Author Archives: Chris Funck

Jack E. Hancock, RM3 – 1965 – 1966

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Appreciation to Mr. Jack Hancock for sharing these photographs of the Calvert’s Radio crew, OR Division.

Mr. Hancock can also be seen in this 1965-66 movie footage, at the 16 minute, 5 second to 15 second section. Jorge de la Rossa (left), Skip Steedsman (middle), Jack Hancock (right), as the camera pans to the left and then back right.

Mr. Hancock also helped to produce the ’65-66 Cruise Book and took many of the photographs included in the book.

1965-66 WESTPAC Cruise Book

Donald Raymond Robirds, E.M.1c, 1942 – 1944

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Donald Raymond Robirds served for over thirty years of his life in the US military: The Army (pre-WWII), the Navy (during WWII) and the Air Force (during the Korean War).

Born in 1914 he first served our country in the US Army as a member of the 2nd Division, Indianhead division in the mid-1930s.

During WWII he served in the US Navy, spending much of his time aboard the USS Calvert as a member of the E (Electrical) Division.

The details of his service record below help paint a broad picture of his time and experience across the arc of WWII, including in the Pacific prior to the start of WWII, his witness of the attack on Pearl Harbor while aboard the USS Rigel, and then his time aboard the Calvert in the Atlantic, African European, and Pacific campaigns.

  • December 13, 1939 – Denver, CO – Date of enlistment in the US Navy
  • February 10, 1940 – Received onto USS Argonne as a S2c (Seaman, 2nd Class) from San Diego
  • February 16, 1941 – Promoted to S1c (Seaman, 1st Class)
  • March 27, 1941 – Transferred to USS Kingfisher
  • October 14, 1941 – Transferred to USS Rigel and aboard the Rigel during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor
  • April 12, 1942 – Transferred from to USS Medusa

Here are additional details from the USS Calvert’s muster rolls:

  • Joined the USS Calvert on Oct 1st, 1942, from Portsmouth, VA, with a rank of S1c (Seaman 1st Class). This makes him a “plank holder” as that is the date the Calvert was commissioned as a US Naval vessel.
  • February 1st, 1943 – Promoted to E.M.3c (Electrician’s Mate, 3rd class)
  • August 1st, 1943 – Promoted to E.M.2c (Electrician’s Mate 2nd class)
  • March 1st, 1944 – Promoted to E.M.1c (Electrician’s Mate 1st class)
  • November 26th, 1944 – Transferred off the Calvert – likely in the South Pacific, following the 2nd invasion of Leyte.

The following photographs are from his autograph book, signed several of his Calvert’s shipmates.

Donald also participated in the Calvert’s crossing of the Equator and International Date Line on November 15th, 1943 (making him a “Golden Shellback”) while en route to the invasion of Makin Island. Here is his Neptunus Rex certificate from that event:

And here are two additional messages to the crew from Calvert officers:

Following WWII he enlisted in the US Air Force and served as a Staff Sergeant during the Korean War. He is buried at the Fort Logan National Cemetery in Denver, CO. His gravestone can be viewed here.