From the records: Preparing for war
11/8/2010
As I’m working through the personnel records for the USS Boston in World War II; a unique history appears. Stepping back from the individual transactions of promotion, transfer onto the boat, or transfer off the boat, disciplinary actions, hospital visits, etc. A pattern begins to emerge. The US Navy had a hell of a problem in 1943: how to bring 1500 sailors up to speed on the Boston and every other Ship that was being forged every few weeks.
How the heck do you take a bunch of 18 year old kids, and get them to run something as complex as a cruiser in war? And do it with experienced man power at an extreme premium?
What emerges from the records as we’ve discussed before is at commissioning on June 30th 1943 there were lots of raw recruits coming from the northeast; however, many seasoned sailors were sprinkled at each level to create a learning environment, from the start.
In August 1943, around 200 sailors were added to the Boston to swell the number of sailors to 1800. This would be around 300 more sailors than would be on board March 30th, 1944 at Espiritu Santo. From august to November sailors came and went but the number stayed at about 1800. When the Boston departed massachusetts (notice I avoided saying when the Boston left boston :-)) in November 1943, transited at San Francisco in December 1943, and moved on to Pearl harbor, the bulk of training came to an end.
Two distinct processes happened in Hawaii and then in March in Espiritu Santo (the largest island in Vanautu), first in Hawaii as the Boston arrived in Pearl Harbor about 90 sailors were transferred to other cruisers. This included the USS WICHITA (2 sailors), the USS SANTA FE (1 sailor), the USS SAN FRANCISCO (15 Sailors), the USS PORTLAND (36 sailors), the USS NEW ORLEANS (20 sailors), the USS MOBILE (20 sailors), and the USS MINNEAPOLIS (1 sailor). These sailors were a mix of BOSTON sailors, many were from commisioning, and some were part of the new august arrivals.
The second process that happened later in hawaii and then on arrival in Espiritu Santos, was a group of mostly experienced sailors were selected and sent back to the US to assist in new boats under construction. this was a key ingredient in how the Navy was able to use experience as a method of populating new ships. 43 Sailors were sent home to assist new construction, 23 from Hawaii and 20 from Espiritu Santo.
Other ways the Boston ended up with 1384 sailors on March 30th, about 15 sailors were requistioned (stolen?, nabbed?) by the admiral for his entourage; about 16 sailors went AWOL in San Francisco, and we had about 5 Bad Conduct discharges from Norfolk VA to Pearl harbor as discipline entering a war zone increased in severity. Lots of sailors entered hospitals from Chelsea Ma, to Aeia Heights Hawaii, to the USS RELIEF Hospital and many did not return to the BOSTON, presumably they were assigned to other ships.
Database update: We have 1795 Sailor records, with an additional 604 names only (as I process father into the war these names will be converted to records). I have processed 274 disciplinary cases, 820 promotions, and about 80 personnel file notes. So far 38% of the sailors who have records have been promoted (from June 43 to March 44) some several times, and 12% of the sailors have disciplinary actions. 60% of the records have been indexed by Google.
I keep adding to the database when I get the chance. 🙂
Email me with any questions, using the contact link above.
Bill