SS Jonathan Elmer
Hi Ron, This is a bit late - some 5 months. I sure hope you receive this. Thank you for answering and setting straight on the SS Jonathan Elmer. You may know this man CA Lloyd - he really helped me to find information on my Dad's time in the Navy. I found out he was a member of the Armed Guard and not only was aboard the Elmer from Sep. 1942 to June 1943. The Elmer sailed from Baltimore to the Persian Gulf. Sailing through the Panama Cannel around S. America and Capetown, S, Africa up to the Persian Gulf. A very long voyage. Then in 1943 to 1944 he was on the SS Joseph Rodman Drake that sailed to Nova Scotia, Ireland, Scotland and England. All of that was news to me but very exciting to find out. CA told me what forms to fill out and I received info from the National Archives at Collage Park and National Personnel Records Center. It was extremely interesting and certainly made me very proud of his time spent as an Armed Guard in the Navy. He lost his oldest brother in March of 1942. Leo, also Navy, was aboard the tanker Pecos when it was bombed by the Japanese just off of the Christmas Islands, Indian Ocean. Dad enlisted in April of 42. His other brothers also enlisted - Dale in the Navy (2x)and Dennis in the Merchant Marines. Another tidbit about WWII - my Mother and Dad were married in 1944 in Iowa and I was born in March '45 in Miami were he was stationed his last year! Again thanks for the information and that YOU for your service in keeping our country free. Karen McMillan
|