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Post by rebcav on Dec 4, 2017 0:51:05 GMT
Well, it's that time of the year. And I don't know about you guys, but ( No disrespect intended) my mom is the hardest person to buy for. But then I remembered a conversation I had with a learned member of this board. My mom's father served aboard the APD U.S.S. McKean in WWII in the Solomons. I was talking with SOMEONE here who told me about a place I could find portraits of Naval Vessels. She's really missing her dad, and that painting would be a good salve for her.
I'd like to see my mom happy.......
Thanks in advance.....
Duane.
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dave
Brigadier General
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Post by dave on Dec 4, 2017 3:01:38 GMT
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Post by quincannon on Dec 4, 2017 3:55:16 GMT
I think it was me Duane that mentioned Navy Yard Associates as a source. Trouble is I just tried to bring them up on the net and it seems their web site is inactive.
Couple of ways to do this though. Probably the quickest is to go with what Dave posted. Another would be to obtain a photo of McKean from the Navy, and the place I would go to find out how is contact the U S Navy Museum, Building 76 at the Washington(DC)Navy Yard. Naval Historical Command is located there as well.
With a photo you could take it to a local trophy shop or frame gallery and let them do whatever custom work you required.
Probably be best to warn you though that because McKean was lost in 43 at Bouganville photos of her as an APD are few and far between.
There was however one other source and that would be LIFE Magazine archives McKean was one of the first of the converted APD's and her conversion was pre-war, She participated in some Marine Corps exercises off Cuba in mid-1941 and the were several outstanding pictures of her featured in LIFE.
Let me know how I may assist you.
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Post by rebcav on Dec 5, 2017 14:32:53 GMT
I think it was me Duane that mentioned Navy Yard Associates as a source. Trouble is I just tried to bring them up on the net and it seems their web site is inactive. Couple of ways to do this though. Probably the quickest is to go with what Dave posted. Another would be to obtain a photo of McKean from the Navy, and the place I would go to find out how is contact the U S Navy Museum, Building 76 at the Washington(DC)Navy Yard. Naval Historical Command is located there as well. With a photo you could take it to a local trophy shop or frame gallery and let them do whatever custom work you required. Probably be best to warn you though that because McKean was lost in 43 at Bouganville photos of her as an APD are few and far between. There was however one other source and that would be LIFE Magazine archives McKean was one of the first of the converted APD's and her conversion was pre-war, She participated in some Marine Corps exercises off Cuba in mid-1941 and the were several outstanding pictures of her featured in LIFE. Let me know how I may assist you. Sir: It was in fact your post I was looking for. Thanks to all for the quick replies. Crazy story re. my Grandfather and the U.S.S. McKean- He was stationed aboard the McKean with his older brother. When the Sullivan Brothers went down and the order came to separate any groups of brothers serving aboard a U.S. Naval Vessel, my grandfather and his brother were called to the Captain's Cabin and informed of the order. Neither brother wanted to be transferred, so the Captain flipped a coin. My grandfather lost and was shipped to San Francisco. His brother Raymond went on to serve aboard the McKean until she was sunk. When the McKean went down, my grandfather's brother was saved by getting on a mattress ( he couldn't swim) and floating on it until rescue. So much for "winning" the coin toss. Thanks again for all the help, Aloha, Duane |
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Post by quincannon on Dec 5, 2017 17:37:35 GMT
Duane: That small division of APD's that in late 1942 was involved in running supplies to Guadalcanal, mostly at night, were the primary reason that the Cactus Air Force could keep flying. McKean was in company with Little, Gregory, and Calhoun. These latter three were lost just off Guadalcanal, and are among the least recognized. They often came to Guadalcanal with drums of AVGAS loaded, exposed on their decks. One could reasonably argue though had it not been for these small boys like McKean, Guadalcanal could not have been maintained. You can be justly proud of your grandfather's service to his country.
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Post by rebcav on Dec 17, 2017 14:30:10 GMT
UPDATE:
Thanks to all who replied. Got the print of my Grandfather's ship, the U.S.S. McKean. Framed and everything. You guys ROCK.
Aloha and Merry Christmas,
Duane
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Post by rebcav on Jan 4, 2018 12:10:24 GMT
Duane: That small division of APD's that in late 1942 was involved in running supplies to Guadalcanal, mostly at night, were the primary reason that the Cactus Air Force could keep flying. McKean was in company with Little, Gregory, and Calhoun. These latter three were lost just off Guadalcanal, and are among the least recognized. They often came to Guadalcanal with drums of AVGAS loaded, exposed on their decks. One could reasonably argue though had it not been for these small boys like McKean, Guadalcanal could not have been maintained. You can be justly proud of your grandfather's service to his country. I was always a History Dork, even as a kid. When I found out that my grandfather was at Midway, Guadalcanal, Leyte Gulf and Okinawa, I "pumped" him for information. Rest his Soul, I always heard a humorous story when I asked. Then when I signed up for The Corps, I got some of the other stories. Like how the McKean picked up some Marine Raiders on the beach under fire, and ten minutes after getting aboard ship the Marines were laughing and joking about how "close of a call that was". Or the time my grandfather's best friend was blown to pieces by a kamikaze off Okinawa while manning a 40mm gun mount. I guess once I was "in", my grandfather felt I could now hear the "other stories". I shudder to think what would have become of this Republic (and the World, for that matter) if it were not for the "Greatest Generation". I really do. Respectfully Submitted, Duane. |
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dave
Brigadier General
Posts: 1,679
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Post by dave on Jan 4, 2018 15:09:53 GMT
Reb Cave
Not only the greatest generation but all the others back to the Revolutionary War. I am currently researching a Union organization and following it from its inception to its literal death by Appomattox. The Iron Brigade was a famed organization made up of simple young men of convictions as strong as they were different from the Johnnies they faced.
I have studied Cleburne's Brigade, the Orphan Brigade and the Stonewall Brigade and they were all pretty much the same in bravery, tenacity and determination. The key ingredient for all three being leadership from the NCOs to the officers.
Just as an aside, I have begun studying the Barksdale's Brigades actions at the Wheatfiled in Gettysburg and what role, if any they played in the defeat of Sickle's 3rd Corps.
Regards
Dave
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Post by rebcav on Jan 4, 2018 20:48:25 GMT
Reb Cave Not only the greatest generation but all the others back to the Revolutionary War. I am currently researching a Union organization and following it from its inception to its literal death by Appomattox. The Iron Brigade was a famed organization made up of simple young men of convictions as strong as they were different from the Johnnies they faced. I have studied Cleburne's Brigade, the Orphan Brigade and the Stonewall Brigade and they were all pretty much the same in bravery, tenacity and determination. The key ingredient for all three being leadership from the NCOs to the officers. Just as an aside, I have begun studying the Barksdale's Brigades actions at the Wheatfiled in Gettysburg and what role, if any they played in the defeat of Sickle's 3rd Corps. Regards Dave Brah- Check out a book called "Barksdale's Charge: The True High Tide of the Confederacy" Those men from the Magnolia State wrote their names HIGH on 02 July 1863. They came dang close. I've walked the route of that assault. Wow. Just.......Wow. Respectfully Submitted, Duane |
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Post by quincannon on Jan 5, 2018 4:29:53 GMT
I may be one of the very few people on planet earth that thinks that Sickles did the right thing, by moving off that ridge, thus breaking up the momentum of Longstreet's attack on 2 July.
Dave: Define the defeat of III Corps. Was there a penetration that I am not aware of? Who was successful at the end of the day? Did any confederate live to see the top of Cemetery Ridge? Success is defined as reaching objectives, and not by the gallantry of the attempt. If you do not reach that objective, take it, and hold it like you were told to do, all the gallantry in the world is not worth a bucket of horse piss.
Duane: Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades. It's just like football brother. It does not matter if you win by one point or a hundred, when you open the paper to the sports page on Monday morning, your team has only a win or a loss next to its name.
The mistake made was to make that attack by Longstreet, which included Barksdale, a right echelon attack, as opposed to a limited scope, highly focused, frontal attack. Echelon attacks are easy to do with a regiment/brigade level command, but damned near impossible to do with an army corps.
I am also at a loss as to why you feel the Stonewall Brigade was something extraordinarily special Dave. Remember I do have a dog in that fight, but from where I sit they had two real good days, First Manassas and 6 June 1944. Other than that they were rather ordinary, and certainly not any better than any other brigade in the ANV
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Post by deadwoodgultch on Jan 5, 2018 11:18:27 GMT
Give me a break Chuck, when I read the sports page on Monday morning and my team lost it is the refs, spy gate, deflate gate, or the other team just cheated. Then again, if you ain't cheating you are not trying. Also the winners always write the history. And, oh by the way the Stonewall Brigade got lost for more than a day and a half lost in the swamps/woods around the Mattaponi and the confluence of the North and South Anna rivers near Hanover Tavern. Not to mention they also had tangle foot along the next two marsh/river of the Pamunkey and the Chickahominy. Stuart rode thru all of this area on his ride around the Union Army. Based on this performance they would have landed in Spain on June 6, 1944.
Regards, Tom |
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Post by yanmacca on Jan 5, 2018 13:02:57 GMT
The Light Brigade not only lost but finished the day with only 195 men still mounted out of 674. But they went down in history as a bunch of gallant losers, all down to a Captain named Louis Nolan, who incidentally died in the charge. It was later said that if Nolan had survived the charge, he would have been court martialed. As with the BLBH, some historians have made web sites about the battle, here is one which is in the process of detailing the men who took part. link |
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