Page 2 Officers for 2009 Charles A. Lloyd, Chairman & Sec.Treas. 1985-2009 115 Wall Creek Drive Rolesville, N.C. 27571 1-919-570-0909 [email protected]

Ron Carlson 616 Putnam Place Alexander, VA 22302-4018 703-549-5908 Board of Directors Dear Armed Guard Crew, Feb 14, 2009 C.A. Lloyd ...... NC Bill Bartzatt...... NE Don Gleason ...... KS I start out with this POINTER knowing you want get it Clarence Korker . . . . . FL Joe Colgan...... MD before Valentine’s Day. I did want to get it to you before Gerald Greaves ...... RI Ground Hog Day but, it looks as if it may be Easter Al Sniff ...... FL before it arrives. Anyway, I am glad to be around to send Kenneth Sneed ...... IN Ralph McNally...... OK out another one. Good to have you, too. Joseph Benedict . . . . MN Richard Hudnall. . . . . AZ Zed Merrill ...... OR First!! Corrections to Oct. 2008/Jan. 2009 POINTER. Joe Esposito ...... IL Go to Page 5 and change OHIO to KANSAS below and Bernard Stansbury . . . VA to the left of the photo. I knew better that Bob Dole was a Forrest Flanagan. . . . WV Hilary Makowski. . . . . PA former Senator from Kansas. I just didn’t catch it. Page 22 Arnold Latare ...... IA story was also printed when I found out it was a hoax. Put Bob Ober ...... OH J.F. Carter ...... LA “FICTON” under the title. I would appreciate it as it may Howard Long ...... SC fall into the hands of the “ENEMY”! And to those who Mike Molinari...... NY did not get that POINTER, let me know. Thanks to all Tom Dufrense ...... MA William F. Isabell. . . . AL for your compliments on the POINTER and to those Trustees who donate to keep it going. C.A. Lloyd ...... NC Theo Schorr ...... PA NEXT!! The REUNION IS ON!! See Page 20 for the form to fill out and send to Morris John Shirley ...... TX Arthur Fazzone . . . . . NY Harvey who is the Host. Send him the Check or M.O. for what you want to take part in includ- Louis Tew ...... CT ing the bus to and from the ship if taking the cruise. Send check of $89.00 each directly to the Johnny Stanley...... GA Al Colella...... MO ship which includes Continental Breakfast and lunch plus drinks and entertainment. I do hope Jay Wildfong ...... WI to sail once more with both AG and MM crew. I sailed the Lane Victory and this one is Henry Harrison. . . . . WA SPECIAL, too. Mervil Yarbrough . . . NV Neal Vermillion. . . . . MD Wm. A. Carter ...... DE William Sache and Ray Didur name has been removed from the B.O.D as both have sailed on to Chaplains be with those who have taken that Final Voyage. Sache was one of the first 52 in ’82. He was the Lyle Kell...... WA one who suggested that we not have dues and have strictly donations as some may not be able to Buck Donaldson . . . . TN pay. It is that way today. Those of you with computers and ones with access with them through children and grand ATTENTION children or neighbors, go to GOOGLE and type in most anything of interest. You know where you are. You know where we are. We know where we are. I heard about and typed in USS FORRESTAL CEREMONY and saw the tragedy that hap- But we don't always know pened aboard ship. Type in: www.armed-guard.com and read the late Tom Bowerman’s Armed where you are. Guard Web Site that is run by Ron Carlson of the Liberty Ship, the S.S. JOHN W. BROWN. Please notify us when you move. Many of you said you would write your story and I never got them. Tell your experience while Non-Profit Organization you can. (cal) Tax Exempt No. 74-2316668 Remember, I “STILL” can't move ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ as fast as I did when I was in my twenties! When 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 LETTERS FROM THE CREW... Charles, boat crewmen – and tell their stories. My Homer Lemke On Page 6, Oct 2008-Jan. 2009 research to date has led me to focus on a 4525 NW Kaneeta Dr. POINTER, top of page picturing handful of convoys that took place on the Portland, Or. 97229-3040. Myrt Van Dyke. I believe I served with New York/Halifax – Liverpool route her in 1944-’46 in Ship’s Company, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ during March-May 1943. These are: 52nd & 2nd Ave, USN Post Office, Armed Guard Center, Brooklyn, N.Y.. HX229 (dep NYC March 3, arr Bro Lloyd, If she is the same person, her name then Liverpool March 23) • HX229A (dep I haven’t heard from any Armed Guard was Myrtle Mae Lynch. I remember NYC March 9, arr Liverpool March 26) lately except Carl Sides of Opelika, her as being from Iowa. It would be • SC122 (dep NYC March 5, arr Al.. Both, he and his wife are both in a great if I could drop her a line for old Liverpool March 24) • HX231 (dep CARE HOME. We write to each time’s sake. Are you allowed to share other about once a month. He, like NYC March 25, arr Liverpool April 10) mailing addresses? myself, was reared on a farm during the • ONS5 (dep Liverpool April 21, arr John Moulis “”Depression Days” and have some *********** Halifax May 12) • SC130 (dep NYC interesting tales to tell. C.A., if you It all happened when I saw Myrt’s May 11 arr Liverpool May 26) know anything about farm life, you name in the POINTER. I E-Mailed should know what a “SHINBUSTER” you to confirm my suspicion and I con- Any help you could provide to inform is. It’s when you trying to plow in tacted her and even though she did not your fellow Merchant Marine veterans of Georgia or N.C. in a “new ground” remember me, we were able to with a hard headed horse or mule that this project would be deeply appreciated. exchange letters, shared photos and won’t stop when you say “WHOA” briefly shared the events of our lives Ed Offley • Military Reporter when you hit a deep root and the root during the past 64 years. Thank you 21200 S. Lakeview Dr. pops out of the ground and busts your Charles for all you are doing to keep Panama City Beach FL 32413-3419 shin!! It hurts like heck and that’s what the Armed Guard crew in touch with Email: [email protected] you call a “SHIN BUSTER” and it each other. Myrt no longer goes by 850-774-6585 cell phone hurts for months!! Lloyd, I see a lot of “Stuffy” anymore. things in the POINTER you send out ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ that brings back a lot of memories. For E.John Moulis instance, in one POINTER was a pic- Mailman 2/C ture of a sailor at “PARADE REST”. 24 Parkwood Dr.,Unit 103 Augusta, Me. 04330 My first trip overseas was on the S.S. [email protected] ALCOA PATRIOT, a 9-month “cruise” into all 3-campaign areas. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ After a Port Director 4 day pass, some of the Armed Guard crew wanted to Dear Mr Lloyd: Dear C.A., ship out again together but those at the I have a book contract with a major New In 1944, in a P.E. class playing football, AGC split us up. Some of us got mad I broke my arm and they made a cast but it did no good. I was stationed on York publisher to write a narrative non- for it. With my arm in a sling, I was watch and given “1903” Springfield fiction history on the key convoy battles going through the cafeteria line at with a bayonet and put in the North Atlantic in the spring of Great Lakes and near the end of the 1943. The book is intended for both line; someone dropped the enclosed at a large door in 1943 that faced the devotees of maritime history as well as a card in my tray. Six weeks later, when street with a sign stating, “CLOSED” new generation of readers who have not the cast was to come off, The “Meat with orders that no one enters after been exposed to previous historical Wagon” driver drove me and another 1630 hours. About 1700, a big black guy to the Green Bay side of Great car with a blue flag with two white accounts. My goal is to locate a cross- Lakes. When we got to the hospital to stars stopped at the door and started section of survivors and veterans from all check in, they asked why the other guy inside. He insisted to let him enter. He pertinent places in that sea fight – mer- was there. “Scarlet Fever”, was the went back to the car and came back and chant crewmen, Naval Armed Guard answer. Needless to say, I was tried to enter again. I refused to let him personnel, officers and escort sailors, air- EXPOSED, so back in the hospital--- in. In another POINTER showed a men on land-based patrol aircraft and U------with scarlet fever. Civie; a sailor and a navy officer at an Page 4 LETTERS FROM THE CREW... outdoor “Privy” known to us as the ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ NAVY HEAD. The officer was my gunnery officer on the S.S. GLENN Dear C.A., CURTIS from Port Said, Egypt Enclosed is a picture of some of our Tinnian Island. Merry Christmas. Rudy Kozak Chapter as we placed a wreath on Rudy’s grave. We participat- John T. Laster ed in the program of WREATHS 6040 Blackhawk Trl SE ACROSS AMERICA on Dec. 19, ‘08 Mableton, Ga. 30126 At the BUSHNELL NATIONAL ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ CEMETARY. There were 900 wreaths placed on graves there that day. Dear Lloyd, Hope to see you in Tampa at the Thank you for providing many stories Reunion. of the Armed Guard to my dad, of which, I was able to read also. They have Richard McCamy, (MM) 26002 given me a chance to talk to my dad Zinnia Ln., Astatula, Fl. 34705 about his time and adventures in the Navy during the WW II. I always *********** thought I appreciated the efforts and These 3 photos are in Honor of the late Rudy sacrifices of our servicemen of WW II, Kozak (AG) for his dedicated service who for as well as the other wars, but listening to years, along with Ellie, filled orders for Jackets, the stories first hand from my dad gave Caps, Etc. and organized the Florida Crews. me an even greater appreciation for the Rudy was a great help to the Armed Guard sacrifices made by so many. My WW II Veterans and Ellie and Rudy were the family and I wish you and all a MERRY hosts for the April 1994 Orlando, Fl. reunion CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY NEW at the Clarion Hotel. I thought it was great to be YEAR and a BIG THANK YOU for all so honored by his shipmates in Florida. (cal) you and other veterans has done for us. God Bless. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Jim and Lisa Socha and family, 3055 Dear Charles, Jan.6.2009 Hidden Forest Ct. Green Bay, Wi. 54313 Thank you for your phone call. I never 920-662-0075 expected to hear from you personally. I did find another copy of the POINTER from ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 1943 Armed Guard Center, Brooklyn, N.Y. and I found my name in it. I am send- Dear Charles, ing you another copy. My wife and I are not Many “THANKS” for the correspon- able to attend any more reunions. So Sorry. dence from you. It is always heartening to hear from people who have a genuine Enclosed is some ORIGINAL POINT- concern for the preservation of ERS that I promised you plus some other “Historical Memory” of WW II as it is material I was able to locate. Since I moved a contrast to current political and media- from New York, I am still opening boxes. driven agendas. I continue to appreciate Note the original letter from Commander receiving copies of your POINTER Coakley about the ARMED GUARD. I magazine, as do many research visitors am 92 years old now. Again, Thank you for here who read through it on their lunch the phone call and I hope you can use the breaks! With best wishes. material. Stephen Walton-(Archivist) Dept. of Vincent W. Alones, Documents, Imperial War Museum, 5200 Wedgewood Rd, Duxford, Cambridgeshire, CB22 4QR Lynchburg, Va. 24503-4210 Ph. 01223-499346 [email protected] 434-384-3356 Page 5 LETTERS FROM THE CREW... *********** Baltimore. I hope you can use the Thanks Vince. I will use as much of the picture of the crew. I am 91 years POINTERs and material in future old and my health is good. Thanks. POINTERS as I can and credit will be Calvin H. Friedel given to you. As I read through them, I saw a 5190 Boyce Rd., Seaford, DE. 19973 lot of names of ones we had located but are now on their Final Voyage. It has been an ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ honor to have crossed paths with such won- derful people and everyone’s heroes. Hi Charles, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ I always look forward to getting the POINTER. I am 85 now and it makes me think of the days in the Armed Charlie, Guard. I was taking my training at We left Frisco on the S.S. CHUNG Little Creek, Va. when the war broke SHAN to New Zealand, then to out. I served on 5 ships and made 3 India. Our cargo was 2 holds of trips to Russia, first was to Murmansk. I was 17 on my first trip. Keep up the mustard gas, mail for GIs in Europe great work. Donation emclosed. and 24 Chinese Pilots plus other John Savage, 296 03 09 cargo in the holds with fighter PO Box 1485, planes on deck. We loaded up with Smyrna, Tn. 37167-008 ore in India and came back through the Suez Canal and then to ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Page 6 LETTERS FROM THE CREW...

Jews, 20 million Russians, 10 million 929 Shaker Rd. Unit D-10 Christians and 1,900 Catholic priests Westfield, Ma. 01085 413-562-9580 who were murdered, massacred, raped, burned, starved and humiliated with *********** the German and Russian Peoples (Thanks, Al. I used your short letter and looking the other way!Now, more than ships to show how fast the crew shipped out ever, with Iraq , Iran , and others, on another run.) cal claiming the Holocaust to be 'a myth,' it's imperative to make sure the world ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ never forgets, because there are others who would like to do it again. Dear Cal, Received the great POINTER today ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ and Thanks. I will read every word. We left the big City of Grand Rapids, Charles, Mi. about 5 years ago after 38 years on I have enclosed my annual donation to the Police Force. The reunions we did be used as you see fit. I enjoy the attend will always be remembered. We POINTER and staying up on activies. show our video tape we made of the THANKS! A small favor if you will. San Francisco, Ca. Reunion in 1986 On my recent visit to the hospital, I quite often. Thank you and Hilda for neglected to bring my most recent what you have done for me and the rest POINTER home with me Christmas of the Armed Guard Crew. I served on Day and if you have one leftover laying the Liberty Ship The S.S. William H. around, send it to me. During WW II, Prescott 44/45 and the USS Volans I served as a SM3/C on the S/S/ (AKS-9) in the Pacific. God Bless all. APPOMATTOX 3/44-4/44; S.S WAGON BOX 4/44-8/44; S.S. Samuel R. Johnston 50 Powell Dr., DANIEL WILLARD 8/44-5/45; Hastings Mi. 49058 269-945-1576 USS FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE 9/45-10/45 and duty in Japan 10/45- ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 4/46. I made two trips to Russia on the S.S. DAN WILLARD, so I like to Dear Charles, It is now more than 60 years after the read about how lucky we were to have Wishing you, Hilda and the family and Second World War in Europe ended survived the ordeals. Thanks again to all the Armed Guard a good and This e-mail is being sent as a memori- all who helps. healthy NEW YEAR. I believe the al chain, in memory of the six million Albert Midgley Good Lord has reasons for us still liv- Page 7 LETTERS FROM THE CREW...

*********** but I know the Barents Sea quite well, Thanks Wolfe. See the photo similarty to the having sailed in it and the Norwegian Eagle that R.E. Fitz 34 Sunnydale Ave. Sea often in the course of my duties. Bristol, Ct. 06010 carved out. (cal) My work describes convoy AG opera- ing on this earth. Of course, we will tions in war. "Armed Guard: War in know why. Thank you for the POINT- ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ the North Atlantic, Winter 1943" is ER. This sure keeps us united like a big dedicated to every brave seaman who family. The bond is strong. God Bless us Sir - wrote a blank check to democratic all. Take care of yourself and Hilda. We I am a retired USN officer whose dad institutions, payable in full with the life need you. ANCHORS AWEIGH!! was an Armed Guard (OinC) during of the signator. WW2. Dad "signed non" with the Arthur Fieitas Navy immediately after Pearl Harbor I would be interested to know if any 147 Clarendon St. and went to OCS for the 90-day "short member of your organization would N. Dartsmouth, Ma. 02747 course." I believe he rode about half a like to have a look at the manuscript? dozen MERSHIPS before moving to FYI, I spent almost 33 years active *********** the Pacific Theater of Operations in duty in the Navy, starting as Seaman Thanks Art. I am glad to do what I do for the 1944. SS ALCOA POLARIS was one Recruit and rising to CAPT. I was a crew. Meeting people like you and all the oth- of Dad's hosts and he reminisced cryptologist ("code breaker") all that ers through the years at reunions has been a warmly about the ship and fine crew. time with sea duty in the Atlantic, in pleasure. (cal) He sailed on T2 tankers from Texas to the Med and Black Seas, in the Baltic ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Aruba and in other ships between and Caribbean areas. I served in heavy Halifax and the UK. He had reported cruisers, missile frigates, fast atack to the master of a freighter (which subs, and in four aircraft carriers. I also Hi Charles, name I cannot locate in Dad's records) flew with a Fleet Reconnaissance I am sending you a donation plus a post card for a trip to the Persian Gulf when his Squadron and had numerous from Camp Shelton, Va. dated Jan. 18, 1944. orders were changed suddenly and he Washington DC tours. I speak In June of 1944, I was in Valetta, Malta with was ordered to subchaser school. The German, Polish, Russian and some a load of wheat and flour we had loaded at vessel and Dad's replacement were lost Spanish - and stumble along in Jersey City, N.J. on board the S.S. to a U-boat in the Gulf of Aden. English. On July 4, 2008 I had pub- lished a volume of patriotic and mili- ANDREW PICKENS. It took them 2 I have written a novel about the Armed tary verse; the book "To the Flag" is weeks to unload the ship. Your navy friend, Guard in remembrance of my dad and listed in Amazon.com. Because I know Roy A. Wolfe, the outstanding men and officers who what AG did and also because I am 1414 Peterson Ave., risked everything to protect convoys. very familiar with the geography, I Janesville, Wi. 53548 Dad never won assignment to Russia, respect you brave seamen - and would Page 8 LETTERS FROM THE CREW...

Crew on the S.S. WILLIAM LLOYD GARRISON June 4, 1943

Photo by: Tony Georginna, 1546 Williamsburg Cir. Medford, Or 97501

1.Harold R.John,Jr. Ca.; 2.Santaigo Alvarz, C.; 3.Johnnie Crandall, Unk. 4.James Haack,Il.;5.Edmond Perry,Ca.; 6.Garald Bartz, Ca.; 7.Theor Cady,Co.; 8.Robt.Gilbert,Co.; 9.Rayford Merchant,Ok.; 10.Tony Georginna,Or.; 11.Robt.Forsburg, Ca.; 12.Ralph Belcher, Ky.; 13.Adolph Agvayo, Ca.; 14.John Kozij, RI.; 15.Tom Parker, Tx.; 16. James Balwin,Ca.; 17. Frank Castaldo,Cal.

Ones underlined are only one located

Photo of S.S. WILLIAM LLOYD GARRISON June 4, 1943 in the South Pacific and sent in by Tony Georgianna, 1546 Williamsburg, St., Medford, Oregon.

Page 9 LETTERS FROM THE CREW...

FILIPINO VETERANS IN LINE TO EARN WWIL BENEFITS By ELIZABETH LLORENTE MCCLATCHY NEWSPAPERS HACKENSACK, N.J.-- (From the Las Vegas Review Journal, dated 2-17-09) President Barack Obama's signature today on the stimulus bill Sen. Daniel Inouye, a Hawaii Democrat who was the main force will grant Filipino World War II veterans long-awaited recog- behind inclusion of the bid, conceded on the Senate floor that nition and compensation for their service alongside U.S. forces the Filipino compensation measure "doesn't create jobs." But against the Japanese. he added, "The honor of the United States, that's what's involved." The measure calls for a one-time lump sum payment of $15,000 for Filipino veterans who are U.S. citizens and $9,000 for non- Filipino-Americans who for years pushed for a measure that citizens. It sets aside $198 million for the veterans. And, in what would provide both compensation and recognition argued that many Filipino- American groups say is more important, it rec- the provision in the stimulus bill does not allocate new money to ognizes the role they played defending the U.S. flag in the war. the veterans, but rather releases funds that had been set aside in "The recognition is the most important," said Jose Red, an 84- an appropriations bill last year. year-old veteran who lives in Jersey City, N.J. "We've been working for the recognition for a long, long time." Recognition “This is not new spending," said Eric Lachica, whose as full-fledged World War II vets was promised to the Filipinos late father was a World War II veteran and who is a volunteer when they were conscripted into the U.S. Army, with the under- coordinator for American Coalition for Filipino Veterans Inc. standing they would receive the same benefits as U.S. veterans. "It authorizes the release of the money." After the war ended, Congress stripped them of their status and Ludi Hughes, whose father died in L958 and fought in the war, rights to many benefits. said she was relieved to see the measure pass, though she also "It felt like being told you're a nobody," Red said. "We felt sympathized with those who questioned its inclusion in the insulted," he said. "We fought side by side with American sol- stimulus bill. "It doesn't really help the U.S. economy, and as an diers." American, I understand why people would see it as wrong to make it part of the stimulus bill," Hughes said. "But as a Of the 200,000 Filipinos who fought alongside U.S. soldiers, Filipino-American, I feel it's about time that these veterans get fewer than 1.8,000 are alive today. Some 6,000 are thought to be the compensation and recognition that they've waited so long to living in the United States, while the rest live overseas, mostly in get. It's been more than 60 years. It's too long. There aren't even the Philippines. Like many measures in the stimulus bill, this many of them left to get this help." The provision calls for bene- one was opposed by congressional members and others who fits to be available to such veterans during a one-year period said it does nothing to create jobs or help the U.S. economy. from the date of enactment. be honored to share my draft novel See article ABOVE. Murmansk during WW II know what with you. Warm regards. I can be Mike Cangelosi their winters are like. “CAL”) reached at: Past-president of the American Steve Myers, Merchant Marine Veterans A local TV journalist has visited our 537 S. Juliana St. Las Vegas Hi-Rollers Chapter museum and they are planning to make Bedford, Pa. 15522-1831 a documentary dedicated to the Arctic Te l. 814 - 623- 8654 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Convoy’s history and people who trav- [email protected] elled in them. They have asked us for Dear Mr. Lloyd, help because in our museum, there are ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Murmansk, Russia 1/20/2009 documents, photos, letters that can’t be found in other museums. Our guides Thank you so very much for your will tell viewers about the convoys, vet- WWII Filipino veterans warm Christmas greeting s and a copy erans and the museum activities. The of the POINTER magazine. We do film will be shown on local TV. We cor- The article below explains how the hope you spent a wonderful Christmas. respond to a Mr. Edwards who lives on recently signed stimulus bill will grant We have heard there are unusual frosts the Island of Jersey. He publishes the Filipino World War II veterans long- in the European countries. In magazine, “H.M.S. LAPWING awaited recognition and compensation Murmansk, the temperature was +6 ASSOCIATION”. He is going to for their service. This is a nice benefit degree C on December 30, 2008. There devote a “SPECIAL” issue to our for the Filipino veterans, however it was no snow at all. On New Year’s Eve, museum and to our pupil’s activities. appears that we, Merchant Marine vet- the snowstorm started and lasted for a We are sending our kindest wishes for erans of WWII, have been overlooked, week. (Many if you who were in the year 2009. We hope the New Year again. Page 10 LETTERS FROM THE CREW... will bring you and the family and CORRECTION!! From last Pointer... *********** Armed Guard, health, happiness and Mr. Lloyd, Thank you for your all that you wish for. Take care. God ALL OLD SALTS! Now hear this: US response. S.S. LARS KRUSE was hit Bless you. Navy Armed Guard: You have earned an and sunk during the bombing, and 18 award from the USA. This award is granted members of the crew died. The 16 Yekaterina and the pupils, to you by Congress (House and Senate) 15 Ivchenko Str. and signed by the President. It is not a ships you listed were not all of them Murmansk, Russia 183034 Presidential Award, but it has just as much there. There were a total of 41 ships power since it is a Congressional Award. It there. I found your name on the *********** is ussued to you under Section 534 of POINTER Web Site. Those of you who were in the area should Public Law No.105-261. To receive your take time to write Yekatrina and the pupils award certificate, you must contact your Henrik Kruger, [email protected] and tell your story while you can. It is one way Congressman, and he or she can get it for of letting future people who visit the museum you. Be sure to have your Congressman put ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ know you were there. (CAL) "Section 534 of Public Law No.105-261" on the bottom of your certificate. I was about to go to press with the POINT- ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ER when I received an E-Mail from Kelly Lyle N. Kell, Chaplain Shute from N.J. that she had gotten word Hello Charles from the Armed Guard 2821-180th St NE from Al McCann from Merrimack, NH Delaware Valley Chapter. Marysville, Wa. 98271 that AG Joseph Byk from Manchester RI 360-652-1884 Home Just a few lines to let you know that we was killed when a gas explosion in his and 425-327-0392 home It tore his home apart about 3 A.M are down to 30 members at our meetings [email protected] on Feb. 24, 2009. Gerald Greaves E- now. Most are “OLD TIMERS” like Any Questions-Contact Kell Mailed me the TV news reported of the Bob Berghaier from Philly, Clint Barr scene of the home. I went to his name in the from Easton who comes a long way to be *********** computer to delete his name and I saw his with us. Quite a few come with their daughter Judy’s telephone number he had wives who drive for them and many have Sorry for the inconvience. (cal) given me some years ago. I called her to extend our condolences and she was very canes, walkers—but they come to the ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ appreciative as all was lost in the fire that meeting no matter how far or how bad followed and I have placed Judy in her the weather. Our Congressman, Pat Dear Sir, dad’s place in the computer to continue Murphy, sends a speaker to our meeting I am a Danish author, writing a book sending her the POINTER. I sent her each month and that is a great help. I had about the ship, S.S. LARS KRUSE, many back POINTERs for her family. He served on the S.S. JOSEPH A. a call from a reporter at the Trenton which was among a lot of merchant BROWN 43/44 and the PC 1172 in Times and she wanted a story on the ships lost in the bombing of Bari, Italy Armed Guard and some of us met with 1945. Judy said he had wanted her to harbor on December 2, 1943. I wonder make reservations for the Tampa Reunion. her and I have included the writeup from if you have and “eyewitness-reports” I know he had said he would see me there. the paper as a tribute to the late Armed from an Armed Guard on an American So sad. (cal) Guard Pete Burke, a wonderful WW II ship that was there at the time; or, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Veteran. I will continue on to the last man maybe you can point me to any such or woman is standing. We have one wave, reports. I have all the books about the Mabel Billings from Newton, Pa. who disaster. (Henrik Kruger.) attends. *********** Pete Cugasi-WW II/Korean Kruger, I have located over 20 so far on 55 Indian Red Rd. ships that were there. Most have sailed Levittown, Pa. 19057 215-547-2450 on to Eternity. It is great to know someone out there who is still interested in WW ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ II, especially the Bari tragedy. How did you know how to contact me.(cal) Page 11 REUNIONS

PLEASE NOTICE!! MANY ADDRESSES, TEL.#, E-MAILS, Etc. may change anytime so it’s up to you to find out! REGIONAL---MINI-REUNIONS ---GET-TOGETHERS-- MEMORIALS, ETC SUPPORT THESE LOCAL MEETINGS NOTICE: ANY CHANGES or additionals will be in the next POINTER IF NOTIFIED. If still holding meeting, Write down , Or E-mail WHERE-WHEN-HOSTS as I deleted my list in error. Include address-Tel-E-Mail if available ANNOUNCE this Correctiom from 19 Springhill Fl at 1130 hrs 2ND Sat of Okemos and again on Sept 16 with a Oct/Jan POINTER at Texas Reunion. Month except Dec. when they place to be announced later. Contact exchange gifts at China First in Crystal Carl Mescher 508 Wayland, East The Pittsburgh, Pa. Chapter has fold- River..Host: Hal Conn, 6625 W Seven Lansing, Mi.. Their meeting at the ed according to Hilary and Dorothy Rivers Dr., Crystal River, Fl. 34429 Flegel Farm in Sept 2008 was a great Makowski who have been the Hosts 352-795-6257 [email protected] success with Bob Applegate, a sur- for 20 years or more. Thank you both vivor of the S.S. JEAN NICOLE for your dedication to the crew. You The Merchant Marine will hold their sinking and he told them of being have made many happy. (calloyd) 23rd Annual Reunion at the taken prisoner by the Japanese. Doubletree Hotel, Tampa Fl. May 14- The Armed Guard Cleveland, Ohio 18, 2009.Contact: Morris Harvey The San Antonio, Tx. Chapter of the Chapter holds their meetings at 8055 Dacca Terr., Dunellon, Navy Armed Guard WW II Veterans DENNY’S W150th Exit off I-71 4331 Fl. 34433 352-564-0267 morrishar- ended their meetings Feb. 21, 2009 as it West 150th St. Cleveland. Contact Bill [email protected] They have invited now stands unless someone steps for- Joyce. 2817 Shakespeare Ln., Avon, all Armed Guard to attend as they have ward to be the Host. If so, it will be Oh. 44011 440-937-6487 programs set up for both crews. Their announced in a future POINTER. I [email protected] See their story in Convention Fees does not apply to the would like to THANK Dan and Liz this POINTER. Located 4 more AG. AG. Mock for their dedicated service over the years in keeping them together. W.VA AG/MM Mini-Reunion will be AG, fill out forms or just send in the things Age, aches and pains is taking it’s toll held again Saturday Sept. 26, 2009 at you care to attend and send to them. I will be as traveling begins to take it’s toll, also. the Ranch House Restaurant RT 55 there. Make your own Hotel room reserva- Craigsville, WV.. 304-742-6117 tions. Also pay ship directly for sailing. (cal) The Victoria, Texas hold their monthly Contact: Forrest Flanagan, P.O.Box meeting at RAMSEY’S IN VICTO- 119, Craigsville, WV. 26205 304-742- Il/Wi LUNCHEON for 2009 will be RIA hosted by Norman Neureuther, 3160 or Robert Wheeler, 203 Hunt at NOON in the Sturtevant/ 4507 N. John Stockbauer #13, Victoria, Ave., Beckley, WV. 25801 304-255- Driftwood Restaurant on: Feb.10; Tx. 77904 361-578-7900 n- 0879 They had their largest crew in April 21; June 9, August 11 and Nov. [email protected] All wel- 2008. Lodging will be at the Comfort 17. Hosts are Jane and Jay Wilfong comed!! Inn, Summerville 1-800-228-5150. 13211 Durand Ave., Sturtevant, Wi., 53117 262-886-2966 The Rochester, NY area Armed The NJ Pinelands Armed Guard Crew [email protected] Guard/Merchant Marine meet at are still active and still meet at THE JAY’S DINER. 2612 W. Henrietta Rd. CAPTAINS INN Forked River, NJ. Southwest Virginia Chapter of Rochester, NY 424-3710. Host John They still get about 30 at their meeting AG/MM plan to continue meeting in Shevlin 37 Winfield Rd., Rochester, and they extend an open invitation to 2009 at the famous ANTHONY’S on NY 14622 585-467-2057 who says he is all AG and their ladies to have dinner the 2nd Friday of each month. Contact assisted by AG Walter Mace 585-394- at the NJ seashore where they say the Rocky (MM) Rhodes 5390 Merriman 7165; MM Frank Hutter, 585-473-8103 food is good and reasonable. Host is Rd SW, Roanoke, Va. 24018 540-772- and Joan Lucci 585-388-0576. They are Bill Wilkie, PO BOX 548, 7212 [email protected] a lot of help since John’s wife Mary, of Manahawkin, NJ 08050 609-597- 61 years, passed on to a better place, 2946 [email protected] 10/29/08. The Lansing, Mi. Armed Guard 2009 SUNCOAST AG/MM WW II MEETINGS: Mar. 18 and June 17 at DESA (Destroyer Escort Assoc.) will Veterans still meet at Kally K’s3383 US the OLD COUNTRY BUFFET, hold their 2009 Convention at the Page 12 REUNIONS Crown Plaza Hotel, Old Town, Gleason, 24O5 NW CROSS ST, Topeka, WICK, RI., 4/2/2009, at noon. Bugaboo Alexandria, Va. @ $99 Sept. 10 –14, Ks. 666O6-24O1 785-234-6O87 as Host of Warwick is next door to Bickfords; turn 2009. Contact: Dori Glaser, P.O. Box [email protected] Contact the follow- in the same driveway and up the hill. REA- 3448, Deland, Fl. 32721 386-738-6900 ing Historical Ships for sailing dates. SON FOR SUDDEN RESTAURANT with a Memorial Service at the Navy CHANGE IS THAT BICKFORDS Memorial on Pennsylvania Ave.. All S.S.JEREMIAH O’BRIEN, PIER 45, CLOSED COMPLETELY. Contact Armed Guard and Merchant Seamen Fisherman’s Wharf , SAN FRANCISCO, Gerry Greaves 1287 S. Broadway. E. have been invited to attend and share the CA 415-544-0100. www.ssjeremiaho- Providence, R.I. 02914 401-431-0011 comradry together. Many have never brien.org Mngr. Elizabeth Anderson list [email protected] They will decide then been able to see the Sites such as the NEW Administrative Office address: 1275 of their next meeting date. Navy Memorial, World War II Columbus Ave. Suite 300, San Franciaco, Memorial and many other sites there. Ca. 94133 The AMMV-WW II Mid-Columbia Contact Tom Kidd 3636 Chipshot Ct., Cruises May 23;July 18;Aug 22, 2009 Chapter of MM/AG Veterans which N. Ft. Myers, Fl. 33917 $100. ppd. includes the East Side of the State of [email protected] if you can’t get Dori. Washington, Western Idaho Traditional Fleet Week/Blue Angels and NE Oregon meets every Month on the USN CRUISER ASSOC. National Aerial Show with all day Cruises Oct. 10 & 2nd Wed. at Clover Island Inn, Reunion will be held May 17-22, 2009 at 11, 2009 @ $150. ppd. Kennewick, Wa. at Noon. Contact Robert the Millennium Airport Hotel, Buffalo, Caudle, 1020 S Conway St., Kennewick, N.Y.. xContact: Robt. Polanowski 5996 S.S. JOHN W. Brown Box 25846 Wa 99337 Ph or Fax-509-586-1418 Country Rd. 16, Belfast, N.Y. 14711 585- Highland Station Baltimore, Md. 21224 [email protected] 365-2316 [email protected] 410-558-0646 [email protected] The PATROL CRAFT SAILORS 11610 Albany, NY Area Armed Guard and S.S.LANE VICTORY BERTH 94, P O Paso Robles Ave., Granada Hills, Ca. Merchant Marine meet the 4th Thursday BOX 629 SAN PEDRO, CA. 9O733- 91344 will hold their Reunion May 27-31, of Month at the SCHUYLER INN, 545 0629 Tel. 31O-519-9545 www.lanevicto- 2009 at the Holiday Inn Tropicano Broadway, Menands, NY at 11:30 AM. ry.org . They support the ship with sum- Riverwalk, Hotel, 110 Lexington Ave., Hosts are Art and Marion Fazzone, 3936 mer cruises off Catalina Island in memory San Antonio, Tx. 7805 210-223-9461, Albany St., Schenectady, N.Y. 12304-4371. of Merchant Marine and Naval Armed Contact: Armed Forces Reunion, Inc., 518-374-5377 [email protected] and Guard lost at sea during time at war. 322 Madison Mews, Norfolk, Va. 23510 Peter Falasco, 49 Monroe Ave. Latham, S.S.AMERICAN VICTORY 7O5 ATTN:PCSA (Cutoff Date 4/24/09) NY 1-512-785-7890. Channelside Dr., Tampa, Fl. 336O9 813- THE BUCKLEY , WA. Contact: Hank 228-8769 (MM sailing date 5/16/09-AG The Richmond, Va. AG/MM Chapter and Sandy Harrison 27014 Lower Burnett welcomed) meets the 2nd Sat. at Piccadilly Rd., E. Buckley, 98321 36O-897-9381. Cafeteria, 8004 W. Broad St at NOON. [email protected] They still meet 2nd Wed. S.S. AMERICAN Victory will hold their Contact: AG Ken Yeomans 1912 of each mo. at 12 noon at ELMER’S 7427 SPECIAL SAILING CRUISE for the Sweetwater Ln., Richmond, Va. 23229 Hosmer, Tocoma, Wa. 98408-1220 253- MM/AG WW II in Tampa, Fl. MAY 16, 804-270-6027 or Wayte Huffer MM 473- 0855. 2009. Get your $89. to them before April 1. 3102 Aqua Ct., Richmond 23230 804- 262-6710. LST CREW CONTACT: Linda Gunjak, The "RHODE ISLAND CHAPTER" 6641 Spring Beauty Ct. Curtice, Oh. 43412 of AG will hold their next NOON lunch- 1-8OO-228-5870 E-Mail: eon meeting at BUGABOO OF WAR- [email protected] Web Site. www.uslst.org Linda’s husband, Mike passed away 2/13/09. He was President of the LST Gun Crew on the ASSOC. S.S. HUGH Topeka, Ks. Area ARMED GUARD WILLIAMSON AND MERCHANT MARINE meet October 1943 - on the "FIRST THURSDAY" of EACH MONTH at 8:3O A.M. at the AMERI- October 1944 CAN GRILL on Gage St. with DON Page 13 THERE ARE NO ORDINARY LIVES Over breakfast, sailors share thud of mugs and clanking silverware as off the South Carolina coast. Afterward, memories of battle Endured the old sailors remembered crippled on subsequent voyages, he looked closer plane, boat, sub attacks on trans- ships and seamen left behind because the at everything. "When you'd see a bird in port missions convoys couldn't stop to pick up sur- the water, you wanted to make sure it was Brian Albrecht Byline vivors. The Armed Guard fought the a bird and not a [submarine] periscope," Plain Dealer Reporter extremes of weather, the boredom of he said. The Armed Guard had an infor- long voyages and the terror of sudden mal, fatalistic slogan: "Sighted sub, glub, "There are no ordinary lives," Ken Burns enemy attacks. They were assigned in 27- glub." "Yeah, well, why not? That's what said of those who served in a global cat- man crews per ship, handling assorted happened if you got hit. They didn't aclysm so momentous that the filmmak- anti-aircraft and anti-submarine show no mercy," said Al Borgman, 84, of er titled his 2007 documentary simply weaponry, or communications gear. Euclid. "The War." Many who served in so many different ways during World War II are Before they gave merchant ships a fight- Borgman sailed on five oceans with the gone now. Some took their stories with ing chance, starting in 1941, civilian crews Armed Guard. Endured storms that them. But not this one. mounted lengths of telephone poles as bounced his ship "like a postage stamp on ersatz deck guns in an effort to fool the a bubble." Wondered about his fate as he The Denny's banquet room should have enemy. Many of the Armed Guard had listened to depth charges trying to kill a smelled like breakfast. Instead, the never sailed an ocean before. Former sig- sub nearby. Lasted through long periods aroma of cordite and canvas, wet steel nalman Emery Brandich, 83, of Euclid, of boredom punctuated by heart-thump- and salty seas seemed to hang in the air as recalled that initially "I was up on the ing action - such as the time he was once nearly a dozen old sailors gathered for bridge, heaving and seasick, every day caught showering when the general- their monthly menu of memories served for the first six weeks. Then, it was per- quarters alarm sounded. He rushed to over-easy, with a side of humor and hor- fect, just heaven." (So much so that he his battle station wearing only soap and ror. During World War II they were and his wife went on several cruises after pants. But all in all, "we had a lot of fun members of the Navy's Armed Guard, the war.) When the seas got rough, so did not knowing what we were basically manning the guns on merchant ships that life aboard ship. Even the basics, like eat- doing," he said with a grin. "Young kids, ferried men and supplies to battlefields ing, became a chore. "You had to hang on that's all. Adventure. Every day was abroad, often while running a gantlet of to your plate when the ship got to rock- something new." enemy airplanes, boats and submarines. ing and rolling," recalled Ray Hammon, By war's end, 144,900 Armed Guard 83, of Windsor. Bill Joyce, 84, of Avon, A nearby gunner stabbed a sausage and sailors had served on 6,236 ships. Some said that when war broke out, his father, a nodded. "Lot of memories," he said. 700 of those ships were sunk, and more World War I Army vet, called all six of Suggested subjects for "A World at than 3,000 Armed Guardsmen were his boys together and told them to enlist War" can be made by contacting reporter killed or wounded. But they had helped in the Navy - where the food was regular Brian Albrecht at The Plain Dealer, 1801 deliver an estimated 268 million tons of and you didn't sleep in a muddy foxhole. Superior Ave., Cleveland, OH 44114; cargo and more than 7 million military [email protected] or 216-999-4853 personnel. "Join the Navy and see the world," the recruiting posters promised. "And I real- They played their role long ago in far- ly did. The Atlantic, Pacific, away locales that many never would Mediterranean and eight countries," have dreamed of ever seeing before the Joyce said. He served on four ships and war. But nowadays, both those distant participated in two invasions (Normandy times and places can be readily recalled and Okinawa). He weathered typhoons with a mug of hot Joe and the right and the threat of kamikaze attacks. Saw L to R- Al Wettstein MM, Roger breakfast buddy. Their hats bore the the grim flash of a fuel tanker exploding Siegman MM, Bob Wettstein MM, names of ships or destinations such as just over the horizon. Barney Winters MM, Jackson Hamlin Murmansk or Archangel - ports for the [Chair Oh Valley Chapter MM] Frank deadly Arctic convoys to Russia. A slice But never worried. "Hey, if it's going to Corder MM C. Tree Ho Ho, Vernon of toast could inspire stories of bug-rid- happen, it'll happen. I didn't see anybody Herbert AG, Harlan Ellis AG dled bread, a stained cuff evoke memo- concerned about it," he said. "Young and SEATED – Bert Hinds MM, Frank ries of sea-washing clothes by dragging dumb, I guess." Mack Paynter, 83, of Deimling MM, Bob Ober AG them off the stern. And there were quiet, Lorain, had the same attitude right up to God Bless All, somber moments nestled between the the day his ship was torpedoed and sunk Jackson "Walkingstick” Hamlin Page 14 BOMBAY, INDIA EXPLOSION

"BOMBAY, INDIA EXPLOSION". months, was two round trip voyages on to Aden and there we learned of the from the East Coast ports to Bombay, details of the explosions. Our report Dear C.A. In the March „43 issue of Colombo Ceylon, Calcutta and other was- over 1OOO killed, 4,OOO the "POINTER", you indicated that ports in India. The Bombay explosion injured and hundreds missing. In addi- you would like to receive info available took place during our first voyage. tion, some 2O to 3O cargo ships were on the "BOMBAY, INDIA EXPLO- crippled and many buildings SION". Here's some actual facts of We sailed alone from Aden to Calcutta destroyed. that tragic event. stopping only to pick up survivors from a sunken ship and took all of I stayed on board the S.S. CHUNG First, some background history. I them to Cochin. From Calcutta, we SHAN for 6 more months with the served as an USN Armed Guard sailed to Visakhaptnam to load copra, same Armed Guard gun crew and Officer from Jan. 1943 until Jan, 1945. (the worst cargo to haul in the world) Captain. We sailed again for ports in During this time, I had gun crews which was infested with millions of India, but not Bombay. In December of under my command on the copra bugs that invaded and infested 1944, I received orders to a Navy Rest S.S.WILLIAM CUSHING and the food, clothing, sleeping quarters and Camp in Deland, Florida. I had con- S.S. CHUNG SHAN. the entire ship. The monsoon delaid tacted Dengue Fever and was down to the loading and we stayed here for 14O pounds on a 6'1" frame. I had a In early January, 1944, I reported on many days. We did finally leave and contingent of 15O enlisted men with board the S.S. GHUNG SHAN with a sailed alone to Bombay. me and I think a few were from the S.S. crew of 28 Navy Armed Guard. This CHUNG SHAN crew. Two weeks of included 2 signalmen 3/C, 1 Gunners When we arrive in Bombay, there was orange juice, good American food and Mate 3/C and a Cox 3/C, a fine crew to chaos in the port. Ships waiting every- plenty of sunshine and I was back at serve with. We boarded her in where to load, unload, dock leave the the Armed Guard Center in Brooklyn, Baltimore, Md. and what a surprise we dock, etc. Captain Wolf received New York for further assignment. got as she was flying the flag of the orders to anchor and await further REPUBLIC of CHINA and had an instructions. This he did but after sev- all Chinese crew except for the eral days of waiting, he became restless Captain, 3 mates, the chief engineer and was anxious to get out of the har- During the time frame I have narrated, and 2 assistants. The ship was well pro- bor. He seemed to have a feeling of an there were two ships flying the Chinese visioned with "RICE"!! We had it 3 impending disaster. Flag with U.S.N. Armed Guard gun times a day- - BOILED, FRIED and crews on board. The other was the S.S. PUFFED!! After loading our cargo, Early the next morning of April 14th, CHUNG CHENG. She was the vic- we sailed in convoy to New York and we left the ship for the Port Directors tim of a German Submarine on Feb. 3, joined an Eastbound Convoy across Office (British) and requested permis- 1944 while bound from Cochin to the Atlantic Ocean, through the sion to sail alone to Aden. After some Aden. She carried a merchant crew of Mediterranean Sea to Alexandria, discussion, permission was granted 39 Chinese and an Armed Guard crew Egypt, through the Suez Canal and and we headed back to the ship and of 27. There were twenty lives lost in then we were on our own to India. prepared to sail. the sinking.

The Captain of the S.S. CHUNG With the anchor up and steam ready, J.Herbert Watson SHAN was one of the finest men I had we were slow ahead. out of the harbor 26 Carriage Lane ever sailed with. He was German born when a terrific explosion ashore rocked Ponte Vedra and had served in the German Navy. the ship. It felt as if we had hit a mine Beach, Fl. 32O82 His ability to size up difficult situa- but several more blasts followed and 9O4-285-6139 tions probably saved our lives and the the harbor was covered by dense, black ship and it's cargo in Bombay. A strict smoke and a raging fire. On the bridge, displanarian, an excellent seaman and I looked at the burning ships through Thanks Herb for this important info. I will he hated convoys. He preferred to sail my binoculars. A tragic sight!! Debris try to find out if any of the 2O KIA on the alone and did most of the time. from the blast started to fall on the CHUNG CHENG were A.G.s. deck of the S.S. CHUNG SHAN. PRINTED NOV.1993 POINTER I was aboard the S.S. CHUNG SHAN Capt. Wolf gave the order and we Reprinted by request. (cal) for eleven months with basically the steamed away from the disaster, very same gun crew. Included in that 11 lucky to be alive. We continued sailing Page 15 FROM THE CREW...

*The first Victory Ship built and launched was the S.S. UNITED VICTORY on January 12, 1944 by the Oregon Ship Building Corperation.There were 531 VICTORY SHIPS total built during WW II. Of these, 414 were cargo ships and 117 were transports.

*Information taken from First Edition book: THE VICTORY SHIPS FROM A to Z. by Capt. Walter W. Jaffee-Author. Published by the Glencannon Press, P.O.Box 341, Palo Alto, Ca. 94302 1-800-711-8985 www.glencannon.com http://www.glencannon.com ISBN 978-1-889901-37-4

Page 16 U.S. NAVAL ARMED GUARD CENTER

Page 17 CHRISTMAS 1942

Page 18 CHRISTMAS 1942

Page 19 23rd ANNUAL AMMV CONVENTION ARMED GUARD ITINERARY DOUBLETREE HOTEL TAMPA WESTSHORE • MAY 14-18, 2009

Name: ______Spouse/Other: ______

Affiliation/Chapter: ______City/State/Zip:______

Address: ______

Phone: ______E-mail: ______See separate sheet for Hotel and Victory Cruise reservation information. CONVENTION FEE: (no charge for spouse/companion) TOTALS EARLY BIRD to February 15th: $60.00 x ____ = $______February 16 to March 31: $75.00 x ____ = $______April 1 to May 14: $95.00 x ____ = $______

SE REGION PRE-CONVENTION: $28.00 x ____ = $______(Thursday May 14th at 1200 with lunch; program for SE Region but is open session) Buffet: Soup, choice of Salads, Rolls, Dessert, tea & coffee

LADIES LUNCHEON: $28.00 x ____ = $______(Friday noon May 15th) Preference (# of each): Salad – Caesar (chicken) ___; Cobb (Turkey, Ham, cheese) ___ Rolls, Beverages & Dessert: New York Cheesecake____

WELCOME DINNER: $48.00 x____ = $______(Friday evening May 15th) Preference (# of each): Beef ___; Chicken ___; Fish ___

CONVENTION/REUNION BANQUET: $48.00 x ____ = $______(Sunday Evening May 17th) Preference (# of each): Beef ___; Chicken ___; Fish ___

AMERICAN VICTORY CRUISE: $18.00 x ____ = $______(Bus Transportation only – round trip- All day Saturday May 16th) TOTAL DUE: $ ______(v.080929) SPECIAL MEDICAL OR PHYSICAL CONCERNS—please detail needs request on separate sheet. CANCELLATION NOTICE: NO REFUNDS AFTER MAY 1, 2009

SEND COMPLETED FORM WITH CHECK TO: AMMV; c/o John Reher; Box 151205; Cape Coral, FL 33915-1205 FOR GENERAL INFORMATION CALL: Morris Harvey, 352-564-0267 or e-mail [email protected]

HOTEL & HISTORIC CRUISE: INFORMATION FORM To download and print all info and forms you may also Google - americanmerchantmarine - and select the following web site: http://www.bhirdo.net/americanmerchantmarineveteransofwwII.html

Page 20 WHY ME, LORD? U.S. sailor puts He said he never intended to write warming and sometimes funny account. WWII tales to paper about his war experiences but as the Sussex County's William A. years went on, others convinced him The book details the experiences of Carter survived convoy ship that the personal story of someone who Carter, a U.S. Navy armed guard officer sinking By Molly Murray, served on Convoy PQ17 and the on a convoy run to Murmansk, Russia. The News Journal Richard Bland would otherwise be lost. Carter said he also wanted readers to With World War II raging in Europe, know that people in the United States U.S. Navy Ensign William A. Carter "I hadn't wanted to write this book at have a lot in common with people in set out on a convoy from Iceland on all," he said. "I lost a lot of friends in Russia. June 27, 1942. that experience." "The character of the people and the The mission: to provide armed military Then an old friend from the U.S. Naval strength and courage they demonstrat- guards and firepower to the unprotect- Academy convinced him to write it. ed during WWII never got the atten- ed merchant ship -- the Ironclad -- tion they deserved," he said. bound for Russia with supplies. "He said, 'It's your duty to preserve it for posterity,' " Carter recalled. Carter had just graduated from St. Of the 37 merchant ships in the convoy, John's College in Annapolis and was in only 24 reached Russia. Sen. Tom Carper, a long-time family the Naval Reserve. He was tapped for friend, writes in the foreword to the training at the Naval Academy to pro- But Carter's most harrowing experi- book what was at stake: "The Germans vide guard duty on merchant ships. ences came later on his return trip to were winning and the Russian armed Iceland on the S.S. Richard Bland -- the forces, at a terrible cost in human lives, Merchant ship crews weren't consid- ship's maiden and only voyage. were buying time for U.S. forces to get ered part of the military force. To pro- trained and equipped." tect the ships and crews, the Navy pro- Carter, of Millsboro, details his convoy vided specially trained crews and experience in a new book, "Why Me, The book tells the story of soldiers and equipment. Carter served on one of Lord?" families affected by war in a heart- these armed guard crews.

The book is expected to be published in A woman's husband had been slipping in and out of a coma for March. several months, yet she had stayed by his bedside every single The Richard Bland was lost at sea after day. One day, when he came to, he motioned for her to come being hit three times by German torpe- does. Of the 68 people on board, 35 nearer. As she sat by him, he whispered, eyes full of tears, survived. 'You know what? You have been with me all through the bad "My most poignant feelings were a times. When I got fired, you were there to support me. When humbled gratitude that once again, the my business failed, you were there. When I got shot, you were Lord had spared me and that I was alive for the moment," Carter wrote. by my side. When we lost the house, you stayed right here. When my health started failing, you were still by my side... You He had jumped 10 feet into a lifeboat as the Richard Bland was sinking. know what?'

Carter, 88, is a long-time civic leader, having served for years as a trustee of 'What dear?' she gently asked, smiling as her heart began Delaware Technical & Community College. The William A. Carter to fill with warmth. Partnership Center on the Owens Campus in Georgetown is named in his honor. He had a long-time insurance 'I think you're bad luck...get away from me!' business in Millsboro. Page 21 WHY ME, LORD? Meanwhile, in Russia, everything was He also received the Silver Star for his The ship, already mortally damaged by in short supply, so merchant ships, trav- convoy service. two earlier torpedoes, has a cracked eling a northern route, made often dan- hull and no steering. The ship was gerous trips to Murmansk. There were "For the life of me," he wrote in his pitching in enormous waves. And it ice floes to contend with, terrible weath- book, "I couldn't even think of anything was cold and snowing. er, cold, rough seas and, most deadly, out of the ordinary that I had done." German U-boats. "My last thought before impact was to Besides detailing the events of the con- wonder whether anyone else had seen Carter said Convoy PQ 17 to voy and the return trip, Carter also snowflakes fall on the surface of the Murmansk had the highest ship casual- gives readers an account of life during torpedo that sank their ship," he wrote. ties of any of the convoys bound for war. Russia. By fate, or luck or providence, Carter Everything happened at a faster pace, made it to a lifeboat and jumped for his The voyage was critical because "they said Carter's wife, Ann. And, she said, life. were just about down to fighting with there was great uncertainty about the their bare hands," he said. "It was a diffi- future. "I'm the luckiest guy in the world," he cult assignment." said. "My life has been a series of lucky The couple met on a blind date, were accidents." Although the book is not yet available, engaged shortly before Carter set out Carter talked about it and his experi- on convoy duty and then "we had no idea Contact Molly Murray at 856-7372 or ence because December marks the where he was," she said. [email protected]. anniversary of news in 1945 that he had been awarded a high honor by the Carter's account of the sinking of the Russian government for his service dur- Richard Bland is the stuff of war ing WWII. movies. WE REST BELOW THE WAVES WE REST BELOW When war was declared on 4 August, were better armed, better armoured THE WAVES Good Hope left Plymouth on the 6th and better equipped than anything to do battle with Admiral Graf von the British fleet had. The German Stoker 1st Class Herbert Allcorn had Spee‘s German East Asia Squadron crews already had an advantage over already served five years in the Royal which was successfully disrupting the opposing force looking for them. Navy and was on Reserve when he trade with Australia, New Zealand They were expert in naval gunnery was called back to duty in 13 July and India. This was causing great and trained regularly whereas the 1914 as there was a possibility of problems for the British Admiralty. British were predominantly reservist England going to war and drafted to The British force sent to engage the crews who hadn’t had much time to the armoured cruiser HMS Good enemy fleet consisted of the practice or even get to know their Hope. His ship carried a complement armoured cruisers, Good Hope and ship. of 900 crew and was powered by 43 Monmouth, the light cruiser, coal fired Belleville boilers capable Glasgow and the armed merchant At 1620 on 1 November, the two of producing a maximum of 23 knots. cruiser Otranto and the worn out old fleets caught their first glimpses of Her armament of two 9.2 inch guns in pre dreadnought Canopus .The fleet each other off the coast of central single turrets, sixteen 6inch guns in was under the command of Rear Chile near the city of Coronel. Rear casements along the hull, twelve 12 Admiral Sir Christopher Cradock Admiral Cradock frantically radioed pounder guns, three 3 pounder guns whose flag was aboard Good Hope. Canopus to catch up but it was a and two 18 inch submerged torpedo hopeless task as she was approxi- tubes. HMS Good Hope was a for- Graf Maximilian von Spee’s mately 250 miles behind and was to midable old fighting machine and squadron consisted of two light take no part in the looming battle. had only recently been taken out of cruisers, Leipzig and Dresden and Each squadron commander attempt- retirement. The crew at the time were two modern armoured cruisers, the ed to size up the situation and mostly reservists like Stoker Allcorn. Scharnhorst and the Gneisenau which manoeuvre for the best position to

Page 22 WE REST BELOW THE WAVES engage the enemy. The British tried to off Monmouth at point blank range. day are not forgotten. The open the engagement early with the There were no survivors. At 1957 a Portsmouth Naval Memorial com- sun behind them in the hope of a swift brilliant flash of a magazine explo- memorates those Royal Navy ranks victory. The Germans would have sion came from where Good Hope and ratings that have no known grave had to look into the sun so Spee had last been seen. Nothing was ever other than the sea. The names of 9,666 avoided battle by manoeuvring his found of her and Admiral Cradock, from the Great War and 14,922 from faster vessels out of Cradock’s range. together with the entire ships compli- World War Two are arranged accord- However, as the day wore on; the sun ment of 900 men, perished. Dresden ing to the year of death. In addition began to set and presented the British and Leipzig were dispatched to hunt there are 75 names of those from fleet in sharp silhouette against the down Glasgow and Otrango. The Newfoundland who died whilst on horizon. The German ships were by British lost two cruisers and 1654 active service with the Royal Navy. now, almost invisible in the gathering crew killed. No survivors were gloom and finally from a tactical found. The Germans only suffered In the case of Stoker Allcorn, his advantage, commenced firing at four hits and three crew wounded on medals were sent to his widow in about 1900. the Gneisenau and two hits on Ringmer who was pregnant at the Scharnhorst. Spee took the remainder time of her husband’s death. At the The Scharnhorst scored a direct hit his fleet to Valparaiso to re stock coal christening, a son was named Herbert on Good Hope with her third salvo and provisions. It was a great victory Henry Hope Allcorn on 7 February destroying the forward 9.2 inch main for Germany but the euphoria wasn’t 1915 after his father and his ship. turret. Three minutes later, to last long. Monmouth was set on fire by Ken Wright. 2007. Gneisenau’s accurate gunnery. The The scale of the loss and the terrible British fired every available gun but humiliation of the first defeat of with little serious effect on the British sea power for over a century Germans except for a couple of dam- stung the British Admiralty in aging hits on Gneisenau by London into action. A huge naval Monmouth. Superior German gun- force was assembled under Admiral nery and battle tactics began to shape Sir Fredrick Doveton Sturdee and his the final outcome. By 1935 von Spee fleet eventually came to grips with estimated that Good Hope had been Graf von Spee’s force near the hit thirty times. She was on fire in Falkland Islands on December 8. In several places but still fighting. She the ensuring battle, the Scharnhorst, even tried to close with Scharnhorst Leipzig, Gneisenau and Nurnberg so as to launch a torpedo attack. The were sunk. Dresden managed to German ship kept its distance and escape. No British ships in the continued shooting. As the visibility engagement were lost and British decreased, the Germans had the honour was restored. In a strange turn advantage of using the fires on the of fate, it was the Glasgow that final- British ships as aiming points where- ly found the Dresden anchored in as the British gunners could only aim neutral Chilean waters at Mas a at the enemy gun flashes. Leipzig and Tierra. In a blatant violation of Glasgow engaged each other whilst Chilean neutrality, Glasgow opened Dresden shelled Otrango which fire on Dresden. After 5 minutes pulled out of the line and retired. Dresden surrendered but during sur- Dresden then turned its attention to render negotiations, the Germans Glasgow. Monmouth was at this scuttled the ship denying the British point, on fire and listing to port and. the prestige of capturing their ship signalled Glasgow to make its escape and its possible use. rather than attempt a tow. Glasgow had been hit five times and retired Stoker 1st Class Herbert Allcorn from the line on orders to warn rests below the waves and has no Canopus to stay clear of the battle. known grave, but he and his ship The newly arrived Nurnberg finished mates lost on that fateful November Page 23 THE FORGOTTEN FEW THE FORGOTTEN FEW. Scheme’ as it was termed, left Australia On the 23 May 1941, while the for Britain in January 1940 followed by destroyers HMS Kelly and HMS When Hitler declared war on Great another much larger group in February. Kashmir were steaming south down Britain in 1939, he also took on the A total of 500 in all arrived in England the coast of Crete a German recon- whole of the British Empire. They came and the Royal Navy welcomed them at naissance aircraft reported the from all parts of the globe to join the this most critical time in British history destroyer’s position to struggle from the beginning, and in and of the ‘free world’. Headquarters. Onboard Kashmir doing so, many countries suffered great were eight RANVR crew which was losses in human life as a result of their Training began at HMS Collingwood unusual as they were generally contribution. Supplies, troops, naval at Portsmouth prior to three months assigned one per ship. Captain and aircrews flowed to the cause, a ‘sea time’experience.1 Potential officers Mountbatten [later Lord reflection of both the strategic impor- then began an additional three month Mountbatten] aboard Kelly wrote in tance of Britain’s imperial status and the intensive course at HMS King Alfred a later account of the action to his sis- affection held in the hearts and minds of training establishment also at ter Louise, Queen of Sweden ; ‘As the her subjects for the ‘mother country’ Portsmouth. They became first lieu- sun rose, a German Dornier 215 that was now in dire need. tenants and above although many spent appeared out of the east and was the war as ratings. After the course the engaged before she dropped five In Australia, the Prime Minister Robert men were assigned, according to strate- bombs which missed Kelly astern. Menzies addressed the nation on 3 gic requirements, to operational ships Forty minutes later, three more Do September 1939. ‘Fellow Australians, it throughout the RN ranging from bat- 215s made a high level bombing is my melancholy duty to inform you tleships to motor launches and in some attack on Kelly and Kashmir. Both officially, that in consequence of a per- cases, to submarines. They also became ships avoided the bombs’. sistence by Germany in her invasion of instructors on navigation or anti –sub- Poland, Great Britain has declared war marine courses as well as gunnery and The Luftwaffe returned around upon her and that as a result, Australia salvage work. During the six years of 0800, with twenty four Stukas from is also at war.’ With the declaration of war H.M.S.King Alfred trained a General Wolfram von Richtoven’s war upon Japan as well, it would six total of 22,508 Royal Navy Volunteer V111 Air Corps and again attacked long years before Australia and the Reserve Officers for active sea serv- the retreating destroyers. The Stuka world was at peace again. War service ice. 2 As well as the Australians, there had a fearsome reputation for diving would take Australians to virtually were men from many Commonwealth almost vertically on ships and only every corner of the world. Nearly one and Allied countries including releasing their bombs when they were million served in the Navy, Army, Air Canada, Belgium, China, Holland, so low that they couldn’t miss. Force or Merchant Marine otherwise New Zealand, Norway, South Africa Kashmir was hit amidships by two known as the Merchant Navy. and the United States. Some of the bombs, her magazine exploded and British Royal Navy Volunteer she sank within two minutes. Unfortunately, it is a sad fact of life that Reserve personnel went on to become RANVR ordinary seaman Ian there were many individuals, organisa- well known. Alex Guinness, Laurence Rhodes managed to shoot down a tions or groups from the Oliver and Ian Fleming who, when Stuka just before Kashmir had to be Commonwealth world wide who later writing his highly successful fic- abandoned. He survived the war and received little or no recognition for their tional James Bond 007 book series, was awarded the Conspicuous part in the 1939-1945 war effort. One made his main character a Gallantry Medal for his action that such group that has been given only Commander in the RNVR. day. One Stuka came in lower than the scant recognition in mainstream mili- rest over Kelly and released its bomb tary histories both in Australia and in All of the five hundred men who vol- hitting square on X gun-deck killing Great Britain is the Royal Australian untarily went to war as members of the gun crew. Kelly’s gunners kept up Naval Volunteer Reserve [RANVR] the RANVR have or had a tale to tell. a barrage of fire against the attacking In 2008, there are only about 50 mem- aircraft but another bomb exploded With Australia’s declaration of war on bers left. The following few stories right beside the Kelly tearing a gaping Germany, the British Admiralty accept- are a token representation of all those hole in her side near X magazine while ed an offer by the Australian Naval who served with the RANVR, and an she was still steaming at 30 knots. The Board to provide volunteer personnel illustration of the diversity of their destroyer lost its stability and began to serve with the Royal Navy. The first placements throughout the Royal rolling over at speed eventually cap- group of volunteers of the ‘Yachtsman Navy. sizing but still continuing its forward Page 24 THE FORGOTTEN FEW momentum. She finally stopped all water from the listing ship. ‘The lead- In the famous St Nazaire raid on 27 movement and for a while floated ing seaman of our mess was a most March 1942, Lieutenant William upside down with the length of her keel unusual character. Not a bad sort of Wallach in the leading Motor Launch from stem to stern exposed. The screws chap but he seemed unable to carry on a ML 270 managed to knock out one of were still turning while several of her conversation that wasn’t riddled with the German searchlights that were illu- crew clung precariously to the keel. All extremely rude words and obscenities minating the destroyer Campbeltown around the mortally wounded ship were of all kinds. He was certainly one the as she was on her run to ram the dry men struggling to survive in a sea cov- most foul mouthed fellows I had ever dock gate [caisson] and allow comman- ered in a stinking thick mixture of fuel met. If you ever let him get close to you, dos to disembark to destroy dock oil and debris. Some were killed in the he just had to fondle your buttocks or installations. Two other RANVR offi- initial blast; some drowned when the your genitals, depending on which way cers and three ratings were also Kelly capsized or choked to death, their you were facing at the time. A lone involved in the raid. One of the ratings lungs full of oil or were killed when the bomber delivered the fatal blow at managed to get ashore after his ML Stukas returned to machine gun the about 7 pm. We were told to abandon was sunk and spent the remainder of struggling survivors.3 ship which was slowly rolling over. Just the war as a POW. It is interesting to before I was about to jump, that leading note one of the reasons for the raid was RANVR Bob Fenwick from Kashmir seaman, the one with the foul mouth the fact that the allied air force was was clinging to an oar for support when and wandering hands came up on deck, unable to bomb the target with the pre- Captain Mountbatten swam up to the walked to the side of the ship, flung his cision required to hit the target and other end to hold on. Mountbatten arms to the heavens and cried, GOD minimize civilian casualties. remembered Fenwick from a previous HELP ME! I clearly remember think- meeting and made a remark something ing at the time that if God helps him, Despite many difficulties, both the like, ‘I suppose this is not affecting you I’ve got nothing to worry about. He British and French Secret Services too much. You Australians are all good may have survived but I never saw him eventually set up a network of agents swimmers. 4 again.’ who could provide reliable information about what was going on in occupied During a withdrawal from Kithera ‘We were finally fished out of the water France. These agents ran the risk of Channel near Crete on 22 May 1941, by one of the fleet destroyers around being reported, tortured and executed HMS Fiji came under heavy air midnight and taken to Alexandria. if caught. They needed to have the attacks. Fiji and HMS Gloucester had From there we made our way back to highest courage and dedication as did been providing anti aircraft protection England on a passenger ship via the those who transported the British for destroyers, Kandahar and Kingston Cape of Good Hope. One incident in Secret Intelligence Services and the while they were picking up survivors Durban that sticks in my mind. Many Special Operations Executives across from HMS Greyhound which had been kind residents of Durban, alerted to the the Channel by sea and by secret flights sunk. Due to the intensity of the fact that a ship load of shipwrecked in Lysander or Hudson aircraft of the Luftwaffe air attacks, Gloucester was sailors were in port, rallied round and Royal Air Force. During 1942, the 15th hit and set on fire and had to retire from sent us large quanties of comforts, Motor Gun Boat Flotilla of the Royal the area accompanied by the three other socks, pullovers, clothing, cigarettes, Navy was established and based in the destroyers. A single near miss from a chocolates etc etc plus hundreds of sec- River Dart at Dartmouth. Lieutenant lone bomber started flooding in Fiji’s ond hand books. For all these gifts, we Lloyd Bott, RANVR was one of those engine room which reduced her speed were extremely grateful. The problem honoured by the Director of Naval and caused her to list. In another attack, was one of distributing these books Intelligence, who in January 1945 said, Fiji was hit by three bombs increasing having regard to the individual tastes of ‘These officers and men were outstand- her list. Fiji rolled over and sank an the readers. The problem was solved ing representatives of an irregular hour later. Kandahar and Kingston very neatly I thought. The ships com- Naval Flotilla which had performed were unable to pick up the surviving pany simply walked past in single file hazardous duties for all services since crew members until nightfall because and was handed a book, any book by the fall of France.’ 6 of the continuing air attacks. the petty officer in charge of the opera- tion. He didn’t ask who your favourite In June, 1942, RANVR Ordinary RANVR member, Lt John Linton author was or did you like fiction or Seaman Philip Power was aboard the aboard Fiji at a reunion dinner in 1997 non fiction or travel. You just got a tribal class destroyer HMS Somali, one recounted with some good humour his book. I got, ‘One Hundred Ways to of the escorting ships with convoy P.Q. thoughts just prior to leaping into the mix Concrete’.5 17. The men who sailed on these Arctic Con’t on page 28 Page 25 UNITED STATES N

Page 26 NAVY MEMORIAL

Page 27 THE FORGOTTEN FEW convoys had to endure horrendous con- which by this time, had increased in Lieutenant Peter Smith RANVR ditions. ‘Even the tiny hairs in the nos- size. In addition to mine sweeping, they aboard 237 was one of several trils became needle like icicles piecing fought furious battles with enemy air- Australian present during the landings. the skin at a touch. At temperatures of craft, e-boats, and took part in major 35 degrees below freezing, the atmos- convoy battles as well as assisting in the Of the 150,000 who took part in the D phere in the mess decks became foetid. landings that drove Mussolini’s Italy Day landings, approximately 1000 of Inside the hull grew thick green out of the war. them were Australians. On the night of mildew, the slightest ailment could 5/6 June the allied air force dropped a become an epidemic’. Under these con- Allied military supplies and food for thousand tons of bombs onto the ditions and the constant stress caused the Maltese population of about a Longues-sur-Mer coastal battery with high passive smoking and later in civil- quarter of a million people had to be a high degree of accuracy but with little ian life, many officers and crew were to sent by convoy and it was vitally essen- effect. At dawn, on 6 June during the die of smoking related causes such as tial the harbour be kept open. Malta D-Day landings, the German battery emphysema. was the only place from which the allies engaged in a duel with the American could sever the axis supply line and was cruiser Arkansas and the French ships, The convoy, consisting of 35 merchant the key to the defence of the Middle George-Leygues and Montcalm in ships with an escort of cruisers and East and all the lands beyond. The support. The battery stopped firing destroyers bound for Russia had a rea- motor launches of the 3rd ML Flotilla then trained its guns on the Bulolo, the sonable chance of success until the played a major part in the allied opera- headquarters ship of the US 3rd order came to ‘scatter’ tions in the Mediterranean and the sur- Infantry forcing the ship to retire. The when the convoy was subjected to a vival of the strategic island by keeping British cruiser Ajax replied engaging massive German aerial attack on 4 July the harbour free of mines. Allied sub- the battery. 9 RANVR Lt John Evans 1942. Twenty four merchant ships were marines were able to operate from the Read, the Officer of the Watch aboard lost. Vice-Admiral W.D.O’Brien, C.B., island and combined with the RAF, HMS Ajax. ‘During the early hours of D.S.C. Commander, Far East Fleet were able to destroy approximately half June 6 we were in position off the later wrote; ‘I have never been able to a million tons of enemy supplies des- Normandy coast at 0600 to commence rejoice with my American friends on tined for Rommel in North Africa. the initial bombardment. Our first tar- Independence Day, because July 4 is, to get was a nest of heavy coastal defence me, a day to hang my head in grief for L.S.T. [Tank Landing Ship] 237 was guns. After an exchange of fire lasting all the men who lost their lives on transferred from the United States 17 minutes, we asked for another target. Convoy PQ17 and in shame at the rec- Navy to the Royal Navy 12 July 1943 We started at Gold Beach next to the ollection of one of the bleakest and took part in the allied beach-head American sector and during our stay episodes in Royal Navy history, when landing at Anzio, thirty three miles off the beach, moved through June and the warships deserted the merchant south of Rome on 22 January 1944 ‘I’m Sword, plus a hasty trip to Portsmouth ships and left them to their fate. For glad I’m in the Navy-I’d hate to be in a for 6’’ ammunition. Our last task was a that, in simple terms, was what we were soldier’ said a young sailor from bombardment near Caen, very nearly at obliged to do.’7 Swansea as the L.S.T. crept into Anzio our extreme range of 24,000 yards. Bay. Two hospital ships were at After a few shots, the Army asked us to In1942, only two Fleet Sweepers and anchour in the bay receiving stretcher go home as our shells were falling way two Motor Launches remained in cases from other L.S.T’s. Some were short into our own troops. Our guns Malta as part the 3rd ML Flotilla when still embarking casualties from ambu- were so badly worn you could actually the larger ships were driven out by the lances on the beach. ‘Look at that,’ said hear the shells rattling as they went up German and Italian Air Forces. It was the sailor ‘I always think of that when I the barrel, so it was back to Portsmouth here that the crews gained an enviable look at the boys we’re carrying. One to have new guns fitted to our turrets reputation for their skill and experience minute they’re with us. The next they’re .We had fired approximately 2,587 in the handling and fighting capabili- ashore and lots of them are dead or shells’ 10 ties of their vessels. The flotilla had wounded. Sometimes I can’t believe it’s been assigned the dangerous job of true.’ The spirit of the men who At the beginning of the war, England mine clearance operations in the worked the Anzio passage supplying had twenty eight coastal Force craft of approaches to Malta’s Grand Harbour. the frontline troops deserves an indebt- which twelve were at Malta, six at Hong During1943, RANVR Lieutenant edness that goes far beyond the battle Kong and ten in England. By the end of Keith Nicol served on Motor launch field and is due from everyone on the the European war, 1,560 had been built. 569 as part of the 3rd ML Flotilla allied side as they ‘do their bit’8 The men in those boats were involved in Page 28 THE FORGOTTEN FEW 780 separate naval actions, 464 of them the ultimate price during their active emplacements at Dieppe. The daring in home waters. In those 464 actions, it service with the Royal Navy or other raid became one of the biggest military is claimed that 269 enemy vessels were duties during WW2. Again, to illus- blunders in history and a holocaust of sunk or probably sunk for the loss, trate the diversity of their placements death and destruction from which only through enemy action, of only 76 within the RN, the following are a few a third of the men returned. In terms of Coastal Force craft. Lt T Scott brief examples of how some of the men human life, it was a tragically expensive, RANVR [son of the famous Antarctic lost their lives together with their but important lesson learnt about the explorer Robert Scott] spent most of British shipmates. problems of landing in occupied his time serving onboard His Majesty’s Europe at a defended port. Acting Steam Gun Boat Grey Fox as the navi- At approximately 05-49 on 24 May Lieutenant- Commander gation officer. Lt Scott was awarded the 1941, the pride of the British fleet, H.P.Brownell, RANVR was among Distinguished Service Cross. 11 HMS Hood fired the opening salvo in those killed. the Battle of the Denmark Strait Among the first RANVR Australians between the Hood and Prince of Wales The SS Ceramic, a White Star [later to train at H.M.S King Alfred in the on one side and the Bismarck and Prinz Shaw Savill] liner of 18,481 gross tons Rendering Mines Safe section was Eugen on the other. Although the set sail as a troop transport from Lieutenant Hugh Syme who became Hood scored hits on the Bismarck with Liverpool bound for Australia on 23 only one of eight to be awarded both the the second salvo, it was all over within November, 1942. When 1,148 kilome- George Cross, the George Medal and 11 minutes. The Bismarck with her fifth tres west-northwest of the Azores, the Bar for his bravery in rendering mines salvo hit Hood which started a fire ship was torpedoed three times on safe. His medal citation reads; During which in turn set of Hood’s ready-use December 6 and sunk by U-Boat 515 21 months of service in the Enemy ammunition and this resulted in a mas- commanded by Korvettenkapitan Mining Section of H.M.S.Vernon, sive explosion and she was gone in 3 Werner Henke. A total of 655 crewmen, Lieutenant Syme carried out 19 mine minutes. It should be pointed out that troops and nurses lost their lives. Only recoveries or disposal operations in light of modern research; there is Sapper Eric Munday, Royal Engineers including 5 acoustic, 8 magnetic, 2 debate as to whether one 15 inch shell survived and was rescued by the U- acoustic magnetic mines and recovery from the Bismarck or one or more 8 inch Boat crew. Two of those who perished, of the first and only Type T sinker mine. high explosive shells from Prinz Eugen A.R.Cutts and B.D. O’Donoghue were Lieutenant John Mould was awarded actually caused the dramatic loss of of the RANVR. 13 the George Medal and Lieutenant L such a famous ship. What ever the true Goldsworthy the George Cross, the facts may be, the loss had a great effect Just 8 miles North-east from the Kola George Medal, Distinguished Service on British moral. Of the 1,418 crew, only Islet, a Flower class corvette HMS Cross and Mentioned in Dispatches, three men survived and were later res- Bluebell was on duty as close escort for both for their work in the Rendering cued by the destroyer HMS Electra. convoy RA 64 enroute to England from Mine Safe section. Lt George.Gosse Four RANVR members; G.W. Hall, Russia, when she was hit by a torpedo was awarded the George Cross for I.G.E.Startup, J.D.Shannon and from U-711 on 17 February 1945. The defusing with improvised tools, a new D.G.Hall were among those who per- torpedo hit Bluebell’s stern and deto- ‘oyster’ type mine in Bremen harbour, ished. nated the depth charges stored there. A Germany. 12 massive explosion tore the stern off, the In the early hours of 19 August 1942, a ship sinking in just 30 seconds. Only 12 Lt Keith Hudspeth was awarded the fleet of two hundred and thirty nine crew were saved. Lieutenant W.W. DSC no less than three times. The first ships arrived off the French coast at Twiss RANVR went to the ocean floor was for partition in a midget submarine Dieppe. Operation Jubilee was in along with the remainder of the British attack on the German battle ship response to the fact that the Western crew.14 Tirpitz hiding in a Norwegian fjord. allies were at this point in time, unable The two additional DSC’s were for to open a second front in Europe and Up until July 1944 seventy two members of actions off the Normandy coast in decided to mount a large scale raid on the RANVR had received various acco- preparation for the D-Day invasion of 6 the French coast and take some pressure lades, awards and decorations including June 1944. off the efforts of the Russian allies in the two George Crosses, seven George Medals east. The ships carried a cargo of more and three bars, three Distinguished Service Of the five hundred men of the than 5,000 men-tough British and Crosses and three bars, one Conspicuous RANVR or Yachtsmen Scheme as some Canadian troops who were determined Gallantry Medal as well as the Greek Cross prefer it called, thirty six members paid to destroy the German coastal gun and a Presidential Citation. Page 29 THE FORGOTTEN FEW Some of the men of the ‘Yachtsmen and in later years. We volunteered to go, your tomorrow, we gave our today for Scheme’ seconded to the Royal Navy served in most sea actions of the Battle under our ships propellers, the sea boiled were among the highest decorated of the Atlantic, Mediterranean and our like green fire. For half a mile our wake Australian servicemen of the war. deeds are hidden in just eight lines in stretched astern as plain as a road. Then the official Australian Official War the sea slid across and smoothed away all When they had first arrived in England History. We didn’t expect a heroes wel- trace of our passage. It forgot us as it has they had been welcomed with open arms come when we returned but to even be forgotten every ship and sailor it has ever and when they left their contribution denied gazetted Australian leave known and settled down again, an infinity was greatly appreciated. In contrast, allowances of two days per month for of blue, to dream under the sky. 16 when the volunteers returned to overseas service was indicative of the Australia after four years with the Royal RAN’s attitude towards us and was The dedication of the peacetime yachts- Navy, they found public and official rather demeaning to say the least.’ men who voluntarily answered the call attitudes had changed. No longer was of war by joining the RANVR and serv- the emphasis on the war in Europe and The Australian Government had suggest- ing with the Royal Navy across the defeating Germany as Australia herself ed and paid for their participation during oceans of the world could possibly was now in peril of being invaded by WW2 yet there are no nominal rolls of expressed by one surviving member Japan and foreign policy was, by necessity, these men in Australia or the U.K. On 25 when he said; ‘If I had my time all over now firmly directed towards the United April every year when Australia holds the again I would go willingly’ States and the war in the Pacific. 15 Australian New Zealand Army Corps [ANZAC] Day marches throughout the Ken Wright. 2008. One officer possibly summed up the country, there has never been an allocated frustration felt by most if not all the march position for the men of the RANVR members when they returned RANVR. Those who wanted to march to Australia. ‘Naturally, we were had to do so with the retired naval officers delighted by the prospect of returning section. Sadly, the entire history of this to the RAN but our homecoming was small band of brave men who are the for- saddened and soured by the shabby gotten few lies neglected in a cardboard treatment we were given on our return box waiting . ‘Tell them of us and say for

A TRIBUTE TO MILAN “MIKE” GUNJAK BY C.A. LLOYD The first time I met Mike was at the AG Mini- my pleasure to have met and known them and Reunion in Toledo, Ohio in 1985 along with Don many of the crew. I have located many Armed Kinney, Bob Busch and Mel Barger. I encour- Guard who were cast out into the fleet when they aged them to organize the LST crew and they needed experienced Gunners, radiomen and did and did a great job and he and Linda edited signalmen when the war in the east came to a a great paper of which I have received over the close. Our condolences are extended to Linda, years. They have entered our Reunions of the the family and all the crew. past in their paper and I did likewise It has been **SEE PAGE 46.

Page 30 CURRENCY FROM AROUND THE WORLD

Tom Hylas • Assistant Secretary • 230 Solivita Blvd. Poinciana, Fl 34759-3790 • (836)427-2661 Page 31 LETTERS FROM THE CREW

Dear Mr John Shirley, altogether new and will go into the next Seeing as how FADM Nimitz’s sea- printing of my Jul 08 published book ghost is nearby, he may appear for a lit- We meet for the first time in this letter, “To the Flag! – a Selection of Patriotic tle instruction for the troops! as recommended by Charles Lloyd – a and Military Verse.” I include five shipmate. copies of that book at Shipmate Lloyd’s Sincerely, recommendation. He is aware of my Steven C. Myers By way of introduction, I am a retired action, indicating the books might be Captain, US Navy (ret.) US Navy captain whose dad was an used as door prizes, etc. That is fine Bedford, PA, 2009 Armed Guard OIC in the Atlantic, in with me. WWII. Dad had six or seven AG 537 S. Juliana St. assignments before he got orders to the As a related item, I have finished a fic- Bedford, PA 15522 Pacific. He was in the Battle of the tion novel about the Armed Guard Atlantic from 1942-44. The only mer- (Murmansk Run – 1943) and would be February 25th 2009 chant ship I remember him naming was happy to seek some critical review from SS ALCOA POLARIS. I have men- people who were on duty as AG men. If tioned it to Charles, who kindly found a there are interested persons I can send name/address of personnel who may sample chapters via the internet (or in have sailed with LT Richard Stoler hardcopy, if that is preferable. I have Myers, USNR in that ship. worked on this book for many years and hope to find a publisher soon. I digress. In my almost 33 years of active Naval Service, I wrote many Thanks for hearing me out. I hope your poems. The poem included here is reunion in Fredrickburg is a lot of fun.

Armed Guard Poem ORDINARY HERO The ships were old – the men were young, A war came in between. With guns and grit, they proved they were The bravest ever seen. Their foes were tough, professionals, But young men, just as well A thousand U-boats sallied forth, Three-quarters went to Hell. As did too many Allied ships Before the shooting ended, Those gunners blunted Doenitz’s lads, And freedom’s sake defended. From Halifax and Liverpool – To Murmansk or to Crete, The Armed Guard was a shield of Hope, Defying grim defeat. With passing years the circle fades, Its radius grows smaller, But at memories of sacrifice, You may stand a little taller. Armed Guardsmen played a signal role To save Red, White and Blue - I pen these words of grateful thanks - My dad was one of you. This story is dedicated to all nurses in WWII. Page 32 ORDINARY HERO

Page 33 ORDINARY HERO

Page 34 ORDINARY HERO

-Story taken from magazine-

"OUR STATE Down Home In North Carolina" Mar. 2007 Edition Vol. 74 No.10

Page 35 FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE

Page 36 WE SENT THEM TO HELL WE SENT THEM TO HELL. was limited to a mixed air corps con- The Kokoda track is a rugged moun- sisting of the Royal Australian Air tainous jungle path covered in barely An hour or so after the Japanese invad- Force and United States Army Air penetrable rainforest and kunai, a tall ed Malaya at Kota Bura, their carrier Force [5th Air Force] personnel, air- bladed grass. Some of the mountain based aircraft carried out an attack the craft, service troops and no combat ridges soar to heights of 1,640 feet American fleet in Pearl Harbor, ready fighting units. The Japanese had [2,500 metres] before plunging Hawaii on 7 December 1941. In rapid by then occupied the strategically sharply back down to sea level. The succession, Malaya, Singapore and the important harbour and airfield of humidity is extremely oppressive and Dutch East Indies fell to the advancing Rabaul in New Britain and had cap- sudden tropical downpours can turn Japanese military forces. With the tured the airfields of Lae and jungle streams into raging torrents looming threat of the Japanese so close Salamaua in New Guinea. They were within a few minutes and the ground to Australia, the then Prime Minister now very close to mainland Australia into thick glutinous mud. Dangerous of Australia, John Curtin, in the early and were already dropping bombs on animals, reptiles and insects especially part of 1942, ordered the battle hard- Darwin in the Northern Territory as the malaria carrying mosquitos teem in ened Australian Imperial Forces 6th well as Broome and Wyndham at the the lush growth of the jungle. Any one and 7th Divisions in North Africa top end of Western Australia. The who has fought in the area would agree back home. The British Prime Imperial Japanese Navy submarine I - it is one of the most inhospitable places Minister, Winston Churchill, wasn’t 21 shelled the city of Newcastle and the on earth. The actual track winds it’s about to tolerate the Australian forces I-24 shelled an eastern suburb of way approximately 186 miles [300 being redirected away from British Sydney. Two midget submarines kilometres] over the Owen Stanley interests so he ordered the 7th Division entered Sydney harbour; one subma- Range and connects the north coast of to assist British forces fighting the rine fired two torpedoes at the USS New Guinea with Port Moresby on the Japanese in Burma without informing Chicago but missed and hit the ferry, south coast. If New Guinea fell, a the Australian government. Kuttabul. Nineteen sailors were killed direct invasion of Australia was possi- Churchill’s action had made it quite and ten wounded. The other fortunate- ble. At the time, it was not known that clear that British interests came first ly got tangled up in an anti-submarine the Japanese never seriously consid- and foremost and Australia could sink net and was no threat. War had arrived ered invading Australia but Darwin or swim. Curtin diplomatically told the on Australia soil. had to be neutralised as it was ringed British PM what he could do with his by airfields and provided a staging changing Australian government With Rabaul firmly in their grip, the point for Allied supply vessels and orders and the 7th Division returned as Japanese High Command now warships which could interfere with ordered. Churchill’s attempt to hijack planned a two pronged attack on Port their ambitions elsewhere in the South Australian troops when they were des- Moresby in New Guinea. The capture Pacific area. perately needed back home was a of Port Moresby would put their wakeup call for Australia. No longer forces even closer to Australia. The The defence of this nightmarish track could Britain, the mother country, be first attack was to be a seaborne inva- initially fell to the poorly trained and relied upon to come to their aid so sion and the second, an overland equipped militia [part time] soldiers of Australia turned to the United States assault over the Owen Stanley the Australian 39th Battalion whose for help. America, having been sound- Mountains and along the Kokoda average age was 18 and had just fin- ly defeated by the Japanese in the Track. Admiral Inouye’s plans for the ished basic training. They were deri- Philippines needed a base from which seaborne invasion ended on 7-8 May sively called ‘chocos’ by the regular they could launch their counter offen- 1942, at the Battle of the Coral Sea. soldiers meaning they were like choco- sive. It was a marriage of mutual con- Although the battle was a tactical draw late and would melt in the sun. venience. for both sides it was a triumph of However, these young soldiers who, American naval air power. The over- after a series of battles and through With both governments in agreement, land assault continued as planned and their sustained gallantry, held on long the American President, Franklin D began on 21 July when the first 2,000 enough for units of the 7th Division Roosevelt appointed General Douglas Japanese troops including Major – just returned from the Middle East to MacArthur as Supreme Commander General Tomitaro Horii’s battle hard- join them. The militia had been weak- of the South West Pacific Area. ened elite South Seas Detachment and ened by the jungle, the Japs, malaria, MacArthur and his public relations engineers began landing at Buna and hunger and depleted by casualties. machine arrived in Australia on 18 Gona at the northern end of the Hardly out of school, many of them March 1942 and found his command Kokoda Track. looked old, grey and ill as they stood Page 37 WE SENT THEM TO HELL wearily in their stinking waterlogged joined at last by American troops British Royal Air Force. This tech- foxholes, expressionless eyes deep in pushed on towards Buna and Gona. nique involved the modified bombers their sockets. They could hardly walk The Japanese soldiers received their flying at a height of between 100-250 let alone fight but they and the 7th last reinforcements and resupplies at feet above sea level at approximately division took on an invading Japanese Buna and they knew this was their last 200 miles per hour, releasing a ‘stick’ force vastly superior in both numbers stand. Surrender or evacuation was out of two to four bombs, usually between and firepower. of the question and they were to either 500 -1000 pounds at a distance of 60- be victorious or die for the Emperor 300 feet from the targeted ship. Like a In Australia, USAAF General George. and the glory of Japan. stone skipping over the surface of the C. Kenney had arrived on 4 August water, if the distance was judged cor- 1942 to take up his position as com- The Imperial Japanese forces now rectly, the bombs equipped with a four- mander of the combined Australian began to sufferer more reversals start- to five second time delay fuse would and American Air Forces in the South ing with the Allied naval victory at skip or bounce into the side or super- West Pacific Area Midway and Australian victories with structure of the ship or submerge near General Kenney was the most senior American assistance at Milne Bay in the ship and detonate. Sometimes the Allied Air Force officer next to the New Guinea and by successes at Buna, explosion took place above the target overall theatre commander, General Gona and Sanananda between as an air burst. Any of these methods Douglas MacArthur. Kenney began to November 1942 and January 1943. were found to be effective. The most clean up the air units he had at his dis- These defeats left the Japanese forces famous example of skip bombing was posal and organise then into a force in New Guinea in desperate need of demonstrated later in May, 1943 when capable of going on the offensive. He reinforcements and supplies. Japanese a raid on the Mohne, Eder and Sorpe had a mixed bag of aircrews as the High Command began planning a re- dams in the Ruhr in Germany was car- Royal Australian Air Force supplied supply to their forces in Lae on the east ried out by nineteen specially modified personnel to almost every United coast of New Guinea by a large convoy Lancaster bombers of RAF 617 States Army Air Force bomber and of ships. Although Allied intelligence Squadron led by Wing Commander transport unit in Australia from early became aware through intercepted and Guy Gibson. The raid was successful 1942 until mid 1943, a fact is generally translated radio messages that the in breaching both the Mohne and Eder not known and sadly neglected by mil- Japanese planned to reinforce their dams but at a cost of 53 aircrew. This itary historians. garrison at Lae by ship, when was not amazing exploit was immortalised in known. The convoy left Rabaul at the 1954 British war film, ‘Dam While the fighting was taking place night under strict radio silence and an Busters’. along the Kokoda Trail, a Japanese umbrella of bad weather. The Allies naval convoy on 25 August landed had been practising for an aerial attack The derelict ship, SS Pruth that had 2,700 troops supported by several but an Australian, Air Commodore run aground in Port Moresby harbour tanks at Milne Bay on the northern W.H.‘Bull’Garing convinced General in 1923 was used as the rehearsal target. most tip of New Guinea. Facing them Kenney the need for a massive, coordi- After the exercise was over, it was were 8,824 combined Australian and nated air attack using large numbers of found that potentially disastrous mis- American troops. This was the first aircraft, striking the convoy from dif- takes were made and these were subse- time Australian militia, regular AIF ferent altitudes and directions with quently rectified through debriefings and Americans fought together and precise timing. Garing appreciated and more practise. While the bombers after 11 days of heavy fighting, they inexperienced crews would find the continued to practise skip bombing, had beaten a common enemy. On 5 task difficult and suggested to members of RAAF Number 30 September, Japanese ships evacuated Kenney‘s forward echelon commander, Squadron honed up their flying and what remained of their troops. They General Enis.C. Whitehead, that a full aerial gunnery skills. had suffered their first defeat losing scale rehearsal should be held to test 311 personnel with 700 missing. The the coordination of aircraft, timings No 30 Squadron was established at the victory bolstered the confidence of the and communications. It would also test RAAF base at Richmond in New Allies who were beginning to think the General Kenney’s upgrade and modifi- South Wales on 9 March 1942 as a long Japanese were invincible. On cations that had been made to some B- range fighter squadron operating November 2, the Australian flag was 25 Mitchell bombers to use the tech- Bristol Beaufighters. After a brief hoisted above the Kokoda plateau but nique of ‘skip bombing’. This innova- period of training, the squadron three more months of bloody fighting tive idea that had already been tested deployed to Townsville in Queensland lay ahead before the Australians, and used against German ships by the where it escorted anti shipping patrols. Page 38 WE SENT THEM TO HELL The squadron was then deployed to had their Mustang, the British their not stay on station over the ships long Port Moresby in New Guinea in Spitfire and the Australians the due to the distance of land based air- September and although the Beaufighter. Nicknamed the fields. The Japanese very rarely oper- squadron’s primary mission during ‘Whispering Death’ the Beau added to ated at night. WW2 was attacking Japanese ship- its fearsome reputation at the begin- ping and coastal bases, they also oper- ning of March when 30 Squadron took The bad weather was, as predicted, ated as a ground attack squadron sup- part in the Battle of the Bismarck Sea. affecting Allied air reconnaissance but porting the Allied operations in New in the late afternoon of March 1 at Guinea, New Britain area. The On February 24, 1943, an unknown 16.00 hrs, an off course B-24 Liberator Beaufighter proved highly successful Japanese soldier wrote in his diary on patrol spotted the convoy through a in all roles. Unfortunately, because aboard the Tosei Maru, ‘Last night I break in the inclement weather and they were required to operate at low dreamed I saw a dragon rising out of reported its position to HQ at Port level, Beaufighter crews had little the sea’. Early in the morning of March Moresby. Kenney and Whitehead chance to escape if their aircraft was 1, the Imperial Japanese Navy convoy scrambled a strike force of seven B-17 crippled and consequently, high losses from Rabaul began streaming through long range bombers as the convoy was were to remain a hazard of Beaufighter the Bismarck Sea bound for Lae- too far away for all the Allied aircraft to operations throughout the war. Salamaua. The weather forecast of reach. Night had fallen by the time the tropical storms in the Solomon and bombers had arrived and they were The Bristol Beaufighter was originally Bismarck Seas was of course, advanta- unable to find their targets despite designed and built in England as a geous to the Japanese as Allied aircraft dropping flares over the convoys esti- flow on development from the would find it very difficult if not mated position. The unknown Beaufort bomber and was delivered to impossible to see the ships. The con- Japanese who dreamed of a dragon ris- Australia in March 1942 for use by the voy was composed of eight escort ing from the sea had been transferred to RAAF with 22, 30, 31 and 93 destroyers, Shikiname, Asagumo, the Teiyo Maru was soon to encounter Squadrons. As the war progressed, the Uranami, Arashio, Asashio, Shirayuki, not one, but many dragons and they Department of Aircraft Production in Yukikaze, and Tokitsukaze plus eight breathed fire as well. They came not Australia began building a local transports, the 8,125 ton Nojima, the from the sea but from the air in the Beaufighter. Some 365 were built with 3,800 –ton Shin-ai Maru, 6,870 ton form of Allied bombers and fighters. a production rate of one per day plus Teiyo-Maru, 6,494 ton Oigawa-Maru, The last entry in his diary read; spares. Along with the American 5,593 ton Kyokusei-Maru, 2,793 ton ‘Discovered by the enemy. At night Kittyhawk, they were Australia’s front- Taimei-Maru, 2,746 ton Aiyo-Maru, enemy planes dropped flares and line attack aircraft. Beaufighter crews, and the 953 ton Kembu-Maru. The reconnoitred’ both aircrews and ground crews firmly transports cargo contained machine believed ‘their’ aircraft to be the best in guns, trucks, cars, assorted artillery, At 07-30 hrs in the morning of 2 the world and they did have something aviation fuel, tractors, ammunition, March, another B-24 flew reconnais- to be proud of. It was the fastest plane rations and mortars. Also aboard the sance over the area where the Japanese in the world at sea level and the most ships were thousands of troops convoy was anticipated to be but again powerful forward armament of any assigned to the Lae-Salamaua area. there was still no sign of them. Around plane. The ‘Beau’ as it was affectionate- Aware the convoy had finally been 08.15 hrs, a patrolling B-24 Liberator ly called, had a fine pilot’s cockpit; two assembled and had departed Rabaul, sighted the ships despite the bad enormously powerful and extremely General Kenney ordered an analysis of weather and was able to stay on station quiet Bristol Hercules, 14 cylinder, known Japanese sea routes so he could over the convoy waiting for whatever two row sleeve- valve radial engines plan his attack. Fortunately, the forces General Kenney could send in and a strong purposeful looking sil- Japanese route to Lae proved to be a for the attack. At 09.30 hrs, a forma- houette. This aircraft was capable of regular one so air reconnaissance tion of B-17’s with sixteen escorting delivering low level attack by torpedo, patrols over the route could be P38’s approached the convoy. Three cannon or rocket and had a maximum planned. The threat of enemy action Japanese fighters were intercepted by speed of 330 miles per hour at 9,500 against the convoy enroute was expect- the P-38’s and shot down then at feet. With an all up weight of 25,000 ed by the Japanese High Command 09.50hrs, seventeen B-17’s attacked pounds, the ‘Beau’ had a climb rate of and 50% losses were deemed accept- from 6,500 feet and the convoy scat- 2310 feet per minute from sea level to able as Lae had to be reinforced and tered. Despite heavy rain, the presence 7,200 feet and of 1890 up to 15,000 defended at all costs. Air cover for the of eight more Japanese fighters and feet. As WW2 icons, the Americans convoy was limited as fighters could anti-aircraft fire, the bombers man- Page 39 WE SENT THEM TO HELL aged to hit the transport ship Kyokusei lems and may have been defective. The RAAF Beaufighters. Somewhere Maru setting it on fire. She sank later other Beauforts torpedoes failed to something went wrong. Only seconds that morning. Another six B-17’s release so they both did a few strafing ahead of the B-17’s, twelve attacked doing only moderate damage passes and returned to base. Beaufighters from No 30 Squadron to another transport. Still they came, went in first, heading straight for the the Angels of Death. At 10-20 hrs, Once it was firmly established the con- destroyers in line abreast formation more B-17’s and two B-24’s attacked voy was heading for Lae, the Allies and flying low. Heavy losses were but there were no hits. About 11-20 the could now unleash the full force of expected. Fortunately, mistaking the Allied aircraft decided to pack up and their airpower. A prelude to the attack Beaufighters for torpedo bombers, the go back to their bases. on the convoy started with RAAF destroyers turned towards the incom- Boston’s from 22 Squadron bombing ing aircraft making them a smaller tar- As soon as the Allied aircraft had left, the Japanese airfield at Lae to disrupt get but leaving the transports exposed. the destroyers Asagumo and Yukikaze any fighter protection of the convoy Ignoring the destroyers, the Beau’s picked up approximately 800 sur- then at 09-30 hrs, the fire breathing went straight past and attacked the vivors out of 1,500 from the Kyokusei dragons of Kenney’s entire strike force transports strafing decks, gun crews, Maru and departed at full speed to of 90 aircraft assembled at the ren- ships bridges and cargo with 20 mm Lae. As night fell, the convoy, now dezvous point over Cape Ward to co- cannon, rockets and machinegun fire. minus one transport and with both the ordinated the attack. This was the It was a nightmare of epic proportions Teiyo Maru and Nojima damaged, moment the Allied Air Force had for the Japanese. Blood washed across continued on. The two destroyers dis- trained so hard for, had waited so long the decks and turned the green waters embarked the survivors at Lae and for. It was also the last chance to inflict of the Bismarck Sea red. The again at full speed, returned to the con- a mortal blow on the enemy as the con- Squadrons job was to neutralise the voy and resumed escort duties. The voys speed and course would have anti aircraft guns and buy precious sec- convoy turned south to pass through them safely in Lae harbour and onds for the following B-25’s. It wasn’t the Vitiaz Strait between New Britain unloading by mid morning or early part of the plan but some B-25’s were and New Guinea and Rear Admiral afternoon and protected by fighters already in with the Beaus adding a Shofuku Kimura, onboard his flag from nearby bases. The dogs of war deadly hail of lead from their .50 cali- ship, the destroyer Shirayuki, decided were off the leash and thirsting for bre machine guns to the slaughter to circle in the darkness and time his Japanese blood or perhaps it would be below from their specially modified arrival off the coast of Lae for next more appropriate to say that the ‘Birds gun platforms. The guns were belted morning. This decision may have been of Prey’ were circling their intended in the following sequence; one tracer, based on the assumption that the victims. two armour piecing and then two weather would continue to hide his incendiary rounds. When the B-25’s ships but his action was an enormous The Japanese could see the approach- fired, it appeared to the Japanese as if strategic blunder and doomed the con- ing armada of enemy aircraft spreading the aircraft was on fire. Then came the voy. out to slot into their assigned posi- deadly rain of bombs when USAAF B- tions. With all these aircraft massed 17 bombers began bombing the convoy At 22.00 hrs, a RAAF PBY Catalina together, it was an impressive sight. from about 7000ft. With the ships from 11 Squadron using radar, found The Imperial Japanese Navy anti air- scattered and no longer able to give the enemy ships and remained nearby craft gunners were experienced and each other covering fire, the third wave until approximately 02.40 in the morn- confident. Even at a range of 6 miles, consisting of American B25 Mitchell’s ing of March 3. A flight of seven shells were bursting 100 yards in front using the newly developed ‘skip’ RAAF Beaufort torpedo bombers of the approaching Beaufighters. bombing technique to inflict more from 100 Squadron left their base at Japanese fighters in the vicinity headed heavy damage. Milne Bay but only two arrived at the for the massed Allied formation while convoy’s location due to rainstorms. the P-38’s dropped their long range As the bombs crashed with deadly The Beauforts attacked the convoy at fuel tanks and went to intercept them. accuracy into one ship after another, approximately 06.15hrs using flares to It was 10.00 hrs and the game was on. the escorting Japanese fighters were illuminate their targets. One aircraft The Allied operational plan called for unable to stem the carnage below as released two torpedoes and both ran on the attack to be carried out in three American fighters fought furiously to target but failed to explode possibly waves at three levels only seconds’ keep them away from the bombers. because the American torpedoes they apart. The B-17’s to go in first and One B-17 was shot down but the crew were using were plagued with prob- bomb the convoy followed by the bailed out only to be machine gunned Page 40 WE SENT THEM TO HELL in their parachutes by Japanese fight- direction of Rabaul. East of Long the survivors near Long Island ers. Any survivors of this callous Island they met two destroyers sent returned to the battle site and began the attack would have been shown no from Rabaul, transferred their human almost impossible task of trying to mercy as the parachutes unfortunately cargo and refuelled. In the meantime, find people in the water, in the dark- landed in the middle of the convoy. the second Allied attack force ran into a ness and in a search radius of approxi- Three P-38’s made a gallant attempt to problem. The weather had turned foul mately 20 miles. The night was also a stop the Japanese aircraft from attack- again and many of the aircraft dis- good chance for American PT boats to ing the helpless B-17 crew but they patched on the afternoon raid had to attack what remained afloat. Ten PT themselves were shot down. turn back to base. The assorted group boats set out from their base near Tufi of B-17’s, B-25’s, A-20’s plus 10 P-38’s but two hit debris and had to return, The authoritive Australian author Lex that did manage to get through arrived the other eight scoured the battle area McAulay aptly describes the scene in over the remains of the convoy at 15.00 looking for targets of opportunity. At his 1991 book, ‘Battle of the Bismarck hrs that afternoon. .Five transports, the approximately 23-20 hours, two PT Sea. ‘No one person was able to sit and Aiyo-Maru, Teiyo-Maru Shin-ai- boats found the transport ship, watch the entire scene. The Maru, Taimei-Maru and the Oigawa- Oigawa-Maru and using one torpedo Beaufighters and the B-25 strafers had Maru and the destroyer Arashio were each, sent the last transport afloat to been overtaken by the A-20 Boston’s stopped,damaged and on fire to vary- the bottom. Meanwhile, the destroyers’ and high level B-25’s. Overhead, B17’s ing degrees. The Shirayuki had sunk, crews were doing their best to find sur- were on their bomb runs despite the Tokitsukase was west of the con- vivors within the vast search area but at Japanese fighters. The ships were voy, disabled and drifting with the 02.30 hrs, they slipped away leaving attacked from almost every direction, ocean current and the Asashio had the remaining men to their fate.They frantically trying to protect themselves remained behind at the original battle never returned and left eight trans- as bomb after bomb struck home and site to pick up survivors. ports and three destroyers resting on the deadly whiplash of massed .50 cal- the ocean floor. The destroyer ibre machine guns and 20 mm cannon At 15.03 hrs, five A20’s from RAAF 22 Tokitsukaze was the sole ship afloat flailed decks, superstructures, smash- Squadron attacked the Tokitsukase after the afternoons attack. Her aban- ing deck cargo to splinters. What this despite the presence of 25 or 30 enemy doned hulk was found by Japanese type of ammunition did to human flesh fighters on station over the convoy. forces and an attempt to sink her failed. is best left to the imagination. While the P-38’s engaged the Japanese She sank later that afternoon without Overhead, P-38’s Lightning’s battled it fighters, the other allied bombers assistance. out with the Japanese fighters. It was, joined in the attack on the remaining despite all the meticulous planning, a ships including the Asashio from dif- The sea would give the survivors no free for all with everyone engrossed in ferent angles and heights. The effect of mercy nor would the Allies. During 4 their own battle.’ The Allied aircraft bombs, 20mm cannon and machinegun and 5 March, with the convoy finally began to reform and return to bullets on survivors packed on the destroyed, orders were issued for the their bases to refuel and rearm. The decks of the Asashio was devastating. aircrews to strafe survivors in the first mad slaughter was over in 20 min- All around the burning hulks, the water, in lifeboats, on rafts and any res- utes. Only one ship, the Kembu Maru, oceans surface was littered with wreck- cue vessels that might appear. No sur- loaded with aviation fuel was actually age, small boats, barges and several vivor must be allowed to reach land to sunk during the raid but the Nojima thousand Japanese soldiers and sailors fight Allied troops. Once ashore those sank just after the Allied aircraft left. of all ranks who, only that morning, survivors who were still armed would To maintain pressure on the Japanese had received a lesson in the use of air fight. The Japanese soldiers were and protect the strike force that was to power. Only a year before it had been tough and tenacious and would sell return to finish off the surviving ships, the Japanese air forces which had swept their lives dearly so why risk Allied the airfield at Lae was attacked again the seas, ruthlessly sinking the fleets of lives when the enemy were already this time by P-38’s. Five aircraft were ships fleeing Malaya, Singapore, Java, there to be killed. The word had claimed as destroyed with three proba- Sumatra and the Philippines. already spread like wildfire around the bles. base the previous day about the cold Gradually, the fury of battle died down blooded machine gunning of the B-17’s A patrolling B24 reported at 14.10 hrs and the Allied aircraft began returning crew and now the Japanese in the water seeing four destroyers speeding away to their bases. A solitary reconnais- were going to pay. There were a good from the battle area with survivors sance plane remained. As night fell, the many pilots and air crew who relished packed on their decks heading in the four destroyers that had disembarked the chance to ‘send the Japs to hell.’ Page 41 WE SENT THEM TO HELL Some would later view it as nauseating machine-gunned or crucified just to numbers were later revised and work but accept it as a reality of war mention a few methods of execution. amended. In a blatant promotion of and for others; the experience would self interest, both MacArthur and affect them badly. While the planes cir- After the Allied aircraft had finished Kenney sought to claim all the credit cled looking for targets for their their gruesome work and returned to for themselves and the USAAF. machine guns, sharks also circled but base, an entry in one American Kenney’s report back to Washington it’s not known if they took part in the Squadron diary was blunt; ‘What we made no mention of the Royal bloody smorgasbord, compliments of didn’t get the sharks got. Every man Australian Air Forces participation. the Allied Air Force. With all the food in the squadron would have given two MacArthur was notorious for this type in the water it would be hard to imag- months pay to be in on the strafing. of self inflation and that of American ine they wouldn’t feed. Even if they ‘One gunner expended 1,100 rounds military actions throughout the war. did, there would be little sympathy for of ammunition and burned out two This type of insensitivity to the host those in the water as knowledge of guns.’ The fate of the Japanese soldier country was, and is, downright insult- Japanese atrocities carried out against who ‘dreamed of a dragon from the ing to the memory of all those allied POW’s and civilians in occupied sea’ is not known but his diary was Australians who fought in the Pacific territories would have been well known found washed up on a beach on theatre. by 1943. Goodenough Island by Allied sol- diers. After the battle, Allied aircraft Nevertheless, there is no denying how- During their war of conquest in attacked the Japanese fighter base at ever Generals MacArthur and Kenney Manchuria and China, an estimated Lae catching the defenders unpre- chose to present the battle at the time, 20,000 women were raped and pared. Six Zero fighters were the actions over the Bismarck Sea by 300,000 people were massacred by destroyed on the ground and the base the combined American and Australian the Japanese in Nanking alone facilities were extensively damaged. Air Forces had achieved one of the between 1937/38. This monstrous most stunning victories in any theatre atrocity in today’s Japan is called ‘an In the following days it was fickle for- in WW2 and stopped the Japanese incident’ but was, at the time, a prel- tunes of fate who found who first. advance toward Australia. It was a land ude of things to come. The enslave- While Allied patrol boats and aircraft battle fought at sea and won from the ment of hundreds of thousands of scoured the ocean looking for sur- air and proved that land based POW’s and subjecting them to a vivors to kill, IJN submarines were bombers were a highly effective regime of terror in which tens of thou- looking for survivors to save. Rear weapon against ships. The Japanese sands died from abuse, disease, over- Admiral Kimura and his staff from themselves had taught the Allies in work, starvation and murder were a the destroyer Shirayuki were among Asia and the Pacific that shipping in normal part of the Japanese military those fortunate enough to be rescued range of land based aircraft is at risk. conquests and ‘Bushido’ tradition. An by submarine. Many finally made it to The Allied victory also showed what estimated 30 million civilians were land but were either killed or cap- could be achieved with sound intelli- killed [23 million were ethnic tured by Allied troops. Of the remain- gence gathering, thorough command Chinese] during WW2. In all fair- ing survivors not taken by sharks gathering and inter-allied operational ness, it has to be said that not all their fate is unknown. cooperation and coordination plus Japanese participated in this military skilled and tenacious aircrews. Sadly, encouraged mass murder but they General MacArthur’s HQ on 7 March many historians writing about the were sadly, in the minority. issued a communiqué stating the Fifth Battle of the Bismarck Sea call it a Air Force had sunk twenty-two ships ‘United States’ victory. It was quite The Japanese Navy was as equally and shot down 59 aircraft. Japanese clearly a combined ‘Aussie’ and ‘Yank’ sadistic as their army counterparts. At losses estimated at 12,762 soldiers and effort and every single element of the sea Japanese surface vessels sank sailors killed or wounded. These wild- Allied force was indispensable to the Allied naval, Red Cross and merchant ly inaccurate numbers may have been successful end result and it should vessels and then tried to murder any made on the basis of battle reports at always be historically recorded as such. survivors who were in lifeboats or the time and not everyone accepted were found floating in the sea. these figures. MacArthur’s already A total of eight transports and four Approximately 20,000 Allied seamen inflated ego was bruised by those who destroyers had been sunk. With and countless civilians were fed to the dared to question his figures and want- regards to Japanese army and navy per- sharks, killed by sledge hammers, ed action taken against them. sonnel and aircraft losses; the final bayoneted, beheaded, hung, drowned, Washington wisely declined. The score has to be recorded as ‘flexible’. Page 42 WE SENT THEM TO HELL/LETTERS... To quote again from author Lex During WW2, the Beaufighter in Dear Charles A. Lloyd, McAulay; ‘The Japanese army stated RAAF hands accounted for well over Feb. 28, 2009 that 4,357 men set out, and 1,760 were two hundred enemy aircraft, countless listed as returned to Rabaul. However, tonnage of ships, barges and enemy I want to thank you for providing my it is known that a lot of soldiers were infrastructure. This fact was, and sadly, family and me with all of the informa- put aboard at the last minute and not still is neglected in both the US and tive reading materials and the cap that I listed in the official operational orders, UK aviation and general war histories. am wearing with pride. I have enjoyed and some of these were lost. The navy The Aussie ‘Beau’ could be described reading The Pointer during these win- lost a lot as well, ships’ crews and navy as ‘the forgotten aircraft’ as can be said ter months- I found so much that I can unit people aboard Nojima, including of the aircrew who flew it [650 pilots in relate to, for I was there! My children all 240 of one navy unit. Then there are 30 and 31 Squadrons alone] and the and grandchildren have spent hours of the merchant ship crews and some ground crew who maintained it and the reading The Pointer which has created ships lost many, but records were many thousands of people who helped another avenue of discussion and destroyed in the bombing of Japan. A to produce it in Adelaide, Melbourne bonding for us. I am so blessed that reasonable figure would be 3,000 lost. and Sydney. they enjoy sharing these moments of Aircraft losses are very flexible. my youth. Before you sent The Japanese army aircraft losses are not No 30 Squadron as part of the Pointer, I shared mostly funny stories known with certainty though several Australian First Tactical Air Force and moments with my family but The dozen is reasonable; navy aircraft loss- moved to Morotai in the Netherlands Pointer has put these stories into es would be a couple of dozen but East Indies in March 1945 and sup- chronological order and made it into again records are lacking. US and ported the Australian operations in history. All of the people at The Japanese historians have tried but can- Borneo. Other targets were in the Pointer have done a colossal job of pre- not find definite figures. Any quoted Celebes, Ambon, Ceram and serving these moments and times for would be an estimate rather than based Halmaheras. The Squadron then generations to come. My family can on documentary fact. Allied losses moved to Tarakan in May and flew never thank you enough for all of your were minimal. Four aircraft shot down operations in support of the Australian hours of hard work. and two crash-landed. Fourteen dead landing at Balikpapan. With the war and twelve wounded. over, the squadron returned to I was very lucky during my Naval Australia aboard HMS Glory and was Service, I guess, and was on the right The Japanese military were stunned by disbanded 15 August 1945. ship at the right time. I enlisted on Feb. the disaster and would never again 3, 1942 and was almost 25 years old, regain the initiative they had previous- Ken Wright. 2008. which was considered an older man. ly enjoyed. Their military ambitions Most of the men I served with were from this point began to slowly unrav- only 18 and too many of these young el for the remainder of the war. men never made it home again. Even Commodore Yasumi Doi, a member of after sixty some years I am so very sad- the Japanese staff of the South Pacific dened at the thought of the men that Area Fleet at Rabaul stated that after had barely begun their lives when they the battle of the Bismarck Sea that it went down at sea. was realised control of the air was lost and, consequently, supplies to New My first ship was the MS SUN, a Guinea were to be shipped by destroy- tanker that had already been hit in the er and submarine only. Without bulk south - the vicinity of the Caribbean. shipping, the Japanese were unable to In 1942, things were hot on the East get large amount of supplies to their Coast and south. We boarded the MS armies and air forces. Consequently, SUN in Chester, PA ship yards during their air power decreased as fuel was in April 1942. We headed for Texas and short supply which in turn gave the down the coast but things weren’t Allies air superiority. In a macabre good. When we went around Key footnote about two weeks after their West, Florida, we knew our chances disastrous loss, Japanese High weren’t good because we picked up a Command issued orders that all their SOS that ships were hit ahead of ours. soldiers were to be taught to swim. There were 4-5 ships of us in this area, Page 43 LETTERS FROM THE CREW... so we scattered and started zigzagging. they put me on shore patrol in south Canal. We finally dropped our load at The third morning about 4:00 A.M., Brooklyn, which I did not like, but yet Iroquois Point, Honolulu and we took a torpedo on the port bow it was fun. I think they would have left remained about a month. Back to the knocking out two forward tanks. At me on shore patrol but I kept asking to states and spent the Christmas of 1944 this point, we were about 60 miles from be put back on a ship. in San Francisco, California. Then we the mouth of the Mississippi River. returned to the islands- our second Two different ships behind us were Then here comes the Thomas Sim Lee, stop was Hollandia, New Guinea and also hit and one of them burst into which I boarded for the RUSSIAN then onto Leyte. It took us several days flames. It was 8:30 A.M. before we RUN around Aug. /Sept. of 43. The to unload due to ruff seas at Leyte plus spotted a patrol plane. We limped into Pointer tells the story very well. We we had a very sick young man we took New Orleans at a rate of 3-4 knots. We were very fortunate. We formed the on a life boat over to a hospital ship (he couldn’t get repaired there, so we convoy for the northern run north of couldn’t even sit up for his watches - limped across the Gulf to Tampa, FL. the British Isles I believe we had 19 they think he had leukemia). We even- merchant ships plus man of war. Our tually went onto Manila. After We went back to Galveston, Texas on ship was well armed with 5 inch 38 aft Okinawa fell we were sent south to the HH Rogers-a tub it was. This tub and 3 inch 23 forward. I believe 4- 20 New Guinea and onto Australia. I said was a filled tanker with a full deck MM and a well trained crew. I was in “Heck we’re on an excursion trip.” We load. It was built in 1915, sailed WW I, charge of the 5 inch 38- a responsible put in at New Castree, Australia later - twin screws (tanker) and sailed under job to make sure the gun was ready at to Wollongong and Sydney Harbor Pan Am Flag. It had some wooden all times. They picked the months of and for what? I will never know but it decks causing cock roaches- more travel for the most darkness. Thank was a great part of my service in A.G. roaches than rust- lots of fun. It had 5 God we sailed through without a hitch. inch 51 bag guns on aft a 3inch 23 for- We left our load near the village called Finally in New Caledonia, we took on ward, and two 20 MM. We took on a Molotovsk. We were on our way back some nickel ore and headed back to the load of fuel just off the cost of Texas to the Bristish Isles when we got the U.S. It took us about 51 days to get to City. The ship had an extended struc- great news that the German Panama and this was the high light of ture over deck with P38 planes and Scharnhorst was sunk. Christmas of 43 my life in the Navy. We ran through the Higgins barges. We left the states in was spent at sea. We had nine days of Canal with running lights on and port August of 42. I didn’t keep a log or terrible storms before we got back to holes open. I thought I was on an record any dates throughout my Navy the British Isle to form a convoy back Excursion ship. By Aug we put in New time. Things went well on this ship to the states. York and were told to store our guns, until we hit the North Atlantic where take the ammo off then detached from there were very rough seas (we almost As we returned to the states the the ship. I put in for discharge and got capsized), rudders broke down three Thomas Sim Lee had “a big surprise” to go immediately home. I returned to times, and we had sub attacks. We lost waiting – we were to load for a return be discharged on October 3, 1945 went several ships. One morning, within 45 trip to Russia. Lt. Demico went to bat home and was married on October 18, minutes, we lost three ships. Our ship, for the crew so we got detached. They 1945. I was on the Edward Bellamy for HH Rogers, was in the outside column put a fresh crew aboard. about 23 months. rear. The first ship hit was on our port side and the second one was just ahead We were signed aboard the Edward I would like to add that my relations of our ship. We had to make a hard Bellamy and headed to Europe. We with the Merchant Crew was excellent, starboard turn to avoid a collision. We were sent to Normandy/Omaha, they were great men. Plus all the A.G. got through and dropped our load at France with a load for General Patton. Crew was superior young men- the Oban, Scotland. We were home in the The General was moving too fast so best. Now you know four years of U.S. for Christmas of 1942. they shifted us from port to port and Okey H. Ford’s life. I am sending you a orders finally came for us to take our check to help out with the monies you During the early part of 1943, I was load back to the states. We put in have spent on materials, postage and to sent to Virginia for gunnery training on Boston, Baltimore, New York with this help keep up the good work. the new 5 inch 38 gun. After the train- same load. ing, back at the NAG Center, God Bless You, Brooklyn, NY I was placed on hold Finally, we were ordered to take this Okey H. Ford 5735 State Hwy 152, while they try to find a ship with these load out of the states and headed with Richmond, Oh. 43944 740-765-5327 new guns. While waiting for a ship it to the Pacific through the Panama Page 44 DEDICATED TO ALL THE BBs OF WWII

Page 45 DEDICATED TO A FINE MAN

Page 46 USS SLATER DE 766

Thanks for protecting us – USN Armed Gaurd! I hope someday the USS Slater can sail with the SS John W. Brown.

Page 47 SS JEREMIAH O’BRIEN U.S. Maritime Commission for poten- daylight cruises each year in the San tial reactivation in the event of future Francisco Bay Area, and occasional military conflicts. The O’Brien was voyages to more distant ports such as mothballed and remained in the Seattle and San Diego. National Defense Reserve Fleet in Suisun Bay for 33 years. In the 1970’s, 50th Anniversary of D-Day however, the idea of preserving an SS Jeremiah O’Brien underway in San Pablo unaltered Liberty Ship began to be Bay on August 27, 2005, as seen from the aft developed and, under the sponsorship steering station. of Rear Admiral Thomas J. Patterson, In 1994 the O’Brien, in its eighth voy- USMS, (then the Western Regional age, (the previous seven were during Director of the U.S. Maritime WWII) steamed through the Golden Administration) the ship was put Gate, down the west coast, through aside for preservation instead of being the Panama Canal, and across the sold for scrap. Possession of the Atlantic to England and France, O’Brien was taken in 1979 by the where the O’Brien and its crew (a vol- SS Jeremiah O’Brien National Liberty Ship Memorial, an unteer crew of veteran WWII-era SS Jeremiah O’Brien, also known as all volunteer group, to be restored. sailors and a few cadets from the Jeremiah O’Brien (Liberty ship), is a Amazingly, those who volunteered to California Maritime Academy) par- Liberty ship built during World War II resurrect the mothballed ship were ticipated in the 50th Anniversary of and named for American able get the antiquated machinery Operation Overlord, the allied inva- Revolutionary War ship captain plant operating while the vessel sion of Normandy that turned the tide Jeremiah O’Brien (1744–1818). Now remained in Suisun Bay, and after of WWII in Europe... the only large based in San Francisco, the O’Brien is more than three decades of sitting in ship from the original Normandy a rare survivor of the 6,939-ship arma- rusting idleness, the O’Brien’s boilers flotilla to return for the 50th anniver- da[3] that stormed Normandy on D- were lit; and on 21 May 1980, the ship sary celebration. Day, 1944,[4][5] and one of only two left the mothball fleet — the only sim- currently operational WWII Liberty ilar vessel ever to do so under her own The SS Jeremiah O’Brien was desig- ships afloat of the 2,751 built during power[citation needed] — for San nated a National Historic Landmark, the war (the other being the SS John Francisco Bay, drydocking, and thou- and is docked at Pier 45 at Fisherman’s W. Brown based in Baltimore). sands of more hours of restoration Wharf, San Francisco, California. It work. The ship then moved to Fort also hosts the amateur radio station History Mason, on the San Francisco water- K6JOB. Built in just 57 days at the New front just to the west of Fisherman’s wharf. There the O’Brien became a England Shipbuilding Corporation in This page was last modified on 18 January South Portland, Maine, and launched floating museum dedicated to the 2009, at 16:43. All text is available under on 19 June 1943, this class EC2-S-CI men and women who built and sailed the terms of the GNU Free Documentation ship not only made four perilous the ships of United States Merchant License. (See Copyrights for details.) Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the round trip wartime crossings of the Marine in WWII. The ship also makes several passenger-carrying Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a U.S. registered Atlantic and served on D-Day, the 501(c)(3) tax-deductible nonprofit charity. vessel later saw sixteen months of service in both the South Pacific and the Indian Ocean calling at ports in Chile, Peru, New Guinea, the Philippines, India, China, and Australia.

The end of the war caused most of the Liberty ships to be removed from service in 1946 and many were subse- quently sold to foreign and domestic buyers. Others were retained by the

Page 48 S.S. LANE VICTORY

Page 49 S.S. JOHN W. BROWN

Photo by Joan Burke, Project Liberty Ship, 2002 Address: Class: EC2-S-C1 Type Liberty Ship Project Liberty Ship, Inc. Launched: September 7, 1942 Box 25846 At: Bethlehem-Fairfield Shipyard, Baltimore, Maryland Highlandtown Station Baltimore, Maryland 21224-0564 Length: 441 feet, 7 inches Ship: (410) 558-0646 Beam:57 feet Fax: (410) 558-1737 Draft: 27 feet, 9 inches Email: [email protected] Displacement: 14,245 tons Email (for overnight encampments): Gross Tonnage: 7,176 tons [email protected] Deadweight Tonnage: 10,920 long tons http://www.liberty-ship.com Armament: Three 3-inch/50 caliber guns; one 5- Latitude: 39.267888, Longitude: -76.56993 inch/51 caliber gun; eight 20mm guns. Google Maps, MS Local Live, Yahoo Maps, Mapquest

SS JOHN W. BROWN the Mediterranean Sea, and northern acquired by Project Liberty Ship in Europe. The Brown was at the Anzio 1988. The Brown has been fully One of only two surviving fully opera- beachhead and was part of the invasion restored and is an operating museum tional Liberty ships preserved in the force at Operation Dragoon, the inva- ship and memorial. She is the only U.S., SS John W. Brown is a product of sion of southern France in August operating Liberty ship on the east the Emergency Shipbuilding Program 1944. The Brown was awarded the mer- coast. The ship conducts 6-hour that built more than 2,700 liberty ships chant marine Victory Medal, the Living History Cruises about four during World War II. Designed for Combat Bar, and war zone medals for times a year and travels to other east quick and relatively easy construction, the Atlantic, the coast ports. The schedule and other Liberty ships made possible the mas- Mediterranean/Middle East, and the details of the cruises are available on sive sealift of troops, arms, and materi- Pacific theaters. the web site or by calling 410 558-0164. Please notify us when you move. al to all theaters of the war. The Brown was built in 56 days by the Bethlehem- After carrying Marshall Plan cargos to John W. Brown is listed in the National Fairfield Shipyard in Baltimore. Europe to aid in post-war rebuilding, Register of Historic Places and has the ship was used as a vocational high received the World Ship Trust's presti- The Brown made 13 voyages during school in New York City from 1946 to gious Maritime Heritage Award. and immediately after the war. Those 1982. She was then returned to the voyages took her to the Persian Gulf, James River Reserve Fleet until **SEE NEXT PAGE FOR INFO** Page 50 Page 51 T r e ia a n su or re lif Island, Ca

The USN Armed Guard WW II Veterans and The American Merchant Marine Veterans will hold their first joint National Reunion together May 14-18, 2009 at The Double Tree Hotel Westmore, Tampa, Fl. 33607. The AG were the Navy Gun Crews and the MM ran the ships; cargo, troopships, tankers or where need be. They served and sailed together and with 1810 AG KIAs of the 144,970 and approx. 8762 MM KIAs out of the approximately 300,000 who served. They died and suffered together. They endured. We salute all that lived through these trying times.

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

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