In Memorium

My Grandfather, Chandler Hendrickson, served in the Navy during World War II, and today I would like to share a few pictures from the album The Mom created from an old shoebox full of photographs that she found.

His first assignement was at Adak Naval Air Station, Alaska. Adak is 2/3 of the way along the the Aluetian Island chain, near the center of the Bering Sea.

Here he is with a few of his fellows manning what I believe to be a 90mm artillery piece. He the second gent from the left.

(All pics are click to enlarge)

After a year or so in Adak, he officially joined the inaugural crew of the USS Admiral W.S. Benson (AP-120) on August 23rd, 1944.

There he is in the back row, again, second from the left.

The AP-120 was an armed troop transport ship, which could move up to 5500 personnel to any point on the earth with a port, although not always in comfort.

Here is a map of the voyages of the AP-120

Their first two voyages involved moving men between Los Angeles, CA and Bombay, India, via Melbourne and Brisbane, Australia. These men included members of the UK, Australian and New Zealand armed forces, as well a number of Chinese Naval and Air Corps personnel.

The third voyange of the AP-120 was from Los Angeles to La Havre, France via the Panama Canal and then to NYC and involved bringing back over 5000 men coming home from the European Theater, include a large number of repatriated allied POW’s.

The fourth voyage involved arriving in Marseilles, France on Bastille Day, 1944 to embark over 4800 soldiers destined for the Pacific Theater. After crossing the isthmus at the Panama Canal again and into the Pacific Ocean, they reached the island of Ulithi to learn of Japan’s surrender. After fuelling they continued their voyange to Leyte and then Manila in good, though guarded spirits. Afterwards, they sailed home to San Francisco, CA.

This picture is of the Legislative Building in Manila after the retaking of the city.

While there the crew were on hand for the official, though belated, surrender of the remainder of the Japanese garrison.

But all was not complete for the USS Benson. After taking on nearly 3500 Naval personnel, the USS Benson sailed for Okinawa. Arriving shortly after a typhoon, the ship had to wait to tie up, but was eventually able to dock and debark hee passengers.

The next several months were spent transporting soldiers and Marines to and from various ports in the Japanese island chain and then returning to Seattle, where and when my grandfather was discharged from the Navy.

The USS Benson was shortly thereafter decommissioned from the Navy and went into service with the US ArmyTransport Service and then to the Military Sea Transport Servcie as the USNS General Daniel L. Sultan, serving through the Korean and Vietnam wars, until finally being transfered to the Maritime Administration in 1969.

The entire history of the USS W.S. Benson can be found here and here, for those interested.

Today is the day we are to remember all of the people who served their country. You are all welcome to leave any and all rememberances and/or links to yours in the comments section.