Category: Shipmate’s Stories

FC3c JOHN FRANKLIN JENKINS 3 February 45

I was a range finder operator.

I was present on 3 February 1945, for commissioning USS FRANK E EVANS DD 754. I am a Plank Holder because I was there the first time FRANK E. EVANS went to sea. I was there too for her first Christmas, and to celebrate her first anniversary. I provided a list of all men present during FRANK E. EVANS’ commissioning ceremony as well as the ceremonial program. I provided copies of the Christmas menu and the first-anniversary menu complete with the names of the men present. I presented a copy of an abbreviated WWII action log which was provided by the quartermaster.

There is a copy of the message we received ending the offensive operations against the Japs. As you can guess there was quite a celebration aboard ship. We were all glad President Truman gave the orders to drop those bombs. (I didn’t know there was that much booze stashed away aboard the ship.)

We spent a good part of our time after the war cruising up and down the China coast collecting and destroying Japanese guns, ammo, etc. The crew managed to confiscate some of the better rifles. We all had one.

Seems like every time we had gunnery practice, our mascot Major would manage to jump overboard. We would then have man-overboard drills. Unfortunately, we were not able to stop one time, and that was the end of Major.

I have several picture albums and other memorabilia of my time in the Navy and aboard FRANK E. EVANS. I plan to donate them to the Danville, Illinois War Museum.

Post Navy, I was an educator, teacher, and principal. I was called back in service during the Korean war, but when they asked if I wanted to go to the East coast or West coast, you can imagine my answer. I spent most of my time in the Mediterranean aboard destroyers RICH, NEW, and KENNEDY. At least I got to see most of the world, paid for by my Uncle Sam.

John currently (1993) resides at 1005 Skyline Drive, Danville, IL. You can reach him at 217-442-5319.

YN3 DELBERT JAMES HANSON – 3 February 1945 to 1946

I Delbert James Hanson “Del” or “Hans,” was born 3 October 1925 in Minnesota. I had brown hair and blue eyes. I enlisted in the U. S. Navy at St. Paul, Minnesota on 4 June 1944, and attended boot camp at Great Lakes, Illinois.

I was aboard USS FRANK E EVANS DD -754 on 3 February 1945, the day she was commissioned. I’m what is known as a Plank Owner, being one of the crew on board the first time she was taken to sea. The highlights of my time on the ship, I think, would be of all the places I got to see: Bermuda, Cuba, the Panama Canal, Hawaii, the Marshall Islands, Okinawa, China, and Korea. I was lucky enough to be aboard FRANK E. EVANS to celebrate her first Christmas at Tsingtao, China, and first anniversary on 3 February 1946 at Shanghai, China. The best place of all was back home!

S1c GEORGE VERNON GODFREY 3 February 1945 to 10 June 1946

George Vernon Godfrey “Vernon” was born 26 March 1923, at Calverton, Virginia. His hair was brown and he had hazel eyes. When he was 21 years old, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy at Warrenton, Virginia. He went to boot camp 21 June 1944, at USNTC Bainbridge, Maryland and graduated with Company 3374.

Shortly thereafter he set sail on board USS FRANK E EVANS (DD 754). He was there on 3 February 1945, when she was commissioned, and when she first got underway, so he’s known as a “Plank Holder” too. Vernon served on board EVANS seeing action in the Pacific Theater during WWII. He was awarded one star for his participation in the conflict in Okinawa, Japan, and also was awarded the World War II Victory Medal. On 10 June 1946, George Vernon Godfrey was honorably discharged from the U. S. Navy at Shelton, Virginia.

Upon returning home, Vern went to work for the Federal Government. He travelled the world and saw amazing sights that were forever imbedded into his mind. For many years after his service on USS FRANK E EVANS DD-754, S1c Godfrey managed to stay best friends with a fellow shipmate, Sylva Vesta Dove Jr. For over 60 years their friendship proved to be unbreakable.

George Vernon Godfrey married Thelma Mae Sizemore of The Plains, Virginia on 16 April 1949. They had four children, to whom they were both dearly devoted. They have nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Sadly, on 2 May 2005, Vernon succumbed to a long time battle with bone cancer. He was 82 years old. He is remembered by his loving wife of 56 years and a throng of family and friends.

LT CHRISTOPHER FITZGERALD 3 February 45

Merchant Marine Academy Class of 1942

• 23 November 1920, Born Elmhurst, Queens, New York
• November 1940 Reported to USMMA
• 4 October 1941 commissioned USN Midshipman
• September 1942 Appointed Ensign USNR

Went to Radar School and was reassigned to USS FRANK E EVANS DD 754 as the Engineering Officer, which was the first Radar Pickett 2200 ton Destroyer to be Commissioned. EVANS was assigned to the 7th Fleet and was stationed on Radar Pickett #9 duty, in the battle of Okinawa. EVANS was on station with USS FRANKLIN Aircraft carrier, which was badly damaged by bombs. As the war was ending, FRANK E. EVANS was sent into Darien, Manchuria. A small group of us took a train to (Muckden) Shenyang to a prison of war camp looking for General Wainwright. EVANS was acknowledged in Naval History for the work done in the picket lines in Okinawa. “Many times in Okinawa the seamen of America fought not only men, but grim, brainaddled death itself. That they stayed on and fought this nightmare enemy to the end, almost passes belief. But they stayed”. In August 1945 I left the Yellow Sea and USS FRANK E. EVANS.

Residence 202 Parkside Place, Indian Harbour Beach, Florida 32937 (407) 777-4049

LTJG JEROME MORRIS FIEN 3 February 1945

Jerome Morris Fien was born 26 December 1921, at Hartford, Connecticut. After only two years, he graduated from Weaver High School, Hartford, and then Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland in February 1943. He entered Navy service as an Ensign aboard USS FRANK E EVANS DD 754. He was the Communications Officer. He was there 3 February 1945 when EVANS was commissioned and is known as a Plank Owner because he was there when EVANS first went to sea. He was there too for EVANS’ first Christmas and anniversary.

Where have the 52 years (1997) gone? Seems like yesterday that USS FRANK E EVANS DD 754 slid into the water at Staten Island and our adventure began. Reminiscing today brings to mind what a super bunch we were with Harry Smith in command. We even managed to stay that way despite Frank Schwartz, an early version of Captain Queeg.

For those who remember, I really was not the most seasick member on the bridge at General Quarters, I was just “sick”. In June of 1946, the doctors discovered that I was a victim of Gaucher’s Disease, a Jewish genetic disease manifested by an enzyme deficiency in the bloodstream and a very enlarged spleen and liver. The theory was that my large spleen hitting organs in the abdominal area could have been the cause of the discomfort that appeared to be seasickness. John Annegers could really not have diagnosed it at that time.

I decided to take EVANS back to California instead of waiting for the troop ships to leave their moorings in the Whang Po. I got back to New Jersey in June 1946, and then had a second honeymoon in Canada, enrolled at New York University Graduate School of Business (at night), and went to work (days) at a small accounting firm, which eventually became a 95 person firm with me as Managing Partner, eventually retiring in 1986.

In April (1997) my wife Ruth and I will celebrate 52 years of marriage. We created a Jewish Historical Society for our community which is a model for most of the country. We have two children Mark and Judie, and between the two, have five grandchildren.”

Listed in “Who’s Who in the East,” “Who’s Who in Finance and Industry,” and
“Who’s Who in the World.

Jerry Fien passed away on 24 July 2003, from a massive stroke at the age of 81.

SC3c PETER NED DUHE “PETE” 3 February 1945

PETER NED DUHE “PETE” was born in 1927 to Joseph and Marie Duhe at Garyville, Louisiana. He lived there all his life. Pete had three brothers and two sisters.

On 3 February 1945, Pete was received for duty on board USS FRANK E. EVANS (DD 754). That was the day she was commissioned; therefore, Pete is known as a plank holder. He was a Ship’s Cook third class and served until the end of WW II.

In 1946 when Pete was mustering out of the Navy in New Orleans, there was the mandatory lecture, a movie about joining the reserves, a real gung-ho thing. Pete got all excited and was truly thinking about signing up, but his first priority, for now, was to get the hell out the Navy. He was at the naval station for a few days and wanted to make sure he didn’t screw up, which would delay his exit.

One day, over the loudspeaker, came this booming voice, “Pete Duhe, report to the ship’s office.” “Oh my God, what did I do?” The man there said, “So you want to join the reserves. Well, I’m sorry to tell you, you’re unfit.” “Unfit, why?”
“Your eyes.” “My eyes? I just finished 16 months overseas fightin’ them Japs! My eyes?”

Pete was told to go down to the reserve office after he was discharged and they would probably take him down there. Pete never followed through. Imagine, his eyes!

After the war, Ned returned to Garyville, Louisiana. He married Dolores Gueret. Ned and Dolores had two sons and two daughters who brought forth nine grand children and one great grand child. In 1992 when the first reunion was held by the USS Frank E. Evans

Association, Ned was there. He was faithful to the association. Ned attended almost all the reunions.

Ned died 22 May 2008. He was 81 years old.

LTJG JACK ARNOLD DRUCKEMILLER 3 February 1945

Jack A. Druckemiller entered the US Navy in 1941 and rose to the rank of LTJG. He served aboard USS FRANK E. EVANS DD 754 from 1945 to 1946 as an Anti-Submarine Warfare Officer ASW, and Assistant Communications Officer.

He was recalled to active duty in 1950 to serve two years aboard the destroyers USS RICHARD B. ANDERSON (DD 786) and USS VAMMEN (DE 644). Jack remained in the US Naval Reserve until 1967 when he retired as a Commander. Post Navy, Jack worked 40 years for American Electric Power.

Jack Druckemiller came from Marion, Indiana. When in high school he delivered groceries and worked as an usher in a theatre. His father was a wholesale candy distributor. In 1940 Jack graduated from high school and in the fall went to Marion College, then on to Perdue University where he eventually (after the war) received an EE degree, and worked 40 years for American Electric Power in various jobs including a stint at the D. C. Cook Nuclear Generating Station. Jack married later in life and had two children, a daughter now deceased, and a 42-year-old son, who just like his dad, has not married.

Jack Druckemiller enlisted in the Navy while a student at Perdue. It was on 14 December 1942. Originally in the reserve as a seaman apprentice, he was accepted for the V-12 program for officers, commonly known as 90-day wonders. He only had 8 semesters of college, no degree. He went to Columbia University Midshipman School. In 3.5 months, he was commissioned an Ensign. His first assignment, in June 1944, was at the Small Craft Training Center in Miami, Florida. He then went to Fleet Sonar School at Key West, Florida, and finally to Norfolk, Virginia where the crew was being formed for duty on board USS FRANK E. EVANS (DD 754), 3 February 1945. Jack was the assistant Communications Officer.

CDR Smith was a great skipper. FRANK E. EVANS’ first assignment was to escort USS GUAM (CB2), a 600 foot long Alaska Class battle cruiser. After going through the Panama Canal, GUAM could only make 7 knots in order to conserve fuel as there was no place to refuel along the route to Pearl Harbor.

After Pearl Harbor, we stopped in Eniwetok, Ulithi, and Guam on our way to Okinawa where we pulled radar picket duty all around the island. We were assigned to radar picket station 9. On 29 July 1945, we were relieved by USS CALLAGHAN (DD 792)which later that day, was hit by a kamikaze, sinking her and killing 48 crew. That could have been FRANK E. EVANS!

Jack remembered a poker game (strictly forbidden) going on in the Ward Room. In came captain Harry Smith in his pajamas, but with his captains hat, and said very softly, “Don’t ever let me see this again.” Nothing more said, nor done. The chief commissary steward loved to fish for shark. And finally, which should really have been first, during shake down in Brooklyn, while getting underway from along side four other destroyers, captain Smith gave the order to sound one long blast from the ships whistle. Nothing happened except he was hit by a 4 inch column of water that had never been emptied previously. Being senior, he was mighty embarrassed in front of the other three junior Cos.

From an oral history, Texas Tech University… Vietnam Archive

S1c SYLVA VESTER DOVE JR. 3 February 1945 – 11 June 1946

I Sylva Vester Dove Jr. was born 1 September 1926, at Fairfax, Virginia. I had black hair and my eyes are gray. I enlisted in the U. S. Navy at Washington D.C. on 6 June 1944 and went to boot camp for nine weeks at USNTC Great Lakes, Illinois. After Boot Camp, I was sent to Norfolk, Virginia for six weeks and then I was shipped to USS FRANK E EVANS DD-754 in the Brooklyn Navy Yard. I was assigned to the torpedo crew. I was there on board 3 February 1945 the day she was commissioned, and when she first got under way, so I’m known as a Plank Holder too.

We left the navy yard for a shakedown cruise with Commander Harry Smith as our captain, one of the best. We stopped at Bayonne, New Jersey to load ammunition supplies. We anchored at Bermuda. We started war training. Then we tied up at San Juan, Puerto Rico and from there headed back to Bayonne to resupply with ammunition. We travelled through the Panama Canal to Pearl Harbor, then to picket duty around Okinawa.

After the war ended we went to the Yellow Sea to Manchuria where we picked up Japanese rifles for the men on board. Then we headed back home to San Francisco where we could see the rioting on Alcatraz. We spent 30 days leave there and then I was sent on to Shelton, Virgina for discharge on 11 June 1946.

I remember a “long arm” shipmate who could swipe bread from the baker’s tray while he unlocked the bread locker. The bread was hot and we added butter. It was better than cake!!!

A shipmate of mine served on board FRANK E. EVANS for the same period as me. He lived close to me in Warrenton, Virginia. We visited each other quite often. We lost him recently in 2005. He was a real gentleman. His name was Vernon Godfrey.

Sylva currently resides at 301 Tibbs Shop Road, Brightwood, VA 22715. You can reach him at bochsbox@gmail.com or 540-543-2707.

S2c RICHARD H. CRINIGAN 21 August 1946

I Richard H. Crinigan “Dick” was born 7 August 1928, at Waterloo, Iowa. My hair was brown and I have green eyes. I entered the Navy at Waterloo on 4 June 1946, and went to boot camp in San Diego. On 21 August 1946, I reported on board USS FRANK E. EVANS (DD 754) for duty with the deck force in First Division.

Between September 1946 and April 1947, there was only a skeleton crew aboard all destroyers in the squadron. While I was aboard USS FRANK E. EVANS (DD 754) we went on a training exercise aboard USS JOHN W. THOMPSON (DD 760). Then I went to ET school at Treasure Island. EVANS was decommissioned by the time I finished school. I stayed in the reserve and retired as ETC.

Dick currently resides at 4318 “F” Avenue NW, Cedar Rapids, IA. You can reach him at (319)393-9308

I Frederick Charles Atkins was born 22 October 1922, at Passaic, New Jersey. My hair was brown and my eyes were blue. I entered naval service at An Arbor, Michigan in September 1940. My service aboard USS FRANK E EVANS DD-754 became official on 3 February 1945. My home at that time was listed as Maplewood, New Jersey. My assigned duty aboard FRANK E. EVANS as LTJG, was Torpedo Officer. Our first captain was “high speed Harry” Smith.

I was one of those who commissioned the ship at the Brooklyn Navy Yard on 3 February 1945. We did shakedowns off Bermuda and then escorted the cruiser Amsterdam to Pearl Harbor, then to Okinawa for Radar Picket duty. I left EVANS in early July 1945 for briefing and training for Operation Olympia, the invasion of Kyushu. There were 220 of us sequestered in an old camp on Oahu island. Of interest, the FRANK E. EVANS was one of 11 destroyers scheduled for the first “close in“ shore bombardment. After the second atom bomb was dropped, we were ordered back to our ships.

While I was on my back, FRANK E. EVANS was part of a group that went to the north China to pick up General Wainwright who was in a POW camp in Mukden. The Russians had already flown him out. John Harrier or Druckenmiller are more aware of this.

We escorted the sixth? Marines into north China and the Army in Korea. From October 1945, until I left FRANK E. EVANS in January 1946, we acted as mail ship and courier between Inchon and Pusan, Korea, and Tsingtao and Shanghai, China.

Fred currently resides in North Carolina.