Author Archives: Chris Funck

Warren “Ted” Weber – Boatswain Mate 2nd Class – WWII Crew Member

Diane Weber  was kind enough to share the following information about her father, Warren “Ted” Weber in a comment on this site in December, 2013:

“My father, Warren T. Weber, also known as “Ted” or “Teddy” served as BM2C. He fought in No. Africa, Sicily, Pacific and was in Japan at Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Dad ran the Higgins’ boats during many invasions and spoke often of going in and out of “Pearl.” A major storm off the US Pacific coast late in the war occurred; he went out on deck and photographed 40 foot waves by securing himself with his feet to the railings. Around that time, he steered the USS Calvert down the Columbia River. He was helmsman and said the ship was about 500 feet long. P.S. His photo is in the 2nd Division Deck Crew/Boat Crew, circa 1943 or 1944, USS Calvert. He is in front row on the right.” (see below)

Warren can be seen bottom right on this photograph of the Calvert’s 2nd Division Boat Crew (click on image to open full-sized version in a new window).

I corresponded with Diane over the holidays and she was kind enough to send the following picture of her and her father taken in August 2004 during their cruise to Bermuda.

Webber, Warren (Ted) - 1

Sadly, Warren sailed away in December, 2004, at the age of 82. In memory of Warren, and his service for our country, here is a photograph from Diane’s collection from her final cruise with her father: Webber, Warren (Ted) - 2

Benjamin “Lawrence” Hearne – SC1 – World War II Crew Member

Sandy Waits provided the following photographs of her father, Benjamin “Lawrence” Hearne. Lawrence served aboard the Calvert from June 1944 through March 1945 and during this time he was a Seaman 2nd class, then promoted to 1st class, while aboard the Calvert.

Hearne, Benjamin Lawrence - 01 Hearne, Benjamin Lawrence - 02

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Originally from Chatham, Jackson Parish, Louisiana, Lawrence’s full war-time chronology follows:

01/31/44   –   MARSHALL ISLANDS  –  L.S.T. 222

06/23/44   –   SAIPIAN  –  U.S.S. CALVERT APA 32

07/24/44   –   TINNIAN  –  U.S.S. CALVERT APA 32

10/20/44   –   LETTE  –  U.S.S. CALVERT APA 32

01/9/45   –   LU  –  U.S.S. CALVERT APA 32

03/26/45   –   TO THE U.S.A.  –  U.S.S. CALVERT APA 32 – ARRIVE AT BREMERTON, WA

09/27/45   –   TO PEARL HARBOR  –  U.S.S. BUNKER HILL CV 17

11/24/45   –   TO THE U.S.A.  –  U.S.S. SCHMITT A.P.D. – SAN DIEGO

Sadly, Lawrence passed in 1988.

2nd Deck Division Boat Crews, Circa 1943

This group photograph of the Calvert’s 2nd Division Boat Crews came from my grandfather’s collection. He spoke kindly of all these men. Many of the exploits of this group are detailed in the Adventures of a Landing Craft Coxswain book.

 

Click on the photograph to open a larger-sized image.

Here is a slightly different photograph (and inscription on back) from the same day – Appreciation to Larry O’Connell, grandson of Frank Kubiak, for the photographs below and solving a big question I’ve had for many years: i.e., A firm date for the 2nd Division Boat Crew photograph.

 

’45-’46 Crewmember David Julio Garcia, Cook, Seaman 1st Class

Ted Garcia sent in this photograph of his father, David Julio Garcia. David served on the Calvert from ’45-’46 as a cook. Here he is at 86 years old, holding his Navy photograph from when he was 17 years old.

Mr. Garcia would like to hear from anyone from the ’45-’46 era who remembers him. Send me an email and I’ll put you in contact with his son, Ted.

Garcia, David Julio - @86 yrs old & @17 yrs old