Farragut’s Press NEWSLETTER OF THE MARE ISLAND MUSEUM, 1100 Railroad Ave, Vallejo CA 94592
Mare Island Historic Park
‘White Christmas’ Without the Snow
During the Christmas season of 1943 Mare Islanders found themselves in a far different situation than in the first two war Christmases—the first, a black Christmas as the realization grew that our Pacific Fleet had suffered an almost fatal blow, the second, a time when it seemed supremacy on the sea and in the air still lay with the enemy. Yet, happily, the third war Christmas was a different story. It was a “White Christmas” (without the snow, of course), for the Allied forces were now on the offensive across the globe, and victory was beginning to feel eminent. Mare Island at that holiday season of ’43 was bustling with activity and enthusiasm. It was a season for decorating, parties, an outpouring of generosity to those in need, and uplifting messages from officers to all. That holiday week was crammed with noontime parties in nearly every part of the Yard. Every shop and department had its own festively decorated tree— ranging from large ones to small desk trees. Christmas Eve Day carols were sung at 3:45 when supply employees gathered around the big tree in the main lobby. Hospital wards 16 and 17 were entertained at a
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Christmas party by 27 ladies of the Flag Loft, who also offered the young men refreshments and gifts. Hospital Corpsmen and patients furiously decorated 1 2 every ward at the Naval Hospital with a Christmas theme as they attempted to win one of three loving cups to be presented to the three best decorated wards after the judges made their decisions. Invitations for patients, officers, nurses, hospital corpsmen and WAVES poured in from hospitable families of the community. Efforts were made to fill every invitation for Christmas Eve and Christmas Eve Day dinners and parties. Another joyful activity was caroling on the compound and in the hospital wards by several organizations. The USO Club in Vallejo did not forget the many children of war workers who lived in trailers on the Island. They held a special party for them at the USO club on Amador Street, complete with gifts and a visit from Santa Claus. The true spirit of Christmas giving was widely evident that year on Mare Island. A large contribution to the Hospital Christmas Fund was made by the Mare Island Recreation Association. A check for $815.17, proceeds from its recent presentation, “Love Rides the Rails”, was given to the American Red Cross Recreation Director, to purchase gifts for the patients. One can imagine that sum bought a large number of gifts back
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December 2018
Actor Mickey Rooney celebrating Christmas aboard the USS Intrepid in Fate of the reactor cores of California, 1943
decommissioned nuclear submarines. http://www.navsource.org/archives/08/08600.htm
in 1943! Also, the Supply Department turned over $300 to the Hospital Welfare Fund to provide a happier Christmas for the patients. The shipwrights, joiners and boat builders of Shop 63 did their part by contributing fifty brightly colored packages to the young men. Each package, in addition to items for fun and necessity, also came with a cheerful greeting card with a crisp one dollar bill tucked inside. Also, another two hundred brightly wrapped gifts were given to the wounded men from the Sail and Flag Lofts, Shop 74, and the Foundry, Shop 81. Employees from Shop 71 and 38 who worked in the varnish room also contributed to that Christmas Fund. Then the remaining amount after purchasing the gifts was turned over to the Chaplain’s fund to assist other servicemen in need. Even men on duty aboard ships under repair were not forgotten. They received gifts from Electric Shop 51. Over 400 presents were donated by employees of this shop to these men, many of whom had no parents or close relatives anywhere in the area. That year Christmas time was made even more special to the hard-working men and women of Mare Island when Admiral Ernest J. King, Commander-in-chief of the U.S. Fleet sent the followingE Yule Greetings by telegram: “On behalf of our fighting sailors, marines and coast guard, at close grips on this traditional day of peace with enemies who had spread war and carnage over the earth, I extend warmest greetings to you men
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and women backing us up so magnificently on the home front. We have already dealt the foe many heavy blows. We shall strike him with ever increasing force and decisiveness as you continue to strengthen us with the arms we need. The course on which we are set will not be traversed, however, without much labor and battle. But united and undaunted, we cannot fail. We will win through to the lasting peace that lies beyond victory.” And finally, an inspiring message to all the workers of the Mare Island Yard came over the radio on Christmas Eve from Admiral W.L. Friedell, Commandant: “During the past year the Navy Yard, Mare Island, has received numerous letters of commendation from the Navy Department and from various Commanders of Forces Afloat commending the Yard for its excellent performance in meeting and anticipating overhaul dates, and completing its new construction. As the Christmas Season approaches I feel that all Mare Island employees, together with those at Hunters Point, the Ferry Building, San Francisco and the Denver Coordinating Office should know and feel that these commendatory letters are the result of hard work on the part of each individual.GLet us strive to maintain and improve our past record for our task is not yet finished. “It is with a feeling of pride and satisfaction that I congratulate all hands on a task well done with the thought that all employees may have a very Merry
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Christmas and my assurance that they have well earned it.”
A Different Kind of Holiday
December 2018
going to do now that Jim will be gone?” and Caroline resented it. She hated everyone and her friends shied away, her kids withdrew and even her poodle went to sleep in her son’s room instead of hers. A week before Christmas, one of the few friends she had left invited her to go to an old folks’ home and help hand out presents. She told Caroline she did not need to speak, but only smile as she gave the presents. One elderly lady asked her about her holidays and when she told her about her husband, the old lady grabbed her hand and held it, and tears welled up in her eyes. The Navy wife knew she really understood and then she realized she was comforting the older woman, to get her to stop crying. That visit changed her whole attitude. She thought she was never a dogooder, but visiting those old folks gave her a sense of purpose, a reason for being. Elizabeth, another wife, remembered the first time she visited a veteran’s hospital. She knew it would be depressing. She decided not to let their condition get her down. As she began to speak to the vets she realized they did not want pity. Just by speaking to them about how they got there, their problems and their loved ones, they were able to have that sense of belonging that both they and Elizabeth needed. She made many more visits after that first one. And so this holiday season when you get a bit overwhelmed by all the din, and you just want to escape, remember there are always “orphans, handicapped persons and the elderly who want someone to see through their situation and appreciate them for what they are – people in need of a sincere smile and a splash of cheerfulness.”
At the holidays we often think of all the fun, gifts and being with families, but an article in a December 1984 Mare’s Tale (another name for The Grapevine) quickly changed that point of view. These were the tales of the wives, whose husbands were deployed at Christmas, and they may have been in a country where Christmas was not celebrated, they did not speak the language and they felt as though they had no friends. That is truly being “alone” at Christmas. One wife relates how it was rainy and cold, but no snow, which she missed, and though she had “plenty of friends” she felt the need to escape. So her solution was to go Guam with her son where it was sunny and warm. She taught her son how to swim and got a “gorgeous tan.” Her solution was to escape, but not everyone could do that Another Navy wife arrived in a foreign country on December 2 and two weeks later her husband was deployed. She had no children and no family. Fortunately she met Betty, another Navy wife, suffering Christmas all alone. They clung to each other like two orphans. They spent Christmas Eve at one of their houses and Christmas at the other. They became lifelong friends and still corresponded though they no longer lived anywhere near one another. Perhaps most interesting was Caroline who was in the states and her husband was deployed. His ship was to be back before Christmas and then it was delayed and then delayed again and it became apparent that the Santa Claus and US Navy Machinist Mate Third Class Tamera ship would not be back before Christmas. People Britton spread holiday cheer on USS Harry S. Truman . were constantly saying, ”You poor thing, what are you 3
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Navy - Night before Christmas
December 2018
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old tar Who said, “Evenin, Matey, here have a cigar. He filled every sea bag with presents galore, And left us all papers, right by the door. With “Anchors Aweigh!” he climbed back into place, A broad smile was creeping all over his face. One look at his watch and he started to frown, “This mid watch is getting me down.” The out to the breakwater and into the night, The gig started fading, the landscape was bright, “Merry Christmas,” he said as he sailed on his way, “Now I’ll finish my rounds and sack in for the day.”
Twas the night before Christmas, the compartments were still, The sailors were sleeping, as most sailors will. The ditty bags were hung by the lockers with care, In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there. The men were all peacefully dreaming in bed, As visions of liberty danced in each head. The Chief in his skivvies, hopped into his rack, Having just come from town and a quick midnight snack. When out on the deck there arose such a roar, I ran to the porthole to find out the score. I stuck out my head and started to shout, “Just what in the world is this noise all about?” A moon made for boondocking showed with a glow, It was downright cold out, ‘bout seven below. What I saw out there looked like Mardi Gras floats, Twas a Captain’s gig drawn by four white Navy goats. In the boat was a man who seemed quiet and moody, I knew in an instant St. Nick had the duty. As quickly as Monday the Billy goats came, He whistled and shouted and called them by name. Now, Perry, now Farragut, Dewey and Jones, What’s the matter John Paul, got lead in your bones? “A little to starb’rd, now hold it up short, No fluffing off now or you’ll go on report!” He was wearing dress ”Reds” that fit like a charm, His hash marks, they covered the length of his arm. The gifts to be issued were all in his pack. The gedunk was ready to leave on each rack. His eyes they were watering, his nose caked with ice, He wiped it with canvas, then sneezed once or twice. He opened his mouth and started to yawn, It looked like the sun coming up with the dawn. The stump of a pipe, he held tight in his teeth, And took a small nip from the bottle beneath. He wasn’t so big, but he must have been strong, I figured he’d been in SEALs early and long.
At the North Pole, USS Queenfish meets Santa Claus (Chief Quartermaster Jack Patterson as Santa). circa 1970.
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father didn’t drink too much on Christmas. I put a bottle of castor oil in his beer and it kept him going until New Year’s day. I went to the doctor the other day and your father went with me. The doctor put a small tube in my mouth and said I could not talk for ten minutes. Your father offered to buy it. It only rained here twice last week: first for three days and then four. The wind was so bad that one of the chickens layed the same egg four times. We got a letter from the undertaker. H e said if the last installment wasn’t paid on your grandmother within seven days, up she comes. Well I must go now and help your father. H e and grandpa were having a contest to see who could lean out the window the farthest. Your father won.
A Letter from Mom
Everyone knows that the best time in any military organization is “Mail Call” and it is certainly true on Navy ships which do not receive mail on a daily basis. Here is a delightful letter from a mom which was just found in a treasure trove donated many years ago.
Dear Son, Just a few lines to let you know I am still alive. I’m writing slowly because I know you cannot read that fast. You won’t believe the house when you come home: we’ve moved. I can’t give you the address because the last family who lived here took the house numbers so they wouldn’t have to change their address. About your father, he has a lovely new job. H e has 500 men under him. H e’s cutting grass in the cemetery. There was a washing machine in the new house when we moved in, but it isn’t working too good. Last week I put 14 shirts in it, pulled the chain and I haven’t seen them since. Your sister had a baby this morning. I haven’t found out if it’s a boy or girl yet so I can’t tell you whether you are an aunt or an uncle. Your Aunt Christine gave up the birth control pill when you Uncle John bought a condominium. Your Uncle Dick died last week at his job in the Dublin Brewery. H e drowned in a vat of whiskey. Some of his fellow workers tried to save him, but he fought them off bravely. We had him cremated and it took three days to put out the fire. Your
With Love, Mom P.S. I was going to send $10.00 but I already sealed the envelope. What serviceman would not have been happy to receive such a newsy letter from his mother?
Shopping on Amazon for Presents?
If you are purchasing gifts from Amazon during the holiday season, please consider signing in for AmazonSmile (smile.amazon.com) and list Mare Island Historic Park Foundation as your designated recipient. It does NOT cost you anything and the museum/foundation will receive a small percentage of the amount of your order as a donation from Amazon. It’s a great way to make your holidays
Preserving the history of Mare Island
Mare Island Museum Hours
Monday through Friday 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Every Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Closed Sundays
Tel: (707) 557-4646 Shipyard tours by appointment, please call:
and ours a bit brighter.
(707) 557 4646 or (707) 280 5742
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Thank you!
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December 2018
Tattoos!
Tattoos are quite popular today, but few who have them realize that tattoos have been around for at least 12,000 years. The word tattoo comes from the Tahitian word “tatu” which means to mark something and was frequently used to signify membership in a clan or society. At one point they became quite popular and even socialites in Britain were getting tattoos. Then they lost popularity and they represented sleaziness or disreputable persons. Tattoos have been popular in the navy since the 1700s and the days of Captain Cook and his travels to the South Seas. Tattoos had symbolic meanings. Many sailors had a pig and a rooster tattoo, one on each foot. The symbolism was that pigs and chickens were always kept in buoyant cages and if a ship wrecked they might be carried safely to land, thus meaning safety in a ship wreck. A tattoo of a swallow was of a bird known for always returning home and thus symbolized a safe return for the sailor. Also in the 18th Century anchors became popular as recognition of a sailor’s desire for stability at sea and also to signify that without an anchor a ship would be adrift at sea, doomed to ride the waves eternally. Women, of course, were banned from ships, but one could always have a tattoo of a hula girl to signify having been to Hawaii or the allure of unknown females. Mermaids were also popular and signified a desire to go to sea regardless of the dangers. More recently pin-ups or girls’ names were frequently found on sailors. Navy regulations for years stated that sailors could not have tattoos that were obscene, sexually explicit, antiAmerican, anti-social and/or advocate discrimination based on sex, race, religious or ethnic origins. Tattoos or body art which symbolize affiliation with gangs, ,supremacist or extremist groups or advocate illegal drugs use were prohibited as was body art which could only be seen with black light. No tattoos were allowed on face, head, neck or hands. The head included the inside of the mouth and the lips. No tattoos were allowed on the arms or legs which were visible with any naval uniform nor could one have a tattoo which was visible through a white uniform. Sleeves (covering an arm or a leg), half sleeve, quarter sleeve and large tattoos were prohibited. Mutilation which included intentional disfigurement of any part of the body is prohibited. Mutilation was intentional, radical alteration of the body, head, face or 6
skin for the purpose of /or the resulting in an abnormal appearance. Examples of, but not limited to, split, pierced or forked tongue; pierced nose, lip eyebrow, or other areas of the face or body; foreign objects affixed to or inserted or intentional burns to create a design or pattern.; enlarged or stretched holes in the ears; intentional scarring on face, neck, scalp or anywhere on the body to include branding. And last, the use of gold, platinum or other veneers for the purpose of dental ornamentation or unnatural shaping of teeth for non-medical purposes was prohibited. These regulations were in effect for years! However in 2016 and more recently in 2018 regulations in the Navy were substantially changed. Why? The lack of recruits who could meet the naval criteria with the present popularity of tattoos among the younger generation. In 2018 regulations allowed one to have one tattoo on the neck no larger than one inch in any direction. They no longer restricted the size or the amount of tattoos on the arm or leg. Visible tattoos below the elbow or knee were no longer restricted in their size or amount; but you still could not have the racist, sexist, etc., type of tattoos. Perhaps most interesting is that the change also included sailors who had tattoos on their arms were allowed to be assigned to Recruit Training Command and Recruiting Command positions, previously this was not allowed. However, relax; the Marines have not basically changed their regs. One can have tattoos on any part of the body which is covered by a physical training uniform
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of t-shirt and shorts. There is even a measuring tool that can be used for above and below the knee and elbow to determine whether the tattoo will be covered
December 2018
by the uniform. Gen. Robert Neller, Commandant of the Marines, when questioned about the strict policies stated that “We’re not a biker gang, we’re not a rock and roll band and we’re not Adam Levine (Maroon 5 lead singer.) You can get 70% of your body covered with ink and still be a Marine. Is that not enough?” Neller states his wife thinks he’s “stupid” and should not judge people on their ink. He says he does not judge them, he just doesn’t want them being Marines. The commandant stated that the only reason he would change the policies would be if recruiters told him that they could not make their quotas. He says he talks to recruiters frequently at conferences and they claim it’s possible to make quotas under the existing policies. On the other hand, how many enlisted recruiters or even any officers would tell their commandant that they could not do their job successfully? Now there’s a “conundrum” for you!
Whale Boat Champs
During the first weekend in October the City of Vallejo holds its annual Waterfront Festival and one of the big events is the whale boat races. These are races by “oar-powered” small boats by different groups in the community who race against each other, first in heats and then in final qualifying matches which determine the winner. Once again Mare Island Brewery was the final winner and received a prize of $1500 which they could donate to any community activity. Once again the brewery chose Mare Island Museum. Congratulations for winning Mare Island Brewery, and many thanks for the donation to the museum. And a special thanks to some of the “older” crew members who are beginning to find the intensity of the race a bit wearying!!
Chinese-Americans a Valuable Part of Mare Island Workforce East to the Orient, and West to the Americas, the struggles for Nanking, Hangkow and the Burma Road, the battles for Bataan, Java, the Philippines and Australia have been welded into one great allied effort. Chinese and Americans in those times worked together to wage defensive and offensive war. Pitched against seemingly impossible odds, the Chinese demonstrated their reaction to overpowering aggression again and again. On Mare Island, too, the Chinese-American answer to Japanese aggression had been in united strength. More than 200 American-born Chinese, mostly of Cantonese descent were “fighting” on Mare Island, representing a cross-section of the Yard at work. Draftsmen, architects, machinists, electricians, painters, helpers, trainees, ammunition workers, clerks and office employees were these Chinese-Americans, engaged in production which extended peace from their own country to that of their ancestors. One example was fifty-seven-year-old Frank P. Young, Past Commander of Henry W. Lawton Camp No. 1, United Spanish War Veteran and member of the U.S. Navy Apprentice Boys’ Association. He was a typical MareIslander and representative of thousands of Chinese-Americans whose descendants lived in the San Francisco area and were somehow engaged in the defense of the Pacific Coast. He had two sons who were employed on Mare 7
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effort working on the Prometheus , USS Jupiter and later the USS Langley , USS Kanawha, USS Maumee, USS Montana , USS California and USS
Island: Eugene Young, planner and estimator, and Ralph Young, apprentice in the sheet metal shop. Second-generation Chinese, many of those employed on the Yard were also members of prominent San Francisco and Oakland families. Typical of the group were Lawrence Due, assistant naval architect, Director of the China War Relief Association, and Wallace Lee, assistant naval architect, whose family operated a cigar manufacturing company. Clifton Yip was the son of the manager of the Great China Theatre on Jackson Street and was a draftsman; and Edward Said, who worked in the Shipbuilding Superintendent’s Office, was a former student at Ling Nan University in Canton. He was the son of the 1st and 2nd President of the Chinese Hospital and also the Director of the Chinese Six Companies. L. Mah was the son of a well-known Chinese family that owned a string of electrical shops. He carried his family’s craft to Mare Island and became a yard electrician. Y. One was an apprentice on the Island and was the son of a former Mayor of Chinatown, and Director of the Chinese Hospital. Chinese women were also an essential part of the Mare Island workforce. Betty Choy worked in the drafting department; Mildred Lew was employed in the planning section; Rosemary Gee, and Messrs Jue, Mah, Seid, Ong and Yip were all represented by their
Ward.
A special tribute to the Chinese-American women who worked on Mare Island came about in November 1942. A contest was conducted among the yard employees to determine the best way of selecting an employee-sponsor (the person who christens a new ship or sub with a champagne bottle). Sue O’Conner won the contest with her idea that the next sponsor be chosen from among the Chinese women employed on Mare Island “to show our appreciation and re-affirm our faith in China.” Her winning suggestion merited a $25 bond contributed by Captain F. G. Crisp, Yard Manager. Nominations were limited to Mare Island Chinese, who were given the opportunity to name their own sponsor. Emma Yam, Shop 51 helper electrician, was chosen for the honor of being the ship sponsor of the Wileman (DE22), a fighting ship. She was the first American citizen of Chinese descent to christen a war vessel as a tribute to the country of her ancestors. In addition, she was also made eligible to join the Society of Sponsors of U.S. Navy Ships. She was accompanied on the christening platform by Mrs. Lily Ching, Shop 31 helper machinist, also chosen matron of honor by Yard Chinese-Americans. Dr. Chih-Tsing Feng,
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Chinese Consul General at San Francisco, delivered the principal address. And Captain A.D. Denney, Captain of the Yard, also paid tribute to the people of China in his address at the ceremony. The assimilation of these men and women into the full speed ahead program is one more tribute to the concentrated, harmonious “Let’s do a job!” attitude of Mare Island’s shipbuilders, where a man or woman was known for the work he or she did.
Coming Events
Tickets on sale beginning 1st Nov, 2018 Please contact Mare Island Museum (707) 557-4646 for questions and ticket sales. Please have a credit card available for ordering tickets by phone
Board Meeting
28 Jan, 2019 10:00 A.M., Museum Board Room
Christmas Concert
2 Dec, 2018 2:00 P.M. Start, St. Peter’s Chapel For further information on any of these events contact the museum at mihp46@att.net or call (707) 557-4646
Corporate Members of Mare Island Museum We like to thank the following corporate members for supporting the mission of the Mare Island Museum:
Island Energy Lennar Mare Island Mare Island Brewing Co. Mare Island Dry Dock, LLC Nautilus Data Technologies Navy Yard Association Petroleum Wine Consulting Savage & Cooke Society of Historical Architects Touro University United Site Services Weston Solutionsd
Abrasive Blasting and Coating, Inc Alstom Association of Marine Underwriters Boyz Garage, Inc. Brayton Purcell LLP CS Marine Constructors Inc. Davillier-Sloam Department 66 Enclos Factory_OS, Inc. Forklift Mobile
Thank You! 9
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