Mr. McKinnon, who recently turned 100, is highlighted in the article below. Published by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the article highlights his time aboard the USS Calvert leading up to and during the Invasion of North Africa in November 1942, as well as his Naval career following the war.

• https://www.va.gov/columbia-south-carolina-health-care/stories/battles-blessings-a-century-lee-mckinnons-story-of-service-and-strength

Several additional articles covering Mr. McKinnon’s life experience and 30-year naval career are available here:

• 2021 article: https://news.va.gov/91610/veteranoftheday-navy-veteran-lee-o-mckinnon-sr/
• 2013 article: https://www.islandpacket.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/david-lauderdale/article33499251.html

Video interview with Mr. McKinnon by the National World War II Museum, 2015

• Becoming a Navy Man

View and download the 71 page document here: USS Calvert – Historical Research Notes – 1960.11.22 to 1961.07.21 (the document will open in a new tab).

Chronological highlights for this period include:

• Departure from the U.S. Naval Station, San Diego, for a Far East Cruise – November 22
• Pearl Harbor, November 29 – December 1
• Underway to Yokosuka, Japan – December 1 – 13
• Yokosuka, Japan – December 13 – 15
• Underway to Iwakuni, Japan – December 15 – 17
• Iwakuni, Japan – December 17 – 19
• Underway for Okinawa – December 19 – 21
• Buckner Bay, Okinawa – December 21 – January 24
• Underway for exercises off Okinawa – January 24 – 26
• Buckner Bay, Okinawa – January 26 – February 1
• Naha, Okinawa – February 1 – 3
• Underway to Chinhae, Korea – February 3 – 6
• Chinhae, Korea – February 6 – 8
• Amphibious exercises with ROK, Koje Do, Korea – February 8 – 10
• Underway for Yokosuka, Japan – February 10 – 13
• Yokosuka, Japan – February 13 – 22
• Underway for Hong Kong – February 22 – 27
• Hong Kong – February 27 – March 6
• Underway to Chimu Wan, Okinawa – March 6 – 10
• Exercises at Chimu Wan and Buckner Bay, Okinawa – March 10 – 18
• Underway to Kagoshima, Japan – March 18 – 20
• Kagoshima, Japan – March 20 – 23
• Underway to Buckner Bay – March 23 – 24
• Buckner Bay – March 24 – 26
• Underway to the South China Sea – March 26 – 30
• Underway in the South China Sea – March 31 – April 7
• Underway to Okinawa – April 8 – 10
• Buckner Bay, Okinawa – April 10 – 17
• Underway to Manila, Philippine Islands – April 17 – 20
• Manila, Philippine Islands – April 20 – 22
• Underway to North Borneo for Operation Pony Express – April 22 – 28
• British North Borneo, Operation Pony Express – Periods at sea and anchored – April 28 – May 6
• Underway to Subic Bay, Philippine Islands – May 6 – 8
• Subic Bay, Philippine Islands – May 8 – May 13
• Underway to Buckner Bay, Okinawa – May 13 – 16
• Buckner Bay, Okinawa – Anchored and moored, with several days at sea evading Typhoon Betty – May 16 – June 9
• Underway to Yokosuka – June 9 – 11
• Yokosuka – June 11 – July 5
• Underway to San Diego – July 5 – 21
• San Diego – July 21

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View and download the 56 page document here: USS Calvert Historical Research Notes – 1963.01.01 to 1963.12.31 (the .pdf document will open in a new tab).

Please note that this new document extends previous work, originally covering January 1, 1963 to July 12, 1963 over 23 pages, to now including details for the entire year.

Thank you for visiting the website. Please contact me with questions, additions, or corrections.

Chronological highlights for this period include:

• San Diego, in port and underway, for upkeep and training exercises – January 1st to March 11th
• Long Beach, California – March 12th to March 28th
• San Diego – March 29th to April 8th
• Seal Beach – April 9th to April 23rd
• Drydocked, Terminal Island, San Pedro, CA – April 10th to April 23rd
• National Steel Company Shipyard, San Diego – April 24th to July 7th
  • Sea Trials – July 3rd
• U.S. Naval Ammuniton Depot, Seal Beach – July 8th
• San Diego – July 9th to – September 16th
  * A period of training new crew members and refresher training for seasoned crew.
  * Followed by a period of progressively increasing intensity of at sea and amphibious training exercises.
• Exercise Merit Badge – San Diego, San Clemente Island, and Camp Pendelton – September 17th to September 27th
  *San Diego Naval Station – Captain Edward R. Hunt, USN, relieved Captain David A. Merrill, USN, as Commanding Officer – September 28th
• San Diego, Naval Station and Local Operating Area – A period of wet net training and ship upkeep – September 29th to November 3rd
• Camp Pendleton – November 4th to November 7th
• San Francisco, U.S. Naval Station, Hunter’s Point – November 8th to 12th
• Underway to San Diego – November 13th to November 14th
• San Diego area – November 15th to November 17th
• Camp Pendleton – November 18th to November 20th
• San Diego Naval Station – November 21st to December 31st

Document version history and notes:

• Additional details added for September 26, 1963: v2025.05.22
• Details added for the period July 13, 1963 to December 31, with the page count increased from 23 to 55: v2025.05.19
• First published, covering the period January 1st to July 12th 1963 – 23 pages: v2025.04.12