For a number of years I've tried to find more information concerning the WWII service of one of my maternal uncles...The facts I have indicate he served honorably in the Pacific Theater as a Motor Machinist Mate 2nd Class, possibly on a destroyer tender or small coastal transport...Neither his ex-wife (my aunt) nor their only child (my cousin) are alive to supply any information on the subject...
A family history in my possession published in 1965 has no mention of his military service...Another cousin uncovered solid evidence he served on APc-48 (Coastal Transport [small]) attached to APc Flotilla Five, and assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater...This was a wooden-hulled boat approximately 100 feet in length, powered by a 400 HP diesel engine...Knowing my uncle's mechanical abilities, I'm sure it produced every pony in that herd...
I've found no reference so far to indicate in which specific area APc-48 operated, although many mentions are made of the small coastal transports involved in actions over a widespread area, some with distinction in battle...His could have been assigned to almost any support duty in any of the more narrowly defined theaters...Being rated as a MoMM2c, it is safe to say that he had little idle time as the hard pressed fleet of destroyers and smaller ships that would have been in his care likely needed constant overhaul as they were pushed beyond their design limits in every action...
One of the largest fleets ever assembled in wartime was Service Squadron Ten gathered at Ulithi Atoll...At its height of operation, some 10,000 vessels of all kinds were massed here to service and resupply Allied ships damaged or needing other repairs or replenishment from battle in the Western Pacific...My uncle mentioned being part of a large operation near Guam, and my guesswork leads me to think he may have been assigned here...
An atoll is a ring of coral outcroppings rising above the surface to give a usable breakwater against waves and storms allowing its use as a natural harbor in the middle of an otherwise uninhabited stretch of ocean...By 1944 the might of America's industrial power was at its peak in war production, with innovative equipment such as portable, floating dry docks capable of taking the largest warships out of the water for extensive repair...
Such an operation also meant bringing in enough floating facilities to feed, house and even entertain all the service personnel needed for such a large operation including hospital facilities, laundry and clothing issue, administration offices, sanitation facilities and food service to mention just a few...All this was kept afloat and operating 24 hours every day...
It was ringed by enough warships to ward off attack by the enemy as constant convoys of cargo transport ships brought in new personnel, commissary supplies, food, medical supplies and the raw materials necessary to keep the machine shops, mechanics, welders and riggers busy as ships came in for repair of battle damage, then were sent out to fight again...
An enormous amount of fuel had to be brought in using an endless chain of tanker convoys together with their protective destroyers, cruisers and escort aircraft carriers...If any repairs were needed on these ships before their return for more supplies, it was handled on the spot...Floating docks were assembled and anchored inside the atoll along with floating storage equipment...
The interior area of Ulithi Atoll was an oval approximately ten miles by twenty miles inside of which all equipment was anchored, and all Navy personnel lived and worked...The largest piece of equipment was likely the floating dry dock which by itself weighed about 1900 tons...To this was attached its pumping machinery and lifting cranes...
They also had food storage and preparation areas onboard ships for fresh as well as frozen foods...They operated their own bakeries and even produced 500 gallons of ice cream every day, in addition to providing dining facilities around the clock for all officers and men, and kitchen cleaning operations, all under wartime conditions...
If my uncle was stationed in this area, his craft would likely have been loaded with supplies, ammunition and materials to make emergency repairs and replenishment on battle-weary and damaged smaller vessels no larger than a destroyer, enabling them to return to Ulithi for assessment and repair...His APc would also be equipped with 20mm cannon and .50 caliber machine guns for use if attacked by enemy forces...
I hope some day through my efforts and those of my cousins to be able to learn more about his specific duties and assignments to add to our family's military legacy...As his nephews and niece, we are not considered close enough relations to be granted access to his service records, but we continue in our attempts...
No other nation on the planet could have done a job like this in such a short time, then absorbed its losses and returned to peacetime pursuits afterward...The Japanese knew not what they started...
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