pass were published in the book, THEAT- Edward Mickens the rigid test for Naval Aviation Pilot ER OF WAR: WE REMEMBER, 264 Chittenden Road Clifton Training. I passed, mainly through the edited by Wendy Lazer in 2001, page NJ 07013 efforts of Mr. Peter Hubiak, who tu- 153). as a legacy for those most impor- tored me several months in the boiler tant to me - my wife, family, children, Dear Charles: room of Garfield High School. grandchildren and friends - and for Your opening paragraph of the current the whole world. POINTER reminded why I should be Now, as I recall, I entered the Navy as starting to record my time in the Navy. I a school boy, and after more than three Looking back on those war years, I am 88 years old and also wondered IT’S years — grew up in a hurry — into sense and truly believe that it was Di- WHAT WILL HAPPEN? manhood. vine Providence that steered my Navy course. I am grateful to my Country I have enclosed a copy of my PREF- After retiring (70 in 1994) - I started for guiding my return to a civilian life ACE to my article, which was not in the gathering pictures, notes and letters that afforded me the opportunity to: latest copy that I sent to you. It’s intent of years gone by. I organized our fam- purchase my first home, obtain a col- was to become a legacy for my children, ily picture albums, by years -from our lege education, meet an extraordinary grandchildren and great-grandchildren. wedding, birth of our children, grand- lady, my wife, and now - a fine fam- children - our 50th Wedding Anniver- ily. You may use any portion of my article, sary - and still keeping up with pictures EFM i.e., avoid the personal aspects and con- we take today. H H H H H H H H H sider the portion while at sea. Especially the PAUL HAMILTON tragedy, which Writing about my days in the Navy was I witnessed the torpedo that struck the a different matter. We were forbid- “Daughter, when I was young, nice girls vessel. As you can note in my notes I did den to keep a dairy, or notes, while at never held a man’s hand. some researching of the incident. sea. Our letters were subject to censor- ship. After gathering what notes and “I know, mother, but now-a-days, nice Regards, pictures I had, I felt that I could pos- girls have to hold men’s hands.” EFM/AG sibly reconstruct my services years. I H H H H H H H H H became aware of confidential U.S. Navy P. S. reports that became obtainable for the I have also enclosed a check to sustain time covering my tour of duty. Cop- He: “Something’s seems to be wrong with the life of you and THE POINTER. ies were secured. One of my children the engine, it------“ Keep up the good work! As a former gave me Tom Brokaw’s best seller book, Signalman I hoist: WELL DONE “The Greatest Generation” - which I She: “Don’t be foolish, wait until we get off thoroughly enjoyed. I found and relived this main road!” PREFACE pieces of my life - some that I already H H H H H H H H H I never expected to write about my ex- forgot - throughout the book. I real- periences that took place in WORLD ized that I lived and was part of “The WAR II while serving in the U.S. Navy. Greatest Generation” - thanks to God. WAVE: Everytime I go up North, I have For boys in their teens, like me, at the I was proud to serve, and survive - to to change into my heavy undies. You know, beginning thought war was a grand have done my duty to God and my I’m from Texas. adventure. And it was, until you got a Country. smell of fear and witnessed unbeliev- S1/c: “That SO? I’m from Missouri.” able acts, then those so-called adven- The American Legion Magazine (Au- H H H H H H H H H tures left you. Many of us (veterans) gust 1999) had a section called, “in did lock many stories in our memories. search of that read - “World War II veterans to record on paper their com- 90 day Wonder: “Listen sailor, if the Cap- I volunteered to enter the U.S. Navy, ments and narratives for a book that tain you ever heard you call that deck a but my mother would not agree to sign will be available in stores, by catalog, floor, he’d throw you out of one of them the “consent papers” because I was un- schools and libraries. Profits will be little round windows.” derage and the youngest member of our donated to the National World War II H H H H H H H H H family. However, after graduating high Memorial”. It moved and inspired me Page 35 MERCHANT SHIPS AT NORMANDY

Naval Armed Guard The 22 block ships were carefully pre- house for visiting firemen by furnishing Service: Merchant Ships at pared for their assigned operation. The food and quarters to countless numbers Normandy during the heavy [deck] gun aft was removed and of troops and small boat crews. One of D-Day Invasion four 20mm [anti-aircraft guns] and a her Armed Guards was wounded by a 40mm [anti-aircraft gun] were generally shell fragment. Not until June 17 did the (Operation Neptune), June - July 1944 substituted. The ships were stripped of Armed Guards leave the ship. all unnecessary gear. About eight explo- Related Resource: Naval Armed Guard sive charges were placed in the holds and The Courageous reported E-boat attacks Service During World War II large openings were cut in the transverse en route to Omaha Beach, artillery fire bulkheads. Necessary food supplies and upon arrival on June 7, and air attacks Source: Office of the Chief of Naval ammunition had to be moved topside, every night from June 7 to 12. On June Operations. “History of the Armed for the decks of some of the ships were 9 her Armed Guards hit a [German] Guard Afloat, World War II.” (Wash- to be under water at times. plane which in turn dropped a bomb so ington, 1946): 176-185. [This micro- close that the decks were sprayed with fiche, identified as United States Naval The men aboard the 13 ships scuttled off fragments. The plane crashed. The Pot- Administrative History of World War Omaha Beach and the 9 ships scuttled ter was forced to seaward on the night II #173, is located in the Navy Depart- off Utah Beach had much the same ex- of June 7 by [German] 88mm [artillery] ment Library, and can be purchased, or periences. Crossing the [English] Chan- fire, but was scuttled the next day. Many borrowed through interlibrary loan.]. nel there were the [enemy] mines and shell fragments landed on her decks the E-boats [small fast German motor and one Armed Guard was wounded. Losses to merchant ships [during the in- torpedo boats also known as Schnell- Her crew was relieved on June 13. Sev- vasion] were much lower than had been boote or S-Boats; similar to American eral bombs landed close to the James anticipated. In fact, the operation ran PT-boats]. By day German 88mm guns W. Marshall. Her Armed Guard officer with all the regularity of a well-adjusted fired at the block ships, and by night en- remained on board until June 22 in con- clock. Many ships plied back and forth emy bombers came over. nection with the command of all Armed between English ports and the beaches Guards on the scuttled ships. But Army at Normandy. Some ships made as many The James Iredell was the lead ship personnel took over the gunnery duties as three trips in June alone. Most ships among the block ships and she was on the Marshall on June 13. The Wils- which went [to the Normandy landing scuttled at the appointed position on cox had a narrow miss on June 11. Her areas] in the early days of the invasion the afternoon of June 7, 1944. At 2030 Armed Guards were also evacuated on had some contact with the enemy, but German artillery fire became so heavy June 13. The Armed Guards on the losses were small. The Luftwaffe [Ger- that the Armed Guards on this ship Audacious remained aboard until June man air force] no longer had the punch and on the Baialaide and the Galves- 18. The Armed Guards on the Olam- which made it the scourge of ships in the ton were evacuated. But they returned bala reported some 32 air attacks to June Mediterranean in 1942 and 1943. Over- to their ships on the morning of June 16, but only one merchant seaman was whelming [Allied] might was slowly re- 8. The Armed Guards of the Baialaide wounded before the merchant crew was ducing the German ability to strike. remained at their guns until June 17. At removed. Fragments from 88mm guns high tide the main deck of the ship was which were scoring near misses hit the Block Ships, Mission A six feet under water. The Armed Guards decks of the Artemus Ward on June on the James Iredell and the Galveston 7. One Armed Guard was wounded The story of how a modern [artificial] recorded air attacks every night until on June 9. Bombs narrowly missed on port was built at Omaha and Utah June 15, when they were relieved. On June 10 and 11, and shell fragments hit beaches has already been revealed. the George W. Childs, which was scut- on the latter date. Part of the gun crew Armed Guards on some 22 merchant tled on June 8, the Armed Guards had was removed on June 19. Because of a ships which were scuttled [deliberately narrowly missed being hit by artillery storm from June 19 to 22 [this was the sunk] to make a breakwater played a vi- fire as they lay off the beach on the night great storm which wrecked the artificial tal part in this operation. For days they of June 7. Mines and E-boats had been “mulberry” harbors at the Normandy endured the early fury of the German encountered while crossing the Chan- beachheads], the ship cracked. The last counter-attack and helped give fire pro- nel. There were three or four air attacks Armed Guards were not removed until tection to the forces ashore from their at night and one bomb landed 50 yards June 22. The West Grama fired about 19 partly submerged ships. This was a task from the Childs. She was credited with times and scored one assist on June 9. which required courage and the ability two assists [in shooting down enemy One Armed Guard on this vessel was to do without sleep. aircraft]. She established a kind of open wounded while at Omaha Beach. A Page 36 MERCHANT SHIPS AT NORMANDY bomb landed close to the ship on June Supplying the Army of Liberation. departure from Normandy. On June 8 14. Her Armed Guards left the ship on five Armed Guards and two merchant June 18. She was credited with two as- Armed Guards on merchant ships mak- crewmen were injured on the Horace sists [in shooting down German aircraft]. ing trips between Britain and Normandy Gray when a 20mm shell exploded in Flight Command reported 30 to 35 alerts experienced just about every form of at- her 5”/38 gun platform [naval artillery prior to June 15. tack. Submarines and planes were sup- is described by bore size and bore length plemented by the new “V” bombs [the in calibers - thus this gun had a 5-inch At Utah Beach the George S. Wasson German V-1 missiles - the “buzz bomb” - bore, 38 calibers - 190 inches - in length]. went through 32 raids from June 7 to 14. an unguided cruise missile launched from Fragments landed on the Benjamin The David O. Saylor was forced to with- bases in France to hit targets in England] Hawkins on June 9 when a bomb landed draw from Utah Beach because of heavy which passed over many ships on their close. Many shell fragments hit the Col- artillery fire which was straddling her on way to England. Mines were a constant lis P. Huntington during the early days June 7. She was also forced to withdraw menace, and they took a heavy toll of at Utah Beach and this ship destroyed once on June 8 but was successfully scut- ships. E boats were active [German fast a [German] plane. The Walter Hines tled in the afternoon. Her Armed Guards torpedo boats]. German artillery contin- Page hit a plane on June 8. The Robert left on June 13. The West Nohno helped ued to shell the anchorages [off the Nor- E. Peary was strafed by a [German] plane shoot down several enemy planes on June mandy landing beaches] for some days. on June 9 and destroyed one plane on this 10. Her Armed Guards left on June 18. Fortunately, there as excellent [Allied] air date. The William Carson suffered five The Benjamin Contee Armed Guards cover and ships were required to anchor casualties on June 9 when a shell landed withdrew from the ship on June 14 af- off the beaches for only a few days be- inside her 3”/50 gun tub [a gun platform ter 32 raids. Artillery narrowly missed fore returning to England for more cargo. on the bow or stern which resembled a the Matt W. Ransom at Utah Beach. While the number of planes destroyed by tub] and exploded. The Amos G. Throop Her Armed Guards reported many alerts Armed Guards at Normandy is not large, was credited with the destruction of one and indicated that from 8 to 10 rounds their guns made excellent records on the plane on this date. of [German] artillery fire were observed few occasions when they fired. each day to June 15. They left two days The John S. Mosby and the Helias each later. The Vitruvius reported that six It is impossible to describe all of the ac- had five casualties from the anti-aircraft planes were shot down by her fire and by tion at Normandy. Attack was expected, fire at the beaches on June 9. Several the shore batteries on June 10. She was and most ships were attacked at one time soldiers were killed and wounded when narrowly missed by bombs on the night of or another. Her we shall mention only a German shell landed 20 feet from the June 11. The Armed Guards on the Vic- ships which actually suffered damage or Ezra Weston on June 9. This ship was tory Sword brought down six planes on which inflicted damage on the enemy. sunk off the English coast on August 8 the night of June 10. The West Cheswald when she hit a mine. When the Armed claimed one plane destroyed. Her Armed One of the first merchant ships to be hit Guard officer called for volunteers to Guards were not removed until June 19. at Normandy was the Francis C. Har- man the aft gun, all Armed Guards vol- The West Honaker was damaged by two rington. On June 7 she struck a mine. unteered even though orders had been skip bombs on June 8 and part of the There were 25 casualties but no Armed given to abandon ship. But the Armed merchant crew and the Armed Guards Guards were injured. The Jedediah S. Guards were forced to abandon ship in abandoned ship. Not until June 10 was Smith was hit by shell fragments from about 25 minutes. she scuttled about 400 yards from the shore batteries while at Normandy beach. Her Armed Guards left on June soon after D-Day. The Charles Morgan The James B. Weaver was credited with 14. The Armed Guard crews from the brought down two planes on June 9 but one [shot down enemy] plane on June block ships were returned to the United was hit by a bomb in her No. 5 hatch 10. She also exploded two rocket bombs States on the Queen Elizabeth. There was the next morning. Killed and wounded [V-1 missiles passing overhead?]. A no loss of life among the Armed Guards numbered about twelve, but no Armed 20mm shell injured two men, neither of taking part in this dangerous operation. Guards were injured. This ship was aban- them Armed Guards, on the Henry Per- doned. The Will Rogers shot down one cy on June 10. Four men on the Edward The Commander of United States Naval plane and helped bring down another W. Scripps were hit by bomb or shell Forces in Europe highly commended the on the night of June 8. She survived the fragments. Armed Guard personnel for their partici- entire Normandy operation only to be pation in placing the block ships and de- torpedoed near Liverpool in April 1945. The John Hay was one of the few mer- fending the ships until relieved by Army She was beached. Shell fragments hit chant ships which reported firing at an E personnel. the decks of the John Steel prior to her boat. Two [Navy Seabee] Construction Page 37 MERCHANT SHIPS AT NORMANDY

Battalion personnel aboard were hit by there were casualties among the merchant bot bomb [German V-1 missile]. She flak on June 10 and one Armed Guard crew. The Charles C. Jones had two very shot the bomb down on June 25 [the was injured on June 11. Fragments from near misses from bombs on June 15 and V-1’s flew low and slow]. Merchant German shells landed on the stern gun one soldier was slightly injured. The Cot- ships spoke of the Straits of Dover as deck of the George G. Crawford on June ton Mather downed a plane on the same “Doodlebug Alley” because so many of 10. The Cyrus H. McCormick came day. Flak landed on the decks of the Elihu the V-bombs were observed flying over. through the Normandy invasion with Root on June 16 and bomb fragments hit nothing worse than one member of the the ship two days later. The William N. On July 25 the David Starr Jordan suf- merchant crew hit by a bomb or shell Pendleton was hit on June 18 by a bomb fered 15 casualties from fragmentation fragment. But she was torpedoed on which did not explode. A fire was quickly bombs which landed close. Two sol- April 18, 1945 while en route from New extinguished. The Armed Guard officer diers died. One three of the wounded York to the . and the chief radio operator were slightly were Armed Guards. Perhaps the most wounded. The Moose Peak was credited unusual weapon with which a ship was On June 11 the George White field with one plane on June 19. bombarded fell upon the Joseph Story claimed a hit on a German plane. The on July 23. This consisted of a package Dan Beard survived only to be torpe- On June 25 the Matthew T. Goldsboro of propaganda leaflets. doed in January, 1945. The ship was off was hit by fragments from shells bursting the British coast. She broke in two parts. in the Straits of Dover. A hole was blown The Farallon towed ten block ships to Only 15 Armed Guards survived. Two in the engine room 15” in diameter. She as France in three months. On her return merchant seamen were wounded on June also shelled by coastal batteries on July 22. voyages to England she towed damaged 11 when bombs fell close to the George ships. On August 23 a British freighter E. Badger. She may have hit a plane on Several ships struck mines, especially was being towed when a torpedo struck this date. toward the end of June. On June 28 the the British ship. En route to the United Charles W. Eliot struck a mine off Juno States with an LST [a US Navy Land- The William L. Marcy was hit by shell Beach and was a total loss. Two Armed ing Ship, Tank] in tow on December fragments from German shells on June Guards and two merchant seamen were 20, the Farallon had another close 13 while in the Straits of Dover. She wounded. On June 29 four ships struck call when the LST was torpedoed. A made seven voyages to France only to mines. The Edward M. House, already [Navy] destroyer escort came to the have an explosion, perhaps from a mine, credited with one plane at Normandy, scene and was in turn torpedoed. The off on August 7. All hands was en route to Utah Beach. She struck Farallon took this ship in tow after abandoned ship but she was reboarded a mine in the afternoon but was able to the LST was abandoned. A [German the same day. Her Armed Guard officer continue to the beach. There were only submarine] periscope appeared only 20 thought that perhaps a human torpedo minor casualties. The H.G. Blasdell was feet from the Moose Peak. struck the ship. Armed Guard suffered towed back to England after she struck only minor cuts and bruises, but one sol- a mine. There were many Army casual- Such were the principal events in the dier was killed. ties aboard the ship. Other ships which history of the Armed Guards at Nor- struck mines on this date were reported mandy. The ships discussed above by no The Casimir Pulaski brought down a to be the James A. Farrell and the John means exhaust the list. In any event, the plane on June 14. She was missed by two A. Treutlen. The mine field was encoun- above mentioned ships were involved aerial torpedoes by only 15 feet. Bomb tered about 30 miles south of Catherine in action which was typical of that to be fragments hit the Arthur Sewall on July Point. There were Army casualties aboard found around Normandy. Their experi- 12 and flak landed on her decks on July the James A. Farrell. The John Merrick ences were somewhat worse than those 29. On December 29 south of Portland avoided the mines by a turn to the right. of many ships which were at Norman- Bill a torpedo struck the ship. She fired dy during the war. at torpedoes and claimed hits. There were The William A. Jones was one of the no serious wounds to Armed Guards, but few merchant ships to bring down a ro-

“Ode to women in service” Were I in the mood to make merry, looking for fun or a snack, With maybe a dance, light talk and romance, I’d choose me a fun loving WAC

If I sought a date simulating, to pry mental dullness afar, A short snappy tussle to make my wits hustle, I’d give as a shipmate a SPAR.

But when I contemplate marriage, and peace and contentment I crave, If by then I am ready to settle down steady, I’d get me a permanent WAVE.

Page 38 34 DAYS IN A LIFEBOAT

Beyond the Battlefield: The Armed Guard was disbanded fol- He Survived 34 Days in a lowing the end of World War II. During Lifeboat the war, they were responsible for de- fending U.S. and Allied merchant ships from attack by enemy aircraft, subma- Alvin T. Kemble, 88, of suburban Har- rines, and surface ships. risburg, is a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II who served aboard a Merchant Kemble was assigned to the S.S. James Marine “Liberty Ship” that was sunk by a W. Denver, a new cargo ship designed German submarine in the North Atlan- and built specifically for hauling freight tic. He spent 34 days adrift in a lifeboat for the wartime effort. Tanks, jeeps, before being rescued by a small Spanish guns, ammunition, clothing, food, and fishing boat near the Canary Islands. medical supplies were stocked deep in her hold and even above deck. The ship Born May 28, 1924, in Lykens, Dau- was 479 feet long, 57 feet wide, and 25 phin County, Kemble received only an feet high. eighth-grade education in a one-room school. He enlisted in the Navy in April The Denver had a crew of 85 seamen: 59 1942. in the Merchant Marine and 26 in the Navy’s Armed Guard. “With what seemed to be the worst be- After 42 days of basic training at Bain- hind us, we were located about 350 miles bridge, Md., he was given 10 days’ leave “I boarded her at Sparrow Point, Md. due west of the Canary Islands. It was before being sent to gunnery school at After stowing my gear, we were off to here that we met with the worst problem Little Creek, Va., after which he was to pick up her first load. any American ship could encounter, a supposed to go home to get married, but We cast off our lines and left the Port of German U-boat. It was 5 p.m., dinner- the Navy had other plans for him. New York on April 1, 1943; joining with time, on Sunday, April 11, 1943, when a convoy, we headed east; our destina- the Denver was struck with two torpe- Kemble became a member of a little- tion, Casablanca. does on her port side. known branch of the Navy, known as the Armed Guard. This unit served pri- “We were out at sea two or three days “The impact brought the ship to a sudden marily as gunners, signal men, radio and when the fog got so thick, you couldn’t stop, as if she had hit a brick wall. She radar operators, and officers on cargo see the other ships. We got separated was shaking like a wet dog and you could ships, tankers, troop ships, and other from the others and soon found our- smell what seemed to be spent gunpow- vessels, along with civilian crews of the selves alone in this vast wilderness of der everywhere. Merchant Marine. water. “When the first torpedo hit, I was lying “Normally, the procedure of operation on my bunk reading a book. The explo- dictated returning to port to pick up an- sion was so strong, it ripped my bunk other convoy. A ship of this size, loaded from the wall mounts and dropped me to to the hilt, shouldn’t be chugging along the floor. I no sooner got to my feet when all alone in the Atlantic. The German the second torpedo struck. Again, the im- wolf-packs love to hit a slow-moving pact threw me to the floor. I knew it was target. time to grab my life jacket.

“Procedures are not always followed, “G.Q. (General Quarters) sounded and however. Our captain decided to at- I headed directly to my battle station, a tempt to make this trip solo. It wasn’t 5-inch gun located at the back of the ship. too long until our ship came to a sudden I was the first shell man to get there. We stop. The engines broke down and now were at battle stations for what seemed to we were a sitting duck. It was quickly be an eternity when we noticed that the determined that an engine bearing was Denver was sinking, bow first. It wasn’t at fault. Repairs were made and once long before we heard the word to aban- again we were under way. don ship.” Page 39 34 DAYS IN A LIFEBOAT

Alvin T. Kemble, a Navy gunner at his “The metal lifeboat I was in was 18 feet side of its . We made every attempt battle station on a merchant ship in long and 4 feet wide. There were 19 of to push ourselves away. This vessel World War II when the torpedoed ves- us packed in like sardines. I was sitting would surely swamp our little boat and sel began to sink, was glad he received against the side wall of the boat and my sink the last chance we had for survival. the proper training regarding abandon- knees touched those of a fellow sitting ing ship. It may have saved his life. across from me. We had no room to “Slowly the sub moved away and cir- move around, just stand up from time cled around, coming to a stop a short Kemble, 88, of suburban Harrisburg, to time to keep the blood circulating distance away. The captain on her was at the stern (rear) of the ship as its in our legs. We had oars but didn’t use bridge asked if we needed any medical bow (front end) sank under the water. them to conserve our strength. I think attention. Our elected chief answered, The rear end, where his gun was located, they were eventually thrown overboard ‘No.’ The German commander inquired lifted about 30 feet above the water. as they took up valuable space. as to the name of our ship. ‘Was it the James W. Denver?’ He also inquired as “The first thing they teach you in Navy “We elected the oldest man in the boat to the contents of the Denver. The chief survival courses is to hold down your to be our captain as he was in the Mer- responded, ‘We don’t know, and could life jacket when jumping off a ship. This chant Marine with the most experi- you tell us where the nearest landfall is?’ prevents the life jacket from popping up ence. His job consisted of rationing out on contact with the water and snapping the water. Each man would get 6 ounc- “The German commander advised us to your neck. es. There was a built-in keg of drinking head due east for 300 miles. He wished water. The meals were a can of Pemmi- us God speed and sailed away. We “The second thing they teach you is to can. Four men shared one can. We tried speculated that this may have been the jump feet first. This way, if you hit debris to gather rainwater but without success. sub that had sunk our ship, the Denver, floating on the water, you will impact When the canvas we used got wet, it and may have been hanging around to it first with your feet and not your head. was covered with salt from the water. hit any rescue vessels that would come Finally, they teach you to get as far away to save us, but we will never know be- from the ship as quickly as you can; other- “The days were extremely hot and the cause no rescue ships came.” wise, you might get sucked under with it. nights very cold. Storms would pop up and last for days. Waves would aver- Alvin T. Kemble, 88, a resident of the “These were all good lessons and I am age about 30 feet and it was a task just Chambers Hill area east of Harrisburg, here to prove it. It was getting dark to keep this tiny boat afloat. After the was a gunner in the U.S. Navy’s Armed quickly. I was bobbing up and down in storms, our clothes would be wet for Guard assigned to a Liberty ship that the water like a beach ball. I decided to three days and we would shiver. was sunk in 1943. He tells of his expe- turn on the little red light fastened on riences during 34 days in a lifeboat in the life jacket which, if working proper- “During the times of prolonged heat, the North Atlantic Ocean: ly, should ensure that you will be visible we would take turns hanging over the by a lifeboat or rescue vessel that may side of the boat to get wet. This was re- Three weeks passed. It was dark when happen by. freshing but short-lived. The saltwater we saw the Queen Mary in the distance. has a tendency to dry out your skin. It We shot off a flare to get her attention. “I’m not sure how long I was floating wasn’t long before we became much too It did. Thinking that it was an old Ger- when I heard a voice through the dark- weak to enjoy this small comfort. Con- man u-boat trick—getting them to stop ness, ‘Over here is one!’, a sound that was versation centered around places we and giving the sub a clear shot—the music to my ears.” knew that had sensational food and, of Queen Mary quickly changed course course, home with Mom’s homemade and sped off at top speed. Kemble’s lifeboat joined four others. meals. The conditions aboard the lifeboat be- “It was decided that we should all stay “On the third day one of the men spot- gan to deteriorate. The ocean became together. That night we tried as best we ted a ship. Our hopes were soon crushed rough and the food was soon gone. could to stay in a pack. The next morn- when it turned out to be a German Some of the men became sick and ing the ocean had her own plans for us submarine. It nearly ran over us. As it weak. Perhaps it was by the grace of and we soon were enduring a small gale. attempted to maneuver around us at God that one day, two flying fish acci- Wind and waves soon made it impos- the last minute, our lifeboat washed up dently jumped into the boat. We sliced sible to maintain the pack and each boat on its deck. A second or two later, we the fish into 19 pieces and each of us broke off and floated away. slipped off again, bouncing against the ate them raw. Page 40 34 DAYS IN A LIFEBOAT

Soon after we found ourselves in the pot placed in the middle of the floor which brought us back to the States. We center of a school of whales. They had with a couple big spoons passed from learned that all five lifeboats from the S.S. the nasty habit of coming up under our one to another. James W. Denver had been rescued. boat. If they hit us just right, our life- boat would flip over like a pancake. In We spent a week before moving on. We One lifeboat with 11 survivors was our condition, we knew we would not had to wait for a supply boat to bring picked up after seven days by the S.S. have had the strength to right the cap- supplies to the fort. It also carried fish, Cabo Huertas. A second lifeboat, out 13 sized boat and crawl back inside. lots of fish. We had to sleep on a tarp days with 15 survivors, was rescued by the placed over the fish. S.S. Cantana. A third with 10 survivors Another cold night was approaching was picked up after 22 days by the S.S. when the wind began to blow. This wind Three days passed before we arrived at Albufeira, and the fourth with 14 survi- was different from others we had expe- Las Palmas in the Canary Islands. Here vors was spotted after 32 days by an RAF rienced. This time it caused a stinging we stayed at the British Seamen’s In- plane 100 miles north of Port-Etienne, sensation on our faces. When daylight stitute. It was here that we received our Mauritania, which arranged a rescue. came, we realized we were covered with first bath and clean clothes and the op- sand; we must be close to land. No land portunity of having the knots cut out of Kemble also learned that one of the ship’s was in sight, but two days later, a small our hair. We stayed here for about two crew had been fatally injured during the boat was spotted by one man. Was it a weeks. There was a German Institute di- torpedo attack of the Denver. The sea- mirage? Perhaps it was because it was rectly across the street. They watched us man was put on another lifeboat and soon out of sight. A short time later, every day from their windows. succumbed to internal injuries three days there it was again. later. We were instructed by the man who ran We yelled as loud as we could. The small the British Seamen’s Institute to go out- After the harrowing experience of spend- boat pulled alongside. It was a Spanish side in pairs. “It is not safe here to walk ing 34 days in a lifeboat during World fishing boat. This boat and others like alone,” he said. War II when his Merchant Marine ship it usually work as a network with a was sunk by a German u-boat in 1943, mother vessel. They catch as many fish From here we were put on a much better Alvin T. Kemble deserved to be dis- as they can and return to the mother ship. We were assigned rooms and a bed charged from the Navy, but it was war- ship where the fish are processed and to sleep on. Two days later we arrived time. stored. We didn’t care about the fish at the port of Cadiz, Spain. We were smell. It was the best thing we’d seen checked into a hotel where we resided “After returning home for 22 days of for weeks. Rescued at last after 34 days for three days. We were instructed to R&R (rest and recovery), I went back in a lifeboat! be ready to move at a moment’s notice. to the Navy’s Armed Guard Center in A man came into the hotel and told us Brooklyn. They put me aboard the S.S. The man who picked us up had his son to grab our things; we were moving out Robert M. La Follette, a Liberty ship. We and two grandsons with him. We were immediately. went to England. At night we watched so weak we couldn’t stand up under our unmanned German ‘buzz bombs’ fly over. own power. The fishermen had to carry The next thing I know, we were on a us from the lifeboat. One boy allowed flatbed truck heading for the Rock of “Our ship moved around and ended at me to have his bunk. His name was Gibraltar. Accompanying us were 23 Plymouth, England, when we got word Albert. He was attracted to my ring, Frenchmen. We were all sitting on the that a lot of ships were leaving port. It which had the letter ‘A’ set in a black floor of the truck but one of my sea was June 6, 1944—D-Day. We later onyx stone. I graciously took it off and mates, Virgil Hurd, stood up and no learned about the invasion of Normandy. gave it to him. I believe it made his day. sooner did he get to his feet when he was struck in the head by a tree branch “Five days later, our ship crossed the Meals aboard this 75-foot, one-mast and was seriously injured. He received English Channel bound for Utah Beach, sailboat consisted of fish soup. We surgery in a Gibraltar hospital but died but a storm came up and we could not soon docked with the mother vessel. three days later of his wounds. unload our cargo there, so we waited un- We spent the next seven days until it til our troops took Cherbourg, France, dropped us off at Rio del Oro, a Span- The day after we arrived at the Rock, we where we unloaded our supplies. ish army fort on the edge of the Sahara were told we would be debriefed by Na- Desert. We all slept on the floor in one val Intelligence. A fellow Navy man and “Returning to England, we took on an- room. The meals consisted of one large I were assigned to the USS Lakehurst, other load of cargo and dropped it off at Page 41 34 DAYS IN A LIFEBOAT

Le Havre. From there we went back to the Kemble and 18 other men were crammed Approximately 145,000 enlisted men States—Rhode Island—got a load there into a lifeboat adrift for 1,400 miles and and officers served in the USN Armed and headed for the South Pacific. We went 34 days before being rescued by a Spanish Guard during World War II. They through the Panama Canal to and fisherman near the Canary Islands. All 19 sailed on 6,236 merchant ships, includ- from there to the invasion of Okinawa. seamen barely survived the ordeal at sea, ing Allied vessels, of which more than but one man was fatally injured in Spain 700 ships were sunk and many more “We lay there 35 days, and then returned when hit in the head by a tree branch were damaged. to New York and I was discharged from while riding in an open truck. the Navy. The war was over by then.” Armed Guard casualties numbered Occupants of four other lifeboats from more than 2,000 killed or missing in Kemble went to work in the carpentry the Denver were rescued by different action, and many were wounded, a shop of the Hershey Foods Corporation ships after shorter periods of time. A sixth casualty rate that grimly rivals the rate in Hershey, doing mostly masonry and lifeboat on the ship was damaged in the of any of the Armed Forces during concrete work. He retired in June 1982 af- torpedo attack and was unusable. Sixteen WWII. The AG was disbanded follow- ter 43 years with the company. of the 85 crew members were listed as ing the end of the war. missing in action (MIA). On Oct. 6, 1943, Kemble married Thelma Kemble still meets with some AG and Garrett. She died Dec. 7, 2010, after 67 Kemble was later assigned to another Lib- other World War II vets on the first years of marriage. Kemble has two sons, erty ship, the La Follette, which brought Thursday of the month at the Old Gary Lee and Roy Edward Kemble, and cargo to France after the invasion of Nor- Country Buffet on Jonestown Road two grandsons, Cody and Trey. mandy in June 1944, and he was involved (Route 22) in Lower Paxton Town- in the invasion of Okinawa near the end ship. Other senior veterans of all ser- In summary, Alvin T. Kemble of subur- of World War II. vice branches are welcome to join the ban Harrisburg, now 88, enlisted in the group, starting about 11 a.m. Navy in 1942 and served as a gunner in The U.S. Navy Armed Guard, of which the USN’s Armed Guard, a little-known Kemble was a gunner, also staffed Liberty If you are a mature veteran and have unit assigned to protect merchant ships ships with signal men, radio and radar interesting or unusual experiences in operating under the War Shipping Ad- operators, officers, and other military sup- your military or civilian life, phone Al ministration. His first ship, the S.S. James port personnel—even some Navy nurses Goodman at (717) 541-9889 or email W. Denver, on its maiden voyage, was hit in the WAVES—on cargo and troop him at [email protected]. by two torpedoes fired from a German u- ships operated by civilians in the Mer- boat and sunk on April 11, 1943. chant Marines.

Page 42 MORE LETTERS FROM THE CREW

Page 43 TWO LOST SHIPMATES

Two lost shipmates. hours had the hospital filled with well planning committee took the rare op- wishers. A nice lady had baked a cream portunity to re-live a wartime connec- In the cold early morning of 22 July around cake and decorated it with the words, tion by asking Bill if he, and his party, 5-30 am, the American liberty ship, Wil- ‘Good luck to the Yanks.’ ‘A very nice would consider being part of the 100 liam Dawes was approximately midway elderly gentleman passed out cash, as I year celebrations by coming in March between Merimbula and Tathra travelling remember it was a five pound note for instead of July. After much deliberation, alone and unescorted, when Commander each of us. I don’t remember his name Bill agreed as the whole purpose of his Tsuneo Shichiji aboard the 2900 ton even though I was later a dinner guest at trip was to lay the wreath, the timing Japanese submarine 1-11 ordered the first his home but I will always remember his was unimportant. torpedo to be fired. The torpedo struck face and that of his very lovely wife. The the stern section, causing massive damage owner of a movie house wrote a pass for The William Dawes is a integral part of from the entire after end of the ship to the any movie we wished to attend. Mr Ed- the history of Merimbula with the local centre of 5 hatch. This section separated wards who owned the local bus line told historical museum displaying the events and sunk a short time later, taking with it us there would be no charge for us to of World War Two and the Returned the steering, the propeller, stern deck gun ride. I eventually took advantage of both Services League Merimbula sub branch and the two anti aircraft guns. The en- their offers when I became ambulatory. recently extending their dining room gine room flooded through the shaft alley. I was at the hospital for six weeks. All naming it the ‘William Dawes Room’ in There were nine people in or on the after the others had left after two weeks so honour of those who lost their lives in deck house. Two were on watch at the four I was on my own for nearly a month. I 1942. With great satisfaction, the RSL inch gun that was atop the deckhouse and can think of no way a stay in a hospi- planned a paying guest evening dinner seven were asleep in their compartments. tal could be more pleasant although the and film presentation for Saturday for The two on watch were presumably killed food at the hospital upheld the reputa- March 31 with Bill and his party as VIP instantly and of the seven below, four es- tion of hospital food world wide. I only guests. The leading member of the Syd- caped. The others were trapped and per- needed to eat breakfast in the hospital ney Project Dive team, Samir Alhafith, ished. Realising the ship was unsalvagea- after I could get around. I had lunch and had very kindly offered to travel some ble; the Captain ordered the four lifeboats dinner invitations every day. I still had six hours distance from Sydney to Mer- [one motorised] to make towards the some change left from that five pound imbula to show a film of their historic nearest land, about 12 nautical miles away. note when I was discharged. I eventu- dive on the wreck of the William Dawes They had gone some distance when a res- ally went to Sydney to report back to for and to include in his commentary, a brief cue trawler, the Lass ‘o’ Gowrie from Mer- duty. The reception I got wasn’t exactly history of some of the WW2 ships sunk imbula arrived and the four lifeboats were what I expected. Because I was wear- along the New South Wales coastline. towed back to Merimbula. One Army ing civilian clothes, they thought I had The William Dawes wreck had been es- serviceman plus four Naval Armed Guard been AWOL. The people of Merimbula tablished 10 miles from where the stern were killed and four wounded one badly. would never have dreamed that 70 years section was torpedoed and 12 miles The burning wreck of the William Dawes later, they would once again able to ex- from the coastal town of Bermagui. On finally sank about 4-30pm the same day tend their hand of friendship but under 25 October, 2004, two team divers final- some considerable distance away from the completely different circumstances. ly descended into the murky depths and stern section after being hit by another not only found the wreck upside down torpedo from the 1-11. In early 2011, Bill Minton, [89 in De- in 135 metres of water but broke the ex- cember] mentioned to one of his Aus- isting New South Wales diving record at The wounded were transferred to the lo- tralian contacts that if the good Lord the same time. cal hospital and most of the remaining was willing, he, accompanied by sev- crew were gladly accommodated in the eral members of his family and a fam- After many months of planning, the homes of the local townspeople until the ily friend, the Reverend Dale Dutter, Saturday night of 31 March finally ar- military authorities could make further ar- planned to come to Merimbula in July rived and over one hundred guests rangements as to their future. Signalman 2012 and lay a wreath over the William crowded into the William Dawes Room William [Bill] Clarence Minton from Dawes stern wreck site in honour of at the RSL for the memorial dinner Camas, Washington, was one of the badly his lost shipmates. It was something he 6-30 start. Bill and his party had arrived wounded and took longer to recover than needed to do. As it happened, between in Merimbula from Sydney the night the others. Saturday 24 March and Sunday 8 April before. The evening was opened by a the year Bill was hoping to visit, the welcome speech by Master of Ceremo- Bill Minton recalls; ‘The next day was a town of Merimbula were planning their nies RSL sub-branch secretary, Tony very nice day. The first afternoon visiting 100 year centenary celebrations and the Toussaint on behalf of the RSL and the Page 44 TWO LOST SHIPMATES

Bega Valley Shire Mayor, Tony Allen erable distance away. The location was Chaplain conducted a small service. also welcomed the visitors on behalf of based on fluctuating military reports of As the wreath was cast overboard, local the people of Merimbula. In reply, Bill the time and fisherman experiencing musician Peter Ongley played ‘Taps’ and Minton thanked all present for their ef- their nets tangling in something, possi- the RSL Sub-Branch President, Doug forts to help him achieve long his cher- bly a wreck. Bills wish to be ‘in the area’ Beaumont recited ‘The Ode’ which com- ished dream. Later during the evening; of the sinking was the best the centenary pleted the service. Unnoticed by most, Samir Alhafith gave his film presenta- committee could do under the circum- there was a very poignant moment when tion which was most informative espe- stances. Another charter boat, Broadbill, a policeman on the bow of the Nemesis cially all the technical aspects of diving. accompanied the police and sea rescue came to attention as the wreath floated boat. After approximately 2 hours trav- away from the charter boat. His action The next morning, 1 April, the charter elling, True Blue reached its destination gave a little extra feeling to the whole boat True Blue departed at 9 am from and the other three boats stood off a purpose of Bills memorial service. the Merimbula Jetty and proceeded to short distance away. an area 12 nautical miles east of Turingal On return to Merimbula, it was a very Head where Bill would conduct his ser- In a moving speech, Bill Minton said in emotional scene at the jetty when eve- vice. The bulk of the charter boat cost part; ‘We are over the wreck of the Wil- ryone was saying their goodbyes. By Bill had been very generously covered by the liam Dawes. We have come here to re- Minton kindly agreeing to come and RSL and they had also arranged with member and honour the five young men be part of the centenary celebrations, it the nearby town of Eden for their Water who gave their lives to protect our rights allowed him to complete his heartfelt Police boat Nemesis and the Merimbula and freedom. Young men who had mission accompanied in spirit, by the Coastal Patrol sea rescue boat to escort dreams and ambitions for a life that was people of Merimbula who also cared for the charter boat to the wreath laying cut short right here. To me they have him and his fellow crew members back site as a form of tribute by the people faces that are firmly embedded in my in July 1942. of Merimbula to the lost crew of the mind. They were ship mates and it is fit- William Dawes. It should be mentioned ting we gather to honour their sacrifices.’ A rare opportunity never to be repeat- that the chosen location east of Turingal ed as Bill Minton passed away 31 May Head was for the sunken stern section of Before the wreath was committed to 2013. the William Dawes not the remaining the sea, Bills personal friend, Reverend bulk of the ship that sunk some consid- Dale Dutter, Veteran of Foreign Wars [C] Ken Wright. 2013.

A sailor met his shipmate as he entered Gate 1. His friend was sporting a variety of bandages and walking on a pair of crutches. “Whatever happened to you?” asked the sailor. “Well, it was this way,” explained the walking hospital. “I had a date with my gal last night and we were jitterbugging when her father came in.” “But how does that explain …..? “He is deaf and couldn’t hear the music!” H H H H H H H H H

Two drunken sailors managed to stagger aboard a street car. One of them turned to the nearest uniformed officer and offered a fare. “Sorry, I can’t take it,” replied the stranger, “I’m a Naval Officer.” Holy smoke, Joe,” he shouted to his buddy. “Let’s get off here. We have boarded a blooming battleship.” H H H H H H H H H He: How do you tell a city girl from a country girl. Him: Watch them in a brisk wind---a country girl will grab her skirts, but the City girl will grab her hat.

Page 45 A FADING MEMORY

A Fading Memory day was celebrated as ‘Victory in the When Lieutenant-General Percival for- Pacific’ or ‘Victory over Japan’ but more mally surrendered Singapore on 15 Feb- The year 1945 was momentous for the commonly referred to as ‘VJ Day.’ ruary 1942, the capture of over 120,000 world torn apart by the Second World men and the loss of one of Britain’s prize War. On 7 May, German High Com- The formal signing ceremony of the possessions in Asia was the greatest and mand authorised the signing of an ‘instrument of surrender’ was delayed most humiliating defeat in British histo- unconditional surrender on all fronts, until the news of the surrender reached ry and the high point of Japanese expan- formally bringing to an end the war Japanese command posts and troops sion in South-East Asia. It graphically in Europe. The following day became throughout the Pacific and Asia. They exposed the military weakness of the known as ‘Victory in Europe’ or sim- were requested to abide by their Emper- British Empire and its inability to de- ply; ‘VE Day.’ The use of an atomic ors wishes and fortunately for the Allies, fend its Far Eastern colonies. The defeat bomb on the Japanese cities of Hiro- it was due to the Emperor being revered also left Australia exposed to a potential shima and Nagasaki on 6 and 9 August by both civilians and the military as a Japanese invasion and proved once and respectively led directly to the United god, his request, although considered a for all to the Australian government and States President, Harry Truman on 10 disgrace and humiliating by many, was their people, that military protection in August receiving Japans offer to sur- obeyed without rebellion. As an exam- the future was dependent on American render subject to the retention of the ple, there were still approximately a mil- and not British arms. The outnumbered Emperor and the imperial form of gov- lion undefeated Japanese troops in Chi- and poorly equipped Japanese invasion ernment. na who could have fought on against the force’s swift victory against a mixed Emperors wishes. There were of course a army of British, Australian and Indian The following is the text of Emperor few holdouts that perceived the Emper- soldiers had changed forever Britain’s Hirohito’s proclamation sent to the US ors request as simply enemy propaganda imperial destiny. Secretary of State, James Byrnes. and fought on for a period of time and some isolated units or individuals never In the board room of the Ford Mo- ‘Accepting the terms set forth in the knew the war was over only to surrender tor factory in Bukit Timah which was Declaration issued by the heads of the years later. In the main, though, approxi- used as the Japanese headquarters, on- Governments of the United States, mately 6,983,000 Japanese servicemen lookers took photographs and cinema Great Britain and China on July 26, peacefully laid down their arms. cameras recording Lieutenant-General 1945 at Potsdam and subsequently ad- Tomoyuki Yamashita, the commander hered to by the Union of the Soviet So- The formal signing took place on Sep- of the Japanese XXV Army walking cialist Republic, I have commanded the tember 2, 1945 on 01 deck, above main towards Lieutenant-General Percival. Japanese Imperial Government and the deck, of the 45,000 ton battleship, Yamashita saluted the British com- Japanese Imperial General Headquar- USS Missouri, affectionately known as mander then stepped forward to shake ters to sign on my behalf, the instrument ‘Mighty Mo’ anchored in Tokyo Bay his hand. With the capture of Singapore of surrender presented by the Supreme near the city of Yokohama. Island, Yamashita had now successfully Commander of the Allied Powers and completed his conquest of Malaysia. The to issue general orders to the Military General Douglas MacArthur, the Su- defeated and disarmed British forces and Naval forces in accordance with the preme Commander of the Allied forces were drawn up on parade for a ceremo- direction of the Supreme Commander presided over the ceremony. In a poign- nial inspection by Lieutenant- General for the Allied Powers. I command all ant piece of symbolism, MacArthur Yamashita but it was more likely de- my people forthwith to cease hostili- invited a fellow American, General signed to publicly impose a loss of face ties, to lay down their arms and faith- Jonathan Wainwright and the British on the British. The surrender of Singa- fully carry out all the provisions of the General, Arthur Percival to stand be- pore began, over the next three years, the instrument of surrender at the General hind him to witness the signing. horror of the Japanese POW camps, the Orders issued by the Japanese Imperial infamous Thai Burma railway construc- General Headquarters thereunder.’ The presence of both General Wain- tion and the transportation of Allied wright and Lieutenant- General Per- prisoners to Japan on the ‘Hell Ships’ to Finally, on August 15, 1945 after three cival behind General MacArthur during name a few. years, eight months and seven days part of the signing may have been delib- from that fateful day at Pearl Harbor erately arranged so as to psychologically Approximately 1486 miles [ 2396 kilo- which the then President, Theodore reverse the shame that may have been metres] north of Singapore on Decem- Roosevelt called ‘the day of infamy’ the felt by the two generals of having to ca- ber 1941, General Masaharu Homma war in the Pacific was over. The next pitulate to the enemy and surrender. invaded the Philippines and General Page 46 A FADING MEMORY

MacArthur, completely surprised by in secrecy from Tokyo. They looked grim the Japanese Armed Forces. The twenty the skill and ferocity of the Japanese at- and diminished in their morning dress minute ceremony ended with General tack was forced to withdrew more than and top hats and uniforms standing MacArthur asking God; ‘Let us pray 50,000 [figures vary] American and Fil- stiffly to attention as an American Army that peace be now restored to the world ipino troops to the Bataan peninsula and chaplain said a prayer and the Star and that God will preserve it always.’ the island fortress of Corregidor. Denied Spangled Banner was played on a tinny all hope of rescue because of President scratched record. One of the Japanese MacArthur’s prayer went unanswered as Roosevelt’s Europe -first strategy, the delegates recorded his experience; ‘They history has shown. Nations were again Americans and the Filipinos on Bataan were all thronged, packed to suffocation, at war in Korea starting 25 June 1950 fought with determination and courage representatives, journalists, spectators, through to 27 July 1953 then in Viet- until malnutrition and sickness forced an assembly of brass, braid and brand. nam from 1959-1975 followed by fight- them to surrender on April 10. Some As we appeared on the scene we were, ing in Iraq and Afghanistan. troops prior to the surrender were able to I felt being subjected to the torture of escape to Corregidor Island. Those were the pillory. There were a million eyes As a grand finale, 450 carrier launched remained on Bataan were then subjected beating us in the million shafts of a rat- planes and a formation of US Army Air the infamous Bataan death march suf- tling storm of arrows barbed with fire. Corps B-29 bombers soared over the fering inhumane carnage on the way to I felt their keenness sink into my body Missouri and the myriad of other war- Japanese POW camps. with a sharp physical pain. Never have ships anchored in Tokyo Bay. Around I realised that the glance of glaring eyes the world, nations listened to the sur- After a month long siege, Corregidor Is- could hurt so much. We waited for a render proceedings on radio which was land was next to surrender. The Ameri- few minutes standing in the public gaze followed by an address to the American can and Filipino defenders who, under like penitent boys awaiting the dreaded people by President Harry Truman. Fol- a massive bombardment, fought with schoolmaster. I tried to preserve with the lowing on from this signing, many fur- dogged resistance even though the out- utmost sangfroid the dignity of the de- ther surrender ceremonies took place come was a forgone conclusion. Acting feat, but it was difficult and every minute across Japan’s remaining holdings in the on orders, General MacArthur managed seemed to contain ages. I looked up and Pacific and in South East Asia to rep- to escape to Australia on 12 March leav- saw painted on the wall, several minia- resentatives of the various Allied forces. ing General Jonathan Wainwright with ture Rising Suns, our flag, evidently in After the signing aboard the Missouri, the unenviable duty of having to bow to numbers corresponding to the planes General Wainwright and Lieutenant- the inevitable and surrendered all of his and submarines shot down or sunk by General Percival returned together to remaining forces on 8 May. The POW’s the crew of the battleship. As I tried to the Philippines to witness the surrender were to endure the harsh treatment and count these markings tears rose in my of the Japanese army by Percival’s old atrocities that was to befall all Allied throat and quickly gathered to the eyes, adversary Lieutenant-General Yamash- prisoners in Japanese hands until the war flooding them.’ ita. When they first met in Singapore, ended. Both Percival and Wainwright Yamashita had shaken Percival’s hand endured [although in better conditions General MacArthur delivered an elo- possibly as a sign of respect between fel- than the other ranks]captivity-with sev- quent but uncharacteristically short low soldiers. This time, Percival declined eral dozen other VIP prisoners includ- speech calling for freedom, tolerance to shake Yamashita’s hand as he blamed ing Wainwright in a POW camp near and justice then the proceedings began Yamashita for the ill treatment of the Hsian about 100 miles [160 kilometres] with MacArthur signing just after 9am Allied POW’s by Japanese forces under to the north of Mukden in north eastern Tokyo time, the instrument of surrender his command. China. in his capacity as Supreme Commander for the Allied forces. Joining him as sig- For the victors, it was a time of hope and During the official signin g of the ca- natories were US Fleet Admiral Chester joy. Hope that everyone could now re- pitulation papers as well as the VIP Nimitz and representatives of China, turn home to a normal life with wives, representatives of other Allied nations, United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, families, sweethearts, mistresses, rela- there were hundreds of American sailors Australia, Canada, France, Netherlands tives, and friends and loved ones, per- lining every inch of the starboard side and New Zealand. The Japanese Foreign haps to hold a child they had never seen, of the Missouri close to the designated Minister, Mamoru Shigemitsu signed a job and experience ordinariness in the surrender deck area to catch a glimpse on behalf of the Emperor of Japan and world. Joy, too, as they no longer had to and in some way, be part of this historic the Japanese Government. General face the prospect of death or injury. For occasion. The Japanese delegation con- Yoshijiro Umezu, Chief of the Impe- the vanquished, it was another matter sisted of eleven men who had travelled rial General Staff signed on behalf of altogether. Page 47 A FADING MEMORY

a few lines in history books if they were lucky, as well as a myriad of other forms of official thanks. Of course there may have many who never, or have ever, received recognition and they are, in the main, content in the knowledge that they ‘did their bit.’ To the generation of the time, it is only natural the special significance of VE and VJ days was and is remembered. But what of the future?

Japanese author, Haruki Murakami, au- thor of the book; ‘Kafka on the Shore’ wrote in part; ‘Most things are forgot- ten over time even war itself. The life and death struggle people went through is now like something from the distant past. We are so caught up in everyday lives that events of the past are no longer in orbit around our minds. There are just too many things we have to think about every day, too many things that we have to learn.’

Today, the chances are that both those im- portant days will pass with barley a notice in the history of the world. Between 1905 and 1906, American philosopher, George Santayana in ‘Reason in Common Sense’ wrote; ‘Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it’ As the men and women of the period are fast taking their eternal rest, their contribu- tion to world history is sadly becoming a fading memory.

Footnotes. 1-Fully loaded 58,000 tons. 2-Harvey.Robert. American Shogan. A reputed catchphrase amongst German long time for the two defeated nations Publisher- John Murray.2006 London. troops during the last twelve months of and the other nations ruined by years of Page 311. the war was; ‘Enjoy the war-the peace war to finally change chaos and despair 3-Haruki Murakami .2002. is going to be terrible.’ For the defeated into order and hope. The author thanks the USS Missouri military of Germany and Japan, the war Memorial Association Inc, Honolulu, for may have been over but initially, the peace The Second World War of 1939-1945 permission to use extracts from; The Bat- was indeed terrible. Those who were able cost the lives of approximately 33,833,000 tleship Missouri Visitors Guide Booklet. return to their home found their cities, civilians and 23,620,100 military and was towns, villages and homes obliterated the most devastating war in human his- [C] Ken Wright. 2013. with families dead or missing and star- tory. Allied nations honoured the men vation was rife. The war may have ended and women who, in whatever capacity, and the guns silent but the dying con- served their country during the war with tinued. Some vengeful victors occupying special medals, campaign medals, com- their country acted like lords and treated mendations, mentioned in dispatches, the vanquished as slaves. It would take a ticker tape parades, newspaper articles, Page 48 MORE LETTERS/PHOTO’S FROM THE CREW

Page 49 MORE PHOTO’S FROM THE CREW

Page 50 LIBERTY SHIPS CARRIED THE DAY

Page 51 LIBERTY SHIPS CARRIED THE DAY

Page 52 A NEEDLESS SINKING

“ A CARELESS WORD... bombs, rations and bandages, fuel and H H H H H H H H H A NEEDLESS SINKING ” tank trucks, artillery and aircraft, naval stores and 16” shells for the big guns and Psychiatrists vs. Bartenders an endless list of other necessities were The story of American cargo ships and EVER SINCE I WAS A CHILD, critically needed for the fighting forces. the Navy Armed Guard assigned to pro- I’VE ALWAYS HAD A FEAR OF By far the largest percentage of these war tect them SOMEONE UNDER MY BED AT materials were delivered by ship, com- NIGHT. SO I WENT TO A SHRINK mercial ships and crews pressed into More than seventy years have passed AND TOLD HIM: “I’ve got problems. service. Enemy forces soon realized that since the United States was drawn into Every time I go to bed I think there’s this vital supply line must be interrupted WWII, a war that spread over every con- somebody under it. I’m scared. I think and destroyed at all cost. Slow moving tinent and ocean. Fought in the air, on I’m going crazy.” the land and the ocean seas, many na- supply packed ships became prime tar- gets for submarines, air craft, mines and tions mobilized their populations and “Just put yourself in my hands for one naval action. To counter these attacks sent them off to do battle. This was truly year,” said the shrink. “Come talk to USN Armed Guard Detachments were a global conflict. me three times a week and we should assigned to each individual ship to fight be able to get rid of those fears.” “How off and discourage these attacks. Fight- Massive armies marched across endless much do you charge”? ing was fierce and ships were lost with landscapes. Great fleets of ships were casualties to the Armed Guard, the mer- constructed and manned to fight naval “Eighty dollars per visit,” replied the chant crew and loss of valuable war ma- battles for control the world sea lanes. doctor. Flights of bombers and fighter planes terials. This part of the war effort has all but faded from view, not publicized and could almost blacken the skies on the way “I’ll sleep on it”, I said. to intended enemy targets. underappreciated. Six months later the doctor met me on A true account of the losses suffered by The greater battles are still somewhat re- the street. “Why didn’t you come to see the American cargo ships can be found membered, Normandy, Okinawa, air war me about those fears you were having?” in a book by Captain Arthur R. Moore over Brittan, Stalingrad, African desert he asked. and the naval battle of Midway. Over the called “A careless word .. A needless sinking”. Each ship lost to enemy action passing years memories fade and newer “Well, Eighty bucks a visit three times is listed with a description of the events generations have only books and mov- a week for a year is an awful lot of including details of the attack, loss of life, ies and the occasional reminiscence of a money! A bartender cured me for $10. and recounting survival of the crew and veteran to tell them of that time of great I was so happy to have saved all that Guard. The book is now being offered at human sacrifice and massive destruction. money that I went and bought me a a sale price of $60.00 + 5.00 S&H, a sav- Time is slowly casting its shadow on that new pickup!” era, the era of the Greatest Generation. ings of $25.00. Volume orders of five or more books at specially reduced pricing “’Is that so?” With a bit of an attitude may be had upon inquiry. American ship yards turned out vast he said, “and how, may I ask, did a bar- fleets of tankers, troop ships and cargo tender cure you?” ships that were manned and mobilized to For orders or inquiries send a check made out to: AMMV (NJ) Books, P O Box support the military forces spread glob- “’He told me to cut the legs off the bed! 351, Midland Park, NJ 07432 ally in many theaters of war. Bullets and Ain’t nobody under there now!”

—Forget the shrinks....Have a A tired bosn’s mate first class was in London during a severe air raid. drink & talk to a bartender When the “ALL CLEAR” sounded, he stamped angrily down the street, clutching a brass door knob in his hand.

“What’s the matter, Boats?” asked a passing bluejacket.

“MATTER? MATTER?” roared Boats. “Why the lousy so and sos!! They blowed the Pub right out of my hand!”

Page 53 USS DOVER • PHOTOS FROM FEIST

Cal, I have been looking at my navy pic- tures and trying to get them organized. My son put them in boxes when I was in the hospital, so they are all mixed up. I will get on that project of your’s as soon as I can. It would nice to get my story in the museum. I didn’t do much in the navy, but Dover was an Old Navy Ship an it needs to be told. LEO FEIST • 1919 Marianna St. Wellsburg, WV 26070 • 304-737-1008 [email protected]

Page 54 A Salute to Robert Eldon Hart

Robert Eldon Hart was born in September 1919 in Minerva, Ohio where he attend Minerva High School followed by Cul- ver Military Academy, IN, Western Reserve University, and Kent State University, OH. He graduated from Navy Mid- shipman School in June 1941.

With a military career spanning 20 years beginning in 1941, "Captain Bob" saw the U.S. at war many times over. On De- cember 7, 1941 - "The Day of Infamy" the Japanese , he was commander of a sea-going 165-ft tug- boat hauling submarine defense nets in the western Caribbean. His vessel was boarded by crews from German U-boats who demanded bread and bacon; there was no altercation but the U-boat Germans left evidence that they had visited ashore in Florida. In June 1944 "Captain Bob" was skipper of a Landing Craft Infantry (LCI) ship carrying troops for the invasion of Normandy. Reassigned to the USS Lyra in the Pacific, he participated in the Leyte Gulf invasion. He served as the command- ing officer of the Navy base in Samar, Philippines which was readying for invasion of Japan. On a later assignment - his ship, the USS Eldorado, re-supplied the Defense Early Warning Line and Missile Base in the Arctic. Bob served as Naval Aide to Prince Albert of Belgium and Taiwan's Army General Wang during their official visits to the United States.

"Captain Bob" retired from the Navy in 1961 and joined the American Export Lines to officiate over the first nu- clear powered cargo-passenger ship that was launched as an ambassador for the peaceful use of atomic power. The company had contracts that allowed it to have ships in and around Russia. Through the company, Bob was dispatched by the State Department to do classified "ob- serve and report" missions which involved Naval Air op- erations such as, Did the Russians have vertical take-off aircraft on carriers?

"Captain Bob" is the recipient of many awards acknowledging his maritime excellence including "Maritime Person of the Year, 1986," and "Ad- miral of the Ocean Sea." He and his wife, Jane, have been married for 64 years and the have two daughters. He supported the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Elks with his membership.

Captain Robert Eldon Hart, your comrades of American Legion, Post 67, Gary, NC, Ladies of the Auxiliary and Sons of the Legion join with your family and friends to salute you.

Page 55 USN Armed Guard WW II Veterans 115 Wall Creek Drive Rolesville, N.C. 27571 1 (919) 570-0909 [email protected] www.armed-guard.com

“Donations keeps us afloat”

APR/AUG 2013 Edition

REMEMBER ALSO: THE TWIN TOWERS THE PENTAGON AND FLIGHT 93 God Bless Them

This POINTER is in Memory of all Branches of service in WW II; the Navy, Army, Marines, Airmen, Seabees, Merchant Seamen, Wacs, Waves, and especially to the Special Unit of the Navy known as the U.S. NAVY ARMED GUARD which was first used as Gun Crews in WW I on board cargo, tankers and troopships and where needed to protect the ship, cargo and the merchant crews who bravely ran the ships to each port of call until deactivated after WW I. They were established again for the same purpose in September of 1941 and remained active until WW II was over and the need for gunners were not needed. This issue is also in honor to all the people all over the world who built ships, planes, tanks, trucks, jeeps, guns, ammo and all things needed to win a war against the ruthless killers. Thanks to age theP farmers 56 who fed us all. Thank God for seeing us through.