Here are several videos and photos from the 2015 USS Calvert reunion, showing parts of the narrated a bus tour of the former Sparrows Point Shipyard, outside Baltimore, MD.
end.
Bud Ruth, the Calversion’s store keeper for many years, sent me the following amazing artwork and USS Calvert photographs that were originally used to create a t-shirt design (further below). The origin of the map is currently unknown, although I hope to learn more about it’s origins and artist at this year’s reunion.
Click on each image to display a larger-sized version in a new window:
Here’s a great newspaper article from the Westby Times (WI) on Mr. Hilmer Anderson’s experiences aboard the USS Calvert from ’44 to ’46 and his visit to Washington, DC in early May 2015 via the Freedom Honor Flight non-profit organization. There are several photographs in this article showing Mr. Anderson, his honor wall, and a new (to me) picture of the Calvert from either late ’45 or early ’46.
The Freedom Honor Flight group also has an excellent video highlighting the flight to Washington, DC that Mr Hilmer participated earlier this year.
March 2017 Update; I am sad to pass along the news that Hilmer passed away in August of 2016. Here is a link to Hilmer’s obituary.
Here are several pictures provided to me by Mr. Anderson’s daughter:
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.