Hi guys Thanks for your prompt & courtious reply's. I'll try to follow up on your advice & information. It will be a challenge for me, but worth it. I believe he was drafted sometime in middle or late 1942 and choose the Navy. He also mentioned, in those days draftees had a choice of what department to serve in. Navy sent him to boot camp at Great Lakes, Ill. and a special gunnery school after that. I also found the launch date for River Raisin was 5/25/1943 with completion 6/1943. Again thanks much for the reply's it is much appreciated. David Briggs
http://www.aukevisser.nl/t2tanker/id513.htm