Posted by Larry LaFontaine on July 16, 2012, 10:28 pm
Any Armed Guard Sailor can get a copy of the Armed Guard Officers log from the National archives. Several years ago I sent in and got logs from the 8 ships I sailed on-- They were daily reports and covered every event during the trip.. I have a book about 3 in. thick, at that time the cost was 2 cents per page-- They listed all the A.G. and M.M. crew by name--It brings back a lot of memories when going through the books... Armed Guard Service 1-7-42 to 12-24-45
Re: Armed Guard Logs
Posted by David Briggs on July 18, 2012, 5:58 am, in reply to "Armed Guard Logs"
Hi Larry, My Dad Irvin F. Briggs served as US Navy Armed Guard on the River Raisin T2-SE-A1[hull#15], I think sometime between 1942-1944. He always mentioned of delivering oil, gasoline & cargo to various ports, Russia,India,Iran. It would be interesting & fun to obtain that ships logs and or crew list. Maybe you could give me some pointers on how to go about this little project. He also mentioned duty on Saipan at an airfield moving or taxiing F4U's & F4F's. Sadly my Dad passed away [April 2010] I also found that River Raisin was built by Kaiser at Swan Island, Portland,Oregon. thanks for any help [David Briggs]
Re: Armed Guard Logs
Posted by Larry LaFontaine on July 18, 2012, 11:33 am, in reply to "Re: Armed Guard Logs" 76.121.128.194
Hi Dave---I tried to find the address of National Archives , but lost it,, Am sure you can find it on computer or from C.A.Lloyd-- Armed Guard --115 Wall Creek Drive- Rolesville, North Carolina 27571-----Ph. 1(919)570-0909) E mail----clloyd@nc.rr.com You need the persons name and the ships name and the dates they were assigned on-and possibly signed off. If you have a copy of your Dads discharge or D.D. 214 it would help. Its been so long since I done all this that I am a little forgetful now.Hope this helps a little and good luck
Re: Armed Guard Logs
Posted by Ron Carlson on July 18, 2012, 3:21 pm, in reply to "Re: Armed Guard Logs" 161.80.22.203
The address of the National Archives facility to which Larry refers is:
National Archives II 8601 Adelphi Road College Park, MD 20740-6001
You will specifically want to contact the Modern Military Records Unit, telephone 301-837-3510.
If you live reasonably close to College Park (which is a suburb of Washington, DC) you can do research in person, possibly saving time and expense over whatever time it would take Archive staff members to find, photocopy and mail the information of interest to you. See www.archives.gov/dc-metro/college-park/researcher-info.html.
Ron Carlson, Webmaster Armed Guard / Merchant Marine website www.armed-guard.com
Re: Armed Guard Logs
Posted by David Briggs on July 18, 2012, 6:09 pm, in reply to "Re: Armed Guard Logs"
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
Re: Armed Guard Logs
Posted by Francis Kent on July 16, 2012, 10:47 pm, in reply to "Armed Guard Logs"
Larry: It looks as though you spent about as much time in the Armed Guard as anyone. You should tell us something about your experience: what ships, what destinations, what happened. GM, BM, SM or RM? -- Fran
Re: Armed Guard Logs
Posted by Larry LaFontaine on July 17, 2012, 1:05 pm, in reply to "Re: Armed Guard Logs"
Hi Francis--I will give you a quick run down of my A.G. Service.ships #1S.S. R.J. Hanna Tanker #2 s.S. William H. Seward -Liberty #3 S.S.Fitz-John Porter- Liberty(Torpedoed 3-1-43) #4 S.S. Waipio Hog Island Freighter #5 S.S. Richmond Tanker #6 S.S. Gilbert M. Hitchcock Liberty #7 U.S.A.T. Alcoa Polaris Army Transport #8 U.S.S. Arlington APA 174 Navy Transport
Places I have Sailed to--Canada-Hawaii-Aden Arabia-Suez Egypt-Capetown South Africa- Bahia Brazil (Landed after ship Torpedoed)--Kiska- Attu--Philippines Leyte- Manila-Tacloben- New Guinea-Hollandia--Port Moresby--Finschafen Manus Island-Guam- Saipan-Kwajalein-Ewiwetok Iwo Jima-Okinawa-- War over into Toyko Bay Japan With 1500 troops onboard I joined the Navy at age 17 and got discharged at 21-- I than became a Firefighter for 30 years Life has been one big adventure. I sailed with the greatest bunch of guys in the world. I am now 88.and just have great memories.
Re: Armed Guard Logs
Posted by Sandy French on November 12, 2012, 12:53 pm, in reply to "Re: Armed Guard Logs"
How would I go about finding what ships my dad was on? He passed away 17 years ago. We recently found an envelope sent to my mom with a ship name on it but I am seeing that you brave men served on more than one during your service time.
Re: Armed Guard Logs
Posted by Ron Carlson on November 26, 2012, 2:17 pm, in reply to "Re: Armed Guard Logs" 161.80.22.203
Sandy,
Your best bet is to try to obtain a copy of your father's official service record.
Your father's military service record would show the names of the ships to which he was assigned, applicable dates, decorations or medals awarded, etc. Please see this page from the Armed Guard website: http://armed-guard.com/searchmil.html. In particular see section A.1. Records of Individuals - U.S. Military. You will have to contact the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, MO, a facility operated by the U.S. Archives. Provide as much identifying information as possible about your father. The links on the web page noted above will take you to the necessary pages of the Records Center web site. There may be a fee for research time, photocopying and mailing, but the Records Center staff will not begin research without informing you of any charge.
Good luck.
Ron Carlson, Webmaster Armed Guard / Merchant Marine website www.armed-guard.com
Re: Armed Guard Logs
Posted by Francis Kent on July 17, 2012, 2:06 pm, in reply to "Re: Armed Guard Logs" 69.230.67.212
Larry: Adventurous, indeed, especially the A.G. years. You appear to have served on about every type of ship you could have been assigned to and to have gone to about every part of the world open to you. Memories enough for any old sailor. Thanks. -- Fran
