Samuel "Sam" Stewart Fair was born March 16, 1925,
in Bay City, Michigan. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy Air
Corps V-5 program in February 1943. The Navy sent him
to John Carroll University in Cleveland, Ohio. The V-5
was overcrowded with pilots and like several other V-5s,
Sam preferred boot camp at Great Lakes, Illinois, to an
extended V- 12 program. He then chose the Armed Guard
and was sent to gunnery schools at Gulfport, Mississippi,
and Shell Beach, Louisiana.
Sam was sent to the Algiers Naval Base at New Orleans
then shipped to the Armed Guard Center near Colon, Pan-
ama, where he stayed several months. He shipped out on
the tanker SS E.W. SINCLAIR, which picked up the first
load of oil at Bahrain Island offArabia in the Persian Gulf.
The oil was shipped to Manus Island in the British Admi-
raliry Islands northeast of New Guinea and was destined
for the Pacific Fleet.
The SINCLAIR cleared the submarine nets and was
ordered to drop anchor away from the other ships in the
area. A week earlier, two Japanese torpedo bombers had
mistakenly torpedoed a floating dry dock at night, think-
ing it was a loaded tanker. The dry dock was raised and the
holes plugged.
Sam was the coxswain the 1st loader on the forward
3-inch 50. He was quartered on the first deck, amidships.
The Armed Guard Crew had no "boats". After the hook
was dropped, he issued a .45 to the first roving watch.
Soon after, a shot and a commotion were heard on the
ladder loading from the bridge. Merchant Marine Captain
Lucas had an automatic aimed at a mess boy's head and
was trying to pull the trigger, but the safety was on. Since
he could not get the gun to fire, he struck the mess boy sev-
eral times before Matt Baldwin, a Seaman 1/C from Chi-
cago, tackled him.
By then, Lucas had released the safety and tried to turn
the gun into Matt's stomach. Sam wrestled the gun free
and slammed Captain Lucas' head against the steel deck,
knocking him unconscious.
Someone yelled that up near the bridge another mess
boy, an Australian, had been shot in the stomach. Think-
ing that the gun he had just retrieved from the captain was
the same used in shooting the Australian, Sam couldn't
throw the gun overboard when the captain revived and
started staggering down the ladder, demanding his gun.
Sam was not going to wrestle with the loaded gun, and only
stopped Captain Lucas by threatening io shoot him.
The captain said he was going to his cabin where he had
other guns and more scotch. Sam first asked for the Armed
Guard gunnery officer, who was not available. He then
informed the group that had gathered that he was declar-
ing martial law and called to the departing captain: "Cap-
tain Lucas, you are under arrest. Stay in your cabin and
don't come out or you will be shot." He then issued the
other .45, two 30-6 rifles and posted watch on the captain.
Sam told the signalman to notify the harbor patrol. The
patrol sent out a boat and took the injured Australian and
Captain Lucas, his guns and scotch ashore. The Armed
Guard lieutenant had been drinking with the captain and
was taking a shower and drinking hot coffee. The captain
called the incident "mutiny," which did not hold up,
thanks to the testimony of the Merchant Marine and
Armed Guard witnesses.
There was a big demand for captains and there were no
replacements. So in a few days, the captain returned to the
ship and was as fine a man as before the drinking incident.
All charges were dropped. The gun Sam took from the cap-
tain had not been fired. The Australian mess boy survived.
The Merchant Seamen were a great crew to sail with before
and after the incident, Sam says.
Sam received the American, European, Pacific Theater
and World War II Victory medals during his service in the
Navy. He was discharged May 6, 1946, still a coxswain.
After the war, Sam graduated from Michigan State
University, worked as a steel foundry and oil gas executive.
He holds several patents including one on an erosion con-
trol device. He and his wife, Natalie, have four children,
Terri, Sam, Kathleen and Matthew (named after Matt Bal-
dwin) and one grandson, Christopher.
His current address is 599 South Linwood Beach Road,
Linwood, Michigan 48632.
HOWARD L. FARMER
Howard L. Farmer was born February 20, 1920, in
Danville, Virginia. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy Novem-
ber 15, 1943, and trained at Great Lakes, Illinois. He was
sent to Armed Guard school at Camp Shelton, Norfolk,
Virginia, and was later assigned to a gun crew aboard the
SS MARSHALL ELLIOTT in Brooklyn, New York.
Farmer spent two years on the ship and was involved in
the invasion of Southern France. The ship left Southamp-
ton, England, loaded with TNT 500 and 100 pound
bombs. While going across thc English Channel one night,
a German plane dropped flares on the convoy. Then word
came that a German sub U-91 was close by. The ship was
directed to go to the port side in case it got hit. Fortunately,
the ship was unharmed.
On March 26, 1945, Farmer was assigned to a gun crew
aboard the SS JOHN WOOLMAN. After V J Day, the
ship hit a mine. Farmer was a gunner on the WOOL-
MAN, manning the 5-inch 38 and 3-inch 50.
Farmer was awarded medals for the American Cam-
paign, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign,
and the World War II Victory. He also has two Bronze
Stars along with his ribbon bars.
After discharge, Howard was a loom fixer in a textile
mill. He has three children, Nancy, Richard, and the Rev.
Fain Farmer. He and his wife, Clara, are now retired from
textiles.
Their present address is 402 N. Oakland St., Dallas,
North Carolina 28034.
ALLEN J. FARRARA
Allen J. Farrara enlisted in the U.S. Navy June 18,
1943, two days before his 18th birthday to avoid the draft
and the Army. He was born and raised in Atlantic City,
New Jersey, so it seemed proper that he choose the Naval
Service after being raised so close to the sea.
He was sent to boot camp in Newport, Rhode Island,
Co. 494. He then spent four weeks duty as Corporal of the
Guard in Seaman-Guard Unit. He was then assigned to
the Armed Guard Center in Brooklyn, New York, in Sep-
tember 1943 with eventual assignment to the SS JOHN
GALLUP in New York City.
While on board the GALLUP, Allen made three trips
to the British Isles; Cardiff, Wales; Manchester; and finally
to Hull, England. The biggest problem and concern aboard
ship was the weather. He encountered many storms and
the ship's safety was always in doubt. He was reassigned to
the Naval Training Center in Newport, Rhode Island.
again in August 1944.
He was then sent to Philadelphia to become a plank-
owner and to christen the USS OKLAHOMA CITY
CL91. He went through shake down cruises and sailed
eventually to the Pacific where he joined the Third Fleet
He was engaged in the battles of the Philippines, Okinawa
and Japan. Allen received medals for the American-
European-Asiatic Campaign, World War II Victory and
Philippine Liberation.
After discharge March 18, 1946, he returned to Atlan-
tic City and then went to school in Philadelphia, before
moving to Washington, D.C. He worked for Chevrolet in
Atlantic City after completing school and later began working
for Motors Insurance Corporation. He ended up staying
with Motors Insurance Corporation for 33 years combined
service with General Motors.
Allen retired in July 1983 and as of this date is stil
retired and says he intends to stay so. His wife of 37 plus
years is Norma, also an Atlantic City native. They have two
sons: Allen Scott Farrara, 35, residing in New York City
and Raymond Farrara, 32, residing in Ft. Myers Beach,
Florida. He also has a granddaughter, Sophia, three
months old.
Allen and Norma currently live at 45 Upper Hilltop
Road, Yardley, Pennsylvania 19067.
WILLIAM H. FAUST
William H. "Bill" Faust was born May 12, 1925, in
Newark, New Jersey. He left high school at 17 to join the
U.S. Navy in March 1943.
After boot camp at Sampson and gunnery school at Lit-
tle Creek, Virginia, he began Armed Guard duty on the SS
WILLIAM GASTON, a Liberty, out of Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania. He served on the GASTON from July 1943
until April 1944.
While on board the GASTON, Bill made trips to the
Persian Gulf, Iran and Egypt. On one return trip across the
Atlantic, he and crew members buried Navy Seaman
Richard Mann. A doctor and corpsman from the destroyer
USS LANDSDALE DD 420 was brought in on the case.
However, despite the doctor's best efforts, Mann died of
amoebic dysentery. The LANDSDALE was sunk in the
Mediterranean in April 1944 by a German U-boat.
Following a second trip to West Africa, Bill left the
GASTON, which was later sunk in Natal, Brazil, in July
1944 by a German U-boat. Bill said he "felt sad and
lucky."
Bill next served on the Liberty SS THOMAS SULLY,
which sailed to the Caribbean, Boston, Oran, Scotland and
Southampton, England. "V2 bombs kept us awake," Bill
recalled. After stopping at Omaha and Utah beach heads
and Cherbourg, Bill arrived in New York Christmas 1944.
His last trip on the SS SULLY was to the Bari, Italy, Army
Ammunition Depot. He returned to the States in April
1945 and heard that the SS CHARLES HENDERSON
had been totally destroyed at Bari in April during an
ammunition unloading mishap. Bill said he was "lucky
again."
From May to June 1945, he attended 5-inch 38 gun-
nery school at Camp Shelton, Virginia. He then was
assigned to the SS ALHAMBRA VICTORY, berthed in
Brooklyn, New York, from July to August 1945.
At the end of the war, he was reassigned to Sampson
Naval Center, where he re-enlisted December 1945,
USNR to USN.
His final duty from September 1946 to November
1947 was aboard the USS MISSISSIPPI BB41, out of
Norfolk, Virginia. He was discharged in November 1947
as GM 3/C.
Bill entered the US Army October 1948, holding the
rank of Sergeant I/C due to his previous service. After Fort
Dix, New Jersey, he was assigned to Fort Bliss, Texas.
From January to October 1949, he served with Artillery
Battalion, and from October 1949 to November 1950 was
Supply Sergeant, Orogrande, New Mexico, Fort Bliss G-3
range section. Because of the Korean War, Bill then was
reassigned to the 15th Army Corps, Camp Polk, Louisi-
ana, in February 1951 as Operations Sergeant with Corps
Quartermaster.
After marriage to his lovely wife Margie in 195 l, Bill
was assigned to Far East, Japan,June 3, 1952, then Korea
in August 1952. He served as Company First Sergeant,
40th Quartermaster Company, 40th Infantry Division,
until May 1953. He was then reassigned to Camp Kobe,
Japan, for one year, and returned to the States in June
1954. He was assigned to Fort Eustes, Virginia, and dis-
charged September 1954 with the rank of Master Ser-
geant.
After military service, Bill attended Lincoln Tech in
Newark, New Jersey, and was employed by Emerson Qui-
et Kool for 12 years in the engineering laboratory. After 19
years as a civilian, he worked with the U.S. Army, Fort
Monmouth, New Jersey, Environmental Test Branch, and
retired in July 1985.
He was widowed in 1974 and has four children. His
current address is 184 Main Street, East Brunswick, New
Jersey 08816.
DONALD L. FLEGEL
Donald L. Flegel was born in Ithaca, Michigan, in 1925.
He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in March 1944 and went to
Camp Dewey at Great Lakes, Illinois. After boot training,
he was sent to Gulfport, Mississippi to gunnery school for
eight weeks then on to Brooklyn, New York, Armed
Guard Center for assignment.
He went to Chester, Pennsylvania Shipyard to board the
MS BIDWELL for six months duty then on to gunnery
refresher school at Sheldton, Virginia. He then went back
to Brooklyn center and on to Treasure Island, California.
He boarded the SS FORT GEORGE at Long Beach,
California, making a trip to the Caroline Island and back
to Long Beach. He then transferred to the SS PHILLIP C.
SHERA, making a trip around the globe, with stops in the
Hawaii Islands, Australia, Calcutta, India, Ceylon, South
Africa, and South America.
After leave he reported back to Bremmerton, Washing-
ton and boarded the APA 66 USS BRULE bound for
Tokyo, Japan, and back to Honolulu, Hawaii. After two
months in Hawaii, he boarded the LCS #19 for Astoria,
Oregon, and went on to Great Lakes, Illinois for discharge
May 26, 1946.
On August 20, 1946, Donald married Catherine Bur-
gess in Brant, Michigan. They have two children, a son and
daughter. In 1946, he returned to farming in Brant, Mich-
igan, where he still lives. He plans to slow down a bit in the
next year or so.
Donald would like to hear from the fellows he sailed
with. His current address is 11174 Brennan, Brant, Michi-
gan 48614.
FRANKLIN FORD FLINT
Franklin Ford Flint was born in Victoria, Virginia, and
served on three ships as a signalman and member of the
Armed Guard during World War II. Later in the war, he
served on the USS BOGUE CVE-9 and the YMS 199.
Armed Guard ships he served on included the SS WIL-
LIAM GRAYSON, the SS JAMES M. WAYNE and the
U.S. Army LT 62 ROBERT DE LUCA.
He first sailed out of New York on the WILLIAM
GRAYSON during the winter of 1943-1944 on a United
Kingdom convoy. After continuous winter storms for six
days, the convoy was attacked by submarines. The
GRAYSON was damaged and towed into St. John's,
Newfoundland, where it took three months to effect tem-
porary repairs.
Returning to Baltimore, the GREYSON ran aground
on a sandbar near Barnegat, New Jersey.
He next sailed on the JAMES M. WAYNE from Phila-
delphia to Oran, Algeria, back to Cuba, then to Baltimore
and then from Norfolk to the Isle of Wight, Portsmouth,
England. In England, he joined an emergency convoy to
Antwerp, Belgium, in December. Sixteen days in "Buzz
bomb alley" during the Battle of the Bulge was an unfor-
gettable experience for the 18-year-old Franklin.
Returning to England, two members of the crew were
requested to volunteer for service on a U.S. Army sea-going
tug to transport barges to combat engineers in the ETO.
Franklin volunteered and was sent to the LT 62. A number
of cross channel crossings were made prior to VE Day. The
LT 62 returned to New York and Franklin received a 20-
day leave.
He then went by troop train to Shoemaker, California,
and was assigned to the USS CVE 9 BOGUE for the inva-
sion of Japan. The war ended and Franklin was assigned to
YMS 119 for minesweeper duty in the Pacific, homeport-
ed at Pearl Harbor. YMS 119 was decommissioned in
Seattle arid Franklin was assigned as signalman in charge
of the shore station in Astoria, Oregon, to complete his
minority cruise in the regular Navy.
In 1954, he was commissioned as an intelligence officer
in the Naval Reserve. He is now a retired commander. As
a civilian, he married Dona Joan Cook and they have three
children and three grandchildren.
Franklin earned degrees in biology (B.S., M.S. and
Ph.D) from Lynchburg College and the University of Vir-
ginia and currently serves as Charles A. Dana Professor of
Biology at Randolph-Macon Women's College. He has
served as President of the Virginia Academy of Science, the
Association of Southeastern Biologists, the Virginia Asso-
ciation of Conservation Districts, the Conservation Coun-
cil of Virginia and as a member of the National Council of
the American Institute of Biological Sciences, the Ameri-
can Association for the Advancement of Science and the
Izaak Walton League of America Inc.
He currently resides at 2427 Indian Hill Road, Lynch-
burg, Virginia 24503.
ROY S. FLINT
Roy S. Flint was born June 14, 1922, and is the son of
Roy L. and Agnes Flint. He graduated from Clear Fork
High School in Colcord, West Virginia, and enlisted in the
U.S. Navy December 14, 1941. He attended boot camp
for three weeks in Norfolk, Virginia; gunnery school for
three weeks in Little Creek, Virginia; and Armed Guard
School in South Brooklyn, New York.
Roy sailed on the SS PAUL LUCKENBACH, from
March 1942 to July 1942, and traveled to Murmansk,
Russia, via Glasgow, Scotland. They lost 16 ships out of a
convoy of 32. He was on duty at the guns for 96 hours.
They were attacked by submarines and plane, which
strafed them and dropped bombs. No one aboard was hit
In Murmansk, the Russians sent up Bi-planes to fight Ger-
Aboard the SS PLATANO, from July 1942 to Septem-
ber 1942, Roy's ship traveled unescorted to Liverpool,
England. Fortunately, they had no trouble during their
journey.
On his next ship, the SS ARDMORE, a tanker, from
September 5, 1942, to January 23, 1943, Roy went to
Aruba, offthe coast of South America, and the Dutch East
Indies. They lost two ships in the convoy on the way back
to the States.
Roy also sailed on the SS EXFORD, from February 19,
1943, to October 20, 1943, which traveled to Murmansk.
The trip was smooth compared to Roy's first trip to Mur-
mansk aboard the LUCKENBACH. They reloaded and
headed for the port of Bone in Northern Africa. Bombs
nearly hit the ship when they arrived and docked. On the
way to Bone, the convoy was used as a decoy and was sent
into a wolfpack on purpose to keep the submarines away
from a troop convoy. Six ships were lost and the crew later
learned that all the troop ships made it across safely.
On November 12, 1943, Roy headed back to Shelton,
Virginia, for gunnery school. Later on December 31, 1943,
he returned to the Armed Guard Center in Brooklyn, New
York.
He sailed to France aboard the SS WILLIAM MAT-
SON, from January 19, 1944 to December 14, 1944, and
then on the SS JOHN BARTRAM. Roy journeyed from
Seattle, Washington, to Guam and the Philippines Febru-
ary 10, 1945.
Roy was discharged from the Navy in Shelton, Virginia,
November 25, 1945. He now owns and operates a retail
hardware and building supply store. He has a wife, Ethel,
and seven children. His current address is P.O. Box 190,
Sylvester, West Virginia 25193.
FRANK FLORA
Frank Flora was born September 16, 192 l, in Barns-
boro, Pennsylvania, to Vincent and Rachel Flora. He grad-
uated from Brooklyn Special Trades High School and
enlisted in the U.S. Navy November 6, 1942.
After four weeks of boot camp at Newport, Rhode
Island, he attended 10 days of gunnery school at Little
Creek, Virginia, and was sent to the Naval Armed Guard
Center at Brooklyn, New York.
His first assignment was to the crew of the MATFHEW
LUCKENBACK. The LUCKENBACK, carrying a cargo
of Army tanks, ammunition and other supplies, joined a
convoy which came under heavy German U-boat attack
March 17, 1943. All around the LUCKENBACK, ships
were being torpedoed. One ship alongside was hit and
quickly destroyed with no apparent survivors. The subma-
rines stayed in close in hopes of sinking more ships.
Because the LUCKENBACK was capable of 12 knots
and the convoy from six to eight knots, the captain and
Merchant crew opted to leave the convoy on March 18. At
8 a.m. the following morning, the LUCKENBACK
received two torpedo blows. The crew took to life boats and
rafts. After two hours, a RAF plane spotted the wreckage
and contacted the INGRAM, a Coast Guard Cutter offthe
coast of Ireland. Fortunately, everyone was rescued includ-
ing the captain who was last to leave the sinking ship.
After 10 days at the survivor's base in Londonderry, Ire-
land, the crew was shipped home on the Queen Elizabeth.
When they arrived in the States, they were given 18 days
leave.
On May 14, 1943, Frank sailed on the JOSEPH
PULiTZER to Oran, Africa, and participated in the July
10 invasion at Gila, Sicily. Heavy attacks by both land and
air resulted in the loss of several ships.
On July 20, 1943, the ship returned to Oran with a
shipload of German and italian prisoners, and on Septem-
ber 21, 1943, the ship departed from Oran loaded with
Army supplies and part of the Army 1st Division for the
Salerno invasion. Heavy attacks en route by planes caused
the aft gun crew to sustain shrapnel wounds. The soldiers
then assisted with manning the guns.
The PULITZER sailed again for Oran October 10,
1943, and arrived October 17. The next day, the ship left
for Norfolk, Virginia, arriving back in the States Novem-
ber 5, 1943.
In early 1944, Frank was assigned to the tanker KIT-
TANNING, and later that year was reassigned to the
laundry at the Brooklyn Armed Guard Center.
Frank was discharged September 28, 1945. After dis-
charge, he returned to work at Pratts Frozen Foods in New
York and later moved to Johnsonburg, Pennsylvania, to
work in the iron powder industry. In 1973, he moved to
California and is now retired and resides in Red Bluff, Cali-
fornia.
LEROY ALTON FOWLER, JR.
Leroy Alton Fowler, Jr., was born to Leroy and Ruth
Fowler March 4, 1925, at Cornwall-on-Hudson, New
York.
He enlisted in the U.S. Navy February 18, 1943, and
received his boot training at Newport, Rhode Island, Co.
672. After attending signal school at Newport, Rhode
Island, Co. 1510, and Noroton Heights, Connecticut, he
was attached to the Armed Guard Center, Brooklyn, New
York.
On December 5, 1943, he shipped out of Baltimore,
Maryland, on the SS EXMOUTH, a freighter built at Hog
Island, Pennsylvania, in 1920. After making two round
trips, one to London and one to Cardiff, Wales, he made
a third and last trip to Hull, England.
Carrying the usual bombs, ammunition and detonators,
the EXMOUTH left Boston July 1, 1944, and arrived at
Loch Ewe via Halifax in convoy HX-298 July 18. After
discharging cargo at Hull on the east coast of England, the
ship departed July 28 anti was sunk July 31 at 7:30 a.m.
off Fyfeness, Scotland, by what was assumed to be an
Allied mine. All Merchant Marine anti Armed Guard per-
sonnel got offin life boats anti were picked up by fast Brit-
ish Air, Sea, Rescue boats after 16 hours. There was no loss
of life.
Now SM 3/C, Leroy returned home on the troopship
SS ARGENTINA. After a survivor's leave, he and most of
the crew were sent by train to the Cullege Arms Hotel in
Deland, Florida, for two weeks R & R. While there, Leroy
had a diving accident which resulted in a medical dis-
charge and permanent paraplegia.
He married Ruthann Gardner June 23, 1949. They
have two daughters, Winona and Royceann, and four
grandsons.
His current address is 6510 Costello Avenue, VanNuy,
California 91401.
RAYMOND ANTHONY FOX
Raymond Anthony Fox was born January 20, 1918, in
Port Chester, New York, to Andrew and Agnes O'Leary
Fox.
He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in May 1943, and too
boot training in Newport, Rhode Island. After boot camp
he was shipped to Virginia for gunnery school, then to the
Armed Guard Center in Brooklyn for assignment.
He picked up his first ship, the SS JUAN DEFUCA,
and shipped out to Iran. On the return trip, they stopped
in Alexandria, Egypt, loaded up with Polish troops and
proceeded to Italy. He then returned to the States, where
his ship took on a load of ammunition to deliver to Anzio
beach head. The ship returned once again to the States and
Raymond was granted a nine-day leave.
Raymond reported next to the Brooklyn Armed Guard
Center and was assigned to the SS EXHIBITOR. He made
many trips to ports in Italy, France and England with cargo
and returned with German prisoners of war.
He received the European, African, Middle Eastern
Asiatic-Pacific and Commendation ribbons.
Raymond was last stationed at the repair base in San
Diego, California. He was discharged from Lido Beach,
Long Island, New York.
After discharge, he married Doris Dexter and they have
two sons, Raymond and Andrew. They now have two
grandsons, Brian and Bill.
Raymond retired after 50 years as an electrician, Local
Union #501 IBEW. His current address is 32 Merritt
Street, Port Chester, New York, 10573.
HOWARD P. FRASER
Howard P. Fraser was born in Moline, Illinois, Decem-
ber 21, 1924. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy March 11,
1943, and received boot camp training at Great Lakes,
Chicago, Illinois. While at boot camp, he vohmteered for
Armed Guard duty and on May 29, 1943, was sent for
gunnery training at Gulfport, Mississippi.
His schooling completed, he made an overnight stop a
Algiers then went on to Texas City, Texas, to begin his first
assignment. Boarding the SS LL ABSHIRE June 27,
1943, the question arose in his mind "will this rusty tanker
really move?" It did, slowly but surely and the crew deliv-
ered six loads of oil from the gulf to Portland, Maine.
On December 24, 1943, he went aboard the SS
GEORGE WASHINGTON, a small troop ship that
sailed in the North Atlantic, where he remained until June
28, 1944. He was next assigned to duty on the SS CAPE
NUN, which sailed the Gulf and the North Atlantic from
July 25, 1944, to December 1, 1944. ,
Returning from leave January 23, 1945, Howard was
assigned to the USS PHILADELPHIA CL 41. On August
7, 1945, the PHILADELPHIA acted as escort to the Presi-
dent of the United States who was aboard the USS
AUGUSTA, crossing from Plymouth, England, to Hamp-
ton Roads, Virginia, after his meeting with King George
VI. The PHILADELPHIA was Howard's last ship. He
served on her until October 31, 1945.
Howard recalls that there were uneasy days and nights
during his time in the service, but says "with good crews
and the Lord's guidance, we made it."
Howard received an honorable discharge at Great Lakes
November 5, 1945. He is retired after spending 36 years
on the road for Sears and Roebuck Co. and Signal Delivery.
He married Ruth Cox in December 1944 and they have
four children and 12 grandchildren.
He would like to hear from his old shipmates. His
address is 2621 44th Street Court, Moline, Illinois 61265.
WALTER J. FRYDLEWICZ
Walter J. Frydlewicz was born December 27, 1925, and
is originally from Hamtramck, Michigan. He enlisted in
the U.S. Navy June 1, 1943, and attended boot camp at
Great Lakes Naval Training Center, then was assigned to
Co. 724 in the Green Bay Area, Armed Guard Center,
New Orleans, Louisiana, and later to NTS in Newport,
Rhode Island.
Walter sailed on the SS THOMAS POLLACK, a Liber-
ty Ship, and the USS DULUTH CL-87, serving in the 3rd
section in the 2nd division deck force. He departed for
Japan July 19, 1944, to meet a task force and attended
AATC school while on Guam. The ship headed to Okina-
wa Island to pick-up Marines to take back to the States for
discharge. He also made the long journey to Iran through
the canal and Red Sea.
He was involved in the bombing of the shores of Japan
in July 1945 and was aboard the LSD-13 that landed on
Yokosuka Naval Base August 29, 1945. They took over
the naval base and also captured the HIJMS NAGATO,
a battleship that was in the harbor, and seven other ships.
Waiter's ship was also in a bad storm which claimed three-
quarters of the ship's bow. The ship was repaired in Guam.
His most memorable experience was the capture of the
HIJMS NAGATO and the night that they lost the bow of
their ship as well as a few other ships in the task force.
Walter received the Asiatic-Pacific Medal with two
stars, the American Area Medal, the Victory Medal, the
Naval Occupation Medal, the European Area Medal and
the Naval Reserve Meritorious Service award. He was dis-
charged from the Navy March 26, 1946, attaining the
rank of BMC.
He then was a station civil engineer for the 754 Radar
SQ in the U.S. Air Force and was assigned to Fort Custer.
Michigan; Cape Charles, Virginia; Bedford, Virginia; and
Port Austin, Michigan. He served 23 years with the Air
Force and finally retired June 2, 1989.
Walter's wife, Alice, passed away in November of
1986. He has two married daughters, Linda Ann and Lau-
ra M., and three grandsons. After he was discharged from
the Navy, he stayed in the Naval Reserve for 30 years until
retiring when he turned 60 years old. His current address
is 1542 Pte Aux Barques, Port Austin, Michigan 48467.
CLIFF FRYE
The Liberty Ship SS RACHEL JACKSON was loaded
with P38 and P51 planes with Cliff Frye aboard and left
Portland, Oregon, in late November of 1943. The ship
zig-zagged all the way to Hobart, Tasmania, where it refu-
eled and got supplies. Its next stop was Karachi, India.
Shortly after docking on January 26, 1944, the crew was
notified to get out as a bombing raid was expected. The
ship left and headed for the other side of India. Arriving
in Calcutta on February 24, 1944, the crew unloaded the
planes for General Chennault's Flying Tigers.
On March 17, 1944, the ship arrived at its next port of
call, Columbo, Ceylon. The crew loaded new cargo, huge
blocks of rare rubber, and sailed for the Mediterranean.
But to the crew's surprise, the ship cracked a screw and had
to be put in dry dock at Port Said, Egypt, for a month.
While in dry dock, the crew and ship finally encoun-
tered the enemy. Ironically, they had zig-zagged three
quarters of the way around the world and only occasionally
saw a periscope of an enemy sub. But when the ship was
dry docked and could not escape it was attacked. The
planes attacked the 100 ship convoy being assembled.
Some of the crewmen managed to shoot down a plane in
the convoy's defense.
Frye and company arrived in Casablanca, Morocco, May
28, 1944.
Shortly thereafter, the ship headed for New York Har-
bour. On the way, the crew found out that the ship had
been spared from sea breakers for the Normandy Invasion
because of its rubber cargo.
Seeing the Statue of Liberty, Frye reflected on how they
all had fought to preserve our country's freedom. A country
that allows him to worship his lord Jesus Christ. He men-
tioned how proud he was of the U.S.A.
Cliffs current address is 1505 E. Nevada, Marshall-
town, Iowa 50158.