Regrettably the Armed Guard is today little known or remembered by the public, or even the US Navy. Were it not for the Armed Guard website, even less would be known. (I can say that without embarrassment since so much of the work in creating this website was done by my late and deeply missed predecessor as webmaster, Mr. Tom Bowerman of Anniston, Alabama.)
I have not been able to find much on SS PERMANENTE myself, at least probably nothing more than what you may already have. Incidentally I have run across information about a ship named PERMANENTE and another named PERMANENTE SILVERBOW and I'm not sure whether they are the same ship or not, but I am guessing they were two different ships.
There was a cargo ship named SHAWMUT constructed by Bethlehem Steel in Baltimore in 1902, renamed PERMANENTE in 1941, scrapped in 1950, which may fit the ship in which your father served. See http://shipbuildinghistory.com/history/shipyards/1major/inactive/bethsparrowspoint.htm and scroll down to hull number 35.
You may wish to contact the National Archives. The Archives has custody of a wide range of records relating to World War II-era merchant ships on which Armed Guard units served. Available records include but are not limited to:
* Action Reports (World War II)
* Armed Guard Logbooks and Reports (World War II)
* Casualty Reports (World War II – late 1950s)
* Deck Logs (1941 – 1967)
* Movement Report Cards
* Muster Rolls/Personnel Diaries (World War II – 1970)
* Records of Individual Convoys
* War Diaries (World War II)
Of these records, the Armed Guard reports and the ship movement report cards are probably of greatest interest to you.
To learn more about the scope of these materials and to request records, write to the following address:
Modern Military Records Unit (NWCTM)
National Archives and Records Administration
8601 Adelphi Road
College Park, MD 20740-6001
In your letter, include the ship's name, the date/time period of interest; your full name, address, and telephone number; and as much other detail as possible about the information you would like to obtain. Due to the volume of requests received and the time needed to identify all appropriate records, Archives staff requests that you limit your request to five items per each letter. Allow approximately 10 – 12 weeks from the initial inquiry to a response from the Archives staff.
A charge will be imposed for reproduction/mailing of the records, however do not send any cash/check/charge card information with your initial inquiry. Archives staff will review your request and mail to you an estimate of the cost and payment information. Follow the directions contained in that letter to order the desired records.
Good luck.
Ron Carlson, Webmaster
Armed Guard website www.armed-guard.com
Responses
« Back to index | View thread »