USS SLC...Enlisted Navy...John Joseph White, S1c
John J. White passed away on Feb. 23rd, 2006 - Info. from widow, Joyce White
Oct. 1, 2003
Story from John Joseph White
I was born in Washington, DC. on Feb. 21st, 1924. We were the largest family in the city with
one mom and dad. There were 10 boys and 8 girls.
In Sept. of 2001 there are 12 still living. I am a twin to my sister Dorothy.
All of the boys were in the service. Some Navy and some Army. Four of my brothers and I were
in the Navy and on ships in WWII.
Bill, the oldest, was on a Tin Can. Teddy was on the USS WASHINGTON. Paul was on a DE. Jimmy
was on a aircraft carrier and I was on the USS SALT LAKE CITY.
Teddy was the first to enlist in 1939. James enlisted in 1943 and stayed for 20 years. Our
dad enlisted and served in WWI.
I was drafted into the Navy in March, 1944 and went to boot camp at Capt Perry in Virginia.
After boot camp we shipped out by train to the west coast. This was a three day trip through
all of the freight yards of America. The engines were run by coal and there was no AC in the
"cattle car". That was our name for the coaches.
I went aboard the SLC in June of 1944 at Mare Island, San Francisco. We sailed on July 1, 1944
for Adak and Attu. That was the start of trip #35 on her war cruise.
I got sea sick about 20 miles out to sea after sailing under the Golden Gate Bridge.
I was stationed in Division I, which was at the bow for anchor detail and General Quarters was
with Turret I. My GQ was below deck in the power room.
I was in the clean up of Saipan and with the invasions of Iwo Jima and then followed by
Okinawa.
After the war we went to Northern Honshu while the USS MISSOURI was in Tokyo to sign papers to
end WWII.
All in all I was in the navy for 26 months and of that I spent 22 months on the Greatest
Cruiser of any Navy.... the USS SALT LAKE CITY CA25
John J. White
SLC Deck Log Jun. 1944
Name listed in address book of
William M. Self
#3 in Aug. 1944 Picture found in Memorabilia
Signed Autograph Book of shipmate
Paul G. Welborn
#2 in Ship's Dance, Jan. 1945, Long Beach, CA.
Contributed Picture of William Monroe Self, S1c
Attended the following SLC Reunions:
1997
1999
2003
2006
2008
|
