JAMES H. ADAMS
James H. "Jim" Adams walked his first guard duty
clutching an empty Springfield, bayonet fixed, on Decem-
ber 7, 1941, at the Indianapolis Naval Armory, almost five
months after being sworn imo the Naval Reserve July 24,
1941, in St. Louis, Missouri.
At the time of his first watch, Jim, fresh from boot camp
training at Great Lakes Training Center, was enrolled in
radio school at the Naval Armory. He graduated radio
school February 28, 1942, and went on to attend signal
school at Norton .Heights, Connecticut.
His first assignment out of the Brooklyn Armed Guard
Center was aboard the SS MEANTICUT at Baltimore.
The MEANTICUT sailed without escort to New York
where it was struck amidships, port side, by a tanker. Jim
was then reassigned aboard the SS JEFFERSON MYERS
in April 12, 1942.
The ship arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia, April 19,
1942, where a convoy was formed for Loch Long, Scotland.
after six intermediate stops, including Iceland, the JEF-
FERSON went to London.
At London's Royal Albert Docks, 20 mm Oerlikon
guns were installed. Leaving London for Hull through the
English Channel, German E-Boats took out five of 12
ships in the convoy.
At Hull, crated truck bodies were loaded onto the JEF-
FERSON MYERS. The crates, along with wild seas, later
combined to change the course of things for the JEFFER-
SON MYERS.
As the sea raged, the shifting crates prevented the crew
from moving fore or aft. The order was given to lash down.
With the magnetic problems of the Artic, the JEFFER-
SON MYERS was alone and lost. On December 31, the
Germans attacked with pocket battleship Lutzow, heavy
cruiser Hipper, six destroyers and associated submarines in
an action known as the Battle of the Barents Sea.
On January 16, 1943, accompanied by a Russian Ice-
breaker, the JEFFERSON MYERS arrived at the primi-
tive Russian port Molotovsk, 25 miles from Archangel.
The JEFFERSON MYERS departed the port for Mur-
mansk February 13, 1943, and left Murmansk March 1.
Junkers 88's attacked with limited results on March 5, fol-
lowing a submarine attack that felled several ships.
Jim next shipped out aboard the SS EDWARD N.
HURLEY as a Mark 29 operator. The EDWARD N.
HURLEY, reportedly carrying the largest load of ammu-
nition thus far in the war, made 12 stops in the Mediterra-
nean. German aircraft bombed and straffed the' ship near
Naples in late October 1943, but the HURLEY survived
and returned to Hampton Roads January 3, 1944.
Back home again, Jim passed the Navy flight examina-
ion at Manhattan Cadet Selection Board January 29,
1944, then boarded the SS WILLIAM CUSHING bound
for the Mediterranean February 2. The voyage was success-
ful and the CUSHING returned to Norfolk May 6.
His next assignment was to officer training at Franklin
and Marshall College. He was discharged one year later on
September 22, 1945, at Bainbridge, Maryland.
Jim and his wife, Mary, now live at 10854 NE 19th
ace, Bellevue, Washington 98004.
ROBERT L. ALLEN
Robert L. Allen enlisted November 11, 1944, in the
Naval Reserve. He then took boot training at Samson,
New York, and shipped to the Armed Guard Center,
Brooklyn, New York. Robert next attended gunnery
school in Shelton, Virginia, and four weeks later went to
Armed Guard Center, Treasure Island, San Francisco.
From Treasure Island he was assigned to the gun crew
aboard the PHILIP C. SERA, then sailed from San Fran-
cisco to Long Beach, California. The gun crew was trans-
ferred to the SS BEN HOLIDAY sailing for Lingayen Gulf
in the Philippine Islands. While there, three "Jap Bettys"
came over, but did not attack. The port director ordered
ships to cease fire as the air corps was in pursuit. One Betty
was shot down, and the remaining two continued over the
mountains out of sight. Shortly afterward the P38s came
back and did a "victory roll" over the Gulf. The last P-38's
wing touched the water and blew up with no survivor.
The ship proceeded to Manila Bay and the gun crew was
transferred to Cavite Island receiving station. Robert was
reassigned to a gun crew aboard the SS WILLIAM KENT.
They got under way for Okinawa for the planned invasion
of Japan, November 1, 1945. The crew received a message
about the surrender of Japan en route and reached Okina-
wa in time for Typhoon Louise. The only damage the ship
suffered was to deck cargo. The KENT sailed for Yokoha-
ma in Toyko Bay and arrived 30 days after the surrender.
After Christmas 1945, the ship dropped the hook in Kobe,
Japan, then proceeded to Pusan, Korea, and unloaded its
cargo of bombs, all five hatches.
Robert arrived in San Francisco Bay May 7, 1946, at the
time of the "bloodiest escape attempt from Alcatraz Pris-
on.''
From Treasure Island Armed Guard Center, Robert was
given 30 days delayed orders to Lido Beach, Long Island,
New York, for discharge.
He is married and has three sons, a daughter and a
grandson. In November 1989, he and his wife celebrated
their 40th wedding anniversary.
Robert's current address is 50 Glendale Circle, Windsor
Locks, Connecticut 06096.
WILLIAM JOHN ALVERNAZ
William John Alvernaz was born December 10, 1922
in Novato, California, to John and Mary Alvernaz. He
enlisted in the U.S. Navy January 23, 1942, and attended
boot camp at San Diego, California. He spent one month
at an Armed Guard Center before receiving his first assign-
ment.
Ships John served on during the war included the SS LE
BARON RUSSEL BRIGGS and the SS OWYHEE.
While en route with Convoy RA64 carrying refugees
from Norway, William and his shipmates aboard the
BRIGGS experienced a severe storm and enemy attack.
The HMS LARK and the HMS BLUEBELL were hit the
first day with fire from JU-882s. A boy was born to a 19-
year-old refugee. He was christened Johanes Le Baron.
William received the Good Conduct Medal; medals for
participation in European-African, Asiatic-Pacific and
American theaters; and the Victory medal.
Following discharge January 18, 1946, William
worked for the Pacific Gas and Electric Co. as a construc-
tion line truck driver. He and his wife, Reva, have a son,
John S. Alvernaz of Rancho Cordova, Colorado, and a
daughter, Suzanne Shultz of McKinleyville, California.
William and Reva now live at 1695 Anderson Avenue,
McKinleyville, California 95521 or they can be reached by
writing P.O. Box 7069, Citrus Heights, California 95621.
WILLIAM B. ANDERSON
William B. "Andy" Anderson was inducted into the
U.S. Navy in March 1943, and went directly to Camp
Moffett for boot training at the Great Lakes Naval Train-
ing Station. He graduated in nine weeks. He then was sent
to Gulfport, Mississippi, for five weeks of gunnery train-
ing.
After completing gunnery training, Andy traveled by
rail to San Francisco and went aboard the SS PRESIDENT
MONROE and was shipped to Portland, Oregon, where
he was attached to the Liberty Ship JOHN D. ROSS.
After one trip to New Caledonia, Andy came back to the
U.S. and was assigned to the ARTHUR NEWELL TAL-
BOT, a concrete and steel ship, recently built in the
McClosky shipyard in Tampa, Florida.
The ship sailed to Quanset Point, Rhode Island, and
was loaded with Sea Bee stores and equipment. Once the
TALBOT reached San Francisco with her stores, Andy was
sent to Treasure Island Armed Guard Center. He was then
attached to the Liberty Ship HORACE V. WHITE and
sailed again for the South Pacific. The H.V. WHITE was
on shuttle duty until the Philippine Liberation Campaign,
in which she took part.
Andy returned to the States aboard the H.V. WHITE
in July 1945 and was married in Oakland on July 5, 1945,
to Thelma M. Wilson, the "girl he left behind" when he
entered the Naval Armed Guard.
Andy and Thelma are still married and live in Hebron,
Ohio. Andy recently retired from Kaiser Aluminum after
30 years service. He and Thelma have two sons, two
daughters and 11 grandchildren.
After their honeymoon, Andy and Thelma went on
leave back to their home in Ohio. In August 1945, the war
with Japan came to an end. When his leave was over, Andy
again shipped out, this time to Pearl Harbor. After six
months and a stay in hospital # 10 at Aieu Heights, he was
sent aboard the SARATOGA to Shoemaker, California,
where he was discharged in December 1945.
Andy and Thelma now live at 235 Lee's Drive SE,
Hebron, Ohio 43025.
WILLIAM L. ANDERSON
William L. Anderson was born December 31, 1923, is from Washington, Pennsylvania. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy January 25, 1943, and attended the USNTS in Sampson, New York; the Armed Guard school in Nor- folk, Virginia; the Armed Guard Center in Brooklyn, New York; and the USNTS in Newport, Rhode Island. He sailed on the SS CUSHING EELS, which traveled to the Mediterranean Sea, the Suez Canal, the Persian Gulf and Iraq loaded with supplies bound for Russia. The ship also journeyed to Africa and Italy, and participated in the invasion of Southern France before returning to the Armed Guard Center in Brooklyn, New York. He also sailed on the SITKA APA-113 as part of a Skellite crew on a shake down cruise based out of Mobile, Alabama. William received the American Area Medal, the Euro- pean-African-Middle Eastern Area Medal, and the Asiat- ic-Pacific Theatre Medal. He was discharged from the Navy January 15, 1946, attaining the rank of Seaman 1/C. After the war, he worked as a construction and steel worker. He is married to Helen P. Anderson. They have two children, William L. Anderson, Jr. and Betty Lew Davis (Anderson); four grandchildren, David and Suzanne Harfield, and Melissa and Michelle Anderson. His current address is 2050 West Chestnut Street, Washington, Penn- sylvania 15301. MALCOLM CLINTON ARNOLD
Malcolm "Mack" Clinton Arnold was born to Henry
and Grace Arnold February 19, 1921, in Abingdon, Vir-
ginia. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy January 29, 1942, and
trained at Norfolk, Virginia. From Norfolk, he was sent to
the Armed Guard Center at Little Creek, Virginia.
On June 6, 1942, he was assigned to the gun crew of the
SS BARKDULL, an old Panamanian tanker of 1919 vin-
tage. In June 1942, the BARKDULL sailed in a convoy to
Houston, Texas, then to Halifax, Nova Scotia, and on to
England in the North Atlantic convoy. The ship had a
small crew of approximately 20 with six Armed Guard and
one officer. The BARKDULL made two successful con-
across the Atlantic and back. On both trips, the ship
was assigned the "coffin corner" position, and though
many of the ships in the convoy were lsot, the BARK-
DULL survived.
On September 28, 1942, Mack was assigned to the US
Merchant Ship SS THOMAS PICKNEY with 14 other
Armed Guard under the supervision of Ensign J. Vincent
Burke Jr. The ship made several trips to England, two trips
to North Africa, one to Bone'and one to Oran. This com-
pleted Mack's service in the Armed Guard.
On August 8, 1943, he was transferred to Army Ord-
nance School in Pontiac, Michigan, for eight weeks train-
ing and then to the Anti-Aircraft Training Center at Pacific
Beach, California. He then was assigned temporary duty at
Treasure Island, San Bruno, and Shoemaker, California.
Mack then transferred to the Pacific Area where he served
on gun crews aboard the USS WILLIAM WARD BUR-
ROWS, a small craft tender, and the USS HOLLAND, a
sub tender. He was discharged at Bainbridge, Maryland,
December 2, 1945.
Mack married Margaret Ann Mulkey August 10, 1946.
They have four children David (deceased), James, Jeffrey
and Henry.
After discharge, Mack worked 18 years in the coal
mines and then transferred to the Kaiser Aluminum plant
at Ravenswood, West Virginia, from which he retired in
February 1983.
Mack and Margaret now live at 814 Ann Street, Raven-
swood, West Virginia 26264.
CARL W. ARTHUR
Born in Westernport, Maryland, May 31, 1927, Carl
W. Arthur was the last of nine children of Russell S. Arthur
and Nancy Jane (Shaffer) Arthur.
On December 7, 1943, he enlisted in the U.S. Navyú
On the same day, his sister, Freda M. Arthur, enlisted in
the Army WACS.
Carl took boot training in Bainbridge, Maryland, for
nine weeks, then went home on leave. Nine days later, he
reported back to Little Creek, Virginia, Armed Guard
Gunnery School, then was sent to the Armed Guard Cen-
ter in Brooklyn, New York. He was assigned to the SS
JOHN W. POWELL at Pier 91 Bow 3-inch 50-caliber
gun. The next day, he went to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,
and loaded cargo.
In April 1944, Cad went back to New York and joined
a convoy of 127 ships, plus escorts, scheduled to sail north
off Newfoundland. From the second day out, the escorts
dropped depth charges to discourage submarine attacks.
The fog was so thick the crews could only tell where the
other ships were by the sounds of their whistles. One night
in the fog during the 8 to 12 watch, a disabled ship cut
across the bow of Carl's ship going from port to starboard.
He called the bridge and urged that the ship be thrown full
astern. The POWELL shuddered, slowing enough to
avoid a collision.
The subs stayed with the convoy the entire voyage,
making it necessary for the ships to change course about
every 50 miles. At 7 to 8 knots, the vessels were "sitting
ducks."
On the 16th day out, they could see North Ireland on
the starboard and Scotland on the port side. The convoy
docked in Bristol, England, on the 18th day. They unload-
ed and reloaded, and in mid-spring 1944 picked up a con-
voy for Normandy, anchored with torpedo nets down,
unloaded cargo on barges then returned to Newport,
England, for another load.
In late November 1944, Carl, aboard the POWELL,
went north up the English Channel with 11 other ships.
One ship was sunk on the POWELL's starboard side at the
mouth of the Sheld River in Belgium in a series of locks as
the Germans tried to knock out the dock with buzz bombs
and V2s.
Carl was in town the night that the Rex Theater was hit
with a V2, killing many service men. He also was in Ant-
werp, Belgium, during the Battle of the Bulge.
The POWELL left Antwerp on December 30, 1944.
The captain did not wait for an escort so the ship went
south in the English Channel alone. PBY aircraft came out
the next morning and told the ship's officers that a subma-
rine was in the area and had sunk a troop ship offLe Havre,
France, on Christmas Eve. The PBY began dropping
depth charges.
The ship sailed to Swansey, South Wales, to load for
Russia, but orders were changed and the POWELL came
back to New York for leave. After 18 days, he was
detached and assigned to Camp Shelton, Virginia, gun-
nery school March 27, 1945. Carl's girlfriend, Edna
Rupert, joined him in Newport News, Virginia, shortly
after and they were married. (They recently celebrated
their 44th wedding anniversary.)
Carl finished gunnery school and went by train to Trea-
sure Island, California. He was then assigned to the U.S.
Army Transport ACONCAQUA starboard 350 pointer
forward gun in Seattle, Washington, and made two trips
to the South Pacific. On the second trip, the ship got
caught in a typhoon off Okinawa Island. On the return
trip, the crew heard about VJ Day over the ship's radio.
The ACONCAQUA returned to Seattle, Washington,
and Carl was sent to Camp Shoemaker, California. He was
discharged from Shoemaker Hospital November 27,
1945.
The slogan of Carl's troop was "we aim to deliver."
They did, and are proud of it.
Carl's sister, Freda, took her basic training in Fort Ovel-
thorp, Georgia, then went to Iowa. She went from there to
Camp Helmer, New Jersey, and was discharged in early
1946. She died in Feburary 1987.
Carl now lives at Route 1, Box 42, Westernport, Mary-
land 21562.