Category Archives: China service 1946

Virgil Nelson’s (BM, 1946) Model of the USS Calvert

Virgil Nelson, 90, Shreve, Ohio, served aboard the USS Calvert as a Boats’n Mate during Operation Magic Carpet in 1946. Prior to joining the Calvert, Virgil served aboard an LST (landing ship tank) and “Island Hopped” along with the Calvert in the Pacific. He was one of the last men aboard the Calvert after she returned to Norfolk following the War.

As a long-time model ship builder, Virgil kept meticulous notes during his time aboard the Calvert. Beginning in the mid-1950s he began work to build a model of the Calvert so that he could better explain what type of ship the Calvert was to his family and friends. His work on the Calvert model took over five years and on-thousand hours, with most of the work taking place during the wintertime.

Virgil spent his post-year wars working in newspaper production in Wooster, Ohio, building countless ship and boat models, and spending summers with his family on the water and vacationing at his cabin in Canada.

Virgil, with the help of his grandson, was generous in sending a selection of the many photographs that he took while he spent his time building the Calvert model. Also included are a few articles and notes written by Virgil.

The model is nearly 47 inches in length, and is displayed under a glass case in Virgil’s home, among the many other ship and boat models that he has hand-crafted over the years.

USS Calvert WWII Pacific Cruise Map & Ship Photographs

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:

USS Calvert - Late 1940s - 1 USS Calvert - Late 1940s - 2

USS Calvert Pacific Cruise TShirt Art Work

’45-’46 Crewmember David Julio Garcia, Cook, Seaman 1st Class

Ted Garcia sent in this photograph of his father, David Julio Garcia. David served on the Calvert from ’45-’46 as a cook. Here he is at 86 years old, holding his Navy photograph from when he was 17 years old.

Mr. Garcia would like to hear from anyone from the ’45-’46 era who remembers him. Send me an email and I’ll put you in contact with his son, Ted.

Garcia, David Julio - @86 yrs old & @17 yrs old

In Memory: Leonard Eck, WWII veteran and USS Calvert crew member

Condolences to the family of Lenoard “Len” Francis Eck. Leonard passed away on March 27th, 2013 at the age of 89. He served aboard the USS Calvert during 1945/46 while the Calvert was assigned to service near Shanghai, China. Prior to his time aboard the Calvert, Leonard served aboard the USS Freemont (APA-44) for most of the war.

From Leonard’s son, Glenn C. Eck, of Philadelphia PA: “My father, Leonard Francis Eck, passed away on March 27th, 2013 aged 89 years, in his hometown of York, PA.  He was able-bodied and healthy until the end.  A wonderful father and a wonderful man, he spoke often of his service aboard both the USS Fremont and the USS Calvert during WWII.  Although he was not online himself, he enjoyed the Calvert website very much when he had opportunities to view it.”

Here is Leonard’s online obituary at Legacy.com. You may contact Glenn directly via email.