Need help finding info on my Dads ship.....

Chas · 09-27-06, 06:04 PM

I lost my Dad on Christmas day 1972, I was 10 he was a young 45, and I miss him more each day.
I dont have much to remember him by as we had a flood and lost most of our photos from our past. I do have his Navy

infomation and some old photos from my Aunt, his sister. She gave me a great shot of his ship and told me it was him sitting in front of the cannon housing, so i treasure that for sure. My Dad did his time during the Korean conflict (has it ever ended?), and i have a map of his travels, dates he crossed the date line , photos of initiations , moving up neptunes chain of command, what ever that meant to those onboard. I have his boot camp photo and he looks so young...he was 18 so that makes sense, i see his chipped front tooth and a gleam in his eyes that i had never seen in my youth. still young and ready to take on the world for his country and our freedom. Time and age had yet to find him and he looks like a real American hero...atleast he does to me.
Im hoping with the internet and ways of searching, I might find some of his shipmates and say hello , maybe find out more about my Dad.
I know the number of his ship and the dates he served.....Does anyone know how I can begin to do this kind of reasearch?
Im having a difficult time in my life right now and being close to him this way seems to help me through rough times.
Any input is most appreaciated here.

Thanks in advance, Chas

My Dad:

Yoda · 09-27-06, 06:34 PM

Chas..

Send me the ship information. I receive the VFW magazine monthly and each month there are reunions planned with contacts. Also if you search the ship by name on Google... USS Shipsname you might find a website or contact there.

From Pollywog to Shell Back, or if he crossed the international date line and the equator at the same time... "Golden Shell Back"

Bud

81kix · 09-27-06, 07:05 PM

Have you tried this site, "Ancestry.com" it might help you out.

Chas · 09-27-06, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rare81

Chas..

Send me the ship information. I receive the VFW magazine monthly and each month there are reunions planned with contacts. Also if you search the ship by name on Google... USS Shipsname you might find a website or contact there.

From Pollywog to Shell Back, or if he crossed the international date line and the equator at the same time... "Golden Shell Back"

Bud

Bud,
Pollywog to Shellback, I have a map of his tour and I know it has that on it!
A neighbor of mine, retired Navy WW2

, told me that Dads ship was a cruiser that was usually a few miles in front of the battleship, his was smaller and faster and had firepower and speed, kind of a "gage" to know what the big guns were headed into. There is no name on it in the photo i have in this frame, only the number 348.

(I did try ancestry.com and his name came up, however i cant afford the cash they want to give up the info.)
Many Thanks, Chas

Erik S. Klein · 09-27-06, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chas

(I did try ancestry.com and his name came up, however i cant afford the cash they want to give up the info.)

Don't they do two weeks free?

MM-C5 · 09-27-06, 10:14 PM

Chas, my father was a plank owner on the USS Anthony ~ DD515. I once did a search and not only found a home page but a reunion page and was able to gather emails from a lot of old shipmates.

If you can pull this together, you will find a closeness that will amaze you. Best wishes for a short and productive search.

Tom

outwest · 09-28-06, 12:14 AM

Chas, I think this is a pic of the U.S.S Farragut (DD-348). If it is, this would be a destroyer. Being on old "tin can" sailor myself, your old man must have been a helluva' guy.

twiget · 09-28-06, 12:33 AM

Chas, the only ships I couild find with a hull number of 348 were the USS Farragut (DD-348), a destroyer, and the USS Key DE-348. (below)

I found the pic on the Destroyer Escort Sailors Association web page. Based on the pic, and your description of the boats mission, I would guess the USS Key is the ship your father seved on. Unfortunately, the DESA does not have any pictures of the USS Key.

Hope this helps.

Jason

Chas · 09-28-06, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twiget

Chas, the only ships I couild find with a hull number of 348 were the USS Farragut (DD-348), a destroyer, and the USS Key DE-348. (below)

I found the pic on the Destroyer Escort Sailors Association web page. Based on the pic, and your description of the boats mission, I would guess the USS Key is the ship your father seved on. Unfortunately, the DESA does not have any pictures of the USS Key.

Hope this helps.

Jason

This sure looks like it! this is awesome! I read about the U.S.S Farragut (DD-348). unfortunatly that ship was scrapped before Dad served. From the comparison of the 2 photos though, i see the same ship.
The start on this journey has begun with a charge from the gate.
I already have an offer to do an ancestry search,Thanks

You all have helped me so much already, i cant thank you enough.
Outwest,Thanks, Im sure he was a helluva guy.....
Thanks to everyone here.
Chas

Ghost · 09-28-06, 08:44 AM

Apparenty the Key was named for a Marine Raider, KIA 7 AUG 42...

KEY

DE-348 USS KEY lstLt Eugene M. KEY lB NC KIA-7Aug42

Good luck on your search.

MM-C5 · 09-28-06, 09:02 AM

All references to 348 that I could find were also Destroyers except for 1 submarine – that’s out!

Here are some links to the Key

http://www.historycentral.com/navy/DE/key.html

http://www.pbagalleries.com/search/i...3f9f9ef0268bd9

This might be an excellent starting place

Tin Can Sailors
The National Association
of Destroyer Veterans
Over 24,000 members . . . and growing!

http://www.destroyers.org/

Tom

.

WhiteKnight · 09-28-06, 09:25 AM

Chas,

Looks like the site twiget got the pic from is a possible source of info..

http://www.desausa.org/

It is the Destroyer Escort Sailors Assiciation and they have news letter that you can get one free copy of or for a fee become a member.

They also have a section on loking for info on crewmembers and info about family members military records.
best wishes on you search.

Baldie88 · 09-28-06, 09:28 AM

Chas,

If you go to your local library, most already subscribe to Ancestry.com. Go to their genealogy section. My wife is using that right now to look up family members. You'll mostly find census records but I did find my maternal grandfather's registration card from WWI.

Hope this helps.

Ron
"Baldie88"

waterboy1976 · 09-28-06, 09:48 AM

Try

WWW.USMILITARY.COM

Its a great forum same as the CAC you may find good info there...

Good luck....

twiget · 09-28-06, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chas

This sure looks like it! this is awesome! I read about the U.S.S Farragut (DD-348). unfortunatly that ship was scrapped before Dad served. From the comparison of the 2 photos though, i see the same ship.
The start on this journey has begun with a charge from the gate.
I already have an offer to do an ancestry search,Thanks

You all have helped me so much already, i cant thank you enough.
Outwest,Thanks, Im sure he was a helluva guy.....
Thanks to everyone here.
Chas

Glad I could help Chas. I didnt figure the U.S.S. Farragut was a viable option, that is why I didnt attach a pic.

Good luck in your search.

Jason