Bob Ellis

RM2

I was born at Baker City, Oregon on May 25, 1923. I enlisted, voluntarily, shortly after the 4th of July 1942.

 I passed my physical in Portland, Oregon and was sent to Boot Camp at San Diego, California. From there, I was sent to Texas to Radio School at Texas A&M College. I went on to San Francisco, and then to Pearl Harbor. I had duty in Cincpac for a short while, and then on to Ford Island.

  I went aboard the Nassau around the middle of February 1943. The Radioman was divided into four watches — morning, afternoon, evening and midnight. I was a Code Operator for several months, and then became a Watch Supervisor, for several months as well. Finally I was Radioman In Charge, after the last chief left for a new assignment. I passed the tests for 2nd and then 1st class.

 I spent many hours in the radio shack, mainly in our combat operations. I was in "K" Division, which included the radiomen, radar men, signalmen and yeoman.

 I played basketball and volleyball every chance I had. K  Division were the volleyball champs of the Nassau.

  I copied the daily news press. One copy went to the Captain, one to the ship's Chaplain (which he read nearly everyday over the loud speaker), and one to Teddy, the Philippine Captain's boy. His family members were all in the Philippines, and so he was very concerned about their well being.

 I had many memorable events, but one stuck out. This was the first time I crossed the Equator in February 1943.  I had my head shaved and greased, and my butt paddled with a leather strap to a nice red glow.

I left the Nassau in early December 1945, while in San Francisco. I had been on board for 34 months, possibly the longest of any of the crew. According to a booklet that was sent to me by Sam Moore. I was aboard the Nassau approximately 230,000 to 235,000 then became a Watch Supervisor, for several months as well. Finally I was Radioman In Charge, after the last chief left for a new assignment. I passed the tests for 2nd and then 1st class.

  I spent many hours in the radio shack, mainly in our combat operations. I was in ~K" Division, which included the radiomen, radar men, signalmen and yeoman.

I left the Nassau in early December 1945, while in San Francisco. I had been on board for 34 months, possibly the longest of any of the crew. According to a booklet that was sent to me by Sam Moore. I was aboard the Nassau approximately 230,000 to 235,000 I went into the Navy in August of 1943. I went to Boot Camp in San Diego, and Electrician's School at the University of Minnesota just in time for the winter of 1943.  I graduated form there in four months as an Electrician Mate 3rd Class. I was sent to Washington, D.C. for Advanced Electrical School training. After nine more months of schooling, I graduated as an Electricians Mate 2nd Class, Specialist in Intercommunications. After leave in Los Angeles, I was shipped from San Francisco to Hawaii on a troop transport, and eventually boarded the Nassau in December 1944.

 On the Nassau I was assigned to the Electrical Division, Intercommunications Section. I reported directly to a Chief and an Engineering Officer. We were responsible for all the intercommunication equipment aboard ship, including the Gyro Compass, Sound Powered Phones, Squawk Boxes, Inter Ship Speakers, Bridge Electricity, degaussing, all the AC and most of the electrical equipment above the Engine Room. We were also in charge of the Movie Projection and Acquisition, as well as the records to be paid for ship entertainment. And finally, as Bridge Electrician, one of my duties, for whatever reason, was to man the Cease Fire "Buttons' during gunnery practice, and for real too, I guess.

 As for memorable events, two come to mind. First was an incident which occurred during a target practice, coming out of Pearl Harbor. The custom was for the plane lowing the target to make a pass on the Port side, for the 40 and 20 mms to shoot, and then What happened to bring about all this anger? Well, it seems one of the "fail-safe" stops on the 40mms failed. Since the gun was controlled from the Fire Control operator, he had no idea it was firing very live, explosive shells which could have resulted in a deadly explosion of all of us on the Bridge. Never heard why the system failed, but for some reason Earl never again asked to join me on the Bridge for target practice.

 The second incident, that comes to mind, happened on October 14-15, 1945. The Nassau was anchored far out in Okinawa Bay. Since we were out of new film for our twin 35mm projectors, I was sent to go ashore and find a film "library" and trade for new film. This was a regular ritual whenever we hit any port, though sometimes we just traded ship to ship. We were headed toward shore in one of Nassau's small boats when the sea began getting rather rough. At that point, our rudder broke and we were drifting in a rough sea. We were surrounded by a whole fleet of American warships, but not one knew of our problem. It was starting to get dark, and so I suggested to the boat Coxswain to semaphore our predicament to a nearby Destroyer, but he didn't know semaphore. Fortunately, I remembered enough from Boy Scout days to send, "NO RUDDER" over and over. I have no clue what they signaled back, but eventually they sent a boat to tow us back to the Nassau.

Thus, while we didn't get any new 35mm film for the ship, we did have a 16mm show for the Officers, titled, "The Streets Of New York". I set up the 16mm projector in the wardroom in the Bridge, which opened both into the Bridge and onto the Flight Deck. Then, I started the picture. We were about half way through when a messenger summoned the Captain, then the Exec., followed by the Engine Room Officers, Navigator, etc., who left the door opening into the Bridge open. This left only one officer to see the end of the film. When he left, I rewound the film and buttoned up the projector. When I opened the door onto the Flight Deck, it nearly ripped off its hinges by the force of the wind, thanks to the Okinawa typhoon which decided to pay us a visit.

 I later learned the officers all left because we had broken our anchor chain, drifted down on our Coast Guard escort, and we had to get up power to get underway before we were swamped.

 I left the Nassau in 1946 in Tacoma, Washington where she was being decommissioned. I was discharged from the Navy in Long Beach on June 6, 1946.

 After I was discharged from the Navy, I attended Stanford University, on the good old G.I. Bill, and graduated as a Geophysicist in 1951.  I enjoyed the Geology more than the Physics, so I have worked as a Geologist in the Oil Industry every since. Generally, I worked for small independent companies, until forming my own consulting firm in 1981, as well as an Independent Operating Company with two partners, all at the same time. Ultimately, I bought out my partners, and have continued with both companies to this day.

 On a more personal note, I have been married twice, with two daughters and a son from my first wife, and then acquired two more like-my-own sons when I married Beverly. So now I have 5 kids and 9 grandchildren, most living in California, except one son who is also a Geologist, who lives in Houston. Working as a Geologist, I have lived in Wyoming, Oklahoma, and many places in California. I have traveled all over the world on business, and business-related pleasure trips.  It has been a great life.

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08/16/02