World War II: Miscellany – O'Donnell Family Archive

A collection of 40 photos, objects, and text documents from Dad’s time in the Navy not falling into any of the other categories covering the war years. Includes pictures of Dad in his uniform, his photo ID for the US Coast Guard, 3D Viewmaster training aids, and a number of text documents, including scrip, id cards, selective service registration, and so on.

Miscellaneous Pictures and Documents

Dad’s Navy Training Graduation Picture. Dad Is In Second Last Row, Third From the Left (Picture Incomplete. Left Half Only)

Mom and Dad, Sometime 1943-1944. Possibly in New York City

Dad’s Medals. Left: Asiatic Campaign Medal, With One Battle Star. Right: American Campaign Medal

Dad’s Selective Service Registration, October 1940 (Front)

Dad’s Selective Service Registration, October 1940 (Rear)

Dad’s Transfer Orders to Pre-Commissioning School in Seattle, August 1944 (Front)

Dad’s Transfer Orders, August 1944 (Rear)

Dad’s Transfer Orders (Envelope), August 1944

Dad’s Coast Guard ID Card, 1942 (Front). With Name of Employer Misspelled (Correctly: ‘Lines, Spooner, & Quarles’) (Front)

Dad’s Coast Guard ID Card, 1942 (Rear)–With Fingerprint (Dad Age 23). He Had Gained 5 Pounds Since His 1940 Selective Service Registration

Certification (Unofficial) for Crossing the Equator (January 12, 1945). Part of the Initiation Was the Unflattering Shaving of the Sailor’s Head. See the Next Picture.

“After the Bald Was Over” January 1945.(Ritual After First Time Crossing the Equator) (Front). Dad Standing Behind Portly Sailor On Right)

Unofficial Certification for Crossing the International Date Line (the 180th Meridian). Issued Probably Early 1945 on Way to Okinawa)

Camp Ward Pass Card, May 23, 1944 (Farragut Naval Training Station)

This Japanese-language 8-page folded cardboard booklet is the most baffling artifact in the entire archive. It’s marked “Okinawa 3 Apr ’45” in Dad’s handwriting, which makes it even more of a puzzle. The Battle of Okinawa, one of the fiercest campaigns in all of World War II, began in early April 1945 and lasted 82 days, until mid-June.

Mystery of the Japanese Savings Passbook

A search turned up other examples of the document, and they, along with the help of an online translator, indicate that this is a post office savings passbook. It was common practice at the time for post offices to double as small banks, particularly for low-wage earners. That knowledge, however, still doesn’t solve the mystery of what Dad is doing with a Japanese–or possibly Taiwanese–bank book while the Battle of Okinawa is raging. It’s possible it was acquired by one of the Marines transported on the Effingham and then given to Dad as a souvenir, but that’s no more than a guess.

“Okinawa 3 [April?] ’45” Unknown 5-Page Card. Front and Back Covers

“Okinawa 3 [April?] ’45” Unknown 5-Page Card. Interior Page

His ship, the Effingham, an amphibious troop transport, arrived at Okinawa on April 1 and spent the next six days unloading Marines and defending itself from aerial attacks. It then returned to base in San Francisco for overhaul, arriving back in Okinawa on August 12, six weeks after the battle was over and three days before the end of the war.

Trip Back to Milwaukee

We know from the ‘Yosemite National Park (June 1945)‘ pictures that Dad was on leave while his ship was being worked on because the pictures show he and Mom drove east, presumably so Mom could be with family when she had Jim two months later. One picture shows they were travelling with W.D. Wells of Sellersberg, Indiana, possibly a friend with a car, someone with whom to share gas expenses. Dad wasn’t with Mom at the birth, so after dropping Mom off with her family, he must have almost immediately turned around and headed back to San Francisco, probably by train, to rejoin his ship.

Naval View-Master Slides

Dad kept several 3-D View-Master slides issued to him by the Navy. Millions of them were produced during the war so sailors and soldiers could identify planes and ships at different distances and angles. After the war most were either discarded by the ex-military man or later by his descendants when he died. They’re relatively rare now. There’s something to be said for never throwing anything away.

Viewmaster Slide: Japanese Kongo Class Battleship

Viewmaster Slide: German Maasz Class Destroyer

Viewmaster Slide: Japanese Fuso Class Battleship

Viewmaster Slide: Japanese Sendai Class Cruiser

US Navy Viewmaster Study Reels of Japanese Ships (Envelope)

The Remainder

Here are the rest of the items in this collection.