Posted by Harvel Arnold on January 19, 2009, 11:59 am
Herschel Richard Arnold born 17 Nov. 1925 White Bluff ,Tn. died 21 March 2007 in perris, Ca. Enlisted in Nashville, Tn. 3/21/44 served aboard SS Frank Springer 14 June 1944-- 1 Dec. 1944 SS Frances E. Warren 15 Dec. 1944 -- 1 Nov. 1945 USS Atlanta CL 104 27 Dec. 1945 --3 Nov. 1946 Have not yet found out much about the ships he was on, I know that all three have been scraped. Don't know if the merchant ships were called liberty ships and have'nt learned about any convy duties.Guess you are bored enough with this so I will call a hault for now.
SS FRANK SPRINGER was a Liberty ship, built by California Shipbuilding Corporation ("Calship") in Los Angeles, CA. Her keel was laid 28 May 1943, she was launched 19 June 1943, and completed 30 June 1943, 33 days after keel-laying. She must have had a relatively uneventful wartime career because I can find nothing more about her until she was scrapped in Wilmington, NC, in 1967. See http://shipbuildinghistory.com/history/shipyards/4emergency/wwtwo/kcalifornia.htm and scroll down to hull #210. For information on the convoys in which she sailed, including the time your brother would have been aboard, see http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/ports/index.html?search.php?vessel=FRANK%20SPRINGER~armain.
Finding information on the internet about commissioned warships is usually quite easy, including that of the light cruiser USS ATLANTA. See, for example, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Atlanta_(CL-104). ATLANTA was launched in Camden, NJ, in February 1944, served in the Pacific theater, decommissioned in 1949, converted to a target ship in 1964, and was sunk in an explosive test off San Clemente Island, California, in October 1970.
Thank you to Fran Kent and Ron Carlson for your quick responce and help. I guess the proper thing to do is introduce myself, should have done this before. As you already know my name now, I was in the navy for 6 years,4 years active from 25 Jan. 1957 to 18 Jan 1961. Served on 3 tin cans. Had 2 years inactive reserve before discharge in 1963. I had two brothers in service during WWII. Richard U S Navy Armed Guard ,and George was in the army. South pacific.George died this past feb. I did not get to talk with Richard about his time in service as he married and went to Detriot for about 30 years and then to southern Ca. Again thanks for the help. Ron you are doing a great job and I am greatful to you for it.
I can't imagine anyone getting bored with anything posted on this site. FYI, both of your brother's merchant ships were indeed Liberties; the Atlanta was of course a light cruiser. Come back often.