Author: steve

3-25-14

Glen arrived in Boston from Springfield, Il and reported to the ship on the 6th of August, 1943 (about 5 weeks after her Commissioning.)   He was part of the Signal Gang, and was a pal of my father (William Kelly) and Roland Tougas, among others.   [Several snapshots of Glen are in my dad’s photo album.]

He was transferred off the ship on Dec. 26, 1945, after serving Occupation Duty off the shores of Japan.

Photo submitted by Glen’s son Rodney.

3-21-14

Frank Studenski, working on one of his Boston models (2008). Compliments of his friend, Laurie Wasilewski

Laurie sent me this photo of Frank, and alerted me to the wonderful post by Art Hebert on the Shipmates’ website.   If you haven’t read it, check it out!   www.ussboston.org.   Click on the CURRENT EVENTS button.

steve

3-12-14

I’m saddened to say that Frank Studenski, avid USS Boston CA-69 savant, writer of the incredible WAR DIARY, master model-maker, great story-teller, beloved and invaluable member of the USS Boston Shipmates, lost his battle with cancer this past Saturday (March 8.)   Frank was three days shy of his 90th birthday.   He died shortly after being released from the hospital at the home of his son, Frank Jr.

As of this writing, no obituary has yet been posted.

I posted a story about Frank on June 15, 2013, after meeting with and interviewing him during the writing of Baked Beans Vol. 3.   His participation in the book was critical and his stories amazing.

Glad I had the chance to meet you, Frank.   Rest in Peace.

steve

2-2-14

Ronald came aboard the ship on 11/12/45 and was transferred off the ship on June 17, 1946.   He was aboard for the Boston’s final trip home from Japanese waters, and he was part of the skeleton crew that prepared CA-69 for decommissioning in Bremerton, WA.

USS Boston Decommission Group   (top row, center) Ronald Sullivan

submitted by Ronald’s son, Ron Sullivan

1-19-14

I mentioned in a way – earlier post that I had just finished reading No Ordinary Joes, an amazing book about about captured submariners who endured the bulk of the war in squalid prisoner-of-war conditions working as slave laborers in Japanese factories that made war materials.

I have just recently finished another book about the same subject:   Unbroken (by the same author that wrote Seabiscuit; Laura Hillenbrand.)   It’s a hell of a story about a very compelling character   –   an American Olympic athlete who finds himself in a B-24 crew and is shot down over the waters of the South Pacific.   I won’t elaborate any more than that.

Japan “signed” the Geneva Convention but never ratified it     –     and completely ignored it’s provisions in their prisoner of war “camps.”   The horrors endured by American and Allied prisoners was unbelievable.   Read it if you can   –   however, it seems that Anjelina Jolie is involved in the making of Unbroken into a movie   and is currently on location in Australia.   Like any other book movie   –   it will likely “fall short” of the book, however.

steve