We've seen some equipment, so let's see some men.
Here is a picture of my Father, Walks_At_Night Sr. upon graduation from Naval Training School (Torpedo) at Naval Torpedo Station, Newport, R.I.
The picture was taken in Mid-1942. His rating in the picture is Torpedoman's Mate 3rd class. Dad volunteered for the Navy as soon as he could
after Pearl Harbor. Not so much out of patriotic fervor, although he wanted a crack at the Japanese as did most guys, but out of fear of being
drafted by the Army or Marines. After high school he had did a stint in the CCC's and ended up with a bad draw - he was sent to Seney way up in
Michigan's upper peninsula. Their mission was to revive marsh land that had been drained in the 1800's back to it's natural state. He worked in
mud and water day in and day out for 18 months. So he figured if you are going to war at least have good hot food, clean clothes and dry place to
sleep. He took a leave of absence from his employer (who held his job for him) and went off to Great Lakes, Ill for his recruit training. Then
he went to Torpedo school for 16 weeks - from what I see in his papers finished 30th in a class of about 180. Soon after the picture was taken, he
headed out to the fleet and his war began. The Navy asked him to serve on Submarines but he wanted to be able to see the sky all the time. He
wanted PT Boats because they were fast and fun. I guess they compromised because he ended up on Destroyers for the duration of the war.
Walks_At_Night Sr.visitors can't see pics , please
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loginI don't have a great many artifacts from his time in the Navy but I do have his note book from Torpedo school - it is pretty interesting.
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loginMy parents were out of their minds. They had kids in the 40's, 50's and me during the 60's so my Dad was no kid when I was born.
Fortunately he lived well into his 90's so I got to spend lot and lots of time with him. He passed away a few years ago. Per his request
he was buried at sea - from a fast ship built to go in harm's way - the destroyer
USS Bainbridge. This occurred in the Mediterranean
off of the coast of Sicily where he tangled with Axis during the Invasion of Sicily some 70 years previously.
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