Franklin Eugene Sandridge was born May 16, 192 l, at
Hoisington, Kansasú He enlisted in the U.S. Navy Sep-
tember 18, 1941, and trained six weeks at Great Lakes,
Illinois, Naval Training Station. He was then sent to San
Diiego, California, to the destroyer base, and was stationed
on the destroyer USS CROSBY.
When the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, he was
assigned to the Treasure Island Armed Guard Center at
San Francisco, California. He was assigned to the gun crew
on the SS MONTEREY in San Francisco. From San Fran-
cisco, the ship went to San Pedro, California, and took on
marines and sailed to Pego Pego in the Samoa Islands.
Returning to the United States, they picked up another
load of marines and took them to Pego Pego, then returned
to San Francisco and took on abmy troops for transport to
Brisbane, Australia. They came back to San Francicco,
loaded up mobe troops and went back to Melbourne, Aus-
tralia, and to Adelaide, Australia, then to Fremandle and
Perth, Australia, and then finally back to the States.
He was then transferred to the east coast to the Brooklyn
Armed Guard Center and assigned to the SS PHILLIP
KYLER. They took on a load of equipment, locomotives,
cars small arms ammunition, and leather all bound
for Russia. They took the long way around through
the Canal, down below Australia, up through the
Ocean and the Persian Gulf to Iran and Iraq. When
they left the Persian Gulf they had to leave alone, without
convoy. They went down below Cape Town, South Afri-
ca, through the Straight of Madagascar, coming through
the South Atlantic and on to Paramaribo, Dutch Guiana.
They loaded with aluminum ore and returned to New
York.
He was then transferred to the SS JOHN LAWSON,
loaded with military supplies for transport to Glasgow,
Scotlandú The ship later returned to Bayonne, New Jersey,
loaded with 55-gallon drums of high test gasoline, 500
pound cluster bombs, 155 yellow jackets and small arms
ammunition, they put in with a convoy of troop ships load-
ed with the First Infantry Division and went with the Inva-
sion of North Africa. Franklin then returned to the States
and was assigned to the SS THOMAS MITCHUM,
returning to North Africa, then to Sicily and back to North
Africa. They shuttled between North Africa and Italy
about three months and came back to the States to load
supplies in New York destined for Belgium and Franceú
The war in Germany was over by the time Frank returned
to the States. He was then transferred to San Francisco and
assigned to a new ship, the USS ADMIRAL W.S. SIMMS
AP127. They made four trips over to the Philippines and
Korea. After coming back to the States, the ship was
decommissioned and turned over to the Army.
Frank was next assigned to the USS ZELIMA, a refrig-
erator ship, and hauled cold storage food to Okinawa and
Saipan. On December 17, 1946, he was discharged.
He went to work for the Ford Motor Company February
10, 1947. He was married to June Beck July 17, 1949,
and they have four children, eight grandchildren and one
great-grandchild.
He retired after 30 years with Ford Motor Company in
June 1977. Since then he has worked making cabinets at
the Hadlock Cabinet Shop in Paola, Kansas.
His current address is Box 109, Route 1, Paola, Kansas
66071.
CHARLES S. SATTERLY
ERNEST SATTERLY
Charles Stuart Satterly preceded his identical twin
brother into this world by five minutes on January 12,
1923, in the town of Meadowbrook, New York. After
graduation from Cornwall High School, Charles went to
work as a machinist, and his brother worked for their
father in the family contracting and building business. The
brothers enlisted in the U.S. Navy together in November
1942. Ernest was sent to Williamsburg, Virginia, to train
with the Seabees, while Charles was sent to the Great Lakes
Naval Training Center.
After a few months, Ernest was given a medical dis-
charge for a heart murmur. After spending a year and a half
of frustrating effort trying to rejoin one of the services,
Ernest was given a clean bill of health by a cardiologist and
re-enlisted in the Navy. This time he went to gunnery
school and assigned to the USS HAYNESWORTH, DD
700. He participated in many of the major battles in the
Pacific. On A`ril 6, 1945, the HAYNESWORTH was
attacked by a kamikaze and Ernest was killed in action. He
was buried at sea. One man in Emest's gun crew was
thrown clear, and while Charles was waiting for discharge
in 1946 at Pier 92, this man saw him and recognized him
as Ernest's brother. They spoke for a few minutes and went
on their way.
After Great Lakes, Charles was sent to gunnery school
at Little Creek, Virginia, and then to the Armed Guard
Center in Brooklyn where he was assigned to the SS
ARTHUR DOBBS, which he picked up new in Wil-
mington. He served in the North Atlantic, South Atlantic
and Mediterranean, England, Africa, Sicily, and then
returned to the States. He then was assigned to the SS
WILLIAM FEW, this time taking General Davis and his
U.S. Air Force Red Devils to Taranto, Italyú They also were
sent to Oran, Algiers, Naples, Beri, Sicily, and the Adriat-
ic.
Once more returning to the States, Charles was assigned
to the SS VERMONT carrying fuel on a coastal run from
Texas to New England. As he disembarked from the ship,
he learned of his brother's death. After an emergency leave,
he was assigned to a Dutch ship, the MS TALISSE, which
carried him to Trinidad, Santos, Brazil, Buenos Aires,
Argentina and Montevideo, Uruguay.
Charlec was discharged in January 1946 and returned
home to go into the contracting and building business with
his father, carrying on that business after his father's deathú
He married Margaret McCarthy in December 1946. They
have one daughter, Susan.
His current address is Box 277, RD 2 Riley Road, New-
burgh, New York 12550.
JOHN GIBB SAVAGE
John Gibb Savage was born to Gibb and Amanda Mae
Savage on Aegust 30, 1924, in Sparta, Tennessee. He
enlisted in the U.S. Navy September 2, 1941, and trained
at Little Creek, Virginia, gunnery school.
He was sent to the Armed Guard Center in Brooklyn,
New York, and assigned to the gun crew aboard the SS
PROVIDENCE in 1942. After finishing the tour, he was
assigned to the SS G. HARRISON SMITH, which left
New York for Murmansk, Russia, on April 16, 1943.
While en route to Russia, the convoy was repeatedly
attacked by German subs. One sub was damaged and sur-
faced near the G. HARRISON SMITH and was sunk by
the gun crew. The crew received the bronze star. After they
made their way from England to Russia, they were
attacked by German torpedo planes in the North Sea. The
ship put up one hell of a fightú
Savage served on three other ships: The SS JOHN
MITCHELL, the SS EAGLE and the SS JOHN GIB-
SON. He served in the European Theater, the invasion of
North Africa, and the Middle Eastern and Asiatic theaters.
He was married to Sylvia L. Baker September 27, 1942.
They have three children: Patricia Ann. Elizabeth Kay, and
John Jr. After his tour in the Navy, he enlisted in the Air
Force. He retired alter 24 years.
John's current address is Route 3, Lamar Road, Mount
Juliet, Tennessee 37122.
ORFILLE SCHETTLE
Orville Schettle was 17 years old when he joined the
U.S. Navy in May, 1943. He took boot training at Great
Lakes and gunnery school at Little Creek, Virginia. He
then left Little Creek for the Brooklyn Armed Guard base,
where he was picked out of the gun crew to replace a gun-
ner who had been killed.
His first ship was the JOSEPH GOLDBERGER, a new
tanker disguised to look like a cargo ship. Everyone in the
gun crew had been overseas before and a few had lost theib
ships so being the only boot Schettle caught a lot of kid-
ding. He made three trips to England via the North Atlan-
tic. Orville, who was assigned to an aft 20 mm, recalled the
seas as being very rough. The ship fought 40 to %0 food
waves. His quarters were under the aft 5-inch 38 gun and
when the stern went under a wave, the sea would come
through the air vents like water through a fire hose. He had
several inches of water in hic quarters and when the ship
rolled, it would wash him out of the lower sack. It was cold
so Schettle slept in his heavy lined clothes with his boots
alongside. He had to go up to midship to eat via the shaft
alley.
The ship was in a convoy of about 60 ships, and at one
time there were nine ships out of control around the
GOLDBERGER. Trying to dodge the ships was a real
scare for the crew. However, the big scare came when one
ship almost hit the GOLDBERGER amidchip with its
bow.
The convoy broke formation and there were three ships
together when someone saw a German submarine between
the waves. The crew stood at general quarters posted to
their guns for 18 hours. The 5-inch 38 was frozen and there
was a lot of ice on the ship. The Merchant Mariners
brought the crew hot coffee and sandwichec to warm them
up during their watch. Thankfully, it was too rough for the
submarine to fire torpedoes.
The ship finally got back to England, where the crew
found the ship had lost three life boats and three life rafts
that were torn from the ship by the rough sea.
Orville Schettle served on five ships, three tankers and
two cargo ships, with his tour ending in the Philippines.
His current address is 1362 Hwy. 35, Houlton, Wisconsin
54082.
JOE SCHIENBERG
Joe Schienberg was born in Middle Village, New York,
September 20, 1922. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy Octo-
ber 1, 1942, and dook boot training at Newport, Rhode
Island. From there, he was sent to radio school in Boston,
Massachusetts, for training and received his third class rat-
ing.
From Boston he was sent to the Brooklyn Armed Guard
Center for further training. After several weeks, he was sent
to Norfolk, Virginia, to board his first ship, the SS EAST-
DELANO, a Liberty Ship, and then a tanker, the SS
GREAT MEADOWS.
Joe was then transferred to the fleet for destroyer duty
aboard the USS BEATTY DD756, and made second class.
From there, he was assigned to the USS WARRICK
AKA89, bound for the Far East, and then transferred to a
sea-going tug, the USS MOLALA ATF 106. After an acci-
dent, he again was transferred to the USS ABAKI ATF 96.
He was discharged at Treasure Island October 7, 1948.
Two years later, Joe married the girl next door. They
have two children, Steve and Carin. He retired from the
postal service in March 1985, and now lives at 78-13 69th
Avenue, Middle Village, New York 11379.
DURBIN SCHMITT
Durbin Schmidt was born January 10, 1924, at Dale,
Indiana, to Louis and Elsie Schmitt. He graduated from
Dale High School and entered the U.S. Navy March 3,
1943. He took boot training at Great Lakes Naval Station,
and after leave transferred to Treasure Island, California,
and into the Armed Guard on June 22, 1943.
After gunnery training, he was detached to the SS
KOHALA, an old Hog Islander, at Seattle on July 22,
1943. After five trips oud and back to the States, including
runs to the north and central Pacific, he was detached on
August 30, 1944.
Following leave and more refresher training, he was
assigned to the SS JOHN W. TROY, a Liberty, at San
Francisco on October 5, 1)44. On the second trip out, the
ship was anchored offle Shima, Okinawa, at the end of the
war. During the two trips, she covered most of the western
Pacific, north and south, including going through several
typhoons. Dubbin was detached from the TROY Novem-
ber 18, 1945, and assigned to the USS KENTON APA
122 fob a trip back do the States. Following leave, he was
dedached out of the Armed Guard, having served a total of
30 1/2 months. He then reported for duty in January 1946,
to the Great Lakes Personnel Separation Center, then to
Great Lakes Naval Training Center until March 1947,
when he was sent to San Francisco and assigned to the USS
PRESIDENT JACKSON APA 18 for a trip to Hawaii.
He reported to Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, to Utility
Squadron One (CumUtronsPac Staff) on April 23, 1947.
Shobtly thereafder he was assigned over to Commander
Utility Wing (Stall') and then to the USS GENERAL
trip back to the States and San Francisco for discharge on
November 29, 1947.
After discharge, Durbin was engaged in farming in
Indiana, then in Illinois, then moved back to Indiana. In
1962, Durbin married Wilhelmina Schweizer. They
reside at RR #1, Box 9, Lamar, Indiana 47550.
THEODORE M. SCHORR
Theodore Schorr was born September 16, 1921, in
Duquesne, Pennsylvania, near Pittsburgh. He was the sec-
ond of 11 children born to Irene Manns Schorr and Theo-
dore J. Schorr. He attended St. Joseph Parochial School
and Duquesne High School fi'om which he graduated in
1939.
Theodore M. Schorr
Then went to work for United States Steel Corp. in
Duquesne until he enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve
August 12, 1942, and was sent to the University of Illinois
at Champaign-Urbana to attend signal school. Epon
receiving hic Signalman 3/C rating in January 1943 he
was sent to Noroton Heights, Connecticut, for Mersigs
training. The first week in March, he was transferred to the
Armed Guard Center in Brooklyn, New York, and sailed
on March 8 aboard the SS EL 'MUNDO. On March 17
and 18, 13 ships of the 33-ship convoy were sunk, due to
submarine action. The remaining ships made it to the Brit-
ish Isles where the EL 'MUNDO was unloaded in New-
port, South Wales.
He remained on the SS EL 'MUNDO for a year and a
half on a steady run between New York and the British
Isles and ended with a trip to Ceba, Venezuela, and then
sailed back to New York, where he received shore leave.
On his return to Brooklyn, he was assigned to the SS
RAPHAEL SEMMES, bound tbr Cherbourg, France.
After unloading and on the return trip to New York, the
convoy encountered a hurricane, which was a real adven-
ture. His next trip was to Antwerp, Belgiurn, where his
ship was detained dubing thc Battle of the Bulge. Back in
Brooklyn, he was again detached and assigned to the SS
CUBORE in Baltimore, Maryland. The ship made a run
to Aruba, Trinidad, British Guinea, Cuba, Curacao and
then to Portland, Maine.
He was detached anti sent to the Philadelphia Navy
Base, then on to Sampson, New York, anti was discharged
December 14, 1945.
He returned to work at the U.S. Steel Plant in
Duquesne.
He married Mary Jane Dougherty in 1951, and had two
children. Jancie graduated from Duquesne University in
Pittsburgh as a registered nurse and has just completed a
tour of duty with the U.S. Air Force at Wilford Hall Hos-
pital in San Antonio, Texas. She has two daughters; Mary
Jeanne and Kelly Ann. Paul, his son, graduated from Penn
State University with a bachelor's degree in forestry. Paul
later, returned to college and is now also a registered nurse.
He and his wife, Amy, now hafe a daughter, Samantha
Schorr.
Ted retired after 42 years with the U.S. Steel Corp. and
now resides with Mary Jane, his wife, at 1718 Texas Ave-
nue, West Mifflin, Pennsylvania 15122.
EDWIN C. SCHROEDER
Edwin C. Schroeder was born in Morrison, Illinois, May
18, 1913. He entered the U.S. Navy December 6, 1943,
and was trained at Great Lakes, Illinois; Gulfport, Missis-
sippi; Shell Beach, Algiers; New Orleans, Louisiana; and
Savannah, Georgia.
He left on his first ship April 27, 1944, and returned on
June 20, 1945. He went to Shelton, Virginia, and Shoe-
maker, California, then went overseas again on September
19, 1945, and returned February 12, 1946. He made sev-
en trips across the Atlantic and one trip across the Pacific
Ocean. He also travelled to Murmansk, Russia; the Philip-
pine Islands; and Pearl Harbor. He stood guard at the
home of General McNutt at Corregidor. Schroeder was a
past commander of VFW. POST 828l and American
Legion Post 328 in Morrison.
Ships he served on included the SS EARL LAYMAN,
the SS LINN BOYD, the SS LATITIA, and the USS SAR-
ATOGA. He was rated Seaman 1/C and received the
American Theater Ribbon, the Victory Medal, the World
War II and European-African Theater ribbons, the Asiat-
ic-Pacific Theater Ribbon, and Point System.
He received an honorable discharge February 23, 1946.
Since that time, he has farmed, worked at General Electric
in Morrison and is now happily retired. He is married and
has two daughters, three sons and thirteen grandchildren.
His current address is 206 West Winfield, Morrison, Illi-
nois 61270.
FREDERICK T. SEIFERT
Frederick T. Seifert was born February 2 l, 1925, in
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and enlisted in the U.S. Navy
February 20, 1943. He attended boot camp at the Great
Lakes Training Center. From Great Lakes, he took a troop
train to Treasure Island Armed Guard Center for two
weeks gunnery training and anti-aircraft training at Point
Montara, California.
He was sent to Portland, Oregon, and was assigned a
new Liberty Ship at the Kaiser Shipyards, the EPHRAIM
W. BAUGHMAN on June 15, 1943.
From Portland, Oregon, he went on a shake-down
cruise to Long Beach, California.
He next sailed to Wellington, New Zealand, Colombo,
Ceylon, Calcutta, India, to Port Tewfik through the Suez
Canal to Alexandra, Egypt, then through Gibraltar to Bal-
timore, Maryland. He reported December 6, 1943,
detached duty completed.
After a 20-day leave, he was assigned to Armed Guard
Center, Brooklyn, New York.
Frederick's next assignment was January 5, 1944, to the
JAMES LYKES, a C2 ship. Fle crossed the Atlantic and
arrived at Hull, England, and then went on to London,
England. The Navy had asked for unmarried men, a few
from each ship to make up crews for the invasion of Nor-
mandy.
He was assigned April 17, 1944, to the LEE S. OVER-
MAN. The OVERMAN transported British troops of the
1 st Hampshire regiment to Juno Beach near the village of
La Hamel. After the invasion of Normandy, he was on his
way to London, England, when he saw his first V- 1 buzz
bomb, on June 12, 1944. The ship fired at it, but mis-
judged the bomb's speed. The V- 1 appeared to be lumber-
ing along, but it was capable of 300 miles per hour.
After a 30-day leave, his next assignment was Septem-
ber 4, 1944, to the HENRY S. LANE. He left New York
in convoy, to London, England, and to Antwerp, Belgium,
while the Battle of the Bulge was being fought.
When Frederick arrived, the Germans were sending
V-2 rockets into Antwerp. The Rex Theater was hit, kill-
ing over 600 Americans. On June l, 1945, his duty was
completed on the HENRY S. LANE.
His next assignment was to Camp Perry, Virginia,
where he attended ammunition handling school from
October 1945 to November 28, 1945.
From Camp Perry, he was sent to Earle, New Jersey, a
Naval Ammunition Depot, November 29, 1946 to Feb-
ruary 14, 1946.
He was discharged from Sampson, New York, Febru-
ary 20, 1946, with the rating of Coxswain.
He married Jane Arnone and they have nine children:
Mary Jane, Frederick III, Joseph, Daniel, Thomas, Rich-
ard, Robert, James and Anna.
His oldest son, Fred, served on the USS RANGER as a
motor machinist for four years.
Another son, James, is a sergeant in the U.S. Marines.
James had served six years as of December 1988. His
daughter, Anna, was a Marine for two years.
Fred attended Duquesne University where he obtained
bachelor's and master's degrees in Education.
He worked at National Biscuit Co. for 12 years while
attending Duquesne.
He is presently employed as a classroom teacher in the
Penn Hills School District.
He can be reached at 7057 Campania Avenue, Pitts-
burgh, Pennsylvania 15206.
JAMES E. SHERIDAN
James E. Sheridan was born in Hunter, New York,
March 23, 1926, one of three children of James and Helen
Sheridan. He joined the U.S. Navy June 30, 1943, at
Poughkeepsie, New York, and went to boot camp at
Sampson, New York, and then to Shelton, Virginia for
Armed Guard school.
James boarded his first ship, the BENJAMIN HAW-
KINS, at Brooklyn, New York. She sailed to Barry, Wales,
was strafed in the Straits of Massena and bombed at Gaeta,
north of Naples. After a long wait at anchor, the HAW-
KINS was sent back to New York and was refitted for
troops. Then she reloaded and sailed for Liverpool. After
the cargo was off, they were sent to Oban, Scotland, and
laid at anchor for over a month with many other ships. The
last week of May 1944, she sailed to Cardiff, Wales. The
crew went through a week of very intense anti-aircraft dry-
run practice. On June 4, she loaded troops and equipment
and anchored in the channel. On June 5 all the ships
formed in lines and moved very slowly. Then that night,
everyone picked up speed and as dawn broke, the HAW-
KINS made seven round trips between the beaches and
England, bringing troops and supplies over and German
prisoners and survivors back.
After she was rammed, they were sent back to New
York and James went on a 30-day leave. James next
reported aboard the HANNIBAL HAMLIN and sailed
September 1944 to Liverpool, England. He then pro-
ceeded to make six round trips between Liverpool and
Antwerp with supplies during the Battle of the Bulge.
They traveled in small convoys and several ships were sunk
by mines in the Scheldt River. The HAMLIN was finally
rammed by the WILLIAM FLOYD and she ended in dry
dock for one month in Antwerp. The FLOYD was beached
to keep her from sinking. While in dry dock, the HAM-
LIN was at the mercy of all the buzz bombs which were
coming in at several hundred a day. After surviving all that
without any damage, the HAMLIN was sent back to New
York.
James then went to Camp Shelton for a refresher course
and assigned to the WILLIAM H. CRAWFORD, en
route to Southampton, England. She made several short
trips and then sailed back to Baltimore.
The last ship James sailed on was the HYME SOLO-
MAN. The SOLOMAN was a troop carrier, as was the
JOHN BROWN. She went to Leghorn, Italy, where she
took part of the 88th Blue Devil Division back to the Unit-
ed States. James returned to Newport News, Virginia,
after a short leave at the end of July 1945, and left the
Armed Guard.
He served at the following bases; Pier 92 in New York,
Tomkinsville Navy Yard, Staten Island, New York; and
Shoemaker, CA, and the Air Transport Service, Agana,
Guam. From Liberty Ships, he switched to a flight crew on
a R5D. After serving his hitch, it took a few years for James
to settle down.
In June 1955, he married Rosemarie and they have two
girls and three boys, all college graduates with good jobs.
In 1986, James retired with 36 years with IBM. He says
that the two years he spent in the Armed Guard was the
best education a young man could get. James is proud to
have had the honor to serve with so many good guys and
the memories will be close to his heart. He presently resides
at RR#2, Box 227, Clinton Corners, New York 12514.
ROBERT SHERLOCK, JR.
Robert Sherlock, Jr., was born May l 1, 1923, in India-
napolis, Indiana, and was raised in Dearborn, Michigan,
by his father, Robert Sherlock, Sr. His mother, Erma Sher-
lock, passed away in 1927. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy
August 12, 1942, at the age of 17, after spending time
with the Civil Conservation Corp in upper Michigan. He
unloaded, then reloaded for Naples, Italy. On the way, she
attended boot camp at Great Lakes Naval Station in Illi-
nois. He also took gunnery training at the Chicago Naval
Armory and then was assigned to the Armed Guard Center
in Brooklyn, New York.
Robert was then assigned to the SS CARDINAL GIB-
BONS, the first ship to carry a 5-inch 38 gun on her stern.
He acted as security for the ship before she was commis-
sioned. One day while on duty on the flying bridge, a
Naval officer, Lt. C.G. Harshaw, Jr., approached and said
he was Robert's commanding officer. The lieutenant start-
ed to leave, but turned around and handed him a 38
revolver saying, "you might need this some time." Robert
was surprised so he stayed ever alert on duty. Next a gun-
ners mate came on board and together they toured the
ship. At this time, he was only a Seaman I/C. The crew
came aboard and they shipped for ports unknown.
They sailed to the Persian Gulf, where Robert saw his
first British Raider and Arabia. After three months, they
returned to the States. On the way home outside Brazil
around midnight, the ship took a hit on starboard number
one from a German submarine. The torpedo tore the ship's
beams like bailing wire and one man was thrown up in the
air 10 feet. There was blinding red cross fire and the escort
dropped depth charges. Fortunately, the ship escaped
without support. Returning to the States, Robert recalled
how no one noticed the Statue of Liberty upon departure,
but on their return, everyone was top side after a year at sea.
Robert stood control watch not only on the GIBBONS,
but also on the SS EMILY DICKINSON as a gunner. He
made a shuttle run to all of the ports in the United King-
dom and was always looking for German submarines and
floating mines. He recalls the Von Terpitc, a German raid-
er, and how they prepared for a confrontation, but the Von
Terpits would not engage and the DICKINSON
remained on its scheduled course.
After several trips, Robert was taken offthe ship in Bos-
ton, Massachusetts, and sent to a rest center in Deland,
Florida. One month later, he was reassigned to Pier #92
on an out-going fleet troop ship that was to back up the
Normandy Invasion. He landed at Glasgow, Scotland, and
took a troop train to Plymouth, England. He got a rush call
to the 12th Naval General Hospital 814. There he saw
ambulances backed up as far as he could see. He saw 35
dead men and knew that the Invasion of Normandy was
underway. He sailed on a landing to back up the Invasion
shortly thereafter.
On his last assignment, Robert volunteered to COM-
NAVIEW in London, England, for shore patrol duty. He
experienced V 1 and V2 bombing of the city while per-
forming general guard duty. Visiting dignitaries honored
the guards. Some of the important leaders were James For-
estal, James Farley, President Truman, Mrs. Roosevelt,
U.S. Invasion Commander Vice Admiral Kirk, and The-
atre Commander Admiral H.R. Stark. It turned out to be
the first assembly of the United Nations. All the ceremo-
nies were held in Hyde Park.
Robert remembers practicing for the "Allied Victory
Parade" led by a British officer. At the last moment, the
officer used the command "right-wheel." No one knew
what he meant and everyone landed on top of each other.
However, they all marched in front of King George VI in
the reviewing stand later without a hitch.
In September 1946, Robert requested stateside leave.
He was denied so he took All Nav 512 and returned to
Brooklyn, New York, in October 1946. He kicked himself
many times for coming out, but it was done. He was dis-
charged December 14, 1946, attaining the rank of BM
2/c.
He received the Victory Medal, the American Area
Medal, Good Conduct Medal, European-African-Middle
Eastern Medal, and Unit Citation.
Back in the U.S., after four years, Robert had forgotten
what American money looked like. He went to work for
the Pontiac Motor Division of General Motors and later
retired as a relief man on the motor line after 32 years in
February 1978. He also worked for the Ford Motor Com-
pany and was into general farming. He married Jean Palm-
er in May 1953, and they have three sons, James, Larry,
and Tim, and two married daughters, Pamela and Elsie.
His current address is 2640 W. Walton, Pontiac, Mich-
igan 48055.
JOHN W. SHEVLIN, SR.
John W. Shevlin, Sr., was born in Rochester, New
York, November 26, 1925, and entered the U.S. Navy
March 16, 1944.
He took boot camp at Great Lakes, Illinois, and then
went to Armed Guard School at Gulfport, Mississippi.
This was followed by anti-aircraft training at Shell Beach,
Louisiana, and then to the Armed Guard Center, New
Orleans, Louisiana.
He shipped out to Panama City, Florida, and the J.A.
Jones Construction Co. Shipyard, where on June 26,
1944, he went aboard his first ship, the SS NICK STON-
ER, a brand new Liberty. He reported aboard with 25 oth-
er crew members under the command of Ensign Edward
F. Krusiec.
John recalls that the crew was given temporary quarters
at a federal housing project adjacent to the yard. They had
all their meals at the company cafeteria and maid service
was provided for their quarters.
His first voyage was to India. They left Norfolk, Virgin-
ia, on August 3, 1944, in a convoy of 69 ships and 15
escorts. The convoy split at Gibraltar. John and his part of
the convoy broke off for the Mediterranean Sea and the
balance of the convoy continued on to England. Ports of call
in India were Karachi, Bombay and Cochin. The ship
sailed home by the same route and arrived in New York
November 30, 1944.
John left the STONER December 22, 1944. A four
week refresher course followed at Armed Guard Center,
Shelton, Virginia, then he was sent to Armed Guard Cen-
ter, Treasure Island, by troop train. From Treasure Island,
he went to Seattle, Washington, where on March 16,
1945, he went aboard his second ship, the SS CUSHMAN
K. DAVIS.
The DAVIS was another Liberty Ship but had been con-
verted to a troop transport. John went aboard that day with
30 other crew members, under the command of Lt. John
S. Applegate and assisted by Lt. John P. English and Lt.
(j.g.) James S. McClellan. The total crew numbered 43
men, 33 gunners, seven petty officers and three officers.
He made 11 voyages on the DAVIS and carried troops
to and from Honolulu, Pearl Harbor, Eniwetok, Saipan
and Guam. On one voyage from Portland, Oregon, to
Honolulu (April 26, 1945 -- May 6, 1945), they sailed
with the SS GEORGE FRAVEL. On another voyage from
Pearl Harbor to Eniwetok (September 3, 1945 -- Septem-
ber 13, 1945), they sailed with the SS CHARLES
LOOMIS and one escort, (PC 88).
While in Hawaii, John was able to locate his brother,
Chuck, at Kaneohe Bay. Chuck was an ordnance man on
a PBM Mariner, serving as turret gunner. Those two sailors
had a very nice visit for several hours.
John left the DAVIS October 22, 1945, at San Pedro,
California, and finished his time at Mare Island assigned
troop train to Lido Beach, Long Island, and was discharged
May 13, 1946.
In May of 1986,John retired from Eastman Kodak Co.
after 40 years of service. He and his wife, Mary, still reside
in their home of 40 years at 37 Winfield Road, Rochester,
New York 14622, phone (716) 467-2057.
CHARLES SHOULET
Charles Shoulet was born February 2, 1922, in Madi-
son, Illinois, and enlisted July 1942, at St. Louis, Missouri,
and trained at Great Lakes, Illinois, and Chicago, Illinois.
He was then ordered to report to Brooklyn, New York,
October 1942, and in April 1943, left New York aboard
the SS LENA LUCKENBACK, which was damaged in
collision with the SS JAMES FENNIMORE COOPER.
The captain ordered everyone to abandon ship as he
thought it was sinking. Later Charles learned the ship had
been towed into dry dock in Glasgow.
While in Glasgow, Charles met his wife, Janet. They
got engaged in June, but it was another 42 years before
they got married. It took Janet over 30 years to find
Charles.
Charles sailed in August 1943 for New York, then was
transferred to the SS MURFREESBORO, sailing for Brit-
ish shores. En route the BORO was hit by another ship,
name unknown, in the Atlantic. The crew abandoned ship,
was later picked up, and returned to the States.
After three weeks at the rest home in up-state New
York, and Delan, Florida, he then sailed on the SSB
CLARNEY VALNESK to the leave in Pacific and was
there when the war ended.
He worked as a carpenter from 1946 to 1982, when he
had to retire after having a lung removed. He would love
to hear from anyone who sailed with him. His current
address is 25 Millhill Avenue, Ponte Fract, W. Yorks,
England.
LLOYD SHROYER
Lloyd Shroyer was born December 11, 1926 in Flora Illinois,
He entered the Navy on January 22, 1944 and went through
boot camp at Great Lakes Illinois, from there to Gulfport
and Shell Island gunnery school then to the Armed Guard
Center Brooklyn N Y.
He was assigned to SS Henry B. Brown as a member of the 5-38
gun crew making five complete trips to England, France,
Omaha Beach,Meditterian ports, and Antwerp in Dec.1944.
Lloyd also served on the Victory SS Sea Robin making four
complete trips.He said the longest trip was 34 days from
Antwerp to New York due to a hole in the side of the ship
causing rationing of water and by the time we reached New
York we were eating K rations. On another trip as we came
into the English from the North Sea we were instructed by an
English Naval officer of German E- boats in the channel and
to fire on any small craft without hesitation, standing four
to eight watch early morning along with the 20 mm. gunner a
small craft appeared to the rear on our port side, as it was
beginning to break daylite we decided to keep our guns
trained on the vessel until we could make out their flag. It
was a British patrol boat who almost got blown out of the
water. Also on that night the sky was bright with British
searchlights shooting down German aircraft, this was before
the invasion of France.
In December 1944 in Antwerp Lloyd counted V-1 bombs at one
every three minutes and while on four to eight morning watch
a German plane came in low and dropped its bombs on a ship
ahead of our ship a few hours before an ammunition ship was
docked there.
Lloyd is now retired after 35 years as a Service Rep. for a
national Corp. He and his wife are blessed with five
children Linda, Francis, Kathy, Michael, and James, and
seven grandchildren. He now lives at 1037 S. Roosevelt St.
Green, Bay. Wi 54301
CARL T SIDES
Carl T Sides was born September 20, 1921. Carl enlisted in the
US Navy in Birmingham, Alabama October 10, 1942. He was sent to
San Diego, California and received Boot Training there at the
San Diego Naval Training Station. He was selected for service
with the Armed Guard and sent to the San Diego Destroyer Base
for Gunnery Training.
Carl served on the M/S E.T. Bedford from December 17, 1942 to
June 24, 1943. He served on the SS Frank Springer from July 25,
1943 to October 30, 1943. He served on the SS Coquille from
December 27, 1943 to November 15, 1944.
Carl was assigned to the Naval Supply Depot at Oakland, California
from January 5, 1945 to January 1, 1946. He was discharged in
Memphis, Tennessee January 10, 1946.
Carl lives in Auburn, Alabama with his lovely wife, Myrtle. Give
him a call at 334-887-5589.
HARDIN T. SIMPSON
Hardin T. "Red" Simpson enlisted in June 1943, at
Louisville, Kentucky. He was in boot camp, Company
724, at Great Lakes, Illinois.
From there he went to Armed Guard School at Gulf-
port, Mississippi, to Armed Guard Center, Treasure
Island, and then to his first ship, the FORT SUMPTER,
a tanker (September 22, 1943 --January 5, 1944).
After a few coastwise trips and a trip to Hawaii, he was
assigned to the Liberty Ship CHARLES PADDOCK from
January 1, 1944 to April 12, 1944. After trips to Ellice
Islands, Marshall Islands, and New Hebrides, he was
assigned to the Liberty Ship BENJAMIN BONNEVILLE
from April 24, 1944, to October 10, 1944. A trip around
the world followed, via Hawaii, Australia, India, East and
South Africa, Rio de Janeiro and Santos, then Trinidad to
New Orleans.
He was reassigned to another Liberty Ship, the
CHARLES H. MARSHALL. After trips to England and
France, he was assigned to Brooklyn Armed Guard Center,
then took R and R at the College Arms Hotel at Deland,
Florida. From there he went to the U.S.N. Hospital at
Norfolk, Virginia, and was discharged.
"Red" saw the action at various bars around the world.
No Purple Hearts were awarded.
After discharge, he spent a few months in Louisville and
then left for sunny California where he pursued a career in
the grocery business. In 1948, he married Loraine and
moved to Culver City, California. Twin daughters, Donna
and Diane, arrived in 1952. They moved to Arcadia, Cali-
fornia in l 957. He managed a supermarket there until lat-
er 1967. A short stint in the restaurant business followed,
and then he bought his own liquor and convenience stores.
He has been very active in Rotary for the past 25 years.
He presently belongs to the Vista, California, club.
He retired in 1981. He and Loraine now live in Leisure
Village, a retirement community in Ocean Hill, California.
They have spent the past eight summers salmon fishing on
Vancouver Island, British Columbia. The apple of Red's
eye is their only grandson, Dusty.
His current address is 5073 Milos Way, Oceanside,
California 92056.
JACK F. SIMS
Jack F. Sims was born May 25, 1921, in Shamrock,
Texas. He was a student at Oklahoma A&M at the time
of Pearl Harbor. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy January 7,
1942, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and was sent to San
Diego for boot camp.
He arrived on a Sunday morning early enough to be
treated to a breakfast of navy beans. After three weeks of
shots and clothing issue, his company received liberty on
Saturday and Sunday. On Monday, only 11 men were left.
The rest shipped out Tuesday. He went alone to Treasure
Island for gunnery school, then boarded the USS JUPI-
TER in convoy to Wellington, New Zealand, with sup-
plies and Marines which landed D Day on Guadalcanal.
Returning to San Francisco, the USS JUPITER was
returned to the U.S. Navy. In less than a week, he was sent
to San Pedro to the federal prison, a Navy receiving station
to assemble crews for merchant ships. He was then
assigned to the new Liberty Ship LELAND S. STAN-
FORD along with 17 people including Ensign Koch,
Boatswain Johnny McHugh, Bill Stark, Ed Sandell, Phil-
lips, Stewart, Dennis McHenry, and others.
The ship, loaded with code names "Bombay" and "Cal-
cutta,'' proceeded to Wellington, New Zealand, then thru
the Tazmanian Sea to Bombay, then around to Calcutta.
The ship was loaded with jute and copper, then sailed for
Colombo, Ceylon, to finish loading. He spent Christmas
Day 1942 restricted for a minor infraction; however, the
British government brought aboard some spirits. The ship
sailed back through the storm-ridden Tazmania Sea to
Wellington, New Zealand and on to the Panama Canal.
The ship arrived in New York March 1943. He was
ordered to return to Treasure Island and joined the SS
LURLINE of Matson Navigation Co. on the pineapple run
to the Hawaiian Islands. The ship was sent on one trip to
Bombay to pick up some Italian prisoners, which the Aus-
tralians had captured in North Africa. In January, 1944,
he was assigned to the SS MARY BICKERDYKE as GM
3/C, making trips to New Guinea, Saipan, and Titian. In
1945, he went to 5-inch 38 caliber school then he was
shipped to Portland, Oregon, in the spring of 1945 to
board the SS GONZAGA when ready. The ship pro-
ceeded to a destination near Seattle to load ammunitions
which were then sent to Titian. He was at Titian on vJ day.
It took a little over a month to return with the balance
of ammunition to near Birmington, Washington. The
crew then was sent to Lake Washington recreation bar-
racks, where he was hit in the mouth with a wet baseball
requiring a number of stitches. All the crew received the
order to discharge points. Jack had to volunteer to take two
prisoners to Treasure Island. Upon arrival, he was told
there was no room for him to sleep and two days later he
was en route to New Orleans, arriving October 31. A little
over three weeks later, he shipped to Norman, Oklahoma,
for discharge November 27, 1945.
His current address is 5111 Bahama Drive, Wichita
Falls, Texas 76310.
ARTHUR G. SMART
Arthur G. Smart was born in Seattle, Washington, on
February 18, 1921. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy August
21, 1942. He completed boot camp at San Diego, Califor-
nia, gunnery school at Destroyer Base, San Diego, and was
assigned to the Navy Armed Guard Base at Treasure
Island, California.
His first assignment was November 1942, on the SS
SAMUEL COLT out of Portland, Oregon. He sailed to
New Calidonia, Australia, and back to Baltimore, Mary-
land, via Chile and the Panama Canal. He was then sent on
delayed orders back to Treasure Island to pick up the MV
CAPE CANAVERAL (1944) and sailed to Hawaii, Gua-
dalcanal, Palau, Biak and other South Pacific ports.
He came back to San Francisco in 1945, and after leave
was assigned to the SS OTIS SKINNER and sailed to Oki-
nawa. He was at Buckner Bay, Okinawa, at the end of the
war. He then sailed to Korea and back to San Pedro, Cali-
fornia.
He was discharged at Bremerton, Washington, in
December 1945. He returned to work as a truck driver for
Consolidated Freightways and retired in 1985. He was
married August 7, 1948, to Viette Meyer. They have one
son, two daughters and four grandchildren. They enjoy
their family, traveling and winters in Arizona. Their pres-
ent address is 17523 S.E. 238th Kent, Washington
98O42.
FREDERICK A. SMITH
Ron Chalmers and Frederick A. Smith
Ron Chalmers and Frederick A. Smith
Ever since they met 46 years ago, Fred Smith and Ron
Chalmers have remained best buddies. In 1943, they were
on their way to Portland, Maine, to a brand new Liberty
Ship, the GEORGE T. ANGELL. It was also the begin-
ning of a brand new and wonderful friendship.
Both attended boot camp at Samson, New York, and
both were sent to Little Creek, Virginia, for gunnery school
and assigned to the Armed Guard.
Ron's first ship was the USAT STATE OF MARY-
LAND and Fred's the SS LAFAYETTE.
Together on the ANGELL, they made many trips to
England, then on to Murmansk, Russia. Their convoy was
attacked numerous times by aircraft and U boats, causing
the loss of many lives and ships.
As gunners' mates, both were reassigned to the SS
STONY POINT, a tanker, in 1944. They then sailed to
the South Pacific thru the Panama Canal (and made a few
unscheduled stops at the Oval Bar). Other stops included
New Guinea, Ulithi Atoll, Admiralty Islands, and also the
invasion of the Philippines at the Lingayen Gulf.
Off Truk Island in April 1945, the STONY POINT
was attacked by Japanese aircraft, which strafed and hit six
out of the eight gun tubs. Ron and a radio operator were
wounded and received the Purple Heart Medal.
On the way back to the base in Panama, World War II
ended and the two were separated. Fred returned to his
home in Connecticut, and Ron was reassigned to the SS
ANTON DVORAK for a trip to Tokyo, Japan, before his
return home to Long Island, New York. Both were dis-
charged from Lido Beach, New York: Fred in November
1945 and Ron in January 1946.
Both married their high school sweethearts during their
three and a half years in the service. Fred has two sons and
five grandchildren and still resides in Greenwich, Connect-
icut. He had his own air conditioning and refrigeration
business before retiring in 1987. His wife, Jane passed
away in 1983. Ron retired in 1985 after 37 years with the
New York Telephone Company. He and his wife, Muriel,
still reside on Long Island, New York in Seaford. They
have two sons and one daughter, and four grandchildren
and recently celebrated 45 years of marriage.
Fred's current address is 39 Hettiefred Road, Green-
wich, Connecticut 06931.
JOHN G. SMITH
John G. "Bud" Smith enlisted in the U.S. Maritime
Service (Merchant Marines) in October 1942 and trained
aboard the SS AMERICAN NAVIGATOR, formerly
CITY OF CHATTANOOGA, in Baltimore, Maryland.
He received further training at Hoffman Island and
Sheepshead Bay, New York.
Bud's first ship was a laker, the SS BROCKTON,
which was running the Atlantic Coast in February of 1943.
After a head-on-collision with a Dutch ship, the ship was
repaired in Norfolk, Virginia. He transferred to the SS
WILLIAM EATON, a Liberty Ship, as an "A.B." in April
1943.
On the EATON, they brought back German prisoners
from Casablanca, Morroco. They were scared of getting
torpedoed by their own submarines and every morning
would count the number of ships in their convoy.
In 1943, Bud transferred to the U.S. Navy as a Class
M-1 in Bainbridge, Maryland. From there, he was sent to
a gunnery training ship, the I/SC pAI~IICAH in Little
Creek, Virginia. In January 1944, he was sent to Armed
Guard School in Shelton, Virginia, for gunnery training
and then to the South Annex Receiving Station in Norfolk,
Virginia. He was then assigned to the SS JOHN
CATRON, a Liberty Ship, as a member of the Armed
Guard in March 1944.
After the CATRON, Bud joined the SS SYOSSET, a
tanker, and was aboard when the happy news of the Japa-
nese surrender came out.
Bud is married to Mede E. Smith and is now a member
and volunteer aboard the SS JOHN W. BROWN Project.
His current address is 4701 Mawani Road, Baltimore,
Maryland 21206.
MARVIN R. SMITH
Martin R. "Smitty" Smith enlisted in the U.S. Navy in
September 1942. He had his boot training in San Diego,
California, and was sent directly from boot camp to the
Armed Guard Center at Treasure Island with no leafe to
go home to see his wife, Pauline.
His first ship was the SS FAIR ISLE, an all-electric ship
loaded with Army engineers and engineering instruments
required to survey and lay out the Burma Road. The ship
lost all power and was left alone in the Great Australian
Bight. The rest of the convoy sailed away, all 27 ships. The
FAIR ISLE drifted for four weeks before its problems were
corrected and they got under way to Perth. They received
a joyous welcome there, as they were reported "lost at sea"
and all hands presumed dead. Marvin's wife, Pauline,
received a telegram to this effect and a total of nine months
elapsed before she knew that her husband was safe, well
and on the East Coast of the USA, after stopping at Calcut-
ta and returning stateside via Gibraker.
Smitty received his first ten-day leave to go home to
California. Later reports indicated thad the SS FAIR ISLE
was the only ship to finally reach its destination. The other
ships of the original convoy were believed sunk or lost at
sea.
Marvin's next ship was the SS FERDINAND WEST-
DAHL, a Libebty convened to carry troops. This ship car-
ried Smitry and all aboard to the invasion of Atm. They
went into Attu in the thick fog. When the fog lifted, their
ship was right beside a Jap gun emplacement on shore.
Some of the crew went ashore and found food and coffee
in the gun tub that was still warm: apparently the Japanese
left in a hurry.
Marvin next sailed on the ROBERT G. COUSINS for
a trip to India.
His last ship was the SS FRENCHTOWN, a T-2 tank-
er, aboard which Smitty met Robert Davis, who became
a life-long friend. He made two trips with Robert on the
FRENCHTOWN. His lasd run was to the Persian Gulf to
load oil for the invasion of Japan. The war was over before
he got to Abadan. One of the ship's boilers blew several
tubes, and it was stranded for two months before leaving
for home.
Smitty's problems were not over, however, although he
had more than enough points for discharge. The Navy had
transferred him to the regular Navy and he was due to be
shipped out until a chaplain was able to get through the red
tape and have him transferred back to the Armedd Guard,
where he was promptly discharged in January 1946. He
returned to Watsonville, California and resumed his civil-
ian life with Pauline. They had one child, a daughter, Che-
rie. From 1946 to 1980, Smitty owned the Smith Monu-
ment Co. in Watsonville, California.
IN MEMORIAM
Marvin R. Smith died in July 1981 due to a rare form
of leukemia. He was a man of dignity with a gentle sense
of humor. I never heard him complain about anything in
the years that l had the pleasure of his company. He was
a good friend to the younger men of the gun crews, as well
as those his age or older.
So to you Marvin R. Smith or "Smitty" as well as all of
our Armed Guard shipmates who joined you in that long,
last trip, I for one wish you a good ship and fair seas.
WILLIAM F. SNEE
William F. "Bill" Snee was born April 16, 1924, in
Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania. He relocated to Newark,
New Jersey, in 1941 and enlisted in the U.S. Navy in
November 1942. He went to Sampson, New York, for
boot training along with his buddy, Larry Wells.
Larry and Bill volunteered for the Armed Guard Service
along with Al Shufflebotham and Ed Riley and went to
gunnery school at Little Creek, Virginia. From there, they
went to Armed Guard Center, Brooklyn for assignment.
They were separated from Larry, but Shuff, Ed, and Bill
sailed on two ships together. Dhe first was the USAT ACA-
DIA.
On one trip, they returned from Oran with 950 wound-
ed troops. Their anti-aircraft weapons were 30 and 50 cali-
ber machine guns on tripods. The ACADIA became a hos-
pital ship on their return and didn't need guns or gunners
so the three friends reassigned to the NATHAN HALE.
They were dropped from a Murmansk convoy because
the HALE had engine trouble leaving the Bay. After
repairs, they went along the coactline alone to Norfolk and
joined a convoy to the Mediterranean, Oran, Algiers and
Bizerte. They were visited by "Two O'Clock Charlie"
every night for ten days --J.U. 88s.
Next was a trip from Philadelphia to Oran, then the
invasion of Italy at Salerno in September with troops (34th
Infantry). After being sent stateside, Bill went home to
marry his high school sweetheart, Mannette Kemmerer, in
November 1943. The result, 45 years later, was five beaut-
tiful daughters and five grandchildren.
Bill went back to sea in December 1943 on the LANG-
DON CHEVES for 13 months with stops at Oran,
Algiers, Naples, and Bari, Italy, Port Said, and Alexandria,
Port Sudan on the Red Sea, and then to Kharamshah, Iran.
They returned to the states with a stop in Antilla, Cuba, to
pick up a cargo of sugar.
After detachment and leave, the gun crew was sent to
Florida for R and R. Bill asked for shore duty in Brooklyn
so he could be close to his home and Mannette and his
daughter, Marilou. After shore patrol, he was sent back to
sea on the SS GULF POINT. Bill passed GM 1/c in
Brooklyn, but rejected it because he wanted to stay in the
Guard. Bill rook a trip to the Mediterranean after a pickup
at Port Arthur. On the way back, he heard the news of vic-
tory in Europe. Shuttle runs took Bill from Aruba to Vene-
zuela, then back to the States. After detachment and leave,
Bill returned to Armed Guard Center VJ Day.
Bill spent six weeks at Camp Perry as ship's company for
underwater demolition school. Then he went on to Bain-
bridge for discharge September 27, 1945. After enlisting
in the active reserve, Bill was recalled to Korea. He was dis-
charged March 1951. Bill retired in 1982 with 34 years at
Bell of Pennsylvania. He resides at 51 Center Street, Forty
Fort, Pennsylvania 18704.
HARRY A. SPENCEB
Harry A. Spencer was born to Harold L. and Ruby Mur-
iel Spencer June 16, 1923. He was inducted May 27,
1944. He took basic training at Great Lakes, Illinois, and
then was sent to Armed Guard Gunnery School in Gulf-
port, Mississippi. He was then transferred to the Armed
Guard Center in Brooklyn, New York, where he was
assigned to the gun crew aboard the SS AFRICAN
DAWN.
Sailing first to Cherbourg, France, his second trip was to
South Africa, crossing the eauator and becoming a Trusty
Shellback, September 11, 1944. His third trip across the
Atlantic was to India, via the Suez Canal. Ports of call were
Karachi, Bombay and Calcutta.
A memorable experience happened on his third trip
while anchored at a passing point for another ship in the
Suez Canal. He was painting the outside of the forward
3-inch 50 gun tub when he lost his footing and fell into the
canal. He surfaced through the spilled paint. It took him
several days to remove the paint from his hair and skin.
On returning to Brooklyn, he took 27 days leave after
which he was shipped to Treasure Island, San Francisco,
and then on to the U.S. Navy Amphibious training center
in Shoemaker, California. He was issued marine gear and
assigned to the USS MIFFLIN, A.P.A. 207. The MIFF-
LIN departed Portland, Oregon, in September 1945 with
troops for the Philippines. Japan surrendered and the war
ended.
The MIFFLIN reloaded troops at Manila, assigned for
occupation duty in Wakayama, Japan. After shuttle ser-
vice between Mindanao and Okajama, Japan, his ship
engaged in "Magic-Carpet" duty from November 1945
to January 1946, at which time he had sufficient points for
discharge. He went to Camp Elliot, California, and on to
Toledo, Ohio, where he was discharged February 1, 1946.
Spencer's highest rank was Gunners Mate 3/C. His ser-
vice entitled him to the Asiatic-Pacific, African-European,
Middle-Eastern, American-Area, and Victory medals.
Harry was a railroad brakeman when inducted into the
Navy and after his discharge he continued on the New
York City, Penn-Central, and Conrail Railroad for a total
of 42 years as a freight and passenger conductor.
His wife is Mary Ellen (Snyder) Spencer. He has two
sons, Ronald A. and Donald R., and one daughter, Jo Ann
(Spencer) Hazel, and nine grandchildren. He presently
lives at 4437 Harvest Lane, Toledo, Ohio 43623.
ROBERT G. SUGGETT, JR.
Robert G. Suggett, Jr.'s war record includes the follow-
ing feats: he amputated arms and legs of his comrades
under the direction of a wounded doctor; he was blown off
a ship while standing on the ammunition locker; he was
struck with shrapnel ricocheting off a plane from which he
had parachuted; he was machine-gunned in an open life-
boat; he spent eight months in a Nazi prison camp before
being liberated; he was one of three crew members who
survived a torpedo and helped negotiate the bowless boat
back to port; and he is only one of three Navy veterans (as
of May, 1958) to hold a "Battle Wagon" discharge.
He was the recipient of several medals and decorations
among them being the Purple Heart with two encores,
New York State Conspicuous Service medal, the Silver
Star, the Bronze Star, the Navy Good Conduct medal,
Maltese Cross, American Defense (fleet), American Cam-
paign, World War II, Sons of Union-Veterans of Civil
War, Asiatic-Pacific theater, and European-African-
Middle Eastern theater.
Robert served as a gunner. He served on board 21 ships,
five of which were sunk and two were extensively dam-
aged.
A medical board of 14 doctors ordered Robert dis-
charged on March 15, 1945.