Grandfather's diary
My grandfather was a man of few words and unfortunately outright refused to talk about the war. He passed away in 2006, and I recently received his diary. Each entry is brief, and the diary is only 20 pages long. He served from late 1944 until mid 1946 on the U.S.S. Antietam (CV-36). I am still currently researching him and trying to find rank and service records, medals, ect. I though I might share with you some of my favorite entries should you be curious. Mind you they are all very brief, and it is copied exactly from the diary (with errors)
1944:
July 20th: Boot camp at Sampson NoYo
October 26th: Assigned U.S.S Antietam (cv-36)
1945:
March 3rd: left Annapolis0 Arrived in Yorktown, Va.
(various stopping)
May 31st: Arrived Colon, Panama
June 13th: Left San Diego at 1800 for Pearl Harbor
July 18th: Left Pearl Harbor at 1200 for gunnery practise
July:19th 5'' shell exploded, killing 2 men, wounding 16 others, and damaging 20 aircraft.
July 28th: Left Pearl Harbor with Air Group 9 to qualify them for night & day landings
August 11th: False announcement of war's end at 0645
August 14th: War said to be over at 1215
August 15th: crossed International Dateline at 1900
August 21st: Anchors Aweigh at 0630. Set course for Tokyo Bay, Via Marcus & Wake islands to join Task Force 38
September 2nd: Planes over Shanghai, ship 50 miles at sea.
September 3rd: Patrolling Yellow Sea --- mines
September 6th: Refuel from tanker; many mines exploded.
September 7th: Censorship of mail lifted
September 15th: Typhoon coming – hanger deck shipping water.
September 22nd: Beer party on Okinawa.
October 7th: Still at anchor. Intrepid left, Boxer arrived
October 24th: Japanese Destroyer, Kyosai, anchored st’bd side.
October 27th: Navy Day. Islanders visit the ship. Beer party at Guam
October 31st: 0600- left Guam with double decal’s Black and Chauncey
November 22nd: Thanksgiving dinner & Liberty.
November 23rd: Boxer arrived 1100. Admiral left our ship & boarded Boxer November 23rd: Boxer arrived 1100. Admiral left our ship & boarded Boxer
December 1st: 1400 – Set course for Tokyo Bay, with Boxer & several ca
December 6th: Simulated attack on Boxer & vice – versa. Caught them with their planes down.
December 31st: Spent New Years in Tokyo Bay.
1946:
January 29th: Left Saipan for flight operations Conducted operations for four days
February 23rd: Arrived Saipan (Conducted air & gunnery operations every day, and anchored in Saipan at night)
March 28th: Typhoon approaching. Left Saipan to dodge it. Rough weather until the 31st.
April 2nd: Tidal wave expected. Headed out to sea again.
April 3rd: Anchored in Saipan. Conducted assorted gunnery and flight operations, anchoring at night.
May 18th: Transferred to U.S.S Breckinridge, PA 176 (AP-176)
May 21st: Underway for San Francisco
June 10th: Discharged – arrived home 10 PM
Once again, just the highlights of the entries, most have to do with travel, though you would enjoy!
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