Author Archives: Chris Funck

Identified! (help requested for these items, circa 1950-1954)

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I was having trouble identifying the purpose and behind the flag and linen item shown below. These are in the collection of Robert Hile, son of Robert B. Hile, BM3, 1950 – 1954. Full details on BM3 Hile’s time aboard the Calvert was previously published here.

Thank you for everyone’s help in identifying these artifacts!

Per W. Calvert, 2002-10-15: “WW2 era USN Ships Jack. Flown forward on the Bow. 48 stars flew from 1912 to 1953” From Robert B. Hile’s Navy and USS Calvert memorabilia collection.
Per W. Calvert, 2002-10-15: “This item is not a flag, it’s got no lanyard holes, is wrong shape for the size to be a flag or pennant. I’ve checked with navy buddies and searched the net. We believe it to be officer / chiefs mess table cloth. The blue pipping is too decorative for general mess based on experience.” From Robert B. Hile’s Navy and USS Calvert memorabilia collection.
Answered: “Not of The Line Vice Admiral Flag” and was likely used aboard BM3 Hile’s boat, and not the Calvert itself. Further explanation regarding Not of the Line for us non-Navy folks: “Those not eligible for command at sea include officers of the staff corps (medical, supply, chaplain, civil engineer, judge advocate general, dental, medical service, and nurse corps) as well as line officers restricted to engineering or special duties are not of the line officers. These flags are never flown aboard ship, but may be flown in boats and are used ashore to designate the headquarters of such entities.”

1965 Westpac & 1966 WestPac Video Footage

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Provided by the family of James Chernak, RM3/2 – 1964 -1966.

Running 22 minutes, here are some highlights:

Part 1: 1965 Westpac Cruise – February 5th to April 28th Including:

  • Yokosuka Japan
  • Calvert at Sea
  • USS Paul Revere, APA-248 and other ships at sea
  • Pearl Harbor
  • Rough Seas
  • High Wire Personnel Transfer from USS Paul Revere
  • Hawaii & Diamondhead from the sea
  • At Sea: Top-side church service, Top-side chow, choppy seas
  • Welcome home to San Diego!

Part 2: Westpac Cruise ’65 – ’66 – August 23rd, 1965 to February 26, 1966

  • Hong Kong (?) from sea
  • At sea:
    • At the 16 minute, 5 seconds to 15 seconds: Jorge de la Rossa (left), Skip Steedsman (middle), Jack Hancock (right), as the camera pans to the left and then back right.
    • Gunnery practice, flag & signal deck
  • Danang harbor

Photographs:

James is pictured here in the 1964 WestPac cruise book, second bottom row, left most picture.

Also from James’ daughter, Shelia, is this photograph. Possibly taken at the start or end of the ’65 or ’66 WestPac cruise:

Marcel Jacob, S1c – 1944 – ?

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Marcel Jacob, from Reserve Louisiana, enlisted in the Navy on June 22nd, 1943 and joined the crew of the Calvert on July 27th, 1944 as a Seaman 2nd class. He was promoted to Seaman 1st class on Oct 1st, 1944. At this time I am unable to find the muster roll record that indicates when he left the crew of the Calvert.

Robert E. Randle, RdM3c – 1942 – 1946

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Robert E. Randle, RdM3c served aboard the USS Calvert, beginning on October 1st, 1942 (day of her commissioning) and he remained aboard as a member of the Radar Division throughout the entire War, and then post-war, departing the Calvert on June 7th, 1946.

Details of his US Naval service include:

  • 1942, August 5th – Enlisted in the Navy, Chicago, IL.
  • 1942, October 1st – Received aboard the USS Calvert as an Apprentice Seaman (AS) from the Portsmouth, VA Naval Station. This would make him a “plank holder” as he was received aboard as part of the Calvert’s first crew immediately following the Calvert’s commissioning (on the same day).
  • 1942, November 2nd – Promoted to Seaman 1st class (S1c)
  • 1944, April 1st – Promoted to Radio Man 3rd Class (RdM3c)
  • 1945, October – Participated in the occupation of central Japan, Hiroshima
  • 1946, June 7th – Departed the Calvert, en route to San Padre, CA and then to Great Lakes Naval Station, IL for discharge from the US Navy. His final rank was Radarman 3rd Class (RdM3c).

Robert can also be seen in the 1944 Radar Division group photo page, here.

Here are a few pictures of Robert, and his father and son. Robert’s father, Thomas Clifford Randle II, served as a Radioman in the US Navy during WWI.

Thank you to Robert’s sister, Maureen, for sharing the above photographs and information on her brothers and father.