Willie James White served aboard the USS Calvert from April 1951 to December 1952 as a Steward Third Class (St3c) and Ship’s Serviceman Third Class (Sh3c).

Willie reached his 100th Birthday in August, 2024. Sadly, Willie passed in May 2025. His obituary can be found here: https://www.robinsonfuneralhomerh.com/obituary/willie-white

Here is a photograph of Willie at his time of enlistment in the U.S. Navy in 1943.

Willie served aboard the following ships during his 47 years of service in the U.S. Navy:

• USS Denver CL-58
• USS Cascade AD-16
• USS Okanogan APA-220
• USS Calvert APA-32
• USS George Clymer APA-27
• USS Montrose APA-212
• USS Turner DDR-834

Appreciation to Willie’s grand daughter, Donna, for providing the photographs and service information.

Willie’s life story is now featured on the AcornTV series, Relative Secrets, season 1 the Dawson Family episode.

This document is a chronologically ordered set of historical research notes for the period January 1, 1960 to November 21, 1960.

View and download the 64 page document here: USS Calvert – Historical Research Notes – 1960.01.01 to 1960.11.21 (the document will open in a new tab).

Chronological highlights for this period include:

• San Diego, North Pier – January 1 to January 4
• Underway to San Francisco – January 4 – 7
• Overhaul and dry docking, Hunter’s Point, U.S. Naval Shipyard, San Francisco – January 7 to March 11
• Underway to San Diego – March 11 to March 13
• U.S. Naval Air Station, North Island, San Diego – March 14 to 27
• San Diego and Coronado Roads area for exercises – March 28 to March 31
• USS Calvert designated Flagship, Commander Amphibious Squadron Five – April 1
• Periods of fleet refresher training, San Diego area – April 1 to June 30
• Training exercises, San Diego, Coronado Roads, and Camp Pendleton areas – July 1 to August 26
  • Change of Command: Captain Collum relieves Captain Kaufman
• U.S. Naval Station, San Diego – August 27 to September 18
• Exercises, Port Hueneme and San Clemente Island, California – September 19 to October 18
• U.S. Naval Station, San Diego to prepare for Far East Cruise – October 19 to November 21

Additional documents covering other periods of WWII are available here: https://www.usscalvert.com/history/1960s-vietnam-war/

Thank you for visiting the website and anything you are wiling or able to share regarding the history of the USS Calvert. Please contact me with questions, additions, or corrections.

Document version history and notes:

• First version: v2024.04.27
• Second version: v2024.12.07 – Updated charts.

This 52 page document contains research notes and historical content for the period December 10, 1944 to February 9, 1945.

• USS Calvert – Historical Research Notes – 1944.12.10 to 1945.02.09

During this period the Calvert and crew participated in 2 amphibious landing operations in the Philippines operating area:

• Lingayen Gulf, Luzon, Philippines, January 9, 1945 – Amphibious assault landing.
• Mindoro, Philippines, February 9, 1945 – Amphibious assault landing.

Additional documents covering other periods of WWII are available here: https://www.usscalvert.com/history/apa32-1942-1947/

Thank you for visiting the website and anything you are wiling or able to share regarding the history of the USS Calvert. Please contact me with questions, additions, or corrections.

Document version history and notes:

• Updated several details for January 1945: v2024.03.02
• First published: v2024.02.24