USS SLC...Enlisted Navy...Frank Plahutnik, EM2c
Frank passed away March 23, 2006... Info. from surviving spouse, Rachel
June 12th, 2004
Dear Sandy,
I am responding to your questionnaire of my history when I was in the service.
My name is Frank Plahutnik and I was born on may 16th, 1920 in Osage, WV. I enlisted in the
Navy on March 26th, 1940 and went to Boot Cap at Great Lakes, IL.
I went aboard the SALT LAKE CITY after graduating from Electrical School in San Diego about
Nov. of 1940 at Mare Island Navy yard.
I was in the 1st Division and then transferred to the "E" Division. My rates while on board
were S2c, F3c, F2c, EM3c and EM2c. I served under Captains Ellis M. Zacharias and Ernest G.
"Shorty" Small.
I remember most of my shipmates and from the ship's roster nearly all of them have passed on.
I was in all the battles of the first year of the war. Etched in my memory was coming into
Pearl harbor on Dec. 8th, 1941....and also the sinking of the USS WASP and taking Doolittle
to Tokyo. I also remember going to Australia and New Zealand. Crossing the Equator and
being initiated as a Shell Back in King Neptune’s Court.
I left the SLC at Pearl Harbor on Dec. 17th, 1942 and went to Gyro School in San Diego, CA.
After Gyro School I was assigned to the USS HARDING, DD625, as part of the Nucleus Crew which
was being built at Seattle, WA. I put this ship in commission.
I also went through this same routine with the USS MANNERT L. ABELE, DD733 and the USS
GENERAL CC BALLOU AP157.
The ABELLE was sunk off Okinawa by Kamikazes and the HARDING was heavily damaged.
I left the service on April 1st, 1946 as a CEM. I saw the sinking of the SLC on TV.
I've been married to my wife Rachel for 55 years and we have 3 children; Frank, Jr., Michael and Paula. I was a Construction Journeyman Electrician for 33 years and retired in May of 1982 from I.B.E.W. Local 275 in Muskegon, MI.
Sincerely,
Frank Plahutnik
SLC Deck Logs
Jul. 1942
Dec. 1942
Attended the following SLC Reunions:
1987
1989
1993
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