I have my father's original copy of his service record, which I guess was given/mailed to him when he was discharged in 1949. I have figured out many of the abbreviations on there, but there is one large gap in the record. It mentions him being at the AG school in Brooklyn in July 1943, then it has:
cra 8-?-43
tran 7-31-45
rdut AGC N.O. La 8-?-45

No mention of a ship name during those two years, is that unusual? I do know that he was at Anzio, and I have a "Shellback" card dated 5/30/45 from the SS S.M. Babcock.

Another cool piece of history, I have his 1948 Christmas menu from the USS Union (AKA-106).

Dad is still doing fairly well; will be 88 in a few months.

Helen