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Donald Pond
Hank Davis
James McKeon
Robert McKnight
Robert Lee
Edward Capraun
Bill Fairlee
Norm Hatt
Sigmund Schade
Martin Rader
Donald remained with the Bangust and assisted with the mothball effort at Green Cove Springs, Florida until being transferred to Long Beach Naval Discharge Center. Receiving his proudly worn Lame Duck patch on April 10 1946. The Two years, six months and ten days are happily remembered.
Remaining in the US Naval Reserve Donald was called, from his Carpenter trade, to active duty for the Korean Conflict. Ordered to the San Diego Naval Base with quarters aboard the USS Klondike P32 to recommission some of the same vessels that the Bangust had served with during WWII. One year, five months and twenty days later Donald was discharged to return home to Santa Barbara, California. Living now (2005) in Lompoc, California a few miles up the road from Santa Barbara.
Completed boot training without incident and reported to Fire
Control/Range Finder school at Treasure Island, San Francisco from which I
graduated 06 November 1943 wearing a new 3rd class crow and carrying a
ticket to the Outgoing Unit (OGU) at the infamous Terminal Island Federal
Prison, San Pedro, CA, with FFT orders to the USS BANGUST (DE739).
Lolled around doing nothing for a week while the OGU tried to find the
BANGUST. During the second week was assigned to a work detail, and
while on that detail found her myself. Transferred aboard at San Pedro, 20
December 1943.
Was aboard the BANGUST from the time we left the States in January
1944 until we put the ship in mothballs at Green Cove Springs, Florida in
March of 1946. Stood Radar, Sonar & CIC watches underway and
Rangefinder at General Quarters. Duty station included repair and
maintenance of Ordnance Control Panel on Flying Bridge, The Rangefinder,
some sound powered phones and minor electrical circuits on various guns.
Discharged as 2nd class at Shoemaker, CA on 09 March 1946.
Re-enlisted in Navy reserve in 1947 to "help get a reserve unit going"
in Atascadero, CA. Did several weekend cruises on a YMS based in Santa
Barbara, CA. This ship often came into Morro Bay training recruits on
weekend cruises. Went on one two week cruise up the Columbia River to
Portland, OR for the Rose Festival on USS STICKELL (DD888) in 1948 or
1949.
Recalled to full time active duty on 28 August 1950 as FC1/c.
Reported to Hanger #1 at Treasure Island where a Corpsman reassured me
that being able to get up the stairs to his office was all the proof the Navy
needed of my fitness to serve. A few days at T. I. to get uniforms and pay
and allowances and then was assigned to Hunter's Point Naval Shipyard,
San Francisco, as lead fire control man with a crew of about 25 (varied),
activating FC gear on reserve ships for the Korean War. Worked on over 20
ships ranging from APA's and AKA's to Anti Aircraft Cruisers to the USS
IOWA. Never mind that the yard crews then ripped out the WWII stuff we
had just activated and replaced it with all new state-of-the-art electronic
gear. Discharged 06 November 1951 as acting CPO with a promise of pin
stripe if I would stay. No way!!
Married with five children, eleven grandchildren and two great
grandchildren. Retired (1992) from position as Vice President, Pacific Area
Manager for a firm that manufactures exploration drilling equipment for
geotechnical and environmental investigation. Registered Geologist now
serving as Consultant in geotechnical & environmental investigation field.
Wife Elizabeth has recently retired (1998) and we look forward to travel,
visits with family and friends and research.
Tried to enlist in April 1943, CPO told me no enlistment, everything through Draft Board. I told him that my
employer was president of said board and I would wait. He made an exception. I got
my draft notice and alongside my name where they asked preference, Navy was typed in.
Sworn in 4/16/43 and sent to Sampson Training (boot camp). Completed training and was
asked for preference in schools. Since I had worked around cars I asked for Airplane
mechanic, diesel Mechanic, or PT Boat (gas engines). Returned from boot leave and
found my name on a draft and wound up at Portsmouth Naval Hospital for training as
a Corpsman. Took me five weeks to talk me out of that one. Transferred to South Annex,
NOB Norfolk VA. Assigned to USS Brough DE 148 and sent to school on Fairbanks Morse
engines. Miss communication due to an emergency transfer to Orange TX and missed the
ship. Reassigned to Bangust. On board from Commissioning until Nov.23 1945. Got a 3
day leave and hauled all my stuff home. Reported to Long Beach/separation Center and
discharged 11/30/45
Returned to old job driving milk truck until early 1947 and was then appointed to the
Schenectady NY Police Dept. (Note: I was one of the third generation of cops, the
fourth retired last June). Son Jeffrey born 7/11/47, daughter Loralee born 7/13/50.
Finally in 1951 I had all the snow and cold weather I wanted for a lifetime and moved
back to Calif. (Van Nuys). Later the same year I was appointed to the Beverly Hills
PD.
Strange as it may seem, we missed the seasons, plus too much traffic, smog, and people.
Early 1960 we bought a restaurant and motel in Gold Beach OR (KING SIZED MISTAKE) The
people there wanted you to come up, go salmon fishing, spend money, but don't move
here. Sold the motel and moved 25 miles north to Port Orford OR where I had a retail
and wholesale milk distributing business. It went well except I was running my tail
off and began to wonder if I would be able to do in 10 years hence.
In January 1964 my wife died so I had to find something to be home with two kids,
my oldest girl was married by then and lived in Calif. In March of that year I was
appointed to the Oregon Liquor Control Commission as an enforcement Officer in
Portland OR. In Aug. of 1966 I married my present wife who also worked for the OLCC
in data processing. We were transferred to Eugene OR the same year. She had a 3 year old
from a previous marriage so now I have 4 kids. As an enforcement division it left a
lot to be desired so in 1971 we bought a small MOM & POP country store. My wife
continued in data processing and I ran to store and was appointed Post Master. In
early 1978 our daughter was keeping stats for various athletic teams in middle school.
She told us about a kid that had been "dumped" there and his folks were always going
to send for him when they got settled. Where he was living was rotten (bunch of pot
heads) and where he was going to move was worse so he came to our house for dinner on
Valentines Day 1978 and never left. Now we have 5 kids. In 1978 we sold toe store how-
ever I kept the Post office and we built our present home on 2.5 acres that we had
purchased earlier. In 1991 we both retired and are loving minute of it We have been
doing a lot of traveling and spending time with family. At last count we have grown
to 5 kids, 12 grandkids, and four great grandkids. They are scattered from Seattle to
Rancho Bernardo and they are all good kids.
There Don, for what its worth. Don't hesitate to delete anything that might not be
important or if I left anything out, let me know.
Bill Fairlee (October 23, 2000)
Norman J. Hatt, EM1c, Born in Franklin Square, L.I.,N.Y. on February 27,
1925. Enlisted in New York City in March of 1943 and had boot training
at the Great Lakes Naval Station. Attended Electrician's School at
Purdue University and boarded the U.S.S Bangust, DE 739 in San Pedro,
Calif.in 1943. Watches were in the engine and motor rooms and GQ station
was Repair II mid-ships. Other than schooling, spent entire Naval career
on the Bangust from 1943-1946 when she was mothballed at Green Cove
Springs, Florida. Discharged at Lido Beach, N.Y. in March 1946. Married
Jean Morrow in September, 1949 and have three children and eight
grandchildren. Presently reside in E.Sandwich, Ma. and Leesburg, Fl.
If you have any memorabilia I could buy for his birthday, that would be great. I am copying pictures and stories from the website to put into a book for him for his birthday.
Thanks.
12/18/2002
If you recall, back in 1942 the U.S. Congress passed the draft law. Subject to age, size of family,
etc. In 1943 my draft status was 1-A so I volunteered for the U.S. Navy. I did not want the Army.
At that time, I was married with one child. I was sent to San Diego Naval Base for boot training
(seven weeks). After boot camp, I went aboard a baby flat top to Hawaii for further orders,
Saginaw Bay. Staying there for six weeks. I was put aboard a Dutch troop ship and we landed at
Eniwetok Atoll where I boarded the U.S.S. Bangust in the month of May 1944 and was put into the
first division under Chief Herman Meacham. I will never forget Old Chief Meacham. He lined up
the new crew members and said “How many of you characters have been in the brig?” I had to
hold up my hand because I was in the brig for being AWOL. The Navy was going to ship me
overseas without a leave home so I took 19 days which I now know I should not have done. I
received 30 days in the brig and a $50 fine and immediately shipped out. Anyway the Chief
Meacham said “I want any man who has been in the brig to be in my division because they make
the best sailors. SO that is where I landed. And I must say I think the first division (of brig rats)
were among the best in the Navy. I know you object to that statement, but that is my feeling.
Anyway, that is the first and only time I have been behind bars in my life.
My duty aboard the Bangust, while in port, was bow-hook on the whale boat. The boat had three
men - cockswain, motor mack, bow-hook. The cockswain was Harold Arnett, motor mack James
Coster, and I was the bow-hook. Coster was a Jewish boy who could not swim and was totally
afraid of the water. Yet, he was on the whale boat crew. If you recall, our commanding officer was
a total 100 percent alcoholic. We had to, at times, carry him to the boat and it took for or five crew
members to get him on board. I recall one incident at Ulithi Atoll he (McNish) went ashore and
when we picked him up, he was totally out. When we arrived at our ship, he would not let anyone
help him so he started up the ladder and fell backwards into the water and sank four or five feet. I
dove into the water and pulled him up and he said “I fell in didn’t I sailor” and I said “Yes, sir”.
When we were at sea, my duties were Starboard Lookout and Steering watch. Lookout had to report
any objects floating or under the water or in the air. We had to be especially alert for floating
mines. I recall one time we were re-fueling at sea and I spotted a mine dead ahead. We cut the
fuel line. The oil tanker and the D.E. split in each direction. Officers sank the mine with rifles.
I was on steering watch during the terrible typhoon we went through in 1944. The rudders on our
ship would turn only 10 degrees right or left and with those 70 and 80 feet waves, it was a terrific
battle to keep the ship on course. I don’t know how the old Bangust held together. She was a
tough old girl. Remember, the Destroyers Spence, Monaghan and Hull all broke in two and sank.
My battle station was Hot-Shellman. On our 3" - 50 mm cannons, I helped with the firing of the
Hedgehogs. Remember, that is what sank the submarine. Hot-Shellman had to wear thick
asbestos gloves to handle the brass of the shells. The gloves were extra thick but the heat would
penetrate through them. We put cotton in our ears, but the concussion would knock our helmets
off and push the cotton out of our ears. So, we, the gun crew (five men) said “To Hell with it, we’ll
fire without them”. Which we did, many many times.
I recall we had a head (toilet) right below the 3-inch cannon on the bow. Every time we would fire
this on particular gun, we had to repaint the ceiling of the head because it would literally peel the
paint from the steel. Why? I don’t know. The concussion, I suppose.
Speaking of concussions, I got my Navy discharge January, 1947. In 1948, I had to buy myself
hearing aids. At that time, they were just coming on the market and were not too reliable. Today,
they are awesome. I went to the Veteran’s Hospital in Muskogee, Oklahoma and they just fiddled
around doing nothing. I wanted to find out if my hearing problem was caused by my naval service,
because my ears would drain and get sore and I went to sickbay a number of times on the ship. I
finally got my naval record by writing my Congressman, Bill Thomas, and my records had nothing
about my visits to the sickbay. I hope today’s soldiers and all service people get better
consideration. Anyway, at the age of 86, I am still walking, exercising well, and enjoying each and
everyday to the fullest degree.
I was one of the lucky GI’s to get a Dear John letter while overseas. I had a suspicious feeling
something at home was not right. She (my wife) would write letters and not mail them for a week
at a time and not write for a month. When I arrived home in January of 1946, my suspicions were
correct, she was living with another man. You know this shakes a man up more that anything in
the world. It took me quite some time to recover, but I found a woman with two children, Delvia.
We married and raised her two children, my daughter by my first wife, and three boys of our own.
I tell her I wouldn’t trade her for Jimmy Carter’s peanut farm in the State of Georgia. She tells me
she wouldn’t trade me for an army mule. We have been together 57 years, and would like 57
more.
You know, we all have tough situations to face at times. It pays one to sit down and consider the
situation and realize that patience and time will solve any problems.
When I was a young boy at home I would go to work with my father, who was a plumber. It was
then that I decided to follow my father’s occupation. When I returned home from the service in
1946, I went to work as an apprentice plumber, learned the trade and retired after 44 years. My
wife and I enjoy every second of each day. All my four boys became plumbers. The trade has been
wonderful for my family.
One of my sons, David, was a professional baseball player for 14 years. He blessed me with two
grandchildren and two great grandchildren. My son Bob, also blessed me with two grandchildren
and so far, one great grandchild. My son Gary, had two boys (who are both serving in Iraq, one in
the Army and the other in the Air Force), and one of those boys has blessed me with a great
granddaughter. My stepdaughter Jean (who is bringing us to this reunion with her husband, Dave)
had two children. They have blessed me with four great grandchildren. My daughter, Alma Kay
(who recently passed away from cancer) had two sons and they had one child each. My stepson,
Benny, passed away in 1981 and he had two children. Those two children have blessed me with
three great grandchildren. So, we have been busy. Since my retirement as a plumber, I have been
into woodcarving as a hobby.
Gentlemen, I think this old sailor has written enough. I hope these few notes bring back happy
memories for you. Those memories have meant a lot to me. We’re all at the age to get ready for
the Great Beyond. I’ll see you there and remember “Old Sailors Never Die, They Just Smell That
Way.”
God Bless One and All
Porter Martin Rader
8/15/04
Donald R. Pond QM2 was born in Upland, California on November 8, 1925. After graduating from University High School, located in West Los Angeles, California, in June 1943, Donald worked at North American Aircraft helping to build B25 bombers until joining the Naval Reserve for active duty on November 1, 1943. After completing boot camp at San Diego Naval Training Center, Donald was selected for Quartermaster School, also located at the San Diego Naval Training Canter. Upon completion of Quartermaster School Donald, along with many others that had completed their training were assigned as passengers of the USS Franklin CV13. Underway for Pearl Harbor in June of 1944 the Franklin was loaded, including topside, using all available space with fighter aircraft for delivery to the Pacific. All of the space between the aircraft was full of passengers with their sleeping cots and personal gear.
The Franklin
After a short time at Aiea, a relocation camp near Pearl Harbor, Donald along with a few others was assigned as a passenger to the USS Patuxant AO44 for transfer to the Pacific Fleet. Arriving at Saipan and Tinian during their siege, then to an Army passenger ship for sailing to Einewetok Atoll.
A Fleet Oiler similar to the Patuxant
Arriving at Einewetok in July of 1944, Donald was assigned to the USS Bangust DE739. The Bangust History appears on another page.
Donald in 1944
HENRY EUGENE DAVIS FC1 ("Hank" or "Gene") Born 08 March 1926, Hayward, CA.
Attended public schools grades 1
thru 5 at various locations in California, including Los Olivos, Santa Maria,
San Francisco and Longvale. Grades 6, 7, & 8 were at St. Vincents Boarding
School for Boys, in San Rafael, CA where the standard school day was seven
hours plus two hours nightly study hall. Courses included Latin, Algebra,
Geometry & Trigonometry. Returned to public school for the 9th & 10th
grades in Arroyo Grande, CA, only to find I had completed the classes in the
previous years at St. Vincents. Began to hang around with older guys from
the 11th & 12th grades. The good teachers had enlisted in the military or
been recalled, the replacements were immature and my older friends were
enlisting. The only interesting classes were the pre-induction courses.
When those ended, boredom set in and at the tender age of 17 years, 2
months, on 07 May of 1943, I found myself as a seaman recruit in Company
313-43 at Camp Waldron, U.S.N.T.S. Farragut, Idaho.
William Morgan Fairlee, born July 7,1923 in Schenectady NY. Mother, Ethel Morgan Fairlee,
father William Fairlee Jr. Two sisters, Helen 1/16/25, and Mary Jane 6/3/29. Married
Eleanor Kaczmarek 4/25/42, daughter Patricia born 11/13/42.
Don, am sending a brief history for the Bangust page if you would
like to include with the Crew Histories.
(April 2001)
Hi! I wanted to add my Dad, who will be 80 in January, to your contact list. He served on the Bangust for 18 months from about 4/43 to 10/44. He was a signal man, and his nick name was "Deacon". When he got out he joined the Naval reserves, and then rejoined as a Naval Chaplain in about 1964. He remembers his Naval days very fondly.
1944
2000
1558 Holly Tree Rd.
Yuba City, CA 95993-5238
530 6713454
Marilyn Musielski
16 Academy Rd
Madison, NJ 07940
U.S.S. BANGUST 1943 - 1946
To all my former shipmates aboard the U.S.S. Bangust, I want to say I am looking forward to
seeing all of you again. It was such a privilege and pleasure to serve with all of you. Most of us
here today are ancient antiques (speaking for myself). Being born in the year 1918, I am old
enough to have rust under my armpits (that’s okay). I just squirt a little WD40 on my joints and
keep moving. We should all thank our Good Lord and Creator for bringing us through many terrible
experiences and for the longevity of our lives (yes, Lord we do thank you.)
S1/C USS Bangust
DE 739
Main Deck
