Bob Seye, Electrician (E-Division), 1952-1956, is very active in the Calvert Associates and the annual reunions. He and his family hosted the 2013 reunion held in Des Moines, IA.
Here are a few pictures that Bob provided from his time aboard the Calvert:
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Ivan Roy Vail is quite the character. Aboard the Calvert from 1956 to 1958 as a Gunner’s Mate (GM, 4th division), he has countless stories to share (some of which will eventually be shared on this site). After his service in the Navy he found his way to Fairbanks, Alaska in the 1960s where he homesteaded near Fairbanks, Alaska where he continues to live to this day (2015).
Ivan has attended several reunions (when they don’t overlap caribou hunting season) and he has provided photographs, reunion booklets, and the 1956 Far East Cruise Book to be shared with visitors to the Calvert’s web site.
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Mention of the Calvert and few of her crew and passengers appeared in these two newspaper clippings during 1951. These showed up in a recent search of Calvert-related information on the web, so here they are.
Source for this of image of Bm3c Cheramie and Pfc Vical is here.
I’ve lost the source for this next image (a San Francisco newspaper), but additional information on Cpl Bobby J. Pierce is available here (including mention of this clipping).
Here’s the start of a page dedicated to Captain Allen Mullinnix.
The following information on Captain Mullinnix is quoted from The Indiana Magazine of History, “Hoosier Senior Naval Officers in WWII” by John B. Heffernan, 1955 (source):
“Rear Admiral Allen Prather Mullinnix was born in 1898, in Attica, attended New Albany High School and the Naval Academy, 1920, graduating 1919. He served on the staff of the commander of transports of the Atlantic Fleet and participated in the landings at Casablanca, Morocco, in November, 1942. He commanded the U.S.S. “Calvert” (APA-32), a troop transport, and then served in the Office of Naval Communications. In 1944 he assumed command of the U.S.S. “Pensacola” (CA-24). In this cruiser he participated in bombardments in the Kurile Islands, Wake Island, and in the assault and capture of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. He retired in 1947.”
Captain Mullinnix’s Navy Cross commendation (source):
“The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Captain Allen Prather Mullinnix, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the Heavy Cruiser U.S.S. PENSACOLA (CA-24), in action against enemy Japanese forces off Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, on 17 February 1945. When a hostile heavy-caliber shore battery repeatedly hit his ship, causing extensive damage, fire and many casualties, Captain Mullinnix replied with vigorous, heavy and accurate counter-fire which silenced the enemy battery and, with cool courage, directed the rapid completion of emergency repairs, enabling the ship to remain on station and carry out its assigned mission. His aggressive fighting spirit and gallant devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.” General Orders: Commander Amphibious Forces: Serial 0397 (May 1945)
Rear Admiral Mullnnix’s grave at Arlington National Cemetery can be viewed here, along with a photograph of him in 1914. His obituary is available here.
Midshipman Mullinnix’s U.S. Naval Academy scrap book was listed on EBay in late January 2015, and here is his 1920 Lucky Bag Yearbook photograph and entry.
