Charles Oliver Jones
(Apr 16, 1926 - Apr 29, 2012)
This is a picture of my dad in 1944 by the Navy Ship LCI(L)-791/LC(FF)-791. His head is right in front of the lifesaving ring. I wanted to blog about this because 1) it was a tragic time in history and many people from this time period are gone, no longer able to share their knowledge, 2) history should be remembered so we don't repeat it, and 3) I lost some information he shared about it on Facebook, so I thought I'd see if anyone, seeing this blog, can add to the information of this event or ship.
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This is what he wrote about being in the Navy during WWII: I spent 3 years in the Navy, attending Boot Camp, and Radioman's School at Bainbridge, Maryland. After graduation, I was assigned to the Amphibious Fleet, sent to Solomon's, Maryland for further training. After the training, the crew went to New York to put our ship in commission - LCI (L)791. Went back to Solomon's, Maryland for further training. After this training, we set sail for San Diego, California and more training. Left San Diego and headed for Oakland, California to be converted to a Flag Ship (converted from Landing Craft, Infantry (Large) -- LCI(L) to carry flag officers and crew) and we never had any troops aboard, after all the training. Left Oakland the first part of 1945 and headed for the Pacific Area of Operations. Our first stop was in Hawaii, leaving there went to different islands on our way to Leyte Bay, in the Philippines. Met up with a large group of Navy vessels and headed for Okinawa. Left Okinawa February 1946, headed for the States. Arrived San Francisco for processing, put on a troop train headed to the East Coast - Bainbridge, Maryland (full circle). Discharged on the 16th of March 1946 - three years and one day after I enlisted. I am now a civilian again.
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My dad re-enlisted again in December 1947 and released in 1950, re-enlisted in 1953 to 1955, returned in 1956 and retired in August 1971. However, this is only about his first enlistment during WWII. He eventually told family and friends that it was a mission of no return. His ship was assigned to the Okinawa Gunto operation (minesweeping): assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 16 May to 30 June 1945 also known as Operation Iceberg. The men all knew they would be going over but also knew it may be a one way trip. If you read the history of it, you'll know why they felt this way. Thankfully they survived and did return. He said that they were also considered a "spunky, non-conformists crew that got the job done."
I surmise this was called the last major battle of WWII, which America was in, because the Battle of Iwo Jima (19 February – 26 March 1945), and others ended before this one.
More about the ship:
More about the ship:
http://www.navsource.org/
More about the operation:
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