This message board and its associated website concentrate on the U.S. Navy Armed Guard, a branch of the Navy that served aboard merchant ships, primarily as gunners, during World War II. If your father-in-law served in the 1950s, and if he was aboard a "flagship" in Hawaii, he probably was not in the Armed Guard.
That said, here is a suggestion. You (or better yet your husband, or your father-in-law himself, if he is still living) should be able to obtain a copy of his military service record. That would indicate his shipboard and land-based assignments during his Navy career. Please see this page from the Armed Guard / Merchant Marinewebsite that I manage: http://armed-guard.com/searchmil.html, in particular section II.A.1. - Records of Individuals - U.S. Military. You will have to contact the National Personnel Records Center, a U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) facility in St. Louis, MO. Provide as much identifying information as you have. There may be a charge for research time, photocopying and mailing, but the Records Center staff will provide an estimate on the cost before beginning work.
It would be best if the request came from your father-in-law, if he is living, rather than from you. If he is not living, the request should come from your husband, as next-of-kin, or the wife, another child, or a sibling of your father-in-law. (Next-of-kin = parent, spouse, sibling or child. Next-of-kin can obtain the full military service record whereas someone not next-of-kin, such as yourself, would not be able to.) Of course you can do the leg work in preparing a request but the request should be signed by your father-in-law, husband, or other next-of-kin.
Good luck.
Ron Carlson, Webmaster
Armed Guard / Merchant Marine website
www.armed-guard.com
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