Help or Share

If you are able, I am looking for help filling in historical details, and acquisition of printed materials, as detailed below.

Additional information, background, personal experience:

  • 1950s and 60s information on the Aiji-no-ie Orphanage (aka, Home of Affection) in Tokyo. In late 1956 the Calvert’s crew began supporting Orphanage with a $100 monthly donation. For the next decade, an item on the Calvert’s far east cruise itinerary, while in Yokosuka and time permitting, included work party visits to the orphanage.
  • Does anyone remember bag piper, Signalman MacCaulley, aboard the Calvert in the late 1950s or during early 1960?
  • Early 1960s movie, The Sixth Man, staring Tony Curtis. I am looking for details about the Calvert’s landing craft and crews’ involvement in the filming of this movie. The filming likely occurred the summer of 1960. I found a new paper article from the fall of 1960 which referenced the Calvert’s landing craft used as part of filming, but am unable to find any reference to the movie itself as a released movie.
  • 1958 collision between the USS Calvert and the USS Magoffin (APA-199). I am looking for any details on a collision between the Calvert and the Magoffin, circa 1958. The Calvert lost a boat or two from what I understand, but I have no other details.
  • Ship’s nicknames? For example, the Calvert has had nicknames such as follows, and any background information would be helpful:
    • “The War Horse”
    • “Old Whiskey Ship” circa early-to-mid 60s
    • “San-ju-nee” (or sanjuni) which is Japanese for 32.
    • What are others?

Physical or electronic copies of the following print materials

The content shared by former shipmates and their families is what brings this site to life. Please consider sharing your comments, stories, ideas and questions by submitting a comment below or contacting me via email at usscalvertwebmaster@gmail.com

In addition to anything you are wiling to share, I am actively searching for the following specific items to add to this site:

  • Article from the New Yorker, possibly late-1943 or 1944, regarding the Calvert’s involvement in the July 1943 invasion of Sicily (Operation Husky)
  • The following Calvert cruise books
    • 1953 Cruise Book – not sure if one actually exists
    • 1957 Cruise Book – not sure if one actually exisits
    • 1962 Cruise Book – Confirmed to exist
  • Any information on the US Navy Amphibious Force’s The Amphibian publication, circa 1950s and possibly early 1960s.
  • USS Calvert newsletters from all periods, such as:
    • “The Calvert Mike” newsletter
    • “The Lord Calvert Chronicle”
    • What are others?
  • Captain Warris’ historical writings and records of the USS Calvert for the period 1944 – 1946.
  • Photographs and slides.
    • I will digitize Calvert-related slides for free and send the originals back to you.

Share crew member information and Calvert memorabilia

  • Names of crew members and their experiences while on the Calvert. Even the most basic of information can lead to breakthroughs in filling in the story of the Calvert’s overall historical record and the experiences that made her a stand-out memory in the minds of her crew.
  • Photographs of Calvert related artifacts and memorabilia, including patches, maps, etc.
  • Photographs of crew members.

I will digitize your USS Calvert related photos, slides and 8mm film footage at no cost to you

I am to digitize photographs, slides and 8mm motion film, and if the materials are related to the USS Calvert, then I will do this work for free. Send me your materials, I will digitize them and then send back to you the original materials and a DVD containing the digital replicas.

Please contact me via a comment (below), or via email (usscalvertwebmaster <at> gmail.com) , and I will reach out and coordinate with you directly.

Thank you to the Calvert Associates for funding the equipment and shipping costs related to this free service.

34 thoughts on “Help or Share”

  3. Ted Garcia

    You have a Great website. Have you considered putting the Ranks of all the Crew members and whatever other insignia’s they wore?

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    1. Chris Funck Post author

      Thanks Ted! That’s a great idea and I’d like to make sure I understand what you are suggesting before I work on that type of information. I’ll send you an email soon. Regards, Chris

      Reply ↓
      1. PRISCILLA S WHITE

        CHRIS: I AM TRYING TO FIND CREW SERVIING IN 1961 and 1962
        -WHO KNEW MEDICAL DOCTOR,LT HEADLEY WHITE, . HE
        CELEBRATES AGE 90. PERHAPS HE HAS INPUT. PRISCILLA WHITE
        prisavon @ aol.com. or text. 570 578 2112.

        Reply ↓
  4. Edwin M. Niemi

    What a great up-date on the Calvert. I’ve waited to find this. Great web-site. More later Ed Niemi

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  6. Sue Bernier

    My dad was on this ship in WWII. I have enjoyed this website very much. I have a question on the photo of the deck crew. Is there any way to id the sailor who is in the forefront of the standing row. He is wearing a black cap and is the third or fourth from the right side. It looks like it could be my dad Laurent “Larry” Vigneault!

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  7. James Danko SN 3rd Divison 1960-62

    I went aboard the CALVERT right out of boot camp in OCT 1960? We went to WEST-PAC shortly after for a 9 month tour. It was anything but a cruise. Being a deck ape I had no idea what was happening in the world We operated out of OKINAWA & tied up in BUCKNER BAY To be kept in the dark as to why we had all these MARINES on board and not knowing what our purpose was frustrating. My time on the CALVERT was a bad experience, pissed off an E-6 BOSN got put on report said screw it, shipped for 6,went to A SCHOOL and became a SONAR TECH. I hope in todays NAVY the BOSNS changed their attitudes? Yelling and demanding gets you nowhere!

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    1. Linda Mundale (Bill Hicks)

      You mentioned USS Calvert 1960-Westpac and Marines on board. Were these Marines transported to shore Vietnam? My late husband talked about transporting Marines to Vietnam and also about a Charley wounded in the battle. I would appreciate information regarding this time on the Calvert. Actually, my husband died of Asbestos lung cancer, as stated by his doctor, the Pathologist who performed the autopsy, and on his death certificate. He had quit smoking 27 years before his death, yet the claim was denied, stating the cause of his cancer was smoking. I would like to know if the Calvert was in brown water (Agent Orange). If you can give me any information. I would greatly appreciate it.

      Reply ↓
  8. james danko

    I knew a Hicks on board Calvert during my tour. We never went Brown Water nor put troops ashore in Viet Nam. The only place [ if my memory serves me right] that we put troops ashore was in Borneo on a practice landing for some big invasion. The rest of the time at sea or Okinawa and other ports. If you would call me and I could explain the posability of the ? of the Asbestos. 760-489-8754. Hope this helps.

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  10. Ed Fox

    I believe the crew picture in WWII Group Photographs may have my father pictured. First man from the left kneeling might be Ron Fox of Muskegon Michigan. My father did say he was aboard the Calvert in Tokyo Bay darning the Japanese surrender. He landed on Saipan and other landings and was a boat crew member.
    Ron passed away last year and I have just found this site so can not confirm it with him.

    Reply ↓
    1. Chris Funck Post author

      Thank you Ed for visiting the site and your comment about your father’s time aboard the Calvert. I am very sorry to hear of his passing. At this year’s reunion I’ll ask the four WWII-era shipmates who plan to attend if they remember your father and can place him in the photograph of the boat crew. Regards, Chris.

      Reply ↓
  11. Charles

    I found a cigarette lighter with the uss calvert insignia and likeness on it. Is be happy to give it to a Calvert vet

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  12. Lawrence E. Martin

    What an amazing site. My granddaughter brought it to my attention.

    I served aboard the Calvert from November 1961 until May 1963, as one of her radiomen. I have so many memories aboard the old girl. Had a band and played at the various seaports. Was aboard her when we got caught in Typhoon Tiger, in Hong Kong harbor.

    Looking forward to exploring this site more in depth.

    Thank you so much for making it available.

    Not sure what you mean by Website (below), but I do have a blog.

    Reply ↓
  13. Larry O'Connell

    I was the only Grandson of Frank Kubiak and he died when I was 14 yrs. old. Happy memories because my Grandparents took us in due to my parents divorce. He rarely spoke of the war but those few sentences were stored and remembered because he was such an easy going “smoke and a beer” guy. Having read and now understand the carnage in human life he saw makes me realize why he was like that. Always gentle, funny and nice to me and my two sisters. Frank had a son, Frank-Uncle Frank, and daughter, my Mother, Dorothy. A modern day women working in her early 20’s and over 25 yrs. working at GM-EMD and raising us. My Uncle had me learning fishing out in countless lakes and adventures as a young teenager. Not as a father figure, but as a friend, or as his widowed wife told me, “Like a Brother”.

    I had to discover, on my own, my Grandfather’s time in service and respect for all who served and went through. Thanks Chris for keeping this site and memories fresh for others to learn from.

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  14. Ronnie Cox

    I remember my dad, Walter Fred Cox (Fred) a radarman 42-45, tell about one of the torpedoes aboard the ship that was dislodged from it’s rack during rough seas and was rolling around on the deck. It caused some concern and panic until it was back in the rack and secured. I just wondered if anyone else remembers this event or has heard this story.

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  15. Sheila Heuer

    Hi Chris,
    my dad, James Chernak, was on the Calvert. He passed away a few years ago. I just converted some of his reel to reel tapes to computer files. I have some movies he took while he was on board the Calvert. 1965 Westpac Cruise: Yokosuka Japan and Pearl Harbor from Feb 5th – Apr 28th, 1965. The files are too large to email, and the quality isn’t great, but thought you might like seeing them. There are some parts of the videos that are pretty good. Video of other ships while out to sea. (PA 248, Paul Revere and some others in the distance). Video of rough seas. There is part of the film where they are doing a ship to ship transfer of sailors in a seat (sorry, I don’t know the proper terms) He also has a movie of Da Nang – Westpac Cruise: Aug 23rd ’65 – Feb 26th, ’66. I would love to share these with the site. Not sure if you have somewhere I can upload these to you for review.
    Thanks,
    Sheila Chernak Heuer

    Reply ↓
    1. Chris Funck Post author

      Hi Shelia, Thank you for visiting the Calvert’s web site and your work to preserve your father’s reel tapes and memories!

      I will send you an email message shortly with a Google Drive location where you can upload the movie files.

      Regards,

      Chris

      Reply ↓
  16. David Turner

    Hello, while researching background on letters my dad wrote home during his WWII navy service I came across your site. I wanted to provide an update to the crew list: my step uncle Ridgely Duncan Miller (1922-1978) was also a crewmember during the war. I don’t know his exact dates of service but I still own his coffee mug with “U.S.S. Calvert (APA-32)” emblazoned on it! Warmest regards and best wishes, David Turner

    Reply ↓
  17. Amy L. Kenneley

    My husband’s first cousin, Robert Charles O’Malley from Cleveland, Ohio was about 17-18 when he enlisted in the U.S.Navy during WWII. After basic training, he was “selected” to become a Corpsman to served with the Marines. He trained at New River. He was shipped to Camp Pendleton and then boarded the USS Calvert. During the battle on Tinian Island, Bobbie went ashore with his unit. He was killed the first day. Family tradition said his body was brought down by Ceasar Romaro, and when I began to research this young man who died the very first day of invasion on Tinian, I discovered that Ceasar Romaro was in the Coast Guard and on the USS Cavalier, which was part of the ship group, so it probably is true. Bobby O’Malley was buried on Tinian, but after the war he was brought back to Cleveland, and reinterred in the family plots at Calvary Cemetery in 1945.

    Reply ↓
    1. Chris Funck Post author

      Amy, thank you for visiting the USS Calvert website and sharing this information on Robert Charles O’Malley, PM3c, USN.

      I do believe I have read reference to Ceasar Romaro in relation to the invasion of Tinian. I will try to find if my memory is correct and let you know what I find. I also have details on the Calvert’s maneuvers and landings at Tinian and I can send them to you if you are interested. I will be in touch directly via email.

      Chris

      Reply ↓
  18. Sharon Wilson

    Hi, I found your website via a web search for Donald L. Fetterman, which turned up pix on your site from his service aboard the Calvert which was followed by comments, one of which I wanted to contact you about. A gentleman, Kevin Rahn, whose father, Robert Rahn, served as a radioman aboard the Calvert, in WWII and Korea, and was really hoping for info about his father’s service. He posted 22 July 2018 @ 12:01a.m.. If able, I would have written him directly but, understandably, was not able to. I’m hoping you might pass along a message to him. in case he is unaware, as his father, Robert Rahn has passed, he is entitled to write and obtain a copy of his father’s Naval file. I have written and obtained the Naval files of my father who served 20 yrs.; my brother; and my husband’s grandfather, a Pearl harbor survivor, all of whom have passed, and it’s never cost me anything. As a Naval service family member, I absolutely treasure this information. My father passed too young in 1985, sadly before I had reached an age to appreciate his War and/or service stories. When I wrote for the records, I included a copy of his death certificate, though I don’t remember if it was required, I would hate for Kevin Rahn not to have this record of his Dad’s service life, if he doesn’t yet have it. Thank you very much for any help passing this info to Kevin Rahn or other descendants unaware these files are available to them. Admittedly, the stories he’s looking for won’t be included, but they will probably include when/where they served, their medical records, evaluation results, awards/medals obtained, along with other comments.

    Also, Ancestry.com has some Naval ship’s yearbook photos. I did a quick look and they have digitized the “USS CALVERT FAR EAST CRUISE-1962, 64 pages; also found a digitized copy of a book entitled “U.S. WWII YOUNG AMERICAN PATRIOTS”, 406 pages, which encompasses all the services, but may only be those who died while serving. There may yet be others, but I need to run, (my husband, also ex-Navy is waiting for me.) : ) Assuming you don’t happen to have a subscription, I’d be happy to look up some names of servicemen, but only those who have passed, for you, to check for ship yearbook photos. Also, fyi, the LDS (used to be called Mormons) Family History Libraries (FHL) I have used in years past had computers with access to Ancestry. These were free to the public as family history is apparently very much a part of their faith, though you do not have to be a member of their faith. You may have one in your area, and I have always found them to be very helpful and have never had anyone mention their faith to me. There may also be a few public libraries that have free Ancestry computer access,

    My best to you and your shipmates, please let me know if i can help. Note: If you do email, please put USS CALVERT in the subject line so I’ll be less likely to miss the email.
    Sharon Wilson

    Reply ↓
  19. Sharon Wilson

    Hello again,
    I did a further search on Ancestry for USS CALVERT cruise books and found they have also digitized the 1955 cruise book, which contains 81 images. (They have quite a large number of ships represented in their collection of digitized cruise books, but certainly not many years of each ship.)

    Apparently, the Navy has a library in which they have cruise books. Here’s some of what Ancestry says on their site: “…Navy Department Library’s collection, the nation’s largest cruise book collection. Cruise books are created for private distribution. They are not official Navy publications, and the Navy does not stock, sell, or republish these books. This can make copies of some books, especially older volumes, extremely rare.”

    I thought perhaps for years other than 1955 and 1962, which, as I’ve already said they have digitized on Ancestry, persons searching might contact the Navy about searching in their library for the year they need. I hope this helps.

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  20. R. Racinez

    Great site. Wish I would’ve found it earlier. I would have shown it to my Dad and asked him a bunch of questions. Unfortunately, he passed 2 weeks ago at the age of 93. I did find a couple pics of him in the 60-61 cruise book. The Calvert was the first one in the list of seven ships that my dad was on. Will continue to search for him on the other ships.
    Ryan (son)

    Reply ↓

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