Carl Leonard Talbert was a single 19 year old man from Albemarle, NC. when he entered the service. He attended boot camp at Norfolk, VA. Entering the service was a complete change of life style. You lived by the clock. Everything was done at certain hours. He got really homesick.

He boarded the USS SLC on Dec. 17th, 1941 at Pearl Harbor after his ship, the USS CASSIN DD372, was destroyed. He was assigned to the "B" Division of the USS SLC CA25 with a rating of Fireman First Class.

He served on the SLC during The Battle of Cape Esperance, Oct. 11th & 12th, 1942. He was wounded during the battle and received the "Purple Heart".

The records state that during the battle with an organized enemy the patient was at his battle station in #1 fireroom. An 8" shell exploded in that compartment rupturing steam line, which caused the patient to suffer from heat exhaustion. Patient held for observation.

See Picture below.

He also served during the Battle of the Komandorski Islands on March 26th, 1943.

Liberty was very seldom. At one time, it was two years before he returned home to Albemarle, NC. He left the SLC in Sept. of 1944.

The USS SLC CA25 was the only ship he served on during WWII, but served on 6 other ships after the war ended to complete 20 years active duty. His service career ended Sept. 14th, 1960 at Charleston, SC. After that he worked for a funeral home and the US Post Office.