FUBAR, a black and white terrier, was mascot aboard ship during at least the Calvert’s time in the Pacific. He can be seen in a few pictures already posted on the site (here) as well as in the 1944 color film footage at about the 7 minute mark.
In this picture, provided by Mark Fountain, FUBAR is seen sitting near the bow of the Calvert:
Mark shared the following story about FUBAR, as told by his father Matthew Fountain, BM1C.
“I want to make mention of the legendary dog, “FUBAR” (G.I. lingo standing for Fouled Up Beyond All Repair!!) The radar was only a sometimes-useful tool in these early days. It depended on the atmospheric conditions and umpteen other things. As it turned out, FUBAR, the mascot of the Calvert had the greatest early detection system in the whole area right in his canine ears. He was a veteran of many battles by this time, and he know the sound of the Japanese Zeros. When he heard the Zeros approaching, he would turn and start growling way down deep in his throat. The men would watch him, and when he started to do this, the word would go out around that the whole area of the 7th Fleet, giving the direction in which little FUBAR was facing. He didn’t like that sound at all, because he knew that pretty soon, all hell was going to break loose.
FUBAR saved their bacon on several occasions this way. As soon as his keen hearing picked the Japanese Zeros up, the crews would swing the big guns around, and sure enough, shortly thereafter, the radar would start picking up the blips of the enemy planes. Only thanks to a little mutt dog, they already had the drop on them!”
Here are additional chronological details, compiled from several Calversion editions:
Late summer, 1943 – Portsmouth, VA: “FUBAR, the Calvert’s four-legged Mascot of unkown ancestry joined the Calvert at N.O.B. Portsmouth, VA., in the summer of 1943 upon our return from the Sicilian Invasion.”
Source: Bill Marks, Lieut. USNR (Ret) – Calversion, Volume 30, page 4
Mid-November, 1944 – Leyte, Philippines: “Two nights before the Koshaba murder, Gunner’s Mate Harry Cunningham had the roving security watch and heard a howling on the port side near number 5 hatch. He discovered Fubar hanging over the lifelines. Evidently someone didn’t like him and had tied a weight to Fubar and tried unsuccessfully to toss him overboard.”
Source: Hal Winter – Calversion, Volume 29, page 6.
February, 1945 – Mog Mog: “On arrival in Mog Mog in February 1945, Fubar joined a Liberty Party that went ashore to cavort in nudity beneath the palm trees with green beer can in hand amid those peculiar looking funnel-like pipe jutting from the sand. Mog Mog was one of the few if not the only place in the Southern Pacific where enlisted men could fraternize with officers. When garbed with only a beer can, who know another’s rank!
One lad approached me to report the snatching of Fubar by a Marine from an encampment on the other side of Mog Mog. I assumed my rank by getting dressed, and commandeering a jeep and driver, proceeded to the Marine Camp to rescue Fubar from the clutches of the United States Marine Corps. Two beers on an empty stomach under the hot sun were responsible for my brief show of bravado in the face of verbal fire of the irate kidnappers.
At sundown, Fubar and I managed to catch the last running boat to make the voyage across the lagoon for the Calvert anchored some nine miles away. The boat was a 26 foot motor whale boat loaded to the gunnels with sailors in varying degrees of intoxificiation and undress. As we bounded across the briny in an ever increasing head sea and wind to unload semi-concious, unconcious and/or seasick cargo at ship after ship, darknes fell and Fubar took shelter inside my life jacket where he fell asleep. The Calvert was the last stop on our water taxi’s route.
Upon arriving at the Calvert’s gangway long after dark, the Officer of the Deck (a real smart ass whose name I’ve forgotten) called up Side Boys to pipe Fubar and I aboard.
The next day, to my discomfort and to the glee of the crowded wardroom, the Captain presented me with a “Leather Medal” for efforts above and beyond the call of duty to rescue Fubar. I have recollection that Chips Emroy manufactured the medal itself, while Charlie Schooler cooked up the impromptu award ceremony.“
Source: Bill Marks, Lieut. USNR (Ret) – Calversion, Volume 30, page 4.
Mid-1945 – Bremerton, WA: Story has it that FUBAR remained behind in Washington state, sometime during the Calvert’s several visits to Bremerton Naval Yard during 1945:
“On our return to Seattle from Ulithi and Mog Mog in April 1945, the loveable pooch was rigged out in a Dress Blue Middy Blouse complete with Hash Marks and a full array of campaign ribbons when whe was walked on the dock. You see, because he had spent most of his life aboard the Calvert and didn’t know what a bush or tree or hydrant was, let alone another dog; he had to be dragged ashore on a leash.”
Source: Bill Marks, Liet. USNR (Ret) – Calversion, Volume 30, page 4.
“… he too had a “dress blue” jacket with all campaign ribbons. I received a post card that he was found in a residential area of Seattle and was given a home until he could be claimed, but by then we were far out in the Pacific.”
Source: John L. Rhea, BM – Calversion, Volume 14, page 2.
