On November 20th in 1943, Clinton Taylor Chandler of Oklahoma City, was advised by the United States Government that he was to report for military duty on December 1st. Pretty short notice, I think.By Januaryof the following year, Clint had been appointed Recruit Squad Leader.
The papers all note that he was in the USNR - the Reserves. I wonder if that's due to his age and that he had dependents. He was living in Oklahoma the early years of the war; he drove transports around the country and then worked for the fire department until called in to service. Then there's this confusing - to me, anyway - letter:
Ten days notice to report, then a letter giving leave, then report again on the 8th December. Hmmmph. Clint did report and was eventually at sea.
Diverting here: From Wikipedia - SS ("steam ship") Lurline was the third Matson Lines vessel to hold that name and the last of four fast and luxurious ocean liners that Matson built for the Hawaii and Australasia runs from the West Coast of the United States. Lurline served as a troopship in World War II operated by War Shipping Administration agents serving Army troop transport requirements. Famous aviator Amelia Earhart rode Lurline from Los Angeles to Honolulu with her Lockheed Vega airplane secured on deck during December 22, 1934. The voyage prepared her for the record-breaking Honolulu-to-Oakland solo flight she made in January 1935.
I've been looking at WWII naval ranks and cannot figure out this one.
At some time, Clint wore these sleeve patches, earlier rather than later.
It's easy enough to know that it's Petty Officer 3rd class, but the square knot (one source calls it a reef knot, which it also is, but doesn't give the meaning) doesn't show up in any of the sources I looked through. Maybe someone will let me know what it stood for in 1944. I think I may be getting things really mixed up, but the internet is no help and I only have some paperwork about his military service, not all of it.
There's more about the ship he served on than anything else. And that ship had plenty written about it, including newspaper articles and a Reader's Digest story. Here's the end result, then I will back up a little.
The medal list says Clint reported aboard the Mullany in April 1944. In July, the ship became big news. Here's the short version of the story.
I also have two other versions, both really long. The newspaper article is long and one single column down the length of the newspaper page and a similar size across the top of the page. Another version is five legal-size pages of information; the pages are fragile and falling apart.
This half of a magazine page - probably Life magazine, was saved in Clint's belongings, to show one of the battles in which they participated - Iwo Jima.
About 6 months after the Mullany was attacked, the family received this letter. It's the only one that was saved in all of Clint's war service, yet he notes that he has written more letters. I have blocked the first half, not the Navy. As you can see, it passed the censor. This letter came as a photograph. I've never seen V-mail before and find it very interesting - especially the size. It's small - 4" by 5".
The other paper of interest in this collection is a telegram sent in February 1946. I don't have an exact discharge date for Clint. That particular paper he probably kept elsewhere as he would need it in future years.
Clint made it safely home, returned to the fire department, and had one more child. The family did not live happily ever after, though, with a divorce in 1951. He lived many years, marrying twice more and having another child. Clint lived a good and long life.
