A long-time goal of Jack Waidman's was to enlist in the
U.S. Navy, and on June 19, 1941, he did so at age 17.
After boot training and leave, he returned to "T" Com-
pany and awaited transfer to schools or ships in the fleet.
On September 15, 1941, a draft of 285 men were called
for gun crew duty. Most stayed in San Diego, but Jack was
sent to Bremerton, Washington, on the USS LEXING-
TON to train on four stack destroyers. On December 7,
1941, aboard the USS HATFIELD he learned that the war
"was here."
Within three weeks, his group was sent to Treasure
Island Armed Guard Center, and then ten of the group
were moved back to Seattle and boarded the SS HER-
MAN F. WHITON for eleven months of very interesting
duty in the South Pacific and South and Central America
and many Caribbean Islands.
Three ships, including one large tanker, were lost to sub
attack off the west coast of Cuba during a long trip from
Hawaii to Philadelphia about June 1942. The WHI-
TON'S 4-inch 50 and 4-inch 30 caliber MG looked pretty
small at the time. Any Armed Guard aboard the HER-
MAN F. WHITON after January 1943 are requested to
drop Jack a line.
After 30 days leave in January 1943, he went aboard the
SS PRESIDENT POLK and sailed to the Guadalcanal area
with the 4th Marine Raiders with Col. James Roosevelt.
He took one more trip to the South Pacific and then spent
eight months at several Naval Hospitals to heal his right
leg. At the end of his sea duty, he was at GM 2/C. He later
was promoted to BMA I/C. He was discharged on VJ
Day from Santa Cruz Convalescent Hospital.
He returned to Denver anti entered the Lift. Insurance
selling business at age 21. For almost 44 years, he has sold
life and annuity plans, the last 37 years in Seattle.
He and his wit~, Dorothy have a son, Eric, age 35,, and
a daughter, Susan, age 32. Their first grandchikt, Emily,
is now one year old.
Jack would like to hear ['rom anyone on the SS PRESI-
DENT POLK or SS HERMAN F. WHITON. His cur-
rent address is 1604 S.W. 168 Seattle, Washington
98166.
FLOYCE WESLEY WAITS
Floyce Wesley Waits was born in Greenwood, Arkan-
sas, in 1922 and educated in Oklahoma. He enlisted in the
U.S. Navy at Reno, Nevada, in November of 1942. After
boot camp at Farragut, Idaho, he was assigned to the
Armed Guard and sent to gunnery school at San Diego. He
was then assigned to Treasure island, where he was put
aboard the SS ALCOA POINTER in March 1943 and
sailed to several points in the South Pacific.
In India, the POINTER picked up several hundred
monkeys, used in Polio research, to be delivered to New
York via the Panama Canal. Shortly after leaving Austra-
lia, the ship ran into a severe storm which raged for 21
days. Unable to take a "dead reckoning" or break radio
silence, the ship got off course and ended up about 200
miles from Little America. In the meantime, many of the
monkeys got loose anti were all over the ship, some jump-
ing overboard. From New York, the PO1NTER sailed
through the Mediterranean Sea to Iran, then clown around
the Cape of Good Hope and to Buenos Aires where they
picked up an American spy and returned him to New
York.
Floyce was then returned to Treasure Island and
assigned to the SS E.A. BRYAN. The ship carried ammu-
nition and explosives to the South Pacific area. Having
misplaced his "Shellhock Card" Floyce was reinitiated
when the BRYAN crossed the equator.
The BRYAN was then sent to Port Chicago, California,
for more ammunition July 17, 1944. Floyce was sent to
Treasure Island for booster shots, thereby saving his life.
Before returning to his ship, he decided to stop at nearby
Richmond to see his brother. They were in a movie when
the BRYAN blew up, also sinking the SS QUINAULT
VICTORY, which was berthed next to her. In all, 321
men were killed.
Floyce later sailed on the SS SANTA ISABEL, the SS
ALICE H. RICE and two other ships he cannot remember.
He sailed to almost every major battle site in the South
Pacific.
He was discharged at Camp Shoemaker, California,
December 5, 1945. He retired [-rom the Mount Diablo
School District in 1985 and resides at 1266 Linden Drive,
Concord, California, 94520, with his wife, Judy.
RUSSELL W. WASHBURN
Russell W. Washburn enlisted in the U.S. Navy Octo-
ber 27, 1943, and was discharged December 24, 1945. He
went through boot camp at Farragtu, Idaho, then was
transferred to signal school on the same base. He graduated
from signal school with a Signalman 3/C rating May 24,
1944.
He was attached to the Armed Gu~{rd Center (Pacific),
Treasure Island, San Francisco, California, and assigned to
the communications staff of a convoy commander. From
July 1944 to September 1944, he sailed on the SS COR-
NELIUS VANDERBILT, SS CAPE MEARS, MS
ACONCOQUA, USS FIBERLING (DE 640) and the
ALBERTJ. BEARS. His convoy duties took him to Pearl
Harbor, Marshall Islands, Guam and back to Los Angeles.
Russell then was attached to the SS ABRAM S.
HEWITT from October 1944 to June 1945. His ship
moved supplies and troops to Guadalcanal; Bouganville;
Munda, New Georgia; Espiritu Santo; Noumea, New
Caledonia, Hollandia, New Guinea, and the Islands of
Leyte, Luzon, and Mindoro in the Philippines, finally
returning to San Francisco.
He was promoted to Signalman 2/C June 1945. From
July 1945 to September 1945, he was attached to the SS
GOVERNMENT CAMP sailing to Pearl Harbor, the
Panama Canal and to Galveston, Texas. He then was trans-
ferred to New Orleans and back to San Francisco.
Russell's next ship assignment was the MS PENNANT
from September 1945, to November 1945, sailing from
San Francisco to Yokohama, Japan and back to Seattle,
Washington. He was detached in Seattle and sent to Brem-
erton for discharge.
He received medals for the American Campaign; the
Asiatic Pacific Campaign; the Pacific Campaign; with
three bronze stars; the Philippine Campaign, with one
bronze star; and World War II victory.
His current address is 15365 May Road, Dallas, Oregon
97338.
JOHN A. WEIS
John A. Weis was born May 16, 1914, in Sandusky,
Ohio. He was commissioned an Ensign June 23, 1943,
and reported to Camp Shelton September 1, 1943.
On October 15, 1943, he reported aboard the SS BER-
NARD CARTER as an Armed Guard Officer with a crew
of 27 enlisted men. The ship was undergoing change from
a cargo chip to a cargo transport and contained bunks for
1,000 men. A supply unit and medical unit were added
and the ship received two 3-inch 50s and one 5-inch 38,
augmenting the existing firepower of eight 20 mm guns
and one 3-inch 50. The ship was being outfitted as an
accommodation ship for the forthcoming invasion of Nor-
mandy. The Armed Guard crew was enlarged to three offi-
cers and 44 enlisted men.
The ship departed Newport News January 13, 1944,
with 1,000 Army personnel in a 72 ship convoy bound for
Naples. The convoy encountered heavy air and submarine
attack in the Mediterranean between Oran and Tunis. Ship
#81, immediately forward of CARTER, was torpedoed
and sunk. The Army personnel were discharged in Naples
February 13, 1944.
The next trip for the CARTER included the invasion of
Normandy at Omaha Beach. The ship carried and dis-
charged the 11 lth C.B. Battalion on D-Day plus one. The
ship remained anchored off the beachhead for three weeks
after the invasion as an accommodation ship. Although
there were many air attacks, the ship was not damaged.
On December 15, 1944, the ship departed from the
United Kingdom for the United States. On the way, the
ship encountered a 90 mile per hour hurricane. The ship
sustained heavy damage to its life boats, smoke floats and
deck ventilators. After the storm the magazine flooded.
The ship was anchored in Graves End Bay January 1,
1945.
John's next assignment was as an Armed Guard officer
aboard the SS JOHN IRELAND. The ship departed for
Murmansk April 17, 1945. He was relieved of command
on the ship's return and assigned as officer in charge of the
estimate and files section -- transportation div. bu pers,
Washington, D.C., in July 1945.
John was awarded medals for the American Area and
European-African-Middle Eastern Area Campaigns and
the Bronze Star and World War II Victory Medal.
John was appointed LCDR USNR September 1, l 956,
and retired May 16, 1974.
His current address is 2136 Columbus Avenue, San-
dusky, Ohio 44870.
DON WESTERLUND
Don Westerlund was born June 16, 1921, and is origi-
nally from Cokato, Minnesota. He enlisted in the U.S.
Navy October 3, 1939, and was assigned to Great Lakes,
Illinois, Co. 29, and to the SCTC in Miami, Florida.
Don sailed aboard the USS SEPULGA, the USS
GLADIATOR, the USS TERROR, the USS MONA
ISLAND, and was Admiral Struble's yeoman in 1945
aboard a flagship. He also served aboard the USS
BREESE, the USS BIBB and the USS GILLESPIE.
He was present at Pearl Harbor December 7,1941, and
Eniwetok, Kwajaleiu, Okinawa from March 20 to
November 1, 1945.
His most memorable experience was watching a mine
get caught in the mine towing equipment and being pulled
into the port quarter of his ship's side. The mine was hit
with a 30 caliber gun and the ship continued to sweep Oki-
nawa for 14 days and a dozen or so mines and three planes
were destroyed.
Westerlund is married to Irene, and is a regional man-
ager for Ford Motor Company with 29 years of service.
His current address is 4708 Florian Circle, Mesa, Arizo-
na 85206.
JOHN T. WHITE
John T. White was born May l, 1926, in Boston, Mas-
sachusetts, and enlisted in the U.S. Navy at the age of 17,
also in Boston, Massachusetts. He took boot camp training
at Newport, Rhode Island, and volunteered for the Armed
Guard. He was sent to Camp Shelton, Virginia, for gun-
nery school.
He shipped out from the Armed Guard Center in
Brooklyn, New York on the tanker SS BUNKER HILL
and the Liberty Ship DAVID B. JOHNSTON. He
boarded his first ship at Markus Hook, Pennsylvania, and
made a number of trips to England, Wales, Scotland, and
Ireland, and was in the English Channel the morning of
D-Day. He also went to Aruba, South Africa, Panama
Canal, Tarawa, Kwajalcin, Eniwetok, Ulithi, Hawaii and
San Pedro.
After a 30-day leave, he deliberately reported back late
(on a tip from a friend) to the Armed Guard Center in New
York. Being 17 hours late, he was fined $17 and was
assigned to a ship the same day. His reward was the Mur-
mansk Run to Archangel by way of Glasgow, Scotland.
He was discharged from the Chelsea Naval Hospital
and is a lifetime member of the DAV.
After the war he returned to the New York, New
Hampshire and Hartford Railroad. He married Elvira T.
Parlow of Nantucket, Massachusetts. They have five chil-
dren. Both are enjoying retirement since 1987.
John's current address is 101 W. Water Street, Rock-
land, Massachusetts 02370.
ELBERT "SPUD" WHITMAN
Elbert (Spud) Whitman served on the SS Sinclair Rubilene,
the SS Frederick C Howe and the SS Simon Benson. He was
just a really fine Armed Guard crew member. He was well liked
by his fellow sailors that he worked with. He served in the
Navy from 1943 to 1945.
After being discharged he went back to his small town of Paradise,
Kansas and worked 34 years as a pumper in the oil fields. He also
worked on the Mississippi river boats for three years as an oil pumper.
He has been married to his wonderful wife, Beth, for nearly 54 years.
They have four children, two boys and two girls, who are all grown
to adulthood and have provided them many fine Grandchildren.
One of their sons is also called Spud Whitman, has been seen by his
old Navy buddy, Jay Larson, taking part in the PCRA Rodeo Events.
Mom and Pop take in all these events they can. Spud is now 76 and
says he could enjoy better health but says, "Hey, I'm pretty darn
lucky and I know it." Obviously they both enjoy life.
DEAN D. WIEDERSTEIN
Dean D. Wiederstein was born in McPherson County,
Kansas, January 13, 1972. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy
at Kansas City, Missouri, on January 16, 1944, and took
boot training at Camp Bunnion, Farragut, Idaho. He thin
went to San Diego for gunnery training and from there he
was sent to the Armed Guard Center at Treasure Island.
His first assignment was to the gun crew on the SS SEA
FLASHER, a troop shop. The crew consisted of 45 men.
They loaded 5,000 troops at Seattle, unloaded at Honolulu
and went back to Seattle. Next, they went to Honolulu,
Eniwetok and on to the invasion of Guam. Then back to
San Francisco.
His third ship the FLASHER was loaded at Seattle and
went to Saipan where the only Japanese prisoners that were
captured were loaded and taken to Honolulu. Reloading
they went on to Pelelue, Tinian, Kossol, Manus and
Noumean, where the ship was unloaded and reloaded for
San Francisco. There he was given his first leave. He went
back to Kansas to marry June Regier on February 22,
1945.
After leave, he was assigned to the GRINELL VICTO-
RY, a cargo ship with a gun crew of 23 men. They loaded
cargo at San Francisco and went to Okinawa for the inva-
sion. He spent many nights in the gun tubs, saw many sui-
cide attacks by the Japanese and weathered some
typhoons. Among other duties, he was mail carrier for the
crew. They returned to San Francisco in July 1945.
His last run was to San Diego for cargo and back to Oki-
nawa. The war had ended so in order to get back home
faster, the gun crew helped unload the cargo. Returning
back to the States, he was discharged at Great Lakes on
January 18, 1946.
Dean is now a retired excavation contractor. He and his
wife live in Marquette, Kansas. They enjoy traveling and
visiting their six children and 13 grandchildren.
Their current address is P.O. Box 307, Marquette, Kan-
sas 67464.
VINCENT WILCZYNSKI
Vincent Wilczynski was born in Holland, Ohio, Janu-
ary 12, 1926. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy September 21,
1943. After boot camp at Great Lakes, Illinois, he trained
at gunnery school (Gulfport, Mississippi) and aerial gun-
nery (Shell Beach, Louisiana), then reported to the Armed
Guard Center in New Orleans, Louisiana.
He picked up his first three ships from the Savannah,
Georgia, shipyard: the SS BEN ROBERTSON, the SS
ALEXANDER SHEPPARD and the SS JAMES H.
PRICE. He joined his last vessel, the USS RABY, DE 698,
in San Pedro, California.
In the Normandy invasion, the ROBERTSON sup-
ported the attack by landing cargo, including tanks and
halftracks, to replace battle losses. Ordered to Cherbourg,
France, the ship found the harbor in nearly unusable shape.
No proper docks or equipment were available, due to
heavy German demolition. The entire crew of the ROB-
ERTSON pitched in and unloaded the ship's cargo, using
on{y its own cargo-handling gear. For two days following,
Vince's detachment was assigned to Army duty, but
quickly became afloat again when an Army sergeant told
them to "get the H--L out."
Following his discharge on March 30, 1946, Vince
began a 30-year career as a licensed barber in Toledo, Ohio.
He also devoted time each week to giving youngsters hair-
cuts at the local St. Anthony Children's Home, believing
that one should give of oneself to help others. He now
works for Modern Tool Company, a division of Libbey-
Owens-Ford Company, a major producer of automotive
glass.
He and his beautiful bride of 40 years, Henrietta, raised
seven chiklren: three girls, Kathleen, Barbara, and Adrien-
ne; and four boys, Daniel, Vincent Jr., William and Law-
rence. They have two grandchildren, James and Richard.
The service afloat tie is carried on by son Vincent, who is
a lieutenant in the Coast Guard.
Throughout his life, Vincent has believed "Thank God
for all things and never forget the supreme sacrifice of those
which permits us to live in freedom now, and, you have no
right to gladness if you cannot accept sadness."
EARL WILLIAMS
Earl Williams was born in Martinsville, Missouri,
August 20, 1919, to Charley and Alma Williams. He
joined the U.S. Navy March 3, 1942, and took his boot
training in San Diego, California. His home base was New
Orleans, (Algiers) Louisiana.
He served on three ships: the SS SPOKANE, the SS
S.B. HUNT, and the SS RUSSELL SAGE. On the SS S.B.
HUNT, he took one trip that almost resulted in disaster.
A shipmate spotted a floating mine. It was reported to the
mate on duty, and he maneuvered the ship to miss the
mine. The gunnery officer ordered the 50-caliber machine
gun to fire on the mine, then the gunnery officer ordered
the gun crew on the 5-inch 51 bag gun to fire on it, and it
was blown up. Later on the same trip, the ship was torpe-
doed, but did not sink.
After receiving an honorable discharge, Earl married
Esta Mae Foster. They have two children, Joyce Ann and
Robert Earl, and four grandchildren. He and his wife live
on a farm near Bethany, Missouri, at Route 3, Box 93,
64424.
HARRY A. WILLIAMS
Harry A. Williams enlisted in the U.S. Navy January 9,
1942. He took boot training at Norfolk, Virginia, and
attended gunnery school in Little Creek, Virginia. Then he
went on to the Armed Guard Center, Brooklyn, New
York, where he was assigned to the following ships: the SS
AGWIDALE, April 24, 1942 to September 3, 1942; the
SS AGWPRINCE, October 4, 1942 to May 15, 1943; the
SS NORTHERN SUN, June 10, 1942 to March 27,
1944; the SS JERRY S. FOLEY,July 25, 1944 to May 25,
1945; the SS NATHAN CLIFFORD, June 13, 1945 to
September 28, 1945; and the SS CHARLES H. MCAL-
LISTER July 2 l, 1944 to February 5, 1945.
Harry hopes to hear from some of his shipmates. His
current address is 112 Conewood Avenue, Reigterstown,
Maryland 21136.
IVAN DALE WILLIAMS
Ivan Dale Williams was born March 22, 1924, and is
originally from Hillsboro, West Virginia. He enlisted in
the U.S. Navy June 6, 1943, and attended boot camp at
Great Lakes, Illinois, and Armed Guard school in Biloxi,
Mississippi.
Ivan's first ship was the SS DAVID STARR JORDON
in Boston, Massachusetts. In late October 1943, they took
a convoy out of Halifax to Newport, Wales. Two days out
of Boston, he asked some of the "old salts" what the cargo
was. The man replied "water mellons." Being new and
green, Williams believed that story and 28 days later, they
were unloading 500, 1,000, and 2,000 pound bombs for
nine days. Early in January 1944, the ship headed back to
New York to pick up another load.
In March 1944, the crew went to Yards Barry, South
Wales, to convert to troop carriers and bunked in the
fourth and fifth holds. Then they went to Glasgow, Scot-
land, to wait for an invasion and later moved to Plymouth,
England. On June 6, 1944, they loaded troops and crossed
the channel to Omaha Beach and unloaded. Then the ship
shuttled across the channel thc whole summer of 1944.
Ivan was in Antwerp, Belgium, during December
1944, when many "Buzz" bombs and V2 rockets were
used in the Battle of the Bulge. He returned to the States
in January 1945, and was detached from the JORDON
and given a 30-day leave.
After spending some time at the Armed Guard Center
in Brooklyn, New York, Ivan reported aboard the SS
LUCY STONE in Baltimore in late March 1945. He
made two round trips to Europe hauling cargo and troops
and was at the Armed Guard Center in Brooklyn. He was
later transferred to the west coast.
Other ships that Ivan was assigned to included the USS
SAIPAN, the USS LEYTE, the USS MINDORA, the
USS BOSTON, the USS CANBEURA and the USS
SPRINGFIELD. He was also assigned to shore duty at the
NAS guided missile school in Oceana and NWS in York-
town, Virginia.
Ivan received the National Detbnse Medal, the Navy
Occupation Service Medal, the Good Conduct Medal with
five stars, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Asi-
atic-Pacific Theatre Medal, the American Theatre Medal,
the European-African-Middle Eastern Theatre Medal, and
the World War I1 Victory Medal.
Most memorable to Williams was the Invasion of Nor-
mandy at Omaha Beach on June 7, 1944, and the Battle
of the Bulge in Antwerp, Belgium, in December 1944.
Ivan was discharged from the Navy April 30, 1965, and
transferred to the fleet reserves as a chief guided missile-
man. He later returned to NWS as a civilian employee in
November of 1965 and retired as a CS 1 I Electrical Tech-
nician November 30, 1980.
His current address is 829 Cascade Drive, Newport
News, Virginia 23602.
JOHN DOAK WILLIAMS
John Doak Williams was inducted August 19, 1943,
and after seven days entered active duty at Great Lakes,
Illinois. He then went to gunnery school at Little Creek,
Virginia and from there was posted to the Armed Guard
Center, Brooklyn, New York.
The SS MATFHEW P. DEADY was in dry dock for
repairs, when he was assigned to the ship in December
1943. In the latter part of February 1944, she sailed to
Iran. In the Gulf of Aden, thc DEADY rammed an
English tanker and the tanker sank. There were no injuries.
The DEADY sailed back to New York and early in
June, left for the west coast via the Panama Canal. He then
went back to the the Armed Guard Center Pacific and boarded
the SS ARTHUR A. PENN and sailed to several islands
in the Pacific, returning to Armed Guard Center, Treasure
Island, California.
William went home on leave, all the way across country
by train. He then traveled back to Treasure Island and by
train went to San Diego, California, and was assigned
aboard the SS EDWIN BOOTH.
When the war was over, he was in the Philippines. All
the Navy crew except one seaman 1/C Owens, one signal-
man seaman 1/C Biddinger, and Williams then a Gun-
ner's Mate 3/C, were removed.
The SS EDWIN BOOTH sailed from Manila, south to
Neumea, New Caledonia, and several other islands, finally
arriving in Japan in January 1946.
In Yokohoma, Japan, the SS EDWIN BOOTH was
turned over to the Japanese for hauling freight around
Japan.
Williams boarded a Navy troop ship for Seattle, Wash-
ington, then a troop train to Jacksonville, Florida, where he
was discharged March 19, 1946.
Williams did not see any action in the war, but covered
a lot of the Atlantic and Pacific, even into the Indian
Ocean, and Persian Gulf.
He is retired now and seeing a lot of lands both in the
U.S. and Europe.
His current picture shows the Arctic Ocean in the back-
ground. His address is 2284 Philippine Dr. #97, Clearwa-
ter, FL 34623.
WILLIAM W. WILLIAMS III
William W. Williams III enlisted in the U.S. Navy July
31,1941. After boot camp and signal school, he boarded
the ill-fated SS CARLTON in March 1942.
The CARLTON was bound for Russia via Halifax,
Nova Scotia, and Iceland. After being bombed out of one
convoy and repaired at Iceland, she set sail again and was
sunk by a German submarine July 5, 1942, in the famous
PQ-17 convoy.
He was "rescued" by a German seaplane, taken by ship
to Aarlborg, Denmark, and by train to P.O.W. Stalag
Marlag-Milag Nord, near Bremen, Germany.
In May 1943, Williams exchanged identity with a Brit-
ish sailor and as Henry Rose, Seaman 1/C of the Royal
Navy, he went to a work camp on the Czechoslovakian
border and escaped. After being tracked by bloodhounds
he was recaptured and sent to Stalag 8B in Obersilesia, a
British Army prison camp.
His true identity was discovered by the Germans (he
still doesn't know how). He was sentenced to five days soli-
tary confinement for deceiving his "kind captors" and sent
to Stalag IIB, an American Army camp in February 1944.
He was the only sailor among five thousand GIs and
received the nickname "Seaweed."
In February 1945, just ahead of the Russian army
advance, the camp was evacuated in groups of three hun-
dred. Williams' group walked for 60 days and reached the
Elbe River. After being strafed by American planes on
April 15, he left the group, made his way through the lines
and turned himself in to an American gun emplacement.
He then returned with tanks and trucks and liberated the
rest of the march group.
By airplane, he went to Camp Lucky Strike in France
where he met five of his shipmates, whom he had not seen
since his first escape. Together they flew to England and
then returned to the States. After six months in Chelsea
Naval Hospital, he was discharged November 17, 1945.
He is married, has four children and just retired as an
American Baptist minister.
His current address is P.O. Box 1073, Manomet, Mas-
sachusetts 02345.
EARL R. WILLIS
Earl R. Willis was born April 8, 1924, in Berkley, Vir-
ginia, the oldest child of Earl T. and Myrtle Willis. Earl's
father and brother both retired from the U.S. Coast Guard
with a total of 56 years in the Navy and Coast Guard. Earl
served eight and a half years in the Navy during World
War II and the Korean action.
He graduated from Beaufort High School, Beaufort,
North Carolina, and enlisted in the Navy July 6, 1942.
After 21 days of boot camp and 24 days at Little Creek
Armed Guard school, he reported to the Brooklyn Armed
Guard Center where within days he was assigned to the
United States Army Transport Service ship SANTA PAU-
LA. The SANTA PAULA took part in the invasion of
North Africa at Casablanca, Morocco November 7-11,
1942. Earl and the SANTA PAULA made one more trip
to North Africa in February 1943 when they took 150
WACS and Army Nurses to Oran, Algeria. It was during
this trip that Earl injured his nose during a general quarters
which would lead to plastic surgery at St. Albans USN
Hospital on Long Island, New York.
Earl's next ship was the SS MINNESOTAN, a Hog
Islander buik in 1912. She was loaded with supplies for
the Russians (75 mm tank destroyers, lube oil and canned
food). The trip took the ship from Philly on March 23,
1943, to Abadan, Oran, in the Persian Gulf on July 27,
1943. During the trip, the ship was in a typhoon and lost
one lifeboat. The seas bent the 5/8-inch steel gunbucket
around the 3-inch 50 forward gun. They also had to sail
below the roaring forties parallel to run from a German
Raider. Earl said that it was pretty cold and they were on
lookout for icebergs. From Freemande, Australia, to Bom-
bay, India, the MINNESOTAN was the only ship of five
to get through. One of the other ship's captains was the
father of the skipper of the MINNESOTAN.
After leaving the Persian Gulf and returning to Bom-
bay, Calcutta, and Ceylon, on the way to Freemantle, the
ship broke down and was dead in the water for several days
while Japanese spotter planes surveyed her activity. After
another stop at Hobart, Tasmania, because the engine
broke down, again the ship headed back to the good old
USA.
Earl's next ship was the SS OKLAHOMA, a Texico
tanker, which sailed from New York to Central America,
South America, Africa and the Ascension Islands. The
OKLAHOMA sailed without any escort, carrying
175,000 barrels of high test airplane fuel. While aboard
the OKLAHOMA, Earl crossed the equator 12 times. He
visited Aruba, Curacao, Trinidad, five or more cities in
Brazil, Dakar, West Africa, and many more small stops.
Earl was on board the OKLAHOMA from February 12,
1944, to September 18, 1944. During this time, Earl was
promoted to GM 3/C and GM 2/C. Earl has very fond
memories of gunnery officer Lt. Edouard de Merlier. As
senior Petty Officer, Earl was involved with crew training.
He received several commendations from Lt. de Merlier.
On one occasion, Earl designed a method of using a 30 06
rifle mounted upon the barrel of the 5-inch 51 surface gun
of which he was the mount captain. This allowed the crew
to take target practice more often. This also saved 5-inch
shells. Earl also was recommended for officers candidate
school. The OKLAHOMA was sunk on April 15, 1945.
Upon returning to New York, Earl was sent to the USN
Hospital for correction of a breathing problem. After plas-
tic surgery, Earl was sent to the Armed Guard Rest Camp,
Deland, Florida, February 4, 1945. He was the senior Pet-
ty Officer in charge of 18 other Armed Guards. After
returning to the Armed Guard Center, Earl was sent to
5-inch 38 gunnery school at Shelton, Virginia. Upon
returning to Brooklyn Armed Guard Center, Earl was
assigned to the disciplinary force at the Center. On May
11, 1945, he was sent to twin 5-inch 38 gunnery school at
the Receiving Station Anacostia, Virginia. Upon gradua-
tion at the end of three months, Earl was assigned to the
USS RICHARD B. ANDERSON DD 786. On Decem-
ber 25, 1945, he was discharged from the Navy and the
following fall went to school in Chicago, Illinois. He joined
the Naval Reserve and on July 1950, was called back to
active duty.
Earl has many good memories of his service. He sailed
for more than 145,000 miles and set foot on all the conti-
nents except Europe, stopping at more than 51 ports
around the world. He also wants the crew of the OKLA-
HOMA who were ordered off by Lt. De Merlier to be
aware that the OKLAHOMA went down not long after
that. Today after 42 years at Motorola, Earl is looking for-
ward to retiring in a few years.
His current address is 8907 E. Cortez Street, Scottsdale,
Arizona 85260.
GLEN ARTHUR WILLMSCHEN
Glen Arthur Willmschen was born to Essie and Arthur
Willmschen September 7, 1915, in Osceola, Nebraska.
He moved with his parents and family to Washington and
then to Salem, Oregon, sometime in the mid twenties and
early thirties.
He married Louise Pemberton August 31, 1940. They
have five children, four girls and one boy.
In November 1943, Glen joined the U.S. Navy at
Salem, Oregon. He was sent to Farragut for training, then
on to Treasure Island in San Francisco. After a few weeks
at Treasure Island, he was assigned to the gun crew of MS
CAPE UGAT. They sailed around the small islands and
then in the fall of 1944, he was transferred to the USAT
NEBRASKAN. Most of the time on the NEBRASKAN
was spent around Australia.
After discharge, Glen worked in sawmills close to Salem
at Newport and then retired in Oregon City in 1977.
His current address is 13263 S. Heuy 211, Molalla,
Oregon 97038.
WILLIAM H. WILSON
William H. Wilson was born August 25, 1924, in
Buchanan, Georgia. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy Septem-
ber 25, 1942.
He made four trips from New York to England for the
buildup for the invasion of France. He made nine other
trips in the Pacific.
His most memorable experience was when his ship, the
SS WARRIOR, was hauling 12,000 tons of bombs to Liv-
erpool, England, in May 1944. Just a few hours out of Liv-
erpool, Wilson spotted a mine 20 degrees off the port bow
at 7:30 a.m. He reported this to the bridge and the ship
narrowly missed it by about 10 feet.
William received seven medals and awards and was dis-
charged October 29, 1945.
Wilson was a broadcast engineer before retiring on Jan-
uary 1, 1979. He worked at 9 Broadcast Station, and for
27 years as a communications engineer. His current
address is 417 Jones Bend Road N.E., Rome, Georgia
30161
WILLIAM R. WINEINGER
William was in London when the very first V2 rocket
came over the city. The British threw everything they had
at it. One landed on the home that was occupied by a
friend of William's girl friend, and she was killed. Earlier
that same evening both girls, a friend of William's and
William himself were out-of-town at a dance club.
On another occasion, William and a shipmate were
standing on the dock next to their ship when one of the V2
rockets came right at them. They ran in a couple of circles
and then at the last second they fell to the deck. Just as the
rocket came dead into their ship a tug boat slipped in
between their ship and the V2 rocket. William does not
know what happened to the tug boat, but it blew all of the
hatch boards off of the hatches on his ship. It also blew all
the wooden doors off his ship. He has pieces of the rocket
to prove it.
As they were heading for the English Channel, they saw
those V2 rockets on their way to London. Only the outside
ships in the convoy could fire at them for fear of knocking
one down on a ship. The most effective way to destroy the
V2 rockets was for the airplanes to fly them in the water
with the tip of their wings.
William was on a ship converted to carry troops named
the SS WILL ROGERS. They were the first ship behind
the COMMODORE going through the English Channel
to Normandy. The Germans brought the big guns out of
the hills. They knocked the COMMODORE out of order
and she turned to shore in order not to block the channel.
They also fired on the WILL ROGERS. The closest they
came to the WILL ROGERS was to splash some water on
them.
After the WILL ROGERS arrived in Normandy they
anchored close to shore to let the British troops offthe ship.
All the British soldiers had was what was on their backs.
They could see the front lines just at the top of the sand
dunes. The WILL ROGERS was anchored close to the
British battleship NELSON. Every now and then the
NELSON would let go with those big guns, but when the
German planes tried to bomb the battleship, they got
closer to the WILL ROGERS than the NELSON.
William believes the most horrifying thing that he saw
was three guys in a lifeboat. One of them had oars and one
had a pole with a hook on it picking up dead bodies and
getting the dog tags, and then letting the bodies back into
the water to float out to sea.
William made just one trip to Normandy. He was then
sent back to the States on the SS JOHN CHESTER KEN-
DALL. His friend Chester Rice was on the same ship.
Chester was transferred to an LST. William was transferred
to the LCSL-127. He went aboard at Boston, Massachu-
setts.
In three days the LCSL-127 was headed for the main-
land of Japan. They went aground on San Clements Island
(just off San Diego). They were able to salvage the ship.
After a leave home, William was transferred to Camp
Elliot in California. He served as the Master at Arms of
Company K. After a few months the war was over, and
William returned home.
This is but a part of William's Navy life. He currently
resides in Haddam, Kansas.
JOHN W. WINKLER
John W. "Jack" Winkler was born May 10, 1925, in
Spokane, Washington. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy at
Spokane and entered boot camp at Farragut NTS February
10, 1943. Following basic training, he completed radio
operator school at Farragut, then went to Los Angeles for
further schooling.
In the fall of 1943, he arrived at Armed Guard Center
Pacific, Treasure Island. On December 7, 1943, he
boarded the SS ANTONIN DVORAK for her maiden
voyage. They loaded her and left for the South Pacific,
stopping overnight at Honolulu on Christmas Eve. In
April 1944, the ship returned to Honolulu where Jack was
assigned to a high security project at Pearl Harbor. Then in
June he boarded the SS ORIENTAL fur a three month
tour of the Pacific.
He was transferred in October to the SS MORTON M.
MCCARVER, remaining on board until February 1945,
when he was assigned to the SS FRANCISCO CORONA-
DO. In June, he joined the crew of the SS CAPE MAY
through September. Among the places visited on his vari-
ous cruises were Midway, Wake, the Marshall Islands,
Johnson Atoll, the Gilbert Islands, Guam, Okinawa and
Iwo Jima.
With hostilities over, Jack was transferred to Bremer-
ton, Washington, where he spent about two months in the
naval hospital. He was then assigned to shore patrol duty
until his discharge February 10, 1946.
That fall he entered Gonzaga University where he com-
pleted five years of studies in the School of Engineering. He
then went into the concrete construction business. During
the following years, he helped complete many projects in
the northwest.
In 1962, Jack met and courted Donna Agnew. They
were married January 5, 1963. Together they raised three
sons and one daughter. One son is a civil engineer. The oth-
er two work in construction, one having served in the Navy
"Sea Bees" (USNMCB). Their daughter is studying for
her degree in Education.
After more than 30 years, Jack left the construction
business, and in 1985 formed a marine products distribu-
torship. His wife Donna is still active as a registered nurse.
They are both looking Grward to retirement and relaxation
at their place at the lake.
His current address is W. 4315 Arrowhead Road, Spo-
kane, Washington 99208.
ALBERT F. WOHLERS
Albert F. Wohlers was born April 15, 1917, in Craw-
ford, Nebraska. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy January 29,
1942, as soon as they would take him after the attack on
Pearl Harbor. He took boot training at Great Lakes until
February 7, 1942, and was assigned to the Armed Guard
Center at Chicago, Illinois.
From Illinois, he was sent to Brooklyn, New York
Armed Guard center and assigned to the SS CAMPFIRE
on April 26, 1942. The CAMPFIRE sailed two days later
to Nova Scotia, where six more gunners were added to the
crew. They sailed in a convoy towards Scotland, until the
convoy split up and the CAMPFIRE went to Iceland and
laid at anchor for three months. They sailed to Scotland in
late August and joined another convoy. On September 13,
1942, the Convoy PQ-18 ran into trouble. The first ship
sunk was the SS JOHN PENN. A friend, Louis Vish of
Toledo, Ohio, was aboard.
Fifty-six German planes later attacked the convoy with
torpedoes, sinking six ships and blowing up three ships.
The ships were sitting on tons of TNT and aviation fuel
and they were floating bombs. The SS CAMPFIRE was
loaded with 200 tons of TNT and the rest of her cargo was
aviation fuel. Fifty-four of the German planes were shot
down. The planes attacked the convoy a second time and
Albert was wounded and was transferred to the HMS
OFFA and sent to the U.S. Naval Hospital in Brooklyn,
New York. The crew of the SS CAMPFIRE returned to the
States in January 1943. Albert was awarded the silver star,
the Purple Heart and Russian Star and others.
Albert was assigned to ACORN-23 in the Pacific from
January 27, 1944, until he was honorably discharged Sep-
tember 27, 1945. He lives at 605 N.E. 69th Street, Glad-
stone, Missouri 64118.
ROBERT F. WOLTER
Robert F. Wolter was born November 24, 1923, in
Rileysburg, Indiana, the first of three children. He gradu-
ated from Perrysville, Indiana High School April 22,
1941. Then his parents moved to Lake Worth, Florida.
He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in Miami November
1942, and took boot training at NorGlk NOB, then radio
school at Charleston Navy Yard, South Carolina. He vol-
unteered for mersigs school at Noroton Heights, Connecti-
cut, not knowing he was going into the Armed Guard.
After schooling, he was sent to the Brooklyn Armed
Guard Center and spent a few days aboard the SS MARI-
NER for Mark 29 training.
He caught his first new Liberty Ship, thc SS MARY
ASHLEY TOWNSEND in New Orleans. It was
equipped with Mark 29 anti-torpedo gear, which was
designed on paper to explode torpedoes before they
reached the ships. Robert never found out if the Mark 29
worked or not. The TOWNSEND was camouflaged with
dummy booms and had tanks in all holds. After running
alone in the Caribbean from Texas to Florida for a dozen
trips carrying crude, Robert was transferred from the
TOWNSEND to the SS THOMAS LYNCH at Charles-
ton, South Carolina. The LYNCH was another Liberty
destined for Naples with ammunition. The ship made
trips from Naples to Bizerte and back, then back to New
York in May 1944. Being a radioman, Robert was
declared surplus Armed Guard and was put in fleet.
He caught the USS THRUSH at Key West, a World
War I converted minesweeper. He did duty with sonar and
sub school at Key West. He then spent several months in
Parimarbo, Suriname, Trinidad anti San Juan.
Robert's ship was sent to San Diego via the Panama
Canal and after being refitted, this ship sailed for Pearl
Harbor.
Having points, Robert was then sent to San Pedro and
Great Lakes for discharge in October 1945. He returned
to his native Indiana and used his radio training for a job
on C&EI-L&N-CSX Railroad as telegrapher, working 40
years at various small town depots and towers from Chica-
go to Terre Haute. He retired in February 1985 at his last
job in Danville, Illinois.
Robert's first marriage produced two children. One now
lives in Sacramento and the other in Bedford, New Hamp-
shire. He married a second time to Mary E. Johnson. They
live at 1501 Liberty Street, Covington, Indiana 47932.
HOWARD WOOTEN
Howard Wooten was born September 9, 1923, and is
from Chanute, Tennessee. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy
September 3, 1941, and attended boot camp in Norfolk,
Virginia, and signal school in Toledo, Ohio.
He sailed on the SS ELWOOD, a tanker, the SS
NATHAN HALE, the SS JOSEPH GALE, and SS
FRANCISCO CORONADO, the SS WALTER
RALEIGH, the USAT Y-32, the SS MARTIN VAN
BUREN, the SS JAMES B. RICHARDSON, the USAT
MARIPOSA, the USS KIOWA (ATF-72), the USS LST
515, the USS RHODES (DER-384), and the USS HEN-
RY B. WILSON (DDG-7).
His most memorable experience was on his first ship the
SS ELWOOD. The Navy forgot about him for a year and
did not even know he was in the service. He also remem-
job as signalman. However, he says everything got better
as time passed.
Howard received the World War II Victory Medal,
American Defense Medal, American Area Medal, Europe-
an Theatre Operations and AsiatioPacific Medals, and the
Good Conduct Medal with five stars. He was discharged
from the Navy December 22, 1961, attaining the rank of
Chief Signalman SMC.
After serving 21 years in the Navy, he returned to art as
a second career. He took correspondence courses in com-
mercial art, with art instructions, ICS, USAFI and techni-
cal illustrating with GETMA. He has worked as a Techni-
cal Illustrator in S.D. for the following companies: Genge
& Associates, D & M Engineers, Electronics Publications
and Mercury Publications. Due to a slack period in work,
he turned to sign painting for the Marine Corps Exchange,
Camp Pendleton, while waiting for a Civil Service Job. He
entered the Civil Service in 1966 and is a retired illustrator
from the Naval Personnel & Training Research Laboratory
in Pt. Lama after 22 years.
He married Virginia Wright from Muncie, Indiana,
May 7,1951, and has one son, two daughters and six
grandchildren. His son works for Ford Aerospace in
England.
His current address is 583 Galaxy Drive, Vista, Califor-
nia 92083
PORTER H. WOOTEN
Porter H. Wooten at the age of 17 enlisted in the U.S.
Navy September 3, 194l. He left Chanute, Tennessee,
and proceeded to Cooksville, Tennessee, with his father
and uncle in a Model A to report for duty. After passing the
physical, he was sent to Nashville, Tennessee, on his first
train ride. He was put in charge of seven older men who
were Naval Reserves. He arrived in Norfolk, Virginia, at
the Naval Receiving Station Gr boot camp. He says he had
fun during boot camp and relived the civil war every day.
His mates couldn't understand why he didn't get mad
when they called him a hillbilly.
Their instructor was a chief signahnan named Sutton.
Porter decided to strike for signalman after a pep talk with
the chief and was shipped out quickly. He says his only bad
career mistake was when he didn't speak up when the
Navy was looking for someone to draw a VD poster.
Another man got the job and Porter regrets it to this day.
He wound up drawing and lettering on every ship and sta-
tion he was assigned to.
In Norfolk, Porter left NORVA to attend signal school
at the Naval Reserve Armory in Toledo, Ohio, October
1941. He was later moved to the armory in Chicago. He
graduated March 6, 1942, and was sent to the Armed
Guard Center at Treasure Island, California, a center where
signalmen and gunners were transferred to merchant ships
for duty. On March 15, 1942, Porter reported to the SS
ELWOOD. However, on May 18, 1942, he was trans-
ferred to the SS NATHAN HALE, a Liberty Ship out of
Portland, Oregon, because it was short of signal men.
On October 20, 1942, he reported to the SS JOSEPH
GALE; August 22, 1943, to the SS FRANCISCO
CORONADO; February 28, 1944, to the SS WALTER
RALEIGH. All were Liberty Ships. Porter also served
aboard the Y-32 USAT, the SS MARTIN VAN BUREN,
the SS JAMES B. RICHARDSON, and the USAT MAR-
IPOSA. After many trips to Europe carrying troops home
after the war, the MARIPOSA was decommissioned.
Porter reported to the Armed Guard Center in Brook-
lyn, New York, for EFT and then was sent to Camp Elliot,
ComWest Sea Frontier, for two weeks. He returned to the
Armed Guard Center in New Orleans, Algiers, in January
1946.
He was transferred to ATTC Shell Beach, Louisiana, as
a care taker. Then he was sent to Naval Signal Tower in
Burwood, Louisiana. After a few months he reported to the
Naval Air Station in Pennsicola, Florida, and was finally
discharged in April 1947. He returned home to Static,
Tennessee, after a few good nights in Nashville.
While on 42 days of terminal leave, Porter had to decide
if he was going to re-enlist in the Navy. He left Static and
went to Waukegan, Illinois, where his brother Sherman, a
SM 1, was on shore duty. Porter hat{ full intentions of
enrolling at the Art Institute in Chicago, however, he
found out he needed a high school diploma to enroll. He
took the GED Gr the two years of high school he missed.
but had to send to Byrdstown, Tennessee, for verification.
Porter was told he lacked. 8 of a point to get a diploma. The
Teacher State College in Chicago got a laugh out of it, but
it wasn't funny to Porter. He worked at Johnson Motors in
the shipping department Gr a while and then re-enlisted
in the Navy April 23, 1947.
Porter was shipped to the Naval Recruiting Station in
Chicago and was then sent to the Naval Gun Factory in
Anacostia, Washington, D.C., [br FFT on a ship. On May
18, 1947, he reported to Nortblk aboard the US KIOWA
ATF-72, a sea going tug that was his home for five years
and seven months. In January 1952, he transferred to the
LST 515 as a senior QM, after taking the Chiefs Exam.
Alter a few runs to the Caribbean, he was transferred to
shore duty for the first time at the Signal Tower in Fort Sto-
ry, Virginia Beach, Virginia.
After a few months, a man called from NORVA head-
quarters and said "howdy chief," telling Porter he had
made chief. He was then transferred to District Headquar-
ters 5ND in Noriblk, Virginia, Gr shore duty and missed
his chiefs initiation.
After two years of shore duty at Headquarters 5ND,
Porter reported to the USS RHODES, based in Norfolk,
for a re-commissioning ceremony in June 1955. After
three years of radar picket duty in the North Atlantic, he
was transferred to shore duty again in February 1958 to the
NAS in Jacksonville, Florida. Porter served in the special
services as an athletic director Gr 30 months.
Porter was hoping to retire in Jacksonville but lacked
three months after his shore duty came to a close. The
Navy sent him back to Newport, Rhode lslamt, where he
was assigned to the USS HENRY B. WILSON. The ship
was commissioned anti travelled to San Diego, California.
He retired from the Navy December 22, 1961, in San
Diego. The Navy had moved his family twice within a
year, which was frowned upon, instead of letting Porter
stay three extra months in Jacksonville. He says he wasn't
even piped over the side when he retired. His fellow chiefs
were too busy watching T.V. He says he went out of the
Navy as quietly as he came in.
His current address is 583 Galaxy Drive, Vista, Califor-
nia 92[)83.
WILLIAM WAYNE WRIGHT
William Wayne Wright was born to Mr. and Mrs.
James Clyde Wright September 17, 1921, on a farm in
Swisher County, Texas, about 15 miles east of Tulia, Tex-
as. His family moved to Amarillo in Potter County where
he was raised. He attended Amarillo High School and
lived at 1813 Hughes Street in Amarillo. He was a mem-
ber of the ROTC and was assistant circulation manager of
the Amarillo Times newspaper.
Wayne was one of 10l men who volunteered and left
Amarillo May 15, 1942, for Dallas, Texas, where they
were processed. The next day he was sent to the NTS in
Great Lakes for basic training, Co. 374. He was then sent
to Little Creek, Virginia, for gunnery school and assigned
to gun crew 573.
He was assigned to the SS JOHN WINTHROP and
sailed to England. The ship was returning from Glasgow,
Scotland, in a convoy destined for New York when it was
torpedoed and shelled by a U-619 submarine. The crew
consisted of 39 Merchant Seamen and 15 Navy Armed
Guards. The gunnery officer was Lt. Enamel Winslow
Mundy, son of Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton Mundy of Harlem,
Georgia. There were no survivors. The U-619 was sunk
October 15, 1942, by the HMS VISCOUNT (I-92) with
no survivors reported.
Wayne's family was notified by Western Union from
Arlington, Virginia, December 11, 1942, that he was
"missing in the performance of his duties." The next year,
on November 29, 1943, his family was informed that
Wayne was reported "missing in action" as of November
4, 1942. The Navy stated that "he was a member of the
USN Armed Guard serving on a merchant vessel which
did not reach its destination and must be presumed lost.
The ship was due to arrive on October 4, 1942, and no
information concerning the ship or its crew has been
received in the year just passed. It is presumed that the
death of your son occurred October 5, 1942, this being the
day following the day of expiration of an absence of 12
months."
A community memorial service was held July 2, 1944,
at the First Presbyterian Church on Harrison and Eleventh
by the American War Dads, Amarillo Chapter No. 2 of
Texas and the Amarillo Ministerial Alliance. William
Wayne Wright Seaman 2/C was made an honorary mem-
ber of Hanson Post No. 54 of The American Legion.
Wayne's father, Clyde Wright, died January 10, 1943.
This information was furnished by his sister, Donna Clyde
Wright Arms in her brother's honor. Her current address
is 1404 West Michigan, Midland, Texas 79701.
A. HARRY WYKA
Harry thought for some time about writing this and
decided that some of what he had to say should be heard.
For many years, he has listened to many World War II vet-
erans from other branches of the service tell about their
experiences and about how they had in one way or the oth-
er been instrumental in one heroic action or another.
Many times he had been asked what branch of the Ser-
vice he had been in. He would reply," the Navy". Then the
next question would be, what ship did you serve on? He
would answer the Armed Guard and the inquisitor would
say, "What was that?" He would explain that that was
Naval gun crews which were placed by the Navy, on mer-
chant ships and all ships flying the American flag. General-
ly the next reply was "oh? is that right" you mean you were
in the Merchant Marine? .... No, he was in the Navy,"
would be his reply. He was not involved in any great Victo-
ry at Sea.
Now the reason he mentioned the above is to let you
know that everyone was not involved in great battles and
that they were not all hard bitten Seafarers, He for one was
a wet nosed kid who had hardly gotten out of the proverbi-
al sand pile in the back yard when he went in the Navy, and
he must say he managed to get into his share of trouble
when on liberty as many a sailor did. Going to sea was not
all gung ho stuff that many an old salt would have you
believe. If you will in all honesty think back on it.
It was one sea-watch after another in storms that had old
salts on their knees praying to their Maker in Heaven that
they would get through the maelstrom safely. It was a bor-
ing job and a tiring one. Many a sailor who was a young
man who had never been away from the home fires and
family found it somewhat difficult.
Harry remembers that during the month of October or
November 1943, it took the old STEPHEN B. ELKINS,
and the convoy she was attached to, 28 days after they
passed the Orkney Islands to get within 500 miles of New-
foundland, and that two ships broke up and the escorts
sank them after the crews were removed. He never knew
the names of those two ships but he does know that they
indeed did go down.
Harry and his crew rode a terrific storm for 28 days the
likes of which he did not see again in the 25 or 26 addition-
al months that he spent at sea in gun crews on two more
ships.
He remembers that either in November or December
1943 on a black night, on which you could not see your
hand in front of your face, Harry was taking a shower when
the general alarm went off. Out of the shower he went as
he grabbed his dungaree pants, a sweater and a life jacket
and headed for the 3"50 on the bow as at that time he was
the pointer. Wet and very scared Harry went up the ladder
and as he did he looked to the port side of the convoy and
there was a flash and a dull boom and then one more. He
was scared and the fellow on the bow watch said "that's the
second one." Harry grabbed the handle on the breech of
the gun and opened the breech turned to the ready-box
grabbed a round and slammed it into the gun. The rest of
the crew arrived and Harry got on the pointers seat and sat
there raving about come on something, something. They
were at the guns for some 15 minutes more and it was cold
and black. When they were finally secured there was some
metallic pinging sounds emitting from the hull of the ship,
but they never ever found out what happened that night.
They spent seven months from August 1943 to the end of
February 1944 in the North Atlantic.
After this Harry went to Skeeter Junction as they called
it or Algiers, Mississippi, Armed Guard station and was
assigned to another ship. On this ship Harry and the crew
went through the Mediterranean and through the Suez
Canal and to India, Calcutta and Ceylon, and then to sever-
al other ports in the Mediterranean and back to the States
and then back to the middle east and home again.
Then Harry went to Algiers again and on to another
ship, the ROSE KNOT and out into th Pacific through the
Panama Canal where they spent the final months of the
war.
As Harry looks back on the time he was in the Navy he
thinks of how lucky he was, and how he has no regrets.
Harry, in fact is proud that he was in the Navy, and is
somewhat sorry that he did not take advantage of some of
the opportunities that he had. As Harry has listened to the
many heroic stories that he has heard, and when asked
what he did during World War II, he grins with a sly smile
and tells the inquisitor whoever it may be that "I sur-
rounded the enemy single-handed."