Author Archives: Chris Funck

Calvert’s Radarmen – WWII – 1944

Ronnie Cox’s father, Walter “Fred” Cox (RdM), was a Radarman on the Calvert during WWII. Here is a picture of the Calvert’s radar men from Ronnie’s photograph collection. Annotations are based on the writing on the back of the photograph (also provided by Ronnie). The officer in the middle of the back row was not named. Notice the bright white “Dixie Cup” caps, compared to the grey/blue dyed caps in many of the other WWII-era crew photographs.

Standing rear: Barr | Robert E. Randle, RdM3c | Unknown Officer | Vernon R. Witthans, RdM2c(T) | Fred Cox RdM2c

Kneeling front: Wendell R. Sharpe, RdM3c | Benjamin Sklar, RdM2c(T) | Curits W. Killion, RdM2c

Fred Cox is wearing a life vest around his waist, and it is likely that he was “on duty” on the bridge at the time the picture was taken. Fred served aboard the Calvert from its very first deployment all the way to early August of 1945 when he went on leave. While he was on leave the war ended, and though he had to go back to California to muster-out, he never returned to the Calvert. Fred died in 1967.

Calvert’s Departments and Divisions, Circa early-to-mid 1960s

1 Reply

Boat: Responsible for the operation and maintenance of all ship’s boats and boat equipment, and for providing boat crews trained in boat engineering and amphibious boat operations.
- BC Division
- BE Division

Deck: Responsible for the supervision of deck seamanship operations and evolutions; for the employment and maintenance of the armament and ordnance equipment of the ship; and for the supervision of loading, unloading, and stowage of cargo; and launching and hoisting of boats.
- 1st Deck Division
- 2nd Deck Division
- 3rd Deck Division
- 4th Deck Division

Engineering Department: Responsible for the operation, care and maintenance of the vessel’s main propulsion plant, auxiliary machinery, and piping systems; for the control of damage; for the operation and maintenance of electric power generators and distribution systems; for repairs to ship’s hull and for repairs to material and equipment of other departments which were beyond the capacity of other departments.
- A Division: Fresh water, air conditioning, steering gear, repaired winches for the cargo booms, repaired and maintained the motors on all of the boats on board. A Divsion personnel were also on all the boats when they were operating, in landing operations, and on liberty and mail runs in port.
- B Division: Boiler Room, steam generation and fuel oil for boilers
- E Division: Electrical Equipment, lighting, electric motors
- M Division: Ship’s propulsion and steam electrical generators
- R Division: Damage Control, Welding and woodworking. pipe fitting and plumbing

Medical Department: Responsible for maintaining the health of the personnel of the command, making inspections incident thereto and advising the Commanding Officer with respect to hygiene and sanitation affecting the command. They also supervised the ship’s training program in health, and first aid, and during general quarter or other emergencies in care for the sick and injured
- H Division

Navigation Department: Responsible for the safe navigation and piloting of the ship. They also planned and directed the training of deck watch officers and maintained all navigation equipment and the spaces where such equipment was located.
- N Division

Operations Department: Responsible for the collection, evaluation, and dissemination of combat, tactical, and operational information. In addition they obtained clearances and operating area assignments incident to the movements and operations of the ship.
- OS Division
- OR Division
- OI Division
- X Division

Supply Department: Responsible for procuring, receiving, storing, issuing, shipping, transferring, selling, accounting for, and maintaining all stores and equipment of the command. They also administered the ship’s operating allotment and coordinated the preparation and subdivision of departmental operating budgets.

Sources: 1964 WEST PAC Cruise Book and Steve Straka

Miscellaneous Crew Photographs – ’62 & ’64 WEST PAC Deployments

3 Replies

Steve Straka (MM2, “A” Division, 1962-1965) provided these photographs from his time aboard the Calvert during the 1962 and 1964 WEST PAC deployments.

“A” Division – Repair & Maintenance (Landing Craft, etc.) circa 1962-64

1 Reply

Photographs of the Calvert’s “A” Division areas and crew.

Steve Straka (MM2, “A” Division, 1962-1965) provided these photographs from his time aboard the Calvert during the 1962 and 1964 WEST PAC deployments. Steve explains:

“A Division was part of the engineering, fresh water, air cond. steering gear, we repaired the winches for the cargo booms, and most important of all, we repaired and maintained the motors on all of the boats on board. We also were on all the boats when they were operating, landing operations, liberty and mail runs in port. I was in charge of the evaporators and air cond.”

Click on a picture to open a full resolution copy in a new window.