Carolyn,

Sorry, I can't help you with your father's shipmates. I made a number of searches but did not turn up your father's name, indicating only that the information available to me is not complete.

As to a hat, are you referring to the round white "dixie cup" cap? If so you might be able to find one in a military surplus store. One can find them on the Internet although they seem mostly to be in children's sizes or a novelty costume type of hat. However I was able to find an official manufacturer of U.S. military clothing and they have what looks to be a genuine cap available for retail sale. See http://www.orcind.com/webstore/proddetail.asp?prod=DH2815 (scroll down).

Your father might also appreciate a baseball-style cap with the words or logo "Armed Guard" as a way to display his pride in his service. These caps may be available from the U.S. Navy Armed Guard World War II Veterans Association. Please contact their Chairman, Mr. C.A. Lloyd. Mr. Lloyd does not sell the caps so much as makes them available for a donation, which avoids the administrative burden of collecting and reporting sales tax. You can contact Mr. Lloyd at:

C.A. Lloyd, Chairman
U.S.N. Armed Guard World War II Veterans Association
115 Wall Creek Drive
Rolesville, NC 27571
Telephone: 919-570-0909
E-mail: clloyd@nc.rr.com

Tell him I sent you.

Just FYI, the correct name of your father's ship was SS Emma Willard, not "USS" Emma Willard. USS, meaning United States Ship, designates commissioned warships of the U.S. Navy. SS Emma Willard (SS means steamship) was never a naval vessel. Rather she was a cargo ship, manned by civilian merchant mariners along with U.S. Navy Armed Guard gunners.

I don't know where you are located but if your father is anywhere near Baltimore, he would surely enjoy coming aboard SS John W Brown, a sister ship of Emma Willard, and one of only two operating World War II Liberty ships still in existence. I am a volunteer crewman aboard John W Brown as well as webmaster for Project Liberty Ship, which owns the Brown. One can visit the ship at dockside or sail with us on occasional day trips on the Chesapeake Bay. See www.liberty-ship.com.

Best wishes.

Ron Carlson, Webmaster
Armed Guard / Merchant Marine website
www.armed-guard.com