Fred McLain

Fred McLain

I was born on a cold and snowy night in Duluth, Minnesota, in December 1926. I was drafted in December 1944 from Duluth, and was processed in Fort Snelling, Minnesota. Again, a cold 35 degrees below zero. I was sent to Great Lakes Navy Boot Camp in Chicago, Illinois for a short seven weeks.

After Boot Camp, I was sent, on one of those famous troop trains, to Camp Shoemaker, California were I spent five days. Then, six of us were sent to CVE-16 Nassau for assignment. I was placed in "F" Division where our duties consisted of 20mm and 40mm gun maintenance and repairs. "F" Division was a very good outfit to be in where there was a nice bunch of guys.

As to memorable events on the Nassau, I think I have four that stand out the most. Number one, was leaving San Francisco on a very foggy night, no light of course, and going under the Golden Gate Bridge into the pitch-black night. Number two, was the initiation crossing the Equator. (Not nice guys.) Number three, was the typhoon off Okinawa, that was some scary storm. Number four, was the final trip home. Once again, under the Golden Gate Bridge, with shots being firmed around Alcatraz Island — the foiled prison break.

In May 1946, I left the Nassau to be discharged back at Fort Sneling, Minnesota. The train trip from Seattle was a fast one as there were no stops. There was a train strike on, so we were in a hurry. I was married in Duluth, Minnesota in March of 1948 to Ailie Saari. We have one son, Terry, who is married to Sarah Lewis. They have two sons, Kevin and Gregory. We have one daughter, Judy, who is married to Robert Dannenberg. They have one son, Mitchel. So we have a total of three grandsons.

Just writing this, brings back many good memories of friends and the Nassau.