AG and MM Board

JUST RAMBLIN'

Posted by Clarence Rutherford on September 11, 2011, 11:18 pm

while reading someof your replys, which I thoroughly enjoy, I got to reminiscing about some of my trips in the Armed Guard, and wondered if any of you experienced anything similiar?

After boot camp, gunnery school at Little Creek, was assigned to a new Liberty Ship at Baltimore. [The Joyce Kilmer], and was sent to Persia. Returned then to U.S.A.,&, my next trip was to Archangel, Russia,....after passing Murmansk, frozen solid in the White Sea.
Not much fun standing watch while nearly Frozen To Death !
Made three trips across the Atlantic, got leave, & got married, &, sent to Treasure Island.
we were about 5 days in the Pacific when they dropped the bomb!
Our crew thought,...WOW,...The War Is Over!!!,.......but , instead of coming home, I ended up running a fork lift on the Island of Samar at a supply depot. A Big Disappointment!
Was finally discharged Dec. 17, 1945.

Memories,...Memories...of things that are past.
Years fly like birds,....But Memories Last!!!!!!
Clarence

Re: JUST RAMBLIN'

Posted by Bob Higgins on September 13, 2011, 1:34 pm, in reply to "JUST RAMBLIN'"

Hey Clarence , enjoyed your info.I also sailed to Iran [Persia]. Unloaded Planes, Ammo, Trucks, etc. at the port of Khorramshahr. Lots of calm waters for the rest of your life.

Bob

Re: JUST RAMBLIN'

Posted by Clarence RutherfordT on September 13, 2011, 10:53 pm, in reply to "Re: JUST RAMBLIN'"

Thank You, Bob. I appreciate your reply!
Yes, I also was in Khorramshahr. My, how the years have flown bye. It seems impossible that I can be 86 years old, but, I am thankful that my wife & I are still able to do our volunteer work for The Red Cross Blood Bank, &, also for The Shriner's Hospitals for handicapped children. It is very rewarding !
I feel blessed ! Hope you are in good health!
Clarence

Re: JUST RAMBLIN'

Posted by Bob Higgins on September 14, 2011, 3:33 pm, in reply to "Re: JUST RAMBLIN'"

Hi again Clarence
after you unloaded at Khorrasmhahr where did you go ? I was on the SS Aednus Burke a Liberty Ship we sailed from Khorrasmhahr to Bombay, India and loaded up Manganese Ore and sailed to New York.
am also 86 years old. I got a bad ticker but I manage to live a good life
Bob

Re: JUST RAMBLIN'

Posted by CLARENCE RUTHERFORD on September 22, 2011, 12:00 am, in reply to "Re: JUST RAMBLIN'"

HI, AGAIN, BOB,
SORRY IT HAS TAKEN ME SO LONG TO REPLY, BUT WE ARE STILL TOO BUSY FOR "OLD RETIRED FOLK" !
YOU ASKED WHERE I WENT AFTER LEAVING KHORRASMHAHR ? WE CAME BACK & LEFT THE CONVOY, & WENT TO CUBA. LOADED SUGAR & DELIVERED IT TO N.Y. MEN CAME IN TO INSULATE THE WALLS OUTSIDE, & PROBABLY FUEL TANKS. POURED CONCRETE INTO THE BOW, BUILT A SMALL BUILDING TO PROTECT THE ABs, &, SINCE THE CARGO WAS STAMPED USSR, WE KNEW WHERE WE WERE GOING.WE TOOK 3 RAILROAD STEAM ENGINES ON DECK, INCLUDING COAL TENDERS. TRAVELED TO ARCHANGEL IN WHITE SEA, FROZEN SOLID.IT TOOK 2 ICE BREAKERS TO GET US THROUGH THE WHITE SEA. BROUGHT RUSSIAN SAILORS BACK TO SCOTLAND, & SAILED DIRECTLY BACK TO WHERE WE LEFT FROM,..CARDITH WALES. WENT AROUND SCOTLAND, & DOWN THE ENGLISH CHANNEL,..ONE SHIP AT A TIME, AT NIGHT. ANCHORED IN PORTSMOUTH, ENGLAND, & THEN TO DRYDOCK IN BALTIMORE FOR A NEW PROP. A MAN ON THE TUG HELD UP A NEWSPAPER..."NORMANDY INVADED". WE RETURNED TO THE A.G. CENTER. [SS JOYCE KILMER]

Re: JUST RAMBLIN'

Posted by Robert Higgins on September 23, 2011, 2:31 pm, in reply to "Re: JUST RAMBLIN'"

Thanks for your reply
Bob

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