Shannon (DM 25) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 16 text:

LIEUT. CLYDE J. ALLEN, USNR Clyde J- Ajlclfs Curly life was I-,itln-r nomadic. lly the time he was 14, hg had lived in eight states. ln 1932, he returned! to Ogden, Dtah, where he was born of Mormon parents, lxlllffusl 24' 1919- 5l'lllll't4' 111 Salt. Lake City, and later in nearby Tooele, Allen finished high school and matriculatedgt Utah State Agricultural College, l.,ogan. . . Allen majored in accounting and served as photographic editor of the year book. He was active in the Camera club, tliesrliool paper., dramatics, Sigma Chi fraternity, and Alpha Kappa I'si, a business Iratern1ty..He received 3 master's degree in merchandising from the New X ork Lniyersity. Settling in New York with his wile, the lormer Norma Fate, of Tooele, hg worked for Gimbel's department store, and later, als a grocery buyer with the Brooklyn hrm of Abraham and Straus' Commissioned in the Navy in August, 1942, Allen was trained at Cornell l,nivers1ty and in the Communi- cation School at Harvard University. A gi Q 7 F Ensign Allen joined the crew of the USS Thorn flDlJ64!J as Communica- tion Officer. The Thorn operated in the Atlantic and Mediterranean, before she was sent to the Southwest Pacific to take part in operations around New Guinea, the Bismarck Archipelago and the Northern Solomons. Lieut. Allen was detached in Noumea and ordered to Bath, Me., as Com- munication Officer of the Shannon. His experience and knowledge were of great value in organizing the Communication department and the ship, He served as a top watch-stander, general quarters OOD, ship's phgto- grapher, and in various collateral duties. Lieut. Allen was detached in Sasebo and released to inactive duty. He returned to Tooele, Utah, to join his father's grocery firm and resume his work in merchandising. He and Mrs. Allen live at 34 Park Avenue, Tooele. LIEUT. JAMES B. CALDWELL, USNR James B. Caldwell has lived his entire life in Spartanburg, S. C., where he was born january 16, 1915. Jun was an outstanding student and a leader. He maintained a fine academic standing at Spartanburg High School, won letters in football, basketball, and baseball, and was active in other school organizations. Matriculating at Spartanburgfs VVofford College, Caldwell concentrated on modern languages and business administration. He was on the Dean's list throughout his college career and was prominent as a varsity baseball player, a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, and an active participant in other campus societies and functions. Receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree, Caldwell joined his father's firm, manufacturers of cottenseed products. He enlisted in the Navy V-7 program in March, 1942, and was trained in the Prairie State, and at Fleet Sound School, Key Vllest, Fla. Ensign Caldwell joined the crew of the old four-piper USS Greer CDD 1455 as Sound Officer and later as Assistant Gunnery Ofhcer. He saw action in con- voy and anti-submarine operations in the North Atlantic and the Mediterranean. Promoted in 1944, he was sent to Fire Control School before joining the bal- ance crew of the Shannon. He served on the ship as Assistant Gunnery Officer. Lieut. Caldwell was one of the most popular and highly respected officers on the Shannon, His foresight, intelligence, and experienceg his firm but considerate and unassuming manner, spiced with humor, made him invaluable. He was a condition watch Control Officer until made a top watch stander and Senior VVatch Officer. For meritorious achievement and cool capable direction as general quarters Machine Gun Control Officer , Lieut. Caldwell was award- ed tlhe Bronze Star Medal. He succeeded Lieut. Grehan as Gunnery Officer. Lieut. Caldwell was released in February, 1946. and returned to his position as assistant manager of Caldwell X Co. He lives at 315 Pine Street, Spartanburg. LIEUT. E. BRADNER PETERSEN, USNR Edward Bradner Petersen was born january 25, 1916, in Los Angeles, Calif- During his early childhood, Pete spent five vears in Nebraska, before settling in South Pasadena, Calif. ' Q In high school, he won several debating honors. Scholastically outstanding. he became class valedictorian in 1933 and was awarded a scholarship't0 Dartmouth College, Hanover, N. H. Majoring in political science and economics. 11616061-V661 Bachelor of Arts degree in 1937. and entered law school at the UUIVCVSWY Of California. VVhen admitted to the California Bar in the summer Of 1940, PCt61'SCl1 iOined the l.os Angeles firm of Mitchell, Selberberg Hlld KUUPD- He practiced, as a junior member of the firm, working with movie studio and oil business clients. In 1942,A Petersen enlisted in the Navy Y-7 program and was trained at NOYW Dame University. He was commissioned Ensign in january, 1943. and sent t0 San Diego, .before assignment to the USS Mahan KDD 36-li as Assistallli Communication Officer. The lvlahan operated in the Coral Sea and the Bismarck Archipelago' and SUlFl10l'liOtl landings on New Guinea, New Britain and the Admiralty lslands. After llt. Cjgi Petersen left her, the Mahan was sunk Rf O-rnioc Bay. Pile was ordered to Norfolk and assigned to the balance crew of the Shfilrlnfm- 'USISQU' lfmmotecl to l.1eutenant in 10-15, served as Assistant Coinmumcatwn Offlcelu Custodlall 9' RCtIlstered Publications, Legal Officer, and an Officer of the Deck- Al,2'f lCl'f1l flllllrters he was on the bridge as IOONV. From NOV' ember, 1945, until separated in liebruary, 19-lo, he was Coxinnunication Officer- I:it1HIgiflclItci his law praeticeiin South Pasadena, where he liveslwitlil fr-tlf I S fl H .afnrel Street. l-le is a member ol Phi lxappa Plll. 3 egay 3 willy, and of the California and l.os Angeles Bar Associations.

Page 15 text:

LIEUT. BERNARD A. GREHAN, USNR Bernard A. Grehan has lived his entire life in New Orleans, La., where he was born March ll, 19.22. Throughout his high school and college davs, he was an outstanding student and a leader in athletics and other extracurricu- lar activities. At 16, Grehan entered Tulane University. For his contributions to campus activities, he was elected to two honorary fraternities. ln june, 1942, he was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Science in civil engineering, and was elected to Tau Beta Pi, National Engineering Fraternity. Having served four years in the Naval ROTC, he was commissioned Ensign. Ensign Grehan's first duty assignment was on board the Fitch CDD467l, on which he served in every deck division before being made Gunnery Officer. In the spring of 1943, he was promoted to Lieutenant Cjgj, and a year later to Lieutenant. In twenty months, Grehan saw action in Atlantic and Arctic convoy and anti-submarine work, and at the landings at Casablanca. Lieut. Grehan spent three months in Fire Control School and a month as an afloat gunnery instructor. ln july, 1944, he joined the nucleus crew in Bath, Me., and was named Gunnery Officer and Senior WVatch Officer. Throughout the Shannon's actions, Lieut. Grehan served so skillfully as general quarters Control Officer that he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal. The ship's record and unscathed operation attest to the outstanding and effective performance of her Gunnery Officer. Vlhen Lt. Commander Goranson was detached in October, 1945, Lieut. Grehan was made Executive Officer. He performed the duties of this post capably, with quiet understanding. ln February, 1946, Lieut. Grehan was relieved by Lieut. David P. XVynkoop. USN. He returned to New Orleans, where he lives at 1670 Soniat Street. LIEUT. JO R. PERSONS, JR., USNR jo R. Persons has made his home in New Orleans, La., since 1929. He moved there from Montgomery, Ala., where he was born April 24, 1917. Graduating from high school in New Orleans, Persons entered Tulane University, where he studied accounting and statistics. He was a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity and a founder of the Tulane Camera Club. ln 1939, after receiving his degree from Tulane, Persons joined the staff of the Farm Security Administration, Little Rock, Ark. A year later he accepted a position with a New Orleans certified public accounting firm. Persons entered the Army in April, 1941, as a private. Later released he returned to service in February, 1942, as a Naval Reserve Midshipman. Commissioned in June, 1942, Ensign Persons served on the carrier Hornet in the Guadalcanal and Eastern Solomons campaigns. In the Battle of Santa Cruz Island, the Hornet, suffering numerous hits, was left dead in the water and had to be abandoned and sunk. Ensign Persons was picked up by a destroyer and sent to Pearl Harbor, where he served on CinCPac's staff. In 1943, aboard the Anderson CDD 4111 he saw action in the Aleutian raids and at Tarawa. While bombarding at Kwajalein, the Anderson was damaged by a shore battery and forced to retire. Lieut. Persons was detached after his ship returned for repairs. He and Miss Ellen Martin were married in 1944. Lieut. Persons reported to Bath, Me., for duty as First Lieutenant and Damage Control Officer, of the Shannon. For his outstanding performance of duty while towing the Aaron VVard, he was awarded a Letter of Commendation with Ribbon. Lieut. Persons' leadership and experience were an important contribution to the Shannon. Mr. and Mrs. Persons and their son. Jo Robert, 111, born Dec. 30, 1946, live at 4376 State St. Drive, New Orleans 15, La. LT. COMMANDER WILLIAM H. HEMMERLY, USNR VVilliam H. Hemmerly, raised in the New England coastal town of Plymouth, Mass., where he was born Feb. 13, 1915, has been a seafarer more than 10 years. Graduating from high school, Hemmerly studied at the Massachusetts Nautical School several years before joining the Standard Oil Company of New jersey. At the age of 21, he went to sea as an engineering officer on Standard Oil tankers in transoceanic and coastal trade. In 1942, Hemmerly enlisted in the Naval Reserve and was commissioned Lieutenantfjgj. He was assigned to the newly commissioned Conway QDD 5075, which was ordered to the southwest Pacific in time to participate in the January, 1943, actions off Guadalcanal, including encounters with the Tokyo Express . The Conway also operated in support of the New Georgia and Bougainville land- ings and in the numerous surface engagements off those islands. Hemmerly then was serving as Chief Engineer. ln 1943, he was promoted to Lieutenant. He returned to the States early in 1944, and was ordered to Bath, Me., to fit out the Shannon and to serve on board as Chief Engineer. He was the first officer to reach the ship and was instrumental in preparing the Shannon and her crew. VVhile the Shannon was at Norfolk for post-shakedown availability, Lieut. Hemmerly and Miss Jean Fletcher were married in the N.O.B. chapel. Lieut. Hemmerly's experience and his knowledge of men and machines were important factors in the distinguished success of the Shannon. The skill he im- parted to his men and the high degree of emciency and operation at which he maintained the Shannon's engineering plant are a tribute to his ability. Before leaving the ship at Sasebo, Hemmerly was promoted to Lieutenant Commander. When released from active duty, he entered business in Oakland, Calif.. before becoming an instructor at the Massachusetts Maritime School Hyannis, Mass., where he. his wife and daughter live at 26 Yarmouth Road :IQ X IM x fc AOIOV, scifi, I , I I ,K ,. NN-.. yi-74713V-l4tVi7.Tifi'? f Trias f- F A ,Mya ,.g,y,zsf1w-swf' ,,,,, g x f 1 ' , , sg s ,.sf4sZ,y.y.s fsq , ,,, gf it 4-7513 X 2.4.

Page 17 text:

A LIEUT. ROBERT C. KENAN, USNR Robert C. Kenan spent several years in Valparaiso, Ind., where he was born June 23, 1914. His family moved to Cleveland, Ohio, where he attended high school and became an outstanding swimmer, winning a State freestyle championship. Entering VVestern Reserve University, Cleveland, Kenan majored in economics. He won varsity letters in swimming and track and was a member of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity. Kenan worked as a machinist in an engineering firm before joining Koppers Coal Company, a coal tar chemical organization. He traveled three years before being sent to the firm's home office in Pittsburgh. Kenan had just settled in Pittsburgh when the United States declared war. He enlisted in the Navy, was commissioned Ensign and sent to Harvard University for a five months course in the Navy Communication School. Ensign Kenan was ordered to the USS Boyle CDD 6001, on which he served as Assistant Communication Officer. He was promoted to Lieutenant Cjgb in 1943, and a year later, to Lieutenant. He saw action in the North Atlantic and Mediterranean areas, where the Boyle operated in support of the Sicilian land- ings, in bombardment of Anzio and VVestern Italy, and in support of the invasion of Southern France. Immediately after the Southern France operation, Lieut. Kenan returned to the States. He was ordered to the Staff of CominDiv 7, then in the Smith, as Division Communication Officer. Vtfhen Commodore Beecher shifted his pennant to the Shannon at Pearl Harbor, Lieut. Kenan moved aboard. His duties included serving the Commodore as Flag Lieutenant, aide and secretary, division communicator, and officer in charge of staff enlisted men. Detached in Japan and separated in the States, Kenan returned to Koppers in Pittsburgh. He and his wife live at Richmond Circle, R.F.D. 4, Pittsburgh. LT.lJGl THEODORE A. WEAGER, JR., lSCl USNR Theodore A. VVeager has lived an exceedingly interesting, well-rounded life. He was born January 21, 1919, in Cleveland, Ohio, and later moved to Cleveland Heights, where he entered high school in 1933. He was a good student, but was outstanding as a football player, winning letters two years, and as a weight man in track. During the summer of 1936, VV eager traveled through Europe. In 1937, he entered Colgate University, Hamilton, N. Y., where he majored in economics, and won letters in football, wrestling, and track. He was elected to Phi Gamma Delta fraternity and was a member of other campus organizations. VVeager spent the summers of 1939 and 1940 selling Fuller Brushes. He worked as an executive trainee in the Sears, Roebuck 8: Co. Cleveland store a year after his graduation. VVhen he and Kathleen Rodway were married in Cleveland, he joined the Parsons Engineering Corporation for a year. VVeager enlisted in the Navy in the fall of 1943. Commissioned Ensign in the Supply Corps, in November, he was sent to the University of Illinois, Champaign, as Assistant Supply Officer and later to Harvard University for five months training in the Navy Supply School. Upon graduation, he was assigned to the DE Pre-commissioning detail in Boston. Requesting sea duty, he was ordered to the Shannon in November, at Norfolk, relieving Lt. Cjgj Creger. In addition to supply and disbursing duties, he was Coding Officer at general quarters. Lt. fjgj Weager's resourcefulness, integrity and devotion to duty were a major factor in keeping the ship well supplied and the crew well fed. His sense of humor was an important aid to morale-it was a treat to hear, more especially to see him tell a story. Relieved by Ensign Ungs in March, 1946, VVeager returned to Cleveland to take a position as sales engineer with the Buffalo Forge Company. He and his wife make their home at 1906 East 105th Street, Cleveland 6, Ohio. LT.lJGl WILLIAM L. MUSSER, lMCl USNR William L. Musser was born December 27, 1916, in Clarksburg, W. Va., where he lived in an atmosphere of professional sciences. His father is an educator and his brother a botanist. While still in high school, he became absorbed in chemistry and biology. Attending the University of West Vir- ginia, Morgantown, he was an outstanding pre-medical student. I-Ie became a member of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity, in which he served as house manager, and belonged to numerous other campus organizations. After receiving a Bachelor of Science degree, Musser continued his studies at the Medical College of McGill University, Montreal, Quebec. He was graduated with the degree of Doctor of Medicine in November, 1943. Dr. Musser enlisted in the Naval Medical Corps, and was commissioned Lieutenant Cjgj. He interned at jackson Memorial Hospital, Miami, Fla., nine months before being called to active duty. Ordered to Portsmouth, Va., he had duty as a resident physician in the Norfolk Navy Yard Dispensary. When the Shannon returned from shakedown, D-r. Smith was transferred to Princeton University and Dr. Musser reported aboard. During the Shan- non's availability period in Norfolk, Dr. Musser and Miss Jeanette VVhited, of Lakeland, Fla., were married in the N.O.B. chapel. His duties as Medical Officer of the Shannon were performed with con- scientious capability and devotion to the standards of his profession. Dr. Musser was detached from the Shannon upon her return to San Diego, and ordered to the U. Naval Hospital, Key West, Fla., where he worked in the Obstetrical and Gynecological Department for six months before he was released to inactive duty. Specializing in obstetrics and gynecology, Dr. Musser obtained a position on the staff of the Chicago Maternity Hospital. His permanent address is 410 Spring Avenue, Clarksburg. I J