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.
The WII-era Calvert song sheets shown below are shared by Geoff, creator of http://1stbattalion24thmarines.com/
This tremendous site tells the story of the 1st Battalion, 24th Marines. The 1/24 was aboard the Calvert for the invasion of Saipan and Geoff provides insight into the action and fighting that the Marines experienced once they made if off the Calvert’s landing craft and onto the beach at Saipan. A full account of the Marines’ experience on Saipan is available here: http://1stbattalion24thmarines.com/the-battles/saipan/
Here’s the story behind these two song sheets, as shared by Geoff:
“This song sheet belonged to PFC George A. Smith (A/1/24), then a nineteen year old machine gunner, now a retired police captain. He must have carried it in his pocket into the battle of Saipan, where he (and it) survived being bowled over by a shell, a week of combat, and then being shot and evacuated to a hospital ship, never to return to combat. (Photographs of George are available here: (picture 1, picture 2, picture 3, picture 4, picture 5)
George also has a few good stories about life on the USS Calvert, but my favorite involves a craps game. Apparently some of the sailors were shooting dice, and George’s friend Corporal Thomas McCay decided to get in on the action. To hear George tell it, neither of the Marines really knew what they were doing, and the sailors thought they’d be an easy mark, but McCay pulled some real luck of the Irish and threw three sevens in a row. Needless to say, their popularity disappeared and George was only half kidding when he recalled they had to beat a retreat or be thrown overboard. Safely back in the Marine area, McCay started tossing handfuls of his winnings overboard. “The hell are you doing?” asked George, to which McCay replied “What are we going to do with it where we’re going?” So the two of them passed the afternoon throwing bits of loose change from the craps game into the Pacific. McCay was killed in action less than a week later.”
Additional pictures of George Smith’s time as a Marine, during both WWII and Korea, are available here: http://1stbattalion24thmarines.com/photo-galleries/weapons-platoon-photos/
I came across this match book cover on Ebay for $1.50.
The name “Chigasaki Raiders” was adopted by the Calvert and crew as a result of several training exercises near Yokosuka, Japan during June and July, 1951.
Additional information on the Calvert’s time as a part of the “Chigasaki Raiders” the summer of 1951 can be found at:
There is a hand written date of 1/29/53 on the back of the cover, and possibly and name “Mensch” but I’m not certain that’s what it is.
