Great website. My father was C. Earl Boynton RM2c

He is listed correctly as a member of the Radio Gang. My mother is still alive and I have advised her of the website. She says she wishes there was a way to forward it to my father.

He was aboard from 1943 until he left the navy in the autumn of 1945, so he missed Operation Crossroads.

A few years ago I built a 1/700th scale model of the ship as it appeared in 1943 before the dazzle pattern was applied.

A rather expensive version in the larger 1/350th scale is due out this spring, also depicting the ship as in 1943.

My parents got married in Jan '46, right after he was discharged; I was born in 1947, the oldest of six children.

One quick story.....both of my parents were natives of Portland, Oregon.

Following the surrender of Japan, the SLC was operating in Japanese waters and received orders to head for Portland, Oregon for Navy Day Celebrations. My father was copying the radio schedule when the movement instructions came across. He could not finish copying the message (Morse code) from the shock.

He remembered almost standing on a bulkhead when the ship almost capsized on the Columbia river bar. Not only was a spotter plane lost, but when the ship pulled in to Astoria, one of the boat booms lodged in the pier, and either part of the pier or the boat boom had to be cut away to allow the ship to proceed downriver to Portland.

Once the ship did arrive, my mother and my grandparents were able to board the ship as tourists.

My father left on leave and the ship proceeded to San Francisco to further prepare for Magic Carpet Duties.

Regards

John Boynton, son
Patty Bacon, Dau...email down
Rich & Tara Boynton, Son
Betty Boynton, Wife

My name is Patty Bacon, My father Earl Boynton was one of the "radio gang" and I can't tell you how excited I was to learn of this site and what pleasure it gave me to see my fathers picture. He would have been so excited to see all of his friends names and photos. I would love to be notified of any updates that take place.

Another treat for me was finding a picture and e-mail address of Bob Kohlmann, who is my god-father. We lost touch over the years and I was able to write to him and say hello, and to tell him how much his friendship meant to my father, and to me!

Thank you so very much for all of your hard work, you've brought joy into many lives.

Sincerely,

Patty Bacon