Adelardo A. Racinez enlisted in December 1957 and was assigned on the USS Calvert July 1958 through September 1961, S-5 Division. He re-enlisted 4 times during his time with the U.S. Navy and was honorable discharged in March 1978 (MS1). 

Adelardo received the following medals: Navy Good Conduct Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, and Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Unit Citation. 

Prior to joining the U.S. Navy, he was a scout with the Army towards the end of WWII, during the liberation of the Philippines.

These two photos are from the Calvert’s 1960-61 Cruise Book, page 47, showing Adelardo with members of the S-5 division.

Sadly, Adelardo passed in late August 2024 at the age of 93. His obituary is available here.

Appreciation to Adelardo’s son, Ryan, for the information on his father’s time aboard the Calvert and his service in the United States Navy and Army.

This document is a chronologically ordered set of historical research notes for the period January 1, 1965 to August 22, 1965.

View and download the 42 page document here: USS Calvert – Historical Research Notes – 1965.01.01 to 1965.08.22 (the document will open in a new tab).

Chronological highlights for this period include:

• San Diego U.S. Naval Station, and local area – January 1 to February 5
• Underway for Hawaii – February 5 – February 13
• Pearl Harbor, and local operating area – February 13 – March 12
• Underway for Okinawa, Japan – March 12 – March 26
• Okinawa, Japan – March 26 – April 1
• Underway for Yokosuka, Japan – April 1 – April 4
• Yokosuka, Japan – April 4 – April 9
• Underway to Hawaii – April 9 – April 19
• Pearl Harbor – April 19 – April 21
• Underway to San Diego – April 21 – April 28
• San Diego U.S. Naval Station, and local area – April 28 – August 22 – A period of amphibious training exercises and periods of upkeep, prior to departure on August 23rd for the Calvert’s final WestPac Cruise

Additional documents covering other periods of WWII are available here: https://www.usscalvert.com/history/1960s-vietnam-war/

Thank you for visiting the website and anything you are wiling or able to share regarding the history of the USS Calvert. Please contact me with questions, additions, or corrections.

Document version history and notes:

• First published: v2024.08.03. This first version covered the period January 1, 1965 to June 30, 1965.
• Second version published: v2024.10.27. Added detailed research notes for the period July 1 to August 22, 1965. Also added several maps and charts throughout the document.

Appreciation to Robert Hitch’s son, Robert, for providing the following photographs and documents regarding his father’s service aboard the USS Calvert.

Robert reported for duty in May 1943, attended the Great Lakes Naval Training Station, and embarked on the Calvert in August 1943 and as a Landing Craft Coxswain participated in landings in the Pacific. Robert was a frequent attendee, and occasional host, of the Calvert Reunions.

Great Lakes Naval Training Station, Battalion 767-43 July 1943

Robert, following graduation from boot camp

Robert and his good friend Robert Hart, possibly taken in Bremerton, WA, mid-1945

Robert’s Crossing the Line documents, November 15, 1943 – click each image to open for a full-sized view

All Hands Messages, from Captain Sweeney, for the Invasion of Makin (November 1943) and Kwajalein (early 1944) – click each image to open for a full-sized view

Christmas, 1945 – click each image to open for a full-sized view

Daily orders, April 2nd, 1946

U.S. Navy’s commendation for the USS Calvert and Crew – Published 1949

U.S. Naval Training Station – Battalion 767-43 – click each image to open for a full-sized view

Robert died in 2008 at the age of 83. He is buried at the Highland Cemetery,
Fort Mitchell, Kenton County, Kentucky.

This is the first of two USS Calvert-specific cachet stamped mailing envelopes I recently purchased on EBay.

This is the first instance of this style USS Calvert Passage to Freedom cachet stamp which is hand colored so I felt it was worth the purchase for the website and eventual contribution to the USS Calvert archive at the Calvert Marine Museum. Additional details on the Calvert’s participation in the Passage to Freedom during the late summer and early fall of 1954 is available here.

As reference, here is an example of the pure black/white cachet stamp for the Passage to Freedom (not purchased).

Maybe some day I’ll come across an actual rubber stamp used to create the cachet stamp image!

Updates to this question: “If anyone knows the story behind this type of ship-specific stamp, and the versions created for the USS Calvert or other ships of the Western Pacific Amphibious Force, please reach out to me.”

• More USS Calvert covers and cachet stamps, here
• Background on cachet stamps can be found here

Next post, coming in a few days, will be a USS Calvert-specific stamp for the 1955 Black Ship Festival held in Shimoda, Japan.