I first went aboard the USS Salt Lake City in December 1939, and I was assigned to the "C" Division, specifically to the Signal Gang. Benny D. Waldrup, CSM was our Chief at the time. Vito Monteleone, CSM was assigned to my watch when he came aboard in 1941. I served aboard the SLC during the time that
Captain Archer M. R. Allen and Captain Ellis M. Zacharias were Skippers.

In August 1941 we cruised to Brisbane, Australia, August 13, 1941 to Papua, Port Moresby and August 16, 1941 to Rabaul, New Britain. I was promoted to SM2c on 11 November 1941 as was Eddie Ritz. Our division was then over staffed with SM2c's. It was shortly after that the Navy needed Communication Guard personnel for assignment to Unarmed Merchant Ships, (referred to as Armed Guard Crews). Being junior 2nd class Eddie Ritz and I got orders to leave the ship. I lost track of Eddie. Needless to say - we were both a bit unhappy to leave the SLC. I spent the next months in these Armed Guard Crews, sailing sometime independently or in convoys supplying the Fleet and various Bases overseas. Later I transferred to the LST 669, ending up the war at Saipan/Tinian, and Okinawa.

The very last time I saw the Salt Lake City was in Okinawa, Buckner Bay. As I recall, sent a message to her to confirm that Vito was still aboard.

Sorry but my memory is dim and I do not recall the dates of the above events and I didn't keep good records.

Henry W. White
Galeyn Molnar, Dau.