Thank you for your very interesting message, which I discovered only this morning.
I have done a little research and I believe I may have identified your father-in-law. I won't specify his name either but my guess is that his serial number (military ID number) is 378 58 38. Take a look at his dog tags to confirm. If I have the right man, I also have a list of the names of his shipmates from at least one voyage.
Regardless of whether I have the right person, if he, your husband and you are willing, I would be pleased to create an Honor Page on the Armed Guard website to recognize his service. See http://www.armed-guard.com/honorpgs.html for links to other Honor Pages that the original webmaster and I have created over the years. To create an Honor Page I could use as much "then" and "now" information as he has available and is willing to share, including his biography, the names of the ships in which he served, photographs, electronic images of the memorabilia he has shared with you, etc. In this way, as long as there is an Armed Guard website, his service will be remembered and honored.
Additionally, he may be interested in membership in the U.S.N. Armed Guard World War II Veterans Association (membership is free!) that, among other things, regularly publishes "The Pointer" newsletter/magazine, a copy of which he apparently had and gave to you. I realize that with his macular degeneration he would not be able to read it, but perhaps there is someone available who could read it to him. For membership information see http://www.armed-guard.com/association.html.
You are correct that his service, and that of his fellow Armed Guard sailors, needs to be remembered. You and your husband are fortunate that he has finally been willing to talk about his experiences. So many other children, grandchildren and other family members of Armed Guard veterans never had that opportunity, or did not take advantage of it when the opportunity was there.
If you are more comfortable in communicating off-line rather than via this message board, you can reach me at rcarl616@yahoo.com.
Thanks again for writing, and warm greetings to your father-in-law.
Ron Carlson, Webmaster
Armed Guard / Merchant Marine website
www.armed-guard.com
Responses
« Back to index | View thread »