Sunday, April 25, 2010

Rochester AG Celebrates 21st Anniversary Lunch, Letter To Senator Trent Lott

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A Chief Photographer

A case of blood poisoning kept Korky Korker from sailing. But it didn’t keep him from seeing WWII, through the lens of a camera. Click here to read about Korky.
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Rochester Armed Guard 21st Anniversary Lunch

March 9, 2010

Jay's Diner, 2612 West Henrietta Road, Rochester NY, 14623
Rochester Armed Guard 21st Anniversary Lunch
Seated in front, left to right: Joan Luci, Barbara Garling, Marie Lane, Irene Mace; Stand back row, left to right:Al Garling, Kay Fredrickson, Ted Fredrickson, Forest Lane, John Shevlin, Mike Luci, Rev. Richard Hass, Walter Mace, Paul Graham-Raad, Elmer Bigelow, Frank Hutter.

Permission to use granted by John W. Shevlin Sr

A Salute to the US Navy Armed Guard of WWII

(They have watched our backs in war and in peace)

We savor the peaceful waters and safe harbor we enjoy in the United States. The surviving Merchant Mariners thank God and the United States Navy Armed Guard for their great contribution in winning peace in World War II.

October 20, 1997

Honorable Trent Lott
Washington, D.C. 20510

Dear Senator Lott:

Enclosed is a letter I sent to you 1/12/96. Did you receive it? It concerns giving credit where credit is due to the Merchant Mariners of World War II. They helped us man the guns when needed and brought up the ammunition from the ammo magazines when under attack. Contrary to isolated cases, these men served not only their country, but those countries to which they delivered materials and supplies after the war was over. If it were not for the skills and desire to deliver these goods, many entire families would have died of starvation. Please think about this when you bring Bill-S-61 and HR-1126
up for a vote.

As a schoolmate and Merchant shipmate of WWII said to me one day, “C.A., I wish I was half the Christian today as I was in the engine room when those depth charges were going off almost all the way over and back.” As he told me this, I could see the fright in his eyes, some 50 years later. I don’t show that fright in my face because I was one of the Lucky ones to be topside when the depth charges went off and I could see the destroyer escorts when they threw out the “ASH CANS” and I knew what it was that exploded.

There were five of us brothers in the service of our country. Three of us were in the U.S. Navy Armed Guard on board ships run by the Merchant Seamen. One was a Merchant Mariner carrying supplies to Italy and who also rode out the Typhoon later at Okinawa and was due to be in the invasion of the Japanese mainland. The other was a regular Marine and due to his age and marital status with a child, he was a Sentry Guard at Treasure Island, one of the three shipping and receiving stations for Armed Guard.

Brother WLonnie Whitson Lloydhitson, one of the first Armed Guard, entering Navy Service 12/28/41, and volunteered for that Special Branch of the Navy when it was known as the “SUICIDE SQUADRON.” I remember when he came home from the “MURMANSK RUN” when he told my Mother and Dad, and I quote, “If it was not for the Merchant Crew bringing us our ammunition, I wouldn’t be here today. Mom, they brought us food and water 3 days and nights and there were no nights due to the time of year and we did not sleep. If we did, we would not have made it.” Unquote.

Whitson made it back to England several times; to the North Africa Invasion; was at Bari, Italy: right after the “DISASTER AT BARI” took place: and he sailed through the Pacific to Australia and Bombay, India, on a load of ammunition. The Merchant Mariners were aboard these ships in the engine room, on the bridge, in the “CROW’S NEST” and with the gun crews in practice and under fire from the enemy. That’s why I and the Armed Guard stood up for Merchantmen to get their Veteran’s Status in January of 1988. That’s why I and our crew stand up that they be granted December 31, 1946, as their “CUTOFF DATES”of in-time service.

You see, the eleven merchant seamen who were killed May 5th, 1945, along with my brother, Lonnie Whitson Lloyd, would have gone on to serve until December 31, 1946, if they would have been given a choice. Two of them had just finished up their Maritime training and came aboard the SS Black Point at Newport News, VA, just a few days earlier. Honor these men and those who survived. Let us not forget those who gave their all and those CA Lloyd before and afterwho were willing to, also.

Sincerely,

Charles A. Lloyd, Chairman 1985-98
U.S.N. Armed Guard WW II Veterans
* * * * *

In the first months of WWII, the enemy had sunk more than 300 merchant ships off our eastern coastline. In the Maritime industry, it was called the 2nd Pearl Harbor with approximately 3600 seamen dead. To stop the slaughter, the Navy was asked to procure weapons and train gun crews to be put aboard the merchant vessels and protect these vitally important mariners and the supply service to our troops and Allies. These gun crews were called the US Navy Armed Guard.

Before it was over, the Battle of the North Atlantic took the lives of thousands. Navy gunners and merchant seamen fought and died together determined to get their ships through. The battle stains and blood of those gallant men colored the decks as their bombed, machine-gunned and torpedoed vessels slid below the waves. The Navy Armed Guard fought for us in battle during WWII, again with Congress in 1997 and today, they support us as we seek full veterans’ status with “A Belated thank you to the Merchant Mariners”, Senate Bill S-663.

A.J. Wichita, LT USN (Vet)
USCB Lic.Ch.Engr.
National President

American Merchant Marine Veterans
Permission to reprint was granted by C.A. Lloyd, President of the USN Armed Guard WWII Veterans