Would like some information on the BURLESON. My grandfather Richard E. Garrett served onboard here. Someone told me a few years ago they called him "Reb" because he was from Nashville, TN.
I joined the Navy because he was in and would like to know more.
Thanks for your time
Yolanda Gardner
Re: SS EDWARD S. BURLESON
Posted by Ron Carlson on October 11, 2011, 10:43 am, in reply to "SS EDWARD S. BURLESON"
Yolanda,
SS EDWARD BURLESON (I don't find the ship listed as EDWARD S. BURLESON) was constructed in 57 days in April-June 1943 by the Todd Houston Shipbuilding Company, Houston, Texas. Her keel was laid April 15, 1943, she was launched May 27, and she was completed and delivered for service on June 11. She likely had an uneventful wartime career since I can find no unusual mentions of her. She was scrapped in Oakland, California, in 1963. See http://www.mariners-l.co.uk/LibShipsE.html and scroll down to the name of the ship. Also see http://shipbuildinghistory.com/history/shipyards/4emergencylarge/wwtwo/toddhouston.htm and scroll to hull number 63. The ship was named after Edward Burleson (1798-1851), a frontiersman, commander at the siege of the Alamo and Vice President of the Republic of Texas.
I will search for additional information about your father and provide what I find in another message. Was your father an Armed Guard or was he a merchant mariner? If the latter, what was your father's position aboard this or any other ship?
Ron Carlson, Webmaster Armed Guard / Merchant Marine website www.armed-guard.com
i have had a flare gun in my possession from the S.S. EDWARD S. BURLESON for the last twenty or so years. the flare gun is from the international flare co tippecanoe city ohio. it does have some numbers that look they were hand stamped, the numbers are -pt 10287-nov 42. it is all brass except the barrel. does anyone have any more information on this. thanks