USS SLC...Enlisted Navy...John R. Goins, GM2c
John R. Goins passed away in his sleep on Sat., Jan. 8th, 2011.
Information from his spouse, Willie Mae Goins.
July 11th, 2001
Letter from John R. Goins
I went to Boot Camp in San Diego, CA. and about Sept. 1943 I went aboard
the USS Salt Lake City for transportation to Hawaii.
My buddy & shipmate,
John E. Holm and I boarded
the ship at the same time. We looked up to the bridge and saw the record
showing the Japanese flags of downed ships and planes....and of course, at
that time we decided that this is the ship we wish to spend the rest of the
war on. We volunteered for and received duty on the SLC. A duty that we
have been proud of all of our lives.
I was in the 9th Division [#21]. John Holm was
assigned to an 8" Gun Turret on the aft of the ship. I was assigned to
mounts 5 and 6, 40mm mounts, on the fantail. John liked nothing better than
to train those 8" guns over the fantail and blast away. Of course, the 9th
Division had to seek cover to avoid the blast.
H. C. Tullos and
Elmer Breeze were the two 1st Class
Gunners Mates in the 9th Division at that time.
We had a lot of fun aboard the Salt Lake. I'll never forget those days.
Thank you for the wonderful job of taking care of the communications between
shipmates and the SLC Association.
John R. Goins
Information from SLC Microfilm Records
John R. Goins S2c
Enlisted into the Navy at Shreveport, LA 7/19/43
Boarded the SLC from receiving station Pleasonton, CA 10/14/43
Promoted to S1c 2/1/44
Promoted to GM2c 10/1/44
SLC Deck Logs, Oct., 1943
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