Miton Hartman, from Mercersburg, PA, enlisted in the US Navy on October 26th, 1942. On August 17th, 1943 he reported to the USS Calvert, received from the Little Creek, Virginia, Amphibious Base, for duty as a F.1c. (fireman). He left the Calvert in San Francisco on December 17th, 1945 rated as MoMM2c(t) (machinist mate) and was officially released from service in 1946. Milton died in May of 2014, and his obituary can be found here.

Appreciation to Milton’s son, John, for sharing the following photographs:

Appreciation John for providing the following photographs of the USS Calvert, never before published on this site.

John also has possession of a wooden souvenir, presumably driftwood, that his father brought back from the Tarawa invasion (when a number of Calvert’s crew were temporarily assigned to help clear the Tarawa beaches) following their successful landing at Makin (to the North West of Tarawa, Gilbert Islands). The photographs of John holding the wooden souvenir are from the 2015 Reunion and the two gentlemen he is talking with are John Regan (’42-’43) and William Habrat (’41-’45) (wearing blue hat).

END

Lt. Donald Lehman Fetterman served aboard the USS Calvert during both WWII and Korea. During WWII he earned the Bronze Star as a result of his leadership as a landing wave boat group commander:

From page 11, History of the USS Calvert (APA32):

“In the name of the President of the United States, the Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet, presented the Bronze Star Medal:

To: Lieutenant (jg) Donald Lehman Fetterman, USNR – 241 W. Oley St., Reading, Penna.

“Citation”: “For exceptionally meritorious service as a Wave Commander in the Landing Boat Group of an Assault Transport during the amphibious assaults upon Sicily; Makin Island; Kwajalein Atoll; Marshall Islands; and Saipan. Acting as Wave Commander in each of the assaults, he devoted himself untiringly and unselfishly to his duties in a manner which bore direct results in the consequent success of all operations. During the invasion of Makin Island, he led in the initial wave of LTVs with a skill and courage that accounted in a large measure for the satisfactory performance of the (at that time) new and relatively untried craft. Cool and resourceful when under fire, his outstanding service and conduct throughout were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Naval Service.”

Lt. Fetterman died in 1964.

Appreciation to Mark Fetterman, Lt. Fetterman’s grandson, for identifying Lt. Fetterman in the following photographs: