1 November, 2018
November 1940
An excerpt from “The Life Story of a lucky Tennessee Sailor that Lived to Retire” by Abb R. Truett:
This entry may depict some ethnic and racial prejudices that were once commonplace in American society. Such depictions were wrong then and are wrong today. These transcriptions are being presented as they were originally created, because to do otherwise would be the same as claiming these prejudices never existed.
November, 1940, as we came up from the south to New York on a Standard Oil tanker, I was called by the Navy for active duty. The Navy dispatched me to the U.S.S. Santee at Baltimore as a Commissioned Officer. The U.S.S. Santee at that time was on oil tanker rigged for fueling ships at sea.
My first assignment aboard the Santee was First Lieutenant and loading officer. A few days after I arrived aboard, we set sail for the West Coast through the Panama Canal. When we arrived on the Pacific coast at Los Angeles harbor, we did a few practice drills loading ships at sea. Then, sometime in April, we sailed for Pearl Harbor and in May, 1941, the U.S.S. Santee was getting in shape to convert into a light aircraft carrier. I was transferred to the U.S.S. Cuyama, another oil tanker that also fueled ships at sea.
U.S.S. Cuyama Offitcers
P. R. Coloney- Commanding Officer
V. F. Rathbun -Executive Officer
W. F. Huckaby - Navigator Officer
D. D. Lett-A.A. Battery Officer
E. M. Tellefson- Communication Officer
C. W. Lowith - Engineer Officer
R. G. Brown - Gunnery Officer
P. A. Bane -First Lieutenant
A. R. Truett - First Division Officer
F. E. Mullins - A.A. Battery Officer
J. J. Reidy -Second Division Officer
I. R. Strickland -Asst. Engineer Officer
J. W. Root- Medical Officer
B. A. Chandler-Supply & Disbursing Officer
R. F. Hitchcock -Asst. Supply Officer
The U.S.s.Cuyama loaded cargo of diesel oil and fuel oil in San Francisco Bay for Pearl Harbor. We also went to some of the South Pacific Islands lohninson Is., Palmyro Is. Wake Is., and Midway Is.. We met Lieutenant Colonel James P. Devereux, Commander of the Marines who later made the heroic stand against the Japs for sixteen days before he and his Marines surrendered. We were back in Los Angeles Harbor sometime in the late summer of 1941.
Pauline's Letters:
- April 1917
Click to Keep Reading ...An excerpt from “The Life Story of a lucky Tennessee Sailor that Lived to Retire” by Abb R. Truett:
November, 1940, I was called by the Navy for ... - June 3rd, 1940 Dear Mae
Click to Keep Reading ...Dear Mae, Read your letter this morning, sure was glad to hear from you. I am having a good time but not as good as I had last ...
- November 1940
Click to Keep Reading ...An excerpt from “The Life Story of a lucky Tennessee Sailor that Lived to Retire” by Abb R. Truett:
November, 1940, as we came up from the south ... - July 5th, 1941 Dear Pauline
Click to Keep Reading ...Gee jack I wish I had more time off while you are out here, so I could be with you more.
- August 12, 1941 Dear Pauline
Click to Keep Reading ...Sam’s Birthday is September 15 that will be the code for the date we will arrive in San Diego or any name stating date so you understand ...
- August 15, 1941 Dear Pauline
Click to Keep Reading ...I haven’t heard from you since my last 2 letters. You probable haven’t recovered from the shock. As soon as you get your breath I will be looking ...
- August 17, 1941 To my Dear Future Sweet Wife
Click to Keep Reading ...I received your letter today as we will be sailing early in the morning for Honolulu. I will tell you how glad I am when you said “yes”. ...
- September 10, 1941 Dear Pauline
Click to Keep Reading ...I will get some time off for Christmas. I told Lieut Lett confidential about us but it was too good to keep secret so all the Naval Officers ...
- September 18, 1941 Dearest Abb
Click to Keep Reading ...Received your letter yesterday, Honey. I sure was glad to hear from your, I missed your letters so much. Just counting the days until I see you again.
- September 21, 1941 Dear Pauline
Click to Keep Reading ...I have 1 sister May Russell at Lyle, Brother Henry “The Navy”, Russell, Woody & Day at Turlock Ca. Mother is at Day’s now, His two boys Billy ...
- September 24, 1941 Hello Darling
Click to Keep Reading ...Honey I will try to make you a good wife so we will be happy. Of course we don’t know each others disposition. I will try to be ...
- September, 29 1941 Dear Abb
Click to Keep Reading ...I received the package Sat. I was excited as a child on Christmas morning, they were lovely. I like to wear beads. And they are so odd. I ...
- September, 29 1941 Dear Pauline
Click to Keep Reading ...It will be just like going to heaven when we come in to home port and I can see you. We will never let our honeymoon end honey.
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