Category Archives: Uncategorized

Captain Allen P. Mullinnix – Commanding Officer – Jan ’43 – Apr ’43

Here’s the start of a page dedicated to Captain Allen Mullinnix.

The following information on Captain Mullinnix is quoted from The Indiana Magazine of History, “Hoosier Senior Naval Officers in WWII” by John B. Heffernan, 1955 (source):

“Rear Admiral Allen Prather Mullinnix was born in 1898, in Attica, attended New Albany High School and the Naval Academy, 1920, graduating 1919. He served on the staff of the commander of transports of the Atlantic Fleet and participated in the landings at Casablanca, Morocco, in November, 1942. He commanded the U.S.S. “Calvert” (APA-32), a troop transport, and then served in the Office of Naval Communications. In 1944 he assumed command of the U.S.S. “Pensacola” (CA-24). In this cruiser he participated in bombardments in the Kurile Islands, Wake Island, and in the assault and capture of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. He retired in 1947.”

Captain Mullinnix’s Navy Cross commendation (source):

“The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Captain Allen Prather Mullinnix, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the Heavy Cruiser U.S.S. PENSACOLA (CA-24), in action against enemy Japanese forces off Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, on 17 February 1945. When a hostile heavy-caliber shore battery repeatedly hit his ship, causing extensive damage, fire and many casualties, Captain Mullinnix replied with vigorous, heavy and accurate counter-fire which silenced the enemy battery and, with cool courage, directed the rapid completion of emergency repairs, enabling the ship to remain on station and carry out its assigned mission. His aggressive fighting spirit and gallant devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.” General Orders: Commander Amphibious Forces: Serial 0397 (May 1945)

Rear Admiral Mullnnix’s grave at Arlington National Cemetery can be viewed here, along with a photograph of him in 1914. His obituary is available here.

Midshipman Mullinnix’s U.S. Naval Academy scrap book was listed on EBay in late January 2015, and here is his 1920 Lucky Bag Yearbook photograph and entry.

USS Calvert LCVPs illustration, D-Day, 1944

In memory of those who participated, and those who died, D-Day, June 6th, 1944.

Squadron/Signal Publications’ WWII Landing Craft in Action book is a good source of information on WWII-era landing craft and landing ships. Two of the Calvert’s landing craft appear on the cover of this book, which depicts landings in Normandy on June 6th. In reality the Calvert was in the Pacific on June 6th, 1944. In any case, it is great to see the Calvert’s boats on the cover of a book.

lcia-01

LST 325, also pictured on the cover, did participate in the landings at Normandy. The caption accompanying the front page states: “An M4 Sherman tank moves out of the Landing Ship, Tank (LST)-325 on the beach in Normandy, France on 6 June 1944. Two Landing Craft, Vehicle Personnel (LCVPs) (PA32-25 and PA32-21) are beached to port of the LST. Both LCVPs were assigned to the attack transport USS CALVERT (APA-32). An ambulance delivered by one of the LCVPs is driving onto he beach. These landing craft were joined by hundreds of vessels in Operation OVERLORD, the Allied invasion of Northern France.

Although this book is no longer actively in print, used copies are available on Amazon and Half.com. More details on this book are available here.

Dr. William G. Hook – ’43-’46

Dr. William G. Hook served aboard the Calvert from 1943 to 1946 as the Assistant Medical Officer. According to his grandson, Eric Hook (USAF), Dr. Hook answered the call after the war broke out, left his private practice in Danvers, MA and entered the US Navy as a LT in 1942. He reported aboard the Calvert sometime in early-to-mid 1943.

Dr William G Hook - Annotated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eric Hook has provided a number of other photographs of the Calvert’s officers and crew from his grandfather’s collection, available on the WWII Group Photos page. Additional photographs of the Calvert’s medical staff are also available here.

Dr. Hook can also be seen in the 1944 film footage at the 04:47 – 04:55 mark and at the 16:50 – 22:30 mark.

Here is a photograph of Dr. Hook with the Japanese and Korean prisoners brought aboard the Calvert following the invasions at Saipan and Tinian.

1944-July-26 - POWs boarding - Annotated

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2014 Calvert Reunion – Ft. Worth, TX – Oct 1st to the 5th

The 2014 USS Calvert / USS Harry Lee reunion will be held in Fort Worth, Texas from October 1st to October 5th. Additional details and registration information are available on page 5 of the 69th volume of The Calversion.

Registration is due by July 15th, 2014.

Contact Saretta Rowland with any questions (her contact information is on page 5 of the above mentioned Calversion).