Trip to Poland: September 21, 1937 - Aboard the M.S. Batory

M.S. Batory

Captain Eustazy Borkowski

Passenger List for the September 21-30, 1937 Sailing of the M.S. Batory

Luncheon Menu for 21 Sep 1937 on the M.S. Batory

(Photos, Passenger List, and Menu in the Collection of Cynthia Shenette; Text Copyright (c) 2017 Cynthia Shenette)

My aunt, Helen Bulak, boarded the M.S. Batory on September 21, 1937, sailing from Gdynia Poland to New York.  Her traveling companions, Katherine [Kazimiera] Gralicka [Gralicki] and Katherine's two daughters Alice [Alicia] and Danuta [Diana], and Katherine's sister, Boleslawa Pomianowska [Pomianowski] were also on board and heading back to the States.

The M.S. Batory was another ship on the Gdynia-America Line and the sister ship of the M.S. Pilsudski. The Batory launched in July 1935 and remained in service until June 1971.  Eustazy Borkowski was the ship's captain at the time my aunt's voyage. You can read more about the M.S. Batory and Captain Borkowski here and here.

I have the complete passenger list for the September 21-30, 1937 sailing of the Batory which I hope to post in full at another time.

Trip to Poland: June 10, 1937 - Copenhagen, Denmark

[Travel Diary Entry]

6-10-1937 /

Stopped at Copenhagen for / sightseeing trip. /

Kopenhagen / 900,000 people / 400,000 bicycles /

Denmark / 3 1/2 million people / 7 million pigs

(Copyright (c) 2010 Cynthia Shenette)  The M.S. Pilsudski stopped in Copenhagen, Denmark on 10 Jun 1937. The stop provided enough time to allow passengers the opportunity to take a sightseeing tour of the city, before continuing on to the ship's final destination of Gdynia, Poland. My Aunt Helen Bulak's travel diary entry for Copenhagen is pretty brief to say the least. I've been to Copenhagen and toured the city on a bicycle. It's a lovely city. There is certainly more to write about than just the Copenhagen and Danish human (and swine) population and the number of bicycles. My guess is that Aunt Helen was either rushed or too tired from the ocean voyage to write more. I will say, bicycles did and still do play a prominent role in the culture of the city.

I found a great video on Copenhagen in 1937. When I did a simple Google search using the phrase "Copenhagen 1937," what to my wondrous eyes did appear but a YouTube video called "Traveltalks - Copenhagen" from 1937. The video was part of a travel series produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. While the narration and attitudes in the video are dated, the images are wonderful. The video is filmed in Technicolor, unusual for the time. As a result, the video has a warmth that I generally find lacking in black and white documentary film. While I don't have anymore details from my aunt's trip to Copenhagen, the video does give me a good feel for the sights and images of the day. I enjoyed my visit to wonderful Copenhagen, and I hope you do too!

Trip to Poland, 1937: June 10, 1937 - Lunch on the M.S. Pilsudski

Menu in the Collection of Cynthia Shenette; Text Copyright (c) 2017 Cynthia Shenette)  The first image is the cover of the luncheon menu offered aboard the M.S. Pilsudski on 10 June 1937. The back of the cover states that the photo is, "A fragment of the castle at Krasiczyn, since many centuries the property of the ducal family of Sapieha. A typical country residence of the erstwhile powerful and influential aristocracy of Poland." The menu for the luncheon looks delicious, well, except for the "sauerkraut juice." Menu items include: Cold filet of capon, beef saddle, consomme with noodles, soup Russian style, omelet with spinach, poached eggs Hollandaise, roast beef Anglaise, broiled lamb chops, and petit duc. The desserts sound intriguing--rissole with jam, pudding diplomate, and pineapple ice.

Trip to Poland: June 9, 1937 - Aboard the M.S. Pilsudski

Danuta Gralicka, Front Left; Helen Bulak, Center, Alica Gralicka, Front Right
Kasimera Gralicka, Boleslawa Pomianowska

[Travel Diary Entry]

Date June 9. 1937
M.S. Pilsudski
Line Gdynia American

8th Day, Land, Farewell dinner

(Program in the Collection of Cynthia Shenette; Image and Text Copyright (c) 2017 Cynthia Shenette)  The program is for an "entertainment" on board the M.S. Pilsudski entitled, "Galaxy of Stars, graciously offered by the passengers of the M.S. Pilsudski." The Galaxy Stars took place, "At sea, June 9th 1937 - 9:30 P.M."

Trip to Poland: June 8, 1937 - Aboard the M.S. Pilsudski

(News Release in the Collection of Cynthia Shenette; Text Copyright (c) 2017 Cynthia Shenette)

[Travel Diary Entry]

Date June 8, 1937
M.S. Pilsudski
Line Gdynia America

7th Day Tues, 442 miles, 60 minutes ahead

In my Aunt Helen's collection of materials from her trip to Poland I found several news releases from the M.S. Pilsudski. Apparently radio news stories were compiled and distributed to passengers to keep them up to date on the news topics of the day. The "M.S. Pilsudski Radio News" was published in English and in Polish. The Polish editions of the paper seemed to focus on topics mostly relating to Poland. The English version of the news seemed to cover world news.

On Tuesday, June 8 1937 news topics included updates from New York, Washington, London, Hollywood , and Madrid. A major steel strike, I believe the "Little Steel Strike," was taking place in the United States, involving some 70,000 steel workers. Catastrophic volcano explosions killed 507 people and destroyed the town of Rabaul, New Guinea. A typhoid epidemic ensued, a result of polluted water in the area. In Hollywood starlet Jean Harlow died of uremic poisoning on Monday. Ernest Aldrich Simpson, the divorced husband of the Duchess of Windsor was suing a Mrs. Joan Sutharland for slander and the case would "...probably be heard in court on Thursday." There are updates of the civil war in Spain.  A story from Washington, D.C. reports Secretary of the Treasury Henry Morgenthau closed the books on "...two federal note issues, totalling eight hundred millions dollars, after the nations investors had oversubscribed the offering by 2,831,000,000 dollars." Some things don't change.

On June 10th, 1937 the "M.S. Pilsudski - Radio News" continues to report on the Spanish Civil War. In Moscow, "Commisar Voroshiloff signed a decree removing all famous generals, serving on Russia's western frontier. Marshal Tuchatchevski disappeared from active service and his present whereabouts is unknown." I had a feeling this story didn't end well. As my knowledge of Russian and Soviet history is pretty limited I decided to do a little research. According to Wikipedia, Mikhail Tukhachevskywas executed on 12 Jun 1937, a victim of Stalin's Great Purge. Also, foreshadowing events to come, is news from the Pope. In Italy "With tears falling and voice shaken by emotion, Pope addressing pilgrims from Bavaria expressed deep sorrow for condition of the catholic church in Germany." The article continues that the "United States Federal Council of churches, representing 23 national denominations passed a resolution, confirming the opinion, that the German administration is hostile to life, teaching and influence on christian church."

Trip to Poland: June 7, 1937 - Aboard the M.S. Pilsudski

Helen Bulak

[Travel Diary Entry]

Date June 7. 1937
M.S. Pilsudski
Line Gdynia America

6th Day, Monday, rough sailing until noon, 431 miles, 56 minutes ahead

(Image and Text, Copyright (c) 2017 Cynthia Shenette)

Trip to Poland: June 6, 1937 - Aboard the M.S. Pilsudski

[Travel Diary Entry]

Date June 6. 1937
M.S. Pilsudski
Line Gdynia America

5th Day, [went to] Mass, rough sailing, 429 miles, 44 minutes ahead

(Brochure in the Collection of Cynthia Shenette; Text Copyright (c) 2017 Cynthia Shenette)

Trip to Poland: June 5, 1937 - Aboard the M.S. Pilsudski

[Travel Diary Entry]

Date June 5. 1937
M.S. Pilsudski
Line Gdynia America

4th Day, rough sailing, 424 miles, 32 minutes ahead

(Brochure in the Collection of Cynthia Shenette; Text Copyright (c) Cynthia Shenette)  According to The Ships List the M.S. Pilsudski had 370 "tourist class" cabins and 400 "3rd class" cabins. My Aunt Helen traveled "tourist class." A brochure produced by the Gdynia-American Line proclaims, "Tourist Class is Top Class." The conveniences on board "...assure a high degree of graceful living: Large sun and promenade decks, veranda cafes, American bars, sumptuous social halls, modern ventilated dining room, children's playroom, tennis courts, swimming pool, gymnasium, short and long wave radio stations, music receiving and distributing stations, and an automobile garage." Interestingly automobiles were "...accepted, uncrated, for transportation as excess baggage, at moderate rates..."

Trip to Poland: June 4, 1937 - Aboard the M.S. Pilsudski

[Travel Diary Entry]

Date June 4. 1937
M.S. Pilsudski 
Line Gdynia America

3rd Day 24 mins ahead sailed 486 miles

(Passenger List in the Collection of Cynthia Shenette; Text Copyright (c) 2017 Cynthia Shenette)  My aunt traveled on ship to Poland with with two friends from Worcester, MA: Mrs. Kasimiera (also known as Katherine) Gralicka (Gralicki) and her two young daughters, Miss Alicia Gralicka and Miss Danuta Gralicka; and Mrs. Bronislawa (also known as Halina) Pomianowska (Pomianowski).

While I don't have time right now, my hope is to post the names of all of the passengers on this voyage sometime later this year.  If you area related to someone who took this voyage and would like an image of their name in the passenger list feel free to contact me, and I will be happy to scan it for you.

Trip to Poland: June 3, 1937 - Aboard the M.S. Pilsudski

[Travel Diary Entry]

Date June 3. 1937
M.S.Pilsudski
Line Gdynia America

2nd Day 40 minutes ahead sailed 426 [miles]

(Greeting card in the collection of Cynthia Shenette; Text copyright (c) 2017 Cynthia Shenette) Well wishes from the friends at home. Names on the card are friends/family of my Aunt Helen who was very active in the Polish community in Worcester, MA. If you had relatives living in Worcester on Vernon Hill, with businesses in the Millbury St. business district, or active in St. Mary's church take a look at the list of people who signed the card. You might find someone there you know!

Signers are: Rose Olskey, Mrs. Matuszyk, Helen Bruinsma, Mary Mulic, Helen Miller, Anna Szarejko, Mrs. Lewandowska, Sophie Konopka, Christine, Rose Miller, Jane Zaleski, Mary Lemanski, Vicky Szarkiewicz, Jane Sac[?], Anna Kulesza, Vi Koniski, Mrs. Nabozna, Mrs. Stokosa, Mrs. Buynicka, Mrs. Wojsiak, Mrs. Kaminska, Charlotte Kaminska, Stella Lewanas, Blanche Cyborowski, Mary Dumas, Mrs.Jablonski, Zendzians (2), Mrs.Turecka, Mrs. Gembaka, Eva Cove, Mrs. Fedeli, Mrs.Jos Fedeli, Helene Birch, Regina, Helen Bulak, Hilda Bulak, Mrs. Bulak, Mrs. Wiejniak

Trip to Poland: June 2, 1937 - Aboard the M.S. Pilsudski

M.S. Pilsudski in New York

[Travel Diary Entry]

Date June 2. 1937
M.S. Pilsudski 
Line Gdynia America 

1st Day 200 miles

(Image Credit Wikipedia, Public Domain; Text Copyright (c) 2017 Cynthia Shenette)  On 2 Jun 1937 my Aunt Helen Bulak boarded the M.S. Pilsudski, bound for Gdynia, Poland with a stop in Copenhagen, Denmark. The ship stopped in Copenhagen on 10 Jun 1937 and arrived in Gdynia on 11 Jun 1937. According to a brochure I have from the Gdynia-America Line, the ship sailed at 12:05 a.m. and left from the 6th St. Pier, in Hoboken, New Jersey. My aunt traveled "tourist class." A round trip tourist class ticket cost $274.00 during the "summer season" of 1937.

Canada Vacation and Steamship Keewatin, 1946

"Kris"
Christine (Szerejko) Shenette Aboard the Steamship Keewatin

( Digital Images.  Photographs Privately Held by Cynthia Shenette; Photographs and Text, Copyright (c) 2016 Cynthia Shenette) Well, it's vacation time again!  At least it was back in August when I started this post.  Alas, it's only taken me four months to write it, but better late than never I guess.

Once again I am dipping into my mom's vacation photo album from the 1940s.  Three years ago I found my mom's vacation album, and I've posted her vacation photos annually since. Her photos from her Canada trip will make this the fourth year running.  I have to admit, I look forward to writing my annual vacation post--it's my favorite post of the year!  I guess it's kind of like going on vacation.  You wait for it for so long, and then it's over in the blink of an eye.

After going to the Tumbleweed Guest Ranch in the Catskills for three years in a row--1943, 1944, 1945--my mom, Christine (Szerejko) Shenette, and her sister, Helene (Szerejko) Dingle, decided to branch out and and take a cruise through the Great Lakes to Canada on the Canadian Pacific steamship Keewatin with a couple of friends.

The back of a lunch menu from the steamship Keewatin

Their trip took them from Niagara Falls in Ontario, through Lake Huron, the Sault (shortened and anglicized so as to be pronounced Soo) Sainte Marie locks between the twin cities of Sault Sainte Marie in Ontario and Saulte Sainte Marie in Michigan, through Lake Superior to the Kakabeka Falls near Port Arthur / Fort William, now Thunder Bay.

"The 'Kee' "

According to a lunch menu from the Keewatin, the Kee was Clyde Built, 3880 gross tons, 350 in length, 43 feet 8 inches in breadth, with a depth of 26 fee 9 inches and traveled at a speed of 15 knots. The crew at the time was Joseph Bishop, Commander (1941-1946); W.F. Irvine, Chief Engineer; William H. Kirwood, First Officer; William A. Paxton, Purser; George H. Fisk, Chief Steward; and Alvin Gallagher, Superintendent.

According to Wikipedia, the Keewatin was launched 6 July 1906, ran almost continuously for 60 seasons and was retired in 1966.  For the last 20 years of her existence the Kee ran under strict regulations for wooden cabin steamships.  In 1949 (three years after my mother's trip on the Keewatin) another ship on the line, the Noronic, burned, resulting in the loss of 118 lives.  You can read the Wikipedia article on the Noronic disaster here.  My mother saved a souvenir booklet from her trip that shows the other ships on the line--the S.S. Huronic, the S.S. Assiniboia (the Keewatin's sister ship), the S.S. Manitoba, and the S.S. Noronic.

Luncheon Menu from the Keewatin, 1946

I love the lunch menu!  Sardines on toast, green onions, puree of green peas, fried lake fish tartare, luncheon tongue, with raisin pie and cream cheese for dessert!  Yum!  What to have, what to have?  I suspect mom more likely leaned toward the lettuce, cucumber or tomato salads with French dressing, the hot dishes of braised lamb with vegetables or grilled loin steak and potatoes, and probably the cake or ice cream for dessert.

"Dining Saloon ss. Keewatin"

The dining saloon looks lovely!  While the Keewatin was retired from service in 1966 it has been preserved as a museum ship in Port McNicoll, Ontario Canada.  You can see photos of the way is currently looks here, including photos of the restored dining saloon.

"Formal Gardens
 Niagra (sic) Falls
Ontario"

From what I can tell my mom's vacation started out in Niagara Falls.  I remember she told me that she and her friends stayed at an old hotel there that had questionable fire safety measures.  Apparently, the fire escape was a long rope bolted to the floor in their hotel room.  My mom said she and her friends dropped the rope out the window to see how far it would go, and the rope didn't even get close to the ground!  I think of how things were back then, especially in relation to the Noronic disaster, and while things aren't perfect we are lucky to have the safety measures we do.

The photo looks to have been taken at Oaks Garden Theatre.  There is a lovely contemporary shot here.

"Our favorite crew
'nautical but nice' "  

I did a little newspaper research on the Keewatin and found a number of articles written around the time my mom took her trip.  According to a Boston Globe article the cruise took "two water-born nights and most of two days between Port McNicoll and the Lakehead, at rail fare plus $20 for an outside cabin and meals."  Deluxe accommodations were available and automobiles could be transported as well.

The ship set sail every Wednesday and Saturday from early June through mid September.  I know my mom took her vacation 1946, but I didn't exactly know when, but now I know it was probably sometime between June and mid September.  Given the clothes that she and her traveling companions were wearing it was kind of hard to tell.  I figured it could have been any time from spring through early fall. Return trips left Fort William on Saturdays and Tuesdays and arrived back in Port McNicoll early on Mondays and Thursdays.

"K. {Kakabeka] Falls
Helene + Kris."

Kakabeka Falls is located in the village of Kakabeka Falls in Ontario 19 miles west of Thunder Bay. You can read more about the falls here.

"Shuffle board (or a
reasonable facsimile thereof)"

Shipboard  life was similar to that of an ocean voyage.  Passengers could relax or participate in a variety of on-board activities.  There were deck activities, such as shuffleboard, bull board, deck quoits, and sunbathing, as well as table tennis inside.  The Kee also boasted a spacious dancing saloon.  Passengers enjoyed meals in the dining saloon, as well as morning bouillon, afternoon tea, impromptu parties and midnight snacks.  A barber, a hairdresser, and valet service were available.

"Up -- for a
sniff of fresh air."

My mom took a lot of photos of their trip.  Clearly, the war and the film shortage of the previous year's vacation was over.  In 1945 they only had enough film to take one photograph to remember their vacation.  My mom's travelling companion, Phyl also has a camera on this trip.

"Kris, Laura, Helene, Phyl.
at the 'sharp end'
of the boat"

I don't know who Laura and Phyl [Phyllis] are.  I know Phyl is in some of my mom's other photos from the 1940s, so clearly they were good friends.  I looked through my mother's yearbook for the Class of 1940 from the High School of Commerce in Worcester, MA to see if I could find photos of either Laura or Phyl, but no luck.  If you recognize Laura or Phyl I'd love to hear from you!

"Kris.
'Miss North Pole of 1946' "

According to the Globe articles I read, one night of the voyage was spent crossing Lake Huron to St. Mary's River, for a 55 mile trip up the river. When the ship reached Sault Ste. Marie it went through the locks which lifted the ship up 18 feet from Lake Huron to Lake Superior.The ship's voyage took them across Lake Superior, and the world's largest inland waterways. The ship traveled close to some of the 30,000 islands of Georgian Bay.  The route traveled near the Bruce Peninsula and the Christian Islands.  From one end to the other the the ship traveled 544 miles.

"Ve yust come over"

If my post and the presentation of the photographs seems a bit disjointed it's because I am presenting the photos in the order in which they appeared in my mother's album.  I'm trying to preserve the original order of the images to present her story in context.  I am also using her captions which show her sense of humor and the language they used, like calling the Keewatin, the Kee.

The photo above kind of cracks me up, but also makes me a bit sad.  Given that it was 1946 I bet they saw way too many people coming to the States from the old country.  My aunt Helen Bulak worked with an organization to help Polish refugees once they got to Worcester, so I bet my mom and her sister saw way too many people, especially women wearing babushkas, saying, "Ve yust come over."

"Jerry + Helen
(Gerald Allen Fullerton)"

According to articles from the Boston Globe special boat trains provided connections from Toronto to Fort McNicoll to serve  the ship on sailing and arrival days.  Passengers stepped from the train aboard the ship.  In the photo above, my mom's sister Helene is standing next to a train.  Before I read the newspaper article I wondered how they got from the train to the ship.  I could tell the young man pictured above, Gerald Allen Fullerton, was from the Kee because of his uniform, but I couldn't figure out how he would also be at the train.  Now I know!

"Bill + Kris
(William Murry Doyle)"

I love that my mom took the time to write the names of some of the crew in her album.  Besides Gerald Allen Fullerton in the photo above with Helene, my mom is standing with a young man named William Murray Doyle.  If you are related to either Jerry or Bill I would love to hear from you!  I'd love to hear about their experiences on the Keewatin.

"Smoke stack Lou Lou
(I don't want to set the world on fire, I just want to set a flame in your heart)"

Well, another vacation has come to a close.  This is the last vacation covered in my mom's album.  I do have more of her vacation pictures from the 1940s and 1950s in slides, so one of my projects next year, maybe over the winter, is to organize the slides to see if I can put together a story about where she traveled and what she did in 1947.

It's been a long journey across the lakes, and time to say goodbye for now.  The boat train is waiting at the station, and I'm ready to go home,

Bon Voyage, until next year!



Other Posts You Might Like:

Tumbleweed Guest Ranch, 1945
Tumbleweed Guest Ranch, 1944
Tumbleweed Guest Ranch, August 1943
An Interview with My Grandmother

Christmas Aboard the C.G.C. Tamaroa - Military Monday

(Text Copyright (c) 2014 Cynthia Shenette) One of the things I love about blogging is when I take a single item or record and try to do a bit of research on the item before I write about it.  I am fortunate in that I have so many letters, photos, and pieces of memorabilia as part of my family history collection, but sometimes it's easy to lose sight of the forest for the trees.  Take this Christmas 1951 program from the United States Coast Guard Cutter Tamaroa which I recently looked at for the very first time.

My uncle Robert Szerejko (1929-2012), my mother's brother, spent time in the Coast Guard.  I don't know too much about his time in the Coast Guard, other than he spent some time in Greenland and stayed in touch with his Coast Guard skipper, "Skipper Gray" for decades.  My Uncle Bob was like that.  He was the kind of guy who made an impression on people, who people wanted to stay in touch with, whether it was an old friend from his Coast Guard days or someone he built a post and beam house for as part of his house building business. When I asked my cousin if her dad ever mentioned the Tamaroa, she didn't remember the Tamaroa specifically, but since he is listed in the program as one of the men who present for Christmas in 1951 we can probably assume he spent some time on the Tamaroa.

What did I learn about the C.G.C. Tamaroa?  The Tamaroa was launched on 9 October 1943 and saw action in the Pacific Theatre of World War II, including being involved in Marianas, the Philippines, and Iwo Jima operations. She was the first cutter on sight after the sinking of the Andrea Doria, and most surprisingly was the Coast Guard cutter made famous in Sebastian Junger's book, The Perfect Storm!  The crew of the Tamaroa saved the crew of the Satori, a sailing vessel in distress 75 miles off the island of Nantucket, during the 1991 No Name Storm.  You can read an excellent article, The Perfect Storm, 20 Years Later, on the Coast Guard Compass: The Official Blog of U.S. Coast Guard.  You can also read more about the Tamaroa here, here and here.

I love this program!  It's amazing how one little thing can say so much. Now I know where my uncle was, who he was with, and what he ate on Christmas day in 1951!  Even the menu takes us back in time.  How many people still put peanut butter on their holiday table! 

If you served on the Tamaroa in the 1950s, recognize any of the names listed in this program, or remember my uncle Bob Szerejko I would love to hear from you!

Menu

~~

TOMATO JUICE     SHRIMP COCKTAIL

TURKEY RICE SOUP

CRACKERS     BUTTER     ROLLS

ASSORTED PICKLES     STUFFED OLIVES

PEANUT BUTTER     CELERY HEARTS

CRANBERRY SAUCE

ROAST TOM TURKEY

OYSTER DRESSING     GIBLET GRAVY

MASHED TURNIPS

VIRGINIA BAKED HAM

PINEAPPLE GRAVY     MASHED POTATOES

COLE SLAW

CIDER     COFFEE     MILK

FRUIT CAKE     PLUM PUDDING

MINCE MEAT PIE     PUMPKIN PIE

ASSORTED CANDY     ASSORTED NUTS

CIGARS & CIGARETTES

Officers

Thompson, Warner K., Jr., CDR, USCG   Lutzi, Philip C., ENS, USCG
Hinkleman, George C., LT, USCGR    Bassett, Raymond C., Jr. ENS, USCG
Krause, Herbert, LT, USCG             Beach, John W., BOSN, USCG
Treib, Seymour L., LTJG, USCG         Mears, Grayson J., MACH, USCG
Gendler, Irvin, ENS, USCG

Enlisted Men

     Emery, Otis W., CSC                    Dunhour, Joseph W., ENC
     Frey, Leo (n), ENC                       Kirkman, George R., EMCA (P)
     Tarr, Howard R., Jr., BMC (P)        Lucey, Christopher J., QMC

Aery, Walter H., EN1 (P)                    Anderson, Gilbert C., SN
Avedisia, Harry (n), SN                       Berry, Leo D., SN
Berni, Albert J., FN (EM)                    Bledsoe, Marvin R., EN2 (P)
Casale, Robert (n), RM1 (HF)             Cleavenger, Jack R., EN3 (P)
Colegrove, Howard C., FN                  Colford, Sidney J., Jr., SN
Cooper, Grady (n), FN                        Cotton, Paul S., SD3 (P)
Czapski, Alexander (n), SN                  Fallo, Charles C., Jr. FN
Fasano, Lun A., RM2                          Feierabend, Richard F., SA
Gaines, Eugene C., SD3 (P)                 Fulton, William D. QM1 (P)
Grinage, James R., EM2                      Gilmore, Marshall C., QM2
Harris, James (n), TN                          Grogan, John J., EN3 (P)
Hildebrand, Richard E., SA                  Hendricks, Robert N., SN
Jones, Russell W., DC3 (P)                  Hymers, Douglas J., YN1
Kerbel, Stanley E., SN                         Keister, Gerald J., EN3 (P)
Lake, Henry E., RM3                          Lopez, Jose L., EN3 (P)
Lewis, Alfred F., FN (EN)                   McDermontt, William G., HM2
Masker, Raymond E., CS1                   Mendicino, Vincent T., SN
McDevitt, Joseph j., SN                       Moran, James F., DC1
Menge, Fred W. , EN1                         Noorman, Jack M., SA
Nicolaus, James E., SA                        Owen, Urel P., Jr., YN3
Oreck, Marshall B., SA                        Paul H., SK1 (P)
Palicia, Leo (n) EM3 (P)                      Pospisil, George H., RM3
Petkovich, Charles R., SA                    Rossi, Ralmonde (n), ET2
Rappaport, Isaac I., SA                        Sciarrino, John F., SA
Sanders, Luther (n), CS2                      Sensenig, John H., Jr., FN
Seibel, Herman (n), GM3 (P)               Smith, Clifford E., BM3 (P)
Shortt, Harry R., SN                            Spahr,     John E., BM3 (P)
Smith, Norman C., SN                         Steindler, "H" K., ET3
Standaert., Richard E., SN                   Sward, Gordan A., SA
Stroud, Myrel E., BM3                        Szerejko, Robert A., SN
Switzer, Dean W., SA                         Theriault, Joseph L. P., SN
Thomas, Sydney W., YN3 (P)             Travis, Charles W., SA
Walker, Clifton B., Jr., QM1                Watson, John T. EN2
Wilson, Sidney A., F N                        Wood, Alvin C. RD3 (P)
Yost, James C., FN (EN)



Other Posts You Might Like:

Analyzing A Photo: The Holiday Party
Christmas in Poland, 1929 - Wordless Wednesday
Fun on the Slopes - Wordless Wednesday
More Than Meets the Eye - Tuesday's Tip

Photo Story: Seeing the World

USS Charles R. Ware in Port, Rouen, France

(Original Image and Text, Copyright (c) 2011 Cynthia Shenette) I am certain my love of travel comes from my parents.  I was always fascinated by my dad's stories about his travels with the Navy.  He traveled everywhere--Australia, the Far East, Africa, Europe, Cuba, South America.  Everywhere.  After World War II Dad served on the destroyer, USS Charles R. Ware (DD-865) which traveled to the Arctic circle, Europe, and the Mediterranean.  For a photo of my dad on ship in the Arctic, see here.

My mom also loved to travel, though her travels were less exotic than my dad's.  Mom would save up her vacation until she accrued a total of three or four weeks time and take a trip somewhere in the United States.  One time she traveled by train in a sleeper car to New Orleans with my aunt Helen Bulak, but most of the time she went by bus by herself.  She took a bus across country stopping in Chicago and Salt Lake City.  Mom slept on the bus which made a rest stop each morning for people to freshen up. Apparently travelers could rent a pillow on the bus to make sleeping more comfortable.  From Salt Lake she continued on to California where stayed with friends of my grandparents and visited Yosemite National Park. On the way home she stopped in Arizona at the Grand Canyon.  You can see a photo of her riding to the bottom of the canyon with a mule train here.


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Photo Story: The Occupation of Tokyo Bay

Henry A. Shenette

Certificate Awarded to Third Fleet Landing Force, Task Force 31

(Certificate Privately Held by Cynthia Shenette; Original Image and Text, Copyright (c) 2011 Cynthia Shenette) At the end of World War II my dad was attached to the United States Marines and served with the United States Third Fleet's Task Force 31 which was involved in the occupation of Tokyo Bay.  He was part of the Yokosuka landing force which was deployed on August 30, 1945. My dad was a gunnery expert and his role was to dismantle the guns the Japanese had hidden in the caves in and around the Yokosuka Naval Base.  

The Indiana was part of the occupation force of  Tokyo Bay after the formal Japanese surrender on the USS Missouri on September 2, 1945. The USS Indiana sailed for the States on September 9, 1945.  She arrived in San Francisco Bay on September 29, 1945 and was the first ship to return to the States from Tokyo Bay.


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