Following several invasions the Calvert was tasked with transporting both German and Japanese prisoners. As the prisoners boarded the Calvert they were stripped of all personal belongings. Many times the Calvert’s crew members (particularly deck division and medical division personnel) were on receiving end of these personal belongings as the prisoners surrendered their belongings.

Many thanks to Robert McClellan for sending the following pictures from his father’s collection while aboard the Calvert.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is Robert McClellan’s background on these photographs:

“My father collected souvenirs. Among his papers I found these captured pictures. I don’t know where he got them but there are  also some letters from home to some Japanese sailor dated early in 1942. Note how the picture of the young woman has had a male companion snipped out of the picture. Some things are  universal. I think the girl with the tea was some sort of celebrity, it’s too slick look to be a picture of  just a girl back home. Notice her western hairdo. I thought y’all might like to see these pictures  even if they are  sort of  sad to think about.

Also like  Boatswain Funck, Daddy picked up a Japanese carbine and managed to get it home. It’s the odd 6.5mm one with the folding bayonet. He told me he also had a German P-38 that he got  in Sicily but had to throw it overboard when the captain came looking for contraband. He had other  stuff but he said it was stolen out of his locker.”

Here is Sterling Funck’s description of prisoners’ treatment and conditions aboard the Calvert: