A picture of my father, LTJG C.R. Anderson by the stern gun of the SS Reverdy Johnson. The ship was a Liberty ship transport. The gun was a 4"/50 caliber of WW1 vintage. My father went to Armed Guard Gunnery Officers School in Boston and Dam Neck, Virginia in late 1942. He then began his gunnery duty on merchant ships. His commands usually had about 25 non-rated sailors and one or two petty officers. Almost none of them were experienced USN personnel. He told me that by the end of 1943 half of the officers with whom he had attended gunnery school were dead. Hard times!
A picture of my father, LTJG C.R. Anderson by the stern gun of the SS Reverdy Johnson. The ship was a Liberty ship transport. The gun was a 4"/50 caliber of WW1 vintage. My father went to Armed Guard Gunnery Officers School in Boston and Dam Neck, Virginia in late 1942. He then began his gunnery duty on merchant ships. His commands usually had about 25 non-rated sailors and one or two petty officers. Almost none of them were experienced USN personnel. He told me that by the end of 1943 half of the officers with whom he had attended gunnery school were dead. Hard times! | Click image for Comments. | Home | Browse All Photos