Discipline from June to December 1943

I will create a later post explaining the actual statistics for 1943 discipline, but in the first TWO months, there were over 91 disciplinary actions taken against invidivual sailors; In the same period there were about 30 promotions.  One unlucky fellow was promoted while he was absent.  So we have 3 times more disciplinary actions than promotions.

The predominate infraction was Absent over Leave or AOL.  The next most frequent issue was Absent With Out Leave or (AWOL).  At least in this period, it looked like the penalties were VERY strict, but consistent.  If you were AOL for less than 24 hours and if you were lucky you’d get a judgement by Captains Mast.  Captain’s mast judgements were recorded in the ship’s log but only personnel related judgements show up the personnel record; for example if you were reduced rank this would also show up in personnel file.  For the most part Captain’s Mast penalties are 5 days on bread and water.

If you were AOL for 12 hours to 2-3 days, you’d get a Deck Court summary judgement.  Usually 10-15 days confinement on bread and water.  If you were over 4 days to 29 days AOL, you’d receive a Summary Court Martial; penalties for Summary Court Martials were generally 30 days solitary confinement with only bread and water (every 3rd day you’d get full rations) and you’d lose 1 to 3 months pay.  If the jail on the Boston was full, you might be transferred to the local Navy Brig to serve out you sentence.

If you were AOL for more than 30 days, you might receive a Bad Conduct Discharge.  This apparently was the worst penalty; since in the 1940’s employers didn’t like to hire ex-servicemen with Bad Conduct Discharges.  Often times, BCD’s were remitted (temporarily forgiven) while the serviceman was placed on probation.  In August there were 2-3 BCD’s which were remitted.  In San Francisco, as the Boston proceeded to the Pacific, 2-3 BCD’s were issued and they weren’t remitted, the sailors were sent home.

One last comment on AOL’s.  This was 1943 and their were no daily flights from Boston to Pittsburgh, every hour.  The mode of transportation was trains and War material had priority over passengers.  If you had a 10 day leave and you lived in Carbondale Pennsylvania like my dad, getting home was a 2-3 day adventure, So the chance of being AOL due to some snowstorm, Rail priority issue, etc. was great and the Navy was unforgiving.

Database update: We have 2,388 sailors in the database and I’ve entered everyone through December 31st 1943.

-Bill