James Gallagher enlisted in the U.S. Navy in the winter
of 1943 in New Jersey. He attended boot camp at Great
Lakes, Illinois, and was shipped to the New Orleans
Armed Guam Center.
James boarded his first ship, the SHEPHARD, and
loaded Higgins boats on the deck and pig iron ingots. The
ship sailed for Liverpool, England, and returned to New
York with a sand ballast.
On his second ship in Philadelphia, supplies were load-
ed for the British Army and the ship sailed for Alexandria,
Egypt. James went to gunnery school with the British in
Alexandria. Rommel scrap iron was brought back to Pier
1, New York, in September 1943.
On his third ship, P38s were loaded as deck cargo and
the ship sailed for Belfast, Ireland. The ship stayed over-
night in Belfast and then sailed to Lockhue, Scotland. A
British escort was picked up and the convoy sailed for the
North Sea. After stopping at Edinburgh, Scotland, the
ship picked up another escort and sailed toward London
through a terrible storm.
After returning to New York, James attended Lido
Beach Gunnery School in Long Island. He then transferred
to his fourth ship and sailed out of Newport News, Virgin-
ia, to Oran, North Africa, and Naples, Italy, with Army
trucks on deck. They were hauling the trucks for the inva-
sion of Anzio.
He was then transferred to the BENSON, which
returned to Oran, where he spent about three weeks in a
Navy hospital. The ship could not keep up with the convoy
so it was sent to Casablanca, where its bottom was scraped.
Then the ship picked up a convoy and returned to Balti-
more, where it loaded bombs, PX supplies and beer bound
for Oran and Naples.
James returned to Staten Island and attended gunneD
school. On his fifth ship, out of Hoboken, New Jersey, he
sailed to Antwerp, Belgium, and on the return voyage,
President Roosevelt died. He was in New York harbor
when the war ended.
Later he attended gunnery school at Damneck and Vir-
ginia Beach, and aircraft recognition school where he
trained for the Pacific Theatre. He took a troop train to
Treasure Island and in Bremerton, Washington, he
worked on the MARYLAND and WASHINGTON.
James was then transferred to Pier 91, Sea Port of
Embarkation Receiving Station 7th Division -- Salvage
Division Decommissioning. He was in charge of a grocery
store for small craft anchored in the harbor and was eventu-
ally discharged.
His current address is 7311-228 SW, Mount Lake Ter-
race, Washington 98043.
EVERT NElL GARDINER
Evert Neil Gardiner was born June 23, 1925, and is
originally from Valentine, Nebraska. He enlisted in the
U.S. Navy October 7, 1943, and trained at Camp Wal-
dren in Farragut, Idaho and the Armed Guard Naval Base
in San Diego, California.
Evert made many South Pacific excursions and served
on the SS EDMUND RANDOLPH, the LOST HILLS,
the USN TADCEN and the USS MEDUSA. His most
memorable experience is that he was lucky not to be in any
major confrontations, just the run of hauling supplies.
He was discharged from the Navy April 7, 1946, as a
Seaman 1/C. He is a retired Safeway truck driver. He and
his wife, Grace, have three daughters, one granddaughter
and five grandsons. He travels a lot.
His current address is 1928 SW 12th, Lincoln, Nebras-
ka 68522.
FRANK RUSSELL GASDIA
Frank Russell Gasdia was born September 6, 1909, in
Chatham, New Jersey, the son of Frank A. and Rosaria
Bagileo Gasdia. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy December
6, 1943, and trained at Newport, Rhode Island, finishing
January 29, 1944.
After training he reported to the Armed Guard School,
Norfolk, Virginia, and completed training March 4, 1944.
From Norfolk he was sent to the U.S. Training School,
South Ferry Terminal Building, New York, arriving
March 5, 1944. On the 14th, he was assigned to the SS
EDWIN ABBEY, his home for the next six months.
He was awarded a Bronze Star for serving aboard the
ABBEY which transported the 82nd and 101st airborne
paratroopers to Normandy for D-Day, and equipment
from Barry, Wales, to Normandy. Finally, the ABBEY
dummied for the BATTLESHIP TEXAS in the final inva-
sion. The ABBEY was the 13th ship into the invasion,
Lucky Thirteen.
He returned from overseas September 27, 1944, and on
September 13 was assigned to the SS WILLIAM C.
ENDICOTT. After a tour of duty, the ENDICOTT
arrived at Boston, Massachusetts. Frank reported back to
Boston January 7, 1945, only to find his gear thrown out
on the dock, covered with snow. His ship had sailed with-
out him, and was torpedoed off the coast of Newfound-
land. He found out about the fate of the ENDICOTT
while waiting in the Fargo Building for another assign-
ment when he met some of his buddies coming in dressed
in Canadian anti British clothing who told him that their
ship had been torpedoed.
On January 22, 1945, he was assigned to the SS
THOMPSON LYKES, departing for Karachi and Bom-
bay, India.
He was assigned to a draft for personnel Separation Cen-
ter at Lido Beach, Long Island, New York, August 10,
1945, and following was honorably discharged November
11, 1945, but never received discharged lapel pin.
In civilian life, he was married to Ruth M. Seaman
December 13, 1936, now deceased. He has two daughters
Dorothy Anne and Frances Rose, five grandchildren, and
four great grandchildren.
He was a diesel mechanic with Ferber Contracting for
35 years before his retirement in 1979. He now enjoys life
every day and still lives in the house where he was born
almost 80 years ago at 57 South Passaic Avenue, Chatham,
New jersey.
ARCHIE ELDON "BABE" GILLILAND
Babe was raised in Duncan, Arizona and had a great love for life.
He was an apt student of Sea Life, and seemed to thrive on the
duties of a sailor. He was fun to be around and was quite a practical
joker. While the Rubilene was refueling the destroyers in Espirito
Santos, he had the good luck of bumping into his older Brother Howard,
who had duty on a Mine Sweeper. He and his shipmate, Jay Larson,
went aboard Howard's ship and after a little ride were happy to be
on the larger and easier riding Sinclair Rubilene. Archie served on
ships other than the Sinclair Rubilene but names are not available.
Babe finished college after the war and went into school teaching
for awhile. Babe lived in Flagstaff, Arizona most all his life
after the war.
JOHN W. GLEN
John W. Glen was born March 12, 1923, and is from
Staten Island, New York. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy
April 27, 1943, and attended the US NTS in Newport,
Rhode Island; trained at Armed Guard Detail, Section
Base, Little Creek, Virginia; the Armed Guard Center in
Brooklyn, New York; the US Naval Barracks NAD in
Charleston, South Carolina; and RS, Washington, D.C.
John was a participant in the invasion of Normandy,
France, from June 7 through July 28, 1944. He sailed
aboard the SS COLORADO, a tanker, and the SS
CHARLES SUMNER, a Liberty Ship.
His most memorable experiences were the seven trips he
made aboard the SS CHARLES SUMNER, once with only
one boiler into Normandy, and sailing the North Atlantic
convoys on the tanker SS COLORADO.
John received the European Theater Medal with one
star, the American Campaign Medal, and victory awards.
He was discharged on October 29, 1946, as a GM 3/C.
He worked with Naval Salvage Merritt Chapman and
Scott Corp. before and after the war and has been married
and divorced. He has two children, Suzanne and Daniel,
and two grandchildren. His current address is 4358 Victo-
ry Blvd., Staten Island, New York 10314.
STEVE GOGOTS
Steve Gogots was born October 8, 1925, and enlisted in
the U.S. Navy August 9, 1943. He trained at the NTS in
Great Lakes, Illinois, the Armed Guard Center in Gulf-
port, Mississippi, and the NAS in Alameda, California.
Steve sailed aboard the SS GRACE R. HEBARD and
the SS JAMES M. GOODHUE. His most memorable
experiences were the eight crossings that took 30 days or
more and the big typhoon they got caught in at Buckner
Bay, Okinawa, which caused a lot of damage.
He received awards for the American Campaign and the
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign. He also received medals for the
World War Victory and the Philippines Liberation. He
was discharged from the Navy March 21, 1946, attaining
the rank of Seaman 1/C.
Steve is a retired union carpenter of 42 years and has a
wife, Katherine, four children and six grandchildren.
His current address is 5017 N. Natchez Avenue, Chica-
go, Illinois 60656.
ANTHONY GRACIN
Anthony Gracin was born August 22, 1923, and is orig-
inally from Olyphant, Pennsylvania. He enlisted in the
U.S. Navy August 13, 1942, and was assigned to the
Armed Guard Center in Brooklyn, New York.
He reported aboard the SS PAUL HAMILTON in
Charleston, South Carolina, and headed up the coast to
New York. After unloading cargo, the ship left the harbor
and joined a convoy going to North Africa. After three days
of storms and rough seas, the deck cargo started to come
loose. The ship left the convoy and pulled into Hamilton
Harbor, Bermuda. The cargo was secured and the ship
then left for Casablanca, zig-zagging at 10 knots to evade
submarine torpedoes. Luckily, the ship made the Atlantic
and crossed the harbor at Casablanca, which had quite
few sunken French ships in it. A battleship, the JEAN
BART, was dockside with four or five large holes in her
hull. While Anthony's ship was having her cargo unload-
ed, it came under German bomber attack. One plane was
shot down.
The HAMILTON then moved into the Mediterranear
Sea and stopped offat Gibralter. Italian two-man subma-
rines were operating inside and outside the harbor. The
submarines damaged a few ships, but the English Navy
dropped depth charges while patrolling the harbor
Anthony's ship moved out and joined a convoy headed for
Oran.
On entering Oran, the convoy was in single file and the
last ship in line, loaded with ammunition, went up in a ball
of smoke. It was a total loss. Gracin's ship was unloaded
and then moved down the coast to a little sea port called
Benie Safie. The ship was loaded with iron ore and joined
up with another convoy bound for the Atlantic. They
dropped offthe iron ore at Baltimore, Maryland, and head-
ed up to New York. Gracin took 15 days leave and report-
ed back to an Armed Guard Center.
He next reported aboard the HAYM SOLOMAN with
a new gun crew. The ship was loaded with cargo and joined
a convoy headed for the Mediterranean Sea. They arrived
in Oran and stayed a few days, before leaving for Bezerte.
In Tunisia, they joined a large convoy and went in on the
Invasion of Sicily. At Syracuse, they came under attack
from some German bombers and fighter planes. After the
invasion, they headed up to Naples and again came under
night bombing attacks from the Germans.
After they unloaded the cargo, they returned to Oran
and picked up an attachment of Armed Guard and loaded
German prisoners of war. The ship then joined a convoy
headed for the Atlantic and dropped off the prisoners and
guards at Norfolk, Virginia. This last convoy, which origi-
nated out of New York, was under surveillance by the Ger-
mans from the time it left New York and broke off from
the convoy in the Azore Islands. For two days, morning
and night, ships were hit and sunk. Also during the cross-
ing, submarines ran under the convoy ships making it hard
to detect them. Navy destroyers ran up and down between
the ships and dropped depth charges. Anthony again took
leave before taking his next assignment.
After a short leave, Anthony reported aboard the SS
ARUNAH S. ABELL. The ship was loaded with cargo and
left from New York, headed for England. They arrived in
Liverpool and then traveled up a canal to Manchester and
dropped off the cargo. The ship headed back down to Liv-
erpool, joined a convoy, and returned to New York. New
cargo was loaded on board and they joined a convoy headed
for Glasgow, Scotland.
They moved up to Northern Scotland and then joined
a convoy bound for Murmansk, Russia. Submarines
attacked mostly at night along the way, but the convoy
arrived in Murmansk and the ABELL's deck cargo was
unloaded. The ship then joined Russian ice breaker ships
for a trip to the White Sea, unloaded cargo, and left with
the breakers for Murmansk. The ship picked up some
Russian sailors and joined a convoy headed for Glasgow,
Scotland. They dropped off the Russian sailors and joined
yet another convoy and returned to New York. This was
Gracin's last Armed Guard duty assignment.
Anthony's last Armed Guard assignment was aboard
the USS LST 895. The ship was loaded in New Orleans
and left for the Pacific war zone. After arriving in Guam,
the ship left for Saipan where the fighting was coming to
an end. They dropped off a group of men to start a torpedo
station and then set sail for the Philippines. In the Philip-
pines after unloading the cargo, the ship stayed in and
around the Pacific war zone as a work horse. The ship later
made the invasion of Okinawa and moved the first men
and equipment up to Yokohama to secure the mainland.
A month later, the battleship USS MISSOURI steamed
into the harbor for Japan's signing of The Surrender of
War. Anthony's ship left Yokohama and sailed for Guam.
Along the way, the ship picked up Japanese war prisoners
in the Truk Islands and transported them to a stockade in
Guam. Other ships Anthony sailed on were the USS LST
1009, the USS PCE 897, the USS SAIDOR, and the USS
T.E. CHANDLER.
Anthony received the World War II Victory Medal, the
American Area Campaign Medal, the Philippine Libera-
tion Campaign Ribbon, the Philippine Independence
Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, the Europe-
an-African Campaign Medal and the Good Conduct Med-
al. Two of his campaign medals were decorated with
Bronze Stars. He achieved the rank of GM2 and was dis-
charged from the Navy August 13, 1948.
Anthony was recalled back into the Navy January 16,
1951, and was assigned to the U.S. Navy Recruiting Sta-
tion in Seattle, Washington, and the U.S. Naval Amphibi-
ous Base in Coronado, California. He served aboard the
USS LST 1080, which transported men and equipment
from Japan to the war zone in Korea and transported
North Korean war prisoners to Kogeto Island off the east
coast of South Korea. Later he was assigned to the Fleet
Training Center at the USNS in San Diego, California. He
also served aboard the USS PERKINS and USS PRI-
CHETT, both destroyers, and was assigned to the USNRS
in Boston, Massachusetts. He was discharged from the
Navy for a second time April 19, 1952.
He currently lives with his wife, Dulcina L. Gracin, and
retired from the Civil Service as a reactor plant general fore-
man December 21, 1979. He worked for 35 years at the
Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington,
and served on active Naval Reserve duty. His current
address is 155 27th Street NE, E. Wenatchee, Washing-
ton 98802.
EARL EDWIN GRAHAM
Earl Edwin Graham was born February 10, 1922, in
Corunna, Michigan, to Duncan and Elpha Graham. He
was the youngest of seven children, two girls and five boys.
He enlisted in the U.S. Navy January 14, 1943, and
attended NTS in Great Lakes, Illinois.
He was promoted to an Apprentice Seaman March 10,
1943, and Seaman 2/C March 26, 1943. He was assigned
to the Armed Guard Center in Brooklyn, New York, and
promoted to Seaman 1/C May 13, 1943. He was then
transferred to Lido Beach, Long Island, December 17,
1945, and on December 20, 1945. he was discharged from
the Navy as a Seaman 1/C.
Earl sailed aboard the SS JOEL CHANDLER HAR-
RIS, the SS BENJAMIN HOLT, the SS ELEAZOR
LORD and the SS WALTER L. FLEMING. He remem-
bers many air raids in Bizerte when his ship had a full cargo
of high-test gasoline. The ship was tied to the dock and was
being unloaded before and after air raids that would start
at dusk. He also remembers carrying supplies on a ship for
the invasion of Omaha Beach.
His most memorable experiences, however, included a
trip to Russia aboard the SS ELEAZOR LORD January
24, 1945, crossing the Attic Circle June 2, 1945, and
crossing the equator twice on the east and west coast of
Africa aboard the SS WALTER L. FLEMING.
Graham received the Victory Medal, Unit Citation, the
American Theatre Operations Ribbon, the Asiatic-Pacific
Ribbon, and the African Theatre Ribbon.
He and his wife, Geraldine, have a daughter Joyce. He
was a Sealtest National Dairy wholesale and retail route-
man and foreman for 14 1/2 years. He retired after 20 years
with the Postal Service as a welder. Before enlisting with
the Navy, he worked for Cadillac Motors in Detroit weld-
ing General Sherman Medium Tanks.
After discharge in Lido Beach, Long Island, he married
and stayed in New Jersey for 30 years. Later, he transferred
to Michigan in 1976 to get out of the rat race. He retired
in 1982 due to illness. Currently, he is in better health and
enjoys traveling with his wife.
His current address is 1308 Renfrew Drive, Owosso,
Michigan 48867.
MAURICE DALE GRAHAM
Maurice Dale Graham enlisted in the U.S. Navy in
May, 1943. He went through boot camp in San Diego in
five weeks, and through radio school in 12 weeks, earning
a third class petty officer stripe at graduation.
His next move was to Los Angeles for Armed Guard
Radio School. He somehow survived the fast lane social life
of L.A. and completed that training.
Graham shipped out of Treasure Island on the SS
MAKAWILI, a small (Great Lakes) ancient tanker which
had just brought molasses from Hawaii. The ship was
loaded with oil, and headed back for Honolulu, reeking
with that unforgettable combined odor.
There were eight-plus months of a "milk-run" out of
Pearl Harbor -- to Midway Island, Johnston Island, and
Palmyra (not necessarily in that order) -- and then most
of the crew shifted to the SS PERMANTE for a trip to the
mainland, and shore leave.
Graham's next ship was the SS ABRAM S. HEWITT,
on which he served two tours of duty. Both included the
Philippines, the first as part of the invasion of Luzon at Lin-
gauyan Gulf, and the second in ManiUa, where he and
some of his shipmates made some dungaree liberties while
action continued in parts of the city.
At the end of World War II, Graham was assigned to
the USS PCS (Parol Craft Small) 1441, and sailed from
San Diego to Kodiak, then his discharge was delayed for
six months as radiomen rates were frozen.
Graham was approved for the rating of RM2/c the
same month he was discharged in early summer of 1946.
After attending college, he became editor of The Quar-
ter Horse magazine, married Gaye Shipp, and they owned
and published a weekly newspaper for 12 years. Moving to
Victoria, Texas, he established Graham Printing Co.
Six years later they went to Perth, Australia, as part of
a mission team and established a church. For the past 22
years, Graham has served as senior minister for the Burke
Road Church of Christ in Pasadena, Texas.
He and Gaye have two children and three grandchil-
dren.
HARRAL VERRET GRANT
Harral Verret was born March 9, 1923, to Henry and
Orena Grant at Garland, Wyoming. He enlisted in the
U.S. Navy January 14, 1943, and received boot training
at Farragut, Idaho. On completion of boot camp, he was
sent to the Armed Guard Center, Treasure Island, Califor-
nia. His first ship was the SS JAMES S. HOGG.
From the HOGG, he was assigned to the MV TIDE-
WATER ASSOCIATED (tanker). It left San Pedro, Cali-
fornia and went to Brisbane, Australia. His next stop was
Abadam, Iran, for oil, then through the Red Sea, Suez
Canal onto Taranto, Italy, back to Abadam and on to
Napoli, Italy. The ASSOCIATED then sailed back to the
States and Bayone, New Jersey. From the ship he was
returned to San Francisco.
His next assignment was the SS SCOTTS BLUFF
(tanker). It sailed from San Pedro, California. Part of the
load was unloaded at Pearl Harbor and part at Eniwetol,
Atoll. The rest was unloaded at Saipan Island. He then
sailed back through the Panama Canal and to Arubia to
load up and sail onto New York Harbor. He was returned
to San Francisco.
At San Francisco, he was assigned to the SS FORD-
HAM VICTORY. The VICTORY loaded munitions at
Port Chicago and sailed from Ulithi Atoll and Okinawa.
It took a whole month to unload, finally returning to
Stockton, California, where trucks were loaded before the
ship sailed to the Philippines. He departed for Singapore
for further orders. The orders came and he went on to Cal-
cutta, India, where ammunition was loaded. He sailed
through the Suez Canal and Mediterranean Sea and was
hospitalized at Gibraltar with malaria.
He was then flown to Casablanca and transferred to the
Navy Air Station, Port Lyautey, from which point he
boarded a troop ship bound for Newport News. At New-
port News, he was assigned to the SS STANDARD and
departed for Las Piodras, Venezuela, and Buenos Aires,
Argentina. The next port of call was Curacao and then he
headed for England, tying up at Thameshaven. He
returned to the States and California, and was assigned to
the LCI(L)818. In July 1947, he was discharged from the
Navy.
Harral now lives at 912 Rutgers Avenue, Chula Vista,
California 92013.
DONALD V. GRAY
Donald V. Gray is originally from Grand Rapids, Mich-
igan. He was a member of class 3-45, November 22,
1944, at the NTS in Hollywood, Florida, and was assigned
to Armed Guard School in San Diego, California. He was
also assigned to the Armed Guard center at Treasure
Island.
On his fifth voyage, Donald shipped out of Oakland,
California, and dropped anchor in Linggayen, Luzon, PI,
April 13, 1945, the same day President Roosevelt died.
Later on his sixth voyage, he sailed out of Seattle, Wash-
ington, and anchored in Ulithi on VJ Day. They proceeded
to Okinawa to unload their cargo and left for the States on
November 5, 1945, and arrived in Portland, Oregon, on
November 28, 1945. During this voyage, Donald's ship
encountered three typhoons.
Donald was checked out and relieved of shipboard
duties by Lt. Joel Palmer, a grandson of the man the ship
was named after, the JOEL PALMER. Palmer was the first
Indian Commissioner of the state of Oregon. Donald was
discharged from the Navy March 10, 1954, attaining the
rank of Lt.
After the war, Donald was eligible for membership in
The American Legion and joined the organization in 1946.
Since then he has been a continuous member and was elect-
ed Commander of the Minnesota American Legion July
12, 1975, in Moorhead, Minnesota, for the 1975-76
Legion year. He also held numerous positions on the post,
division and departmental levels of the American Legion.
Donald served two years as a member of the National
Rehabilitation and Veterans Affairs Advisory Board and is
currently a consultant and member of the executive section
of the National Internal Affairs Commission of The Amer-
ican Legion.
A graduate of Michigan State College with a bachelors
degree in forestry, Donald spent 39 years in the United
States Department of the Interior. He retired in 1972 from
the position of manager of the Upper Mississippi N.W.
Refuge in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa and Illinois, with
headquarters in Winona, Minnesota.
In 1968, he was awarded the highest honor of the U.S.
Department of Interior, the Distinguished Service Award.
It was the first time the award was presented to a wildlife
refuge manager prior to retirement. Donald continued to
serve as a consultant on environmental impact studies
through 1973 and is still concerned and active in the pres-
ervation of natural resources and wildlife.
He has also served as chairman of the Winona Board of
Adjustment, 1972-75, chairman of Winona County
Chapter, American Red Cross, 1970-73, executive board
member and 1975 president of the Winona Izaak Walton
League. He was named "Conservation Man of the Year"
in 1968 by the Winona Daily News. A former eagle scout,
Donald continued to serve the Boy Scouts of America as a
scoutmaster and advisor. He was an advisor to two crews
of explorer scouts in 1955 and 1966 at the Region 10,
B.S.A. Canoe Trails.
His wife, Dorothy Gray, is an active member of the
American Legion Auxiliary, charter member of Unit 269,
Upham, North Dakota, past president of the Winoa Unit
#9, president of the Winoa County Council for two years
and a past executive board member of the First District.
Don and Dorothy have five children, two daughters and
three sons. All of the sons are veterans and are members of
the American Legion. His current address is 67 East How-
ard Street, Winona, Minnesota 55987.
AUBREY A. GREENWOOD
Aubrey A. Greenwood was born in Murfreesboro, Ten-
nessee, April 12, 1926, and grew up and completed high
school in Tullahoma, Tennessee. A school friend, Lenard
Byrom, and Aubrey joined the U.S. Navy August 4, 1943,
at age 17, each signing the other's papers as his father.
For active duty, Aubrey and Lenard joined in Nashville,
Tennessee, and took boot training in San Diego, Califor-
nia. After boot camp, the men were offered a 10-day leave.
Aubrey did not take leave, and was moved to Shoemaker,
California. He did not see Lenard again. Lenard was
reportedly discharged at war's end and working as a tug-
boat captain in Lake Michigan.
Aubrey moved to the Receiving Annex on Market
Street, San Francisco, to Treasure Island where he attended
gunnery school for two weeks with the Marines at Point
Montara, California. He then went back to Treasure
Island. In early January 1944, he was assigned his first
ship, the SS CAPE FEAR. The ship sailed to Maui, Mid-
way, Pearl Harbor and returned to Treasure Island. In
March 1944, he boarded the SS DASHING WAVE
which participated in the invasions of Saipan-Tenina in
June 1944, Guam in July 1944, Palau in September
1944, and Leyte, PI. in October 1944. The ship also sailed
to Kwajalein, Tarawa, Eniwetok, Guadalcanal, New Heb-
rides, New Caledonia and Fiji Island. Aubrey recalls the
"pure hell" they experienced from mine fields, submarine
attacks, air attacks, and shrapnel "falling like rain" from
damaged planes. Fortunately, the ship never took a direct
hit, but one time they were reported sunk.
The Flag Ship ordered the WAVE out of Palau with
about half of its load, including 350 Marines, due to ene-
my submarines. The ship traveled at full speed with radio
silence and no destination. Eleven days later, they pulled
into Pearl Harbor with almost no food or water left.
The first 48 hours out of Palau, they stay posted by their
guns and only left to eat and wash up. The ship's captain
called them the "iron men" and said it just was not in the
cards for his ship to go down with the iron men on board.
On arriving in Pearl Harbor, the Armed Guard was tak-
en offand given quarters at Aiea; nothing was too good for
them. They were granted 10 days of island leave. Five of
the guards, including Aubrey, hopped over to the big
island, Heilo, Hawaii.
In mid January 1945, Aubrey boarded the HSS SEA
RUNNER, C3-Class. He sailed on two invasions with the
ship, the Iwo Jima invasion of February 19, 1945, and
Okinawa invasion in April 1945. He says the battles were
pure hell and their cargo consisted of ammunition, food,
tanks, jeeps and troops. Aubrey thinks that every ship in
the Pacific was at these invasions.
The RUNNER hauled equipment and troops to and
from a number of islands including Leyte; the Admirality
Islands; Papua, New Guinea; Brisrane, Australia; Wel-
lington, New Zealand; Samoa Island; Tokelau Island;
Phoenix Island; Tarawa; Kwajalein; Guam; and Saipan.
In October 1945, Aubrey got off the ship at Aiea,
Oahu, and returned to Treasure Island. He then got 30
days leave plus 10 days traveling time. He reported to
Shoemaker, California, and found that his gear had been
lost. He was issued a new seabag and transferred to Algiers,
New Orleans, for a short patrol duty assignment and was
discharged at Memphis, Tennessee, March 20, 1946.
Aubrey enlisted again in Nashville, Tennessee, Septem-
ber 1946 and was sent to Charleston, South Carolina, for
"FFT." In October 1946, he was sent to Green Cove
Spring, Florida, for shore duty. In July 1948, he was sent
to Norfolk, Virginia, where he boarded the USS F.D.
ROOSEVELT CVB-42 and made trips to the Mediterra-
nean Sea, ports throughout the area, south-east Asia, the
Indian Ocean and the South China Sea. He sailed to the
North Pole around New Foundland and passed Greenland
up through Baffin Bay in order to test aircraft. They had
only 30 minutes of daylight and the temperature was 58
degrees below 0. The ship also sailed to the south-west
Indies and the Carribean Sea.
Next Aubrey was transferred to the ComNavAirLant
Staff at NAS in Norfolk, Virginia, in August 1950. He
was put in for school and crossover and in January 1951,
he was transferred to Port Heuneme, California, for 16
weeks of C. school as a heavy equipment operator. He
completed the school and reported to Davisville, Rhode
Island, MCB-I, for duty in Newfoundland for three
months. He then returned to Rhode Island and joined a
new Battalion, MCB7, and the unit was sent to Gtmo Bay,
Cuba; Port Robot, Africa; Leeward Point, Cuba; and
North Africa, where Aubrey was injured in the line of duty
and flown to a hospital in Naples, Italy. The next day he
was put on a plane for Bethesda Naval Hospital in Mary-
land and remained there for 11 months.
Aubrey was discharged November 30, 1953, on a med-
ical with 60 percent disability. He went to management
school under the Gl-Bill and was a retail grocery manager
with a chain for about lO years. He purchased his own res-
taurant and bar, and three years later sold out. Presently,
he works with the U.S. Government and secures parts for
the Fl4 Aircraft. He married Barbara Williams from Vir-
ginia Beach, Virginia, and has one son.
His current address is 504 Westbrook Court, Virginia
Beach, Virginia 23455.
PAUL ERNEST GREFE
Paul Ernest Grefe was born to Theodore and Clara Grefe
July 1, 1920, in Fairmont, Minnesota. He spent his early
years helping his parents on the farm. Paul enlisted in the
U.S. Navy May 6, 1942, and trained at Great Lakes, Illi-
nois, the Armed Guard Center at Little Creek, Virginia
and Brooklyn, New York. He was assigned to the gun crew
of the MS PENNSYLVANIA SUN, SS NORMA
CLARK and the SS FLOYD BENNETT. He served in the
European, African, Middle East and Asiatic-Pacific area.
Many hair-raising and emotional experiences were encoun-
tered during this time so Paul finds it hard to single out any
particular encounter. The war years were trying for Paul's
parents as he had four brothers, Erhardt, Fred, Herman,
Raymond, and one sister, Lucia, in the military service at
the time.
Paul was discharged November 11, 1945, as S 1/C. He
was married to Esther Kirk June 1, 1946. She died in
December 1979.
Paul married Wilma Cornell in August 1982. He has
four stepchildren, Janice Hall and William, Richard and
Ronald CorneU, 12 grandchildren, and 14 great grandchil-
dren, who have all been a great enlightenment in his life.
Paul was in the plumbing and heating business, owning
his own company for 25 years before retiring in 1987. He
has lived in Colorado the past 35 years. His current address
is 1427 N. Cedar Street, Colorado, Springs, Colorado
80903.
STANLEY B. GUBANC
On March 26, 1942, Stanley B. Gubanc was one of a
bus load of recruits from Cleveland, Ohio as a U.S. Navy
recruit en route to the Great Lake boot camp. After six
weeks of grueling training, he was sent to the Chicago gun-
nery school.
From the Brooklyn Armory, he was sent to Londonder-
ry, Ireland, aboard the QUEEN MARY and then on to
London, England. From there, he boarded the EL
OCEANO to Locke Hue, Scotland, where he joined a 60-
ship convoy to Murmansk, Russia, aided by British escorts
and the U.S. BATTLESHIP IOWA. They spent Christ-
mas in Russia, weathering 65 degrees Fahrenheit below 0.
The crew stood one hour watches on and off. The guns were
frozen up most of the time. The ship was attacked by subs,
torpedo bombers and the German cruiser, PRINCE
EUGENE. Their convoy lost 32 cargo ships, four or five
escort British frigates and the IOWA was badly damaged.
It was a quite disgusted and tired crew, after having no
baths and very little sleep for six weeks.
Stanley's ship then went on to Port Murmansk, Russia,
with the help of ice cutters. Russian officers boarded and
secured the guns and ammo while the IOWA was in port.
The Germans bombed the docks daily with incendiary
bombs. The docks were on fire daily and the Germans and
Russians had daily dog fights. The Germans seemed to
always win.
They then left for Glasgow, Scotland, and arrived safely
with no attacks. He then joined a 60-ship convoy of U.S.
ships which was about 500 miles from Nova Scotia when
attacked at night by a Wolf Pack of subs that surfaced in
the middle of the convoy. Twenty-eight ships were sunk,
but help arrived soon from Canada.
Stanley was then sent to Brooklyn, New York, where he
was given a well-needed three week rest. He stayed at Jean
Harlow's mansion in Haverstock, New York. While in
rest camp, the men aboard were given a citation for EL
OCEANO but Stanley was not given one because he was
at the rest camp at the time.
Well-rested, he then boarded the cargo ship GREEN
MOUNTAIN for Greenland, escorted by the Coast
Guard cutter, MAHAVI, on which Victor Mature was
aboard.
He then went back to Brooklyn, New York, and
boarded the MARION MCKINLEY BOVARD for Ber-
muda. He joined a convoy to North Africa, where his ship
was bombed by Italian planes. No damage was sustained.
Stanley then joined a convoy for the invasion of Sicily
from Malta. His ship was attacked by S.E. boats and dive
bombers, and had some damage by shrapnel in Palermo.
He then sailed back to Bisserti, North Africa, where the
ship took on German prisoners for Newport News, Vir-
ginia.
Stanley then boarded the USAT YARMOUTH for the
Marshall Islands via the Panama Canal with 3,000 Army
on board for the invasion of Tarawa. The first wave of
5,000 Marines were killed. The Navy ships bombarded
the island and a second thrust was won. There were bodies
lying everywhere. It was an unforgettable sight.
He then went back to San Francisco, and from there
returned to gunnery school to learn to shoot a new gun, the
5-inch 38.
He boarded the LOST HILLS for the ports of New
Guinea, Finchhaven, Mindenow and the Philippines.
General McArthur returned to the Philippines when he
was in Subic Bay. Stanley's ship was bombed but sustained
no damage.
He then went back to the U.S. via Guam and then to
San Francisco and on to Toledo, Ohio, to be discharged
October 13, 1945.
LEO JOSEPH GULLAGE
Leo Joseph Gullage was born May 5, 1926, He was the youngest of four
children, born to Frederick Charles and Julia Hogan Gullage in Boston,
Massachusetts.
Attended school and grew up in Billerica, Massachusetts. Joined the Navy
May 17, 1943.
Received Boot Training on the Island at Newport, Rhode Island. Attended
Gunnery school, Little Creek, Virginia,
Attached to Armed Guard Center Brooklyn, New York, and sailed aboard
Liberty Ship, Pearl Harbor for nineteen months in the European Theater
of War.
Assigned to Amphibious Unit in the Philippines and China until the end
of the war. Discharged March 1, 1946.
Married Sally King Gullage in 1946, and was blessed with three beautiful
daughters: Patricia, Katherine and Sally.
Attended Northeastern University in Boston and completed education at
Cornell University in Ithica, New York.
Formerly General Manager, Continental Baking Company, New England,
Division Vice President, Northeast Division American Bakeries, Chief
Executive Officer, Table Talk Foods, Inc., Worcester, Massachusetts.
Presently married to Mary Gullage, living in Lakeland, Florida.
Proud grandfather of four boys: Mark and Ryan Sheck, and Sean and
Christopher Pachik.
Northwestern Mutual Life Agent, Central Florida, 1972 to present. Life
Member of Million Dollar Round Table and member of Who's Who in Society.
CLYDE GUTZWILLER, JR.
Clyde Gutzwiller, Jr. was born June 17, 1923, in
Cleves, Ohio. He joined the U.S. Navy January 25, 1943,
and graduated from boot camp at Great Lakes, Illinois, in
April 1943. He was assigned to gunnery school at Gulf
Port, Mississippi. From there he transferred to the Armed
Guard Center at Brooklyn, New York. He was assigned
his first ship, the SS THOMAS B. ROBERTSON, May
23, 1943, and served on board her until September 28,
1943. He sailed by way of the North Atlantic to Manches-
ter, England, and then back to the United States. From
there he went to Oran, North Africa. After that he was on
two tankers, the SS PAULSBORO, from October 22,
1943-January 2, 1944, and the SS PAN DELAWARE,
from January 5, 1944-July 12, 1944, and one more Liber-
ty Ship, the SS SIMON NEWCOMB, from August 5,
1944-July 14, 1945. Tours of duty included Algiers,
North Africa; Antwerp, Belgium; Palermo, Sicily, Naples
and Bari, Italy; and Curacao, South America. He went
through the Panama Canal on his way to Australia, cross-
ing the Equator October 31, 1944. From Australia, he
went to the Admiralty Islands and made three trips back
and forth from there to Australia. He returned to San Fran-
cisco and from there went to Norfolk, Virginia, to decom-
mission Admiral King's ship the USS DAUNTLESS.
Clyde served on board the DAUNTLESS from April lO,
1946-May 11, 1946. He was then assigned to the USS
WARRINGTON DD-843, a destroyer, that accompa-
nied the USS FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT, an aircraft
carrier. They were sent on a goodwill tour throughout
Europe. Countries visited included England, Scotland,
Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Belgium, Holland, Portu-
gal, Greece, and Italy. Clyde was on board the WAR-
RINGTON from May 11, 1946-November 1, 1946. He
came back to the States in November 1946, and was offi-
cially discharged February l, 1947.
While in the service, he met Marion Lozway in New
York City and they were married in July 1945. They have
three children, Vicki, Richard and Joanne. They have
three granddaughters, two grandsons, and one great
granddaughter. Clyde retired from the Cincinnati Gas and
Electric Company in October 1985, after working for 35
years as a Senior Lineman "A." His current address is 9799
Mt. Nebo Road, North Bend, Ohio 45052.