James C. Rappenecker

James C. Rappenecker

(LCDR, USN Retired)

I enlisted in the Navy in December 1941. So many people had enlisted at that time, I was sent home to await an opining in Boot Camp. My orders arrived and I attended Boot Camp at U.S. Naval Station, Great Lakes, Illinois in February 1942. Next, I attended Aerograph Mate School at U.S. Naval Air Station, Lakehurst, New Jersey. Upon completion of school, I was promoted to Third Class Aerograph Mate.

In October 1942, I reported aboard the U.S.S. Nassau (CVE-16) at the U.S. Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Washington, and assigned to the V3 Division. Shortly after arriving aboard the ship, we went on a shakedown cruise, and departed for the U.S. Naval Air Station Alameda and loaded aircraft. Then we sailed to San Diego and Air Operations. On to Pearl Harbor, we tied up at the Naval Air Station, Ford Island. (AFT of us was the capsized U.S.S. Oklahoma.) Departing Pearl Harbor, we headed out into the Pacific.

These are the thing I remember while in the Pacific. Crossing the line (Equator) and going from a pollywog to a shellback. We also crossed the Equator and the International Date Line at the same time, making all of us Golden Dragons. This was in the vicinity of Howland/Baker Islands, where Amelia Earhardt was lost at sea. In Air Operations we launched balloons, made weather observations, and launched the balhathermograph.

I remember going ashore in Espiritu Santo and Nouema, New Caledonia. I especially remember Espiritu Santo. I was sent ashore to locate some helium cylinders. Locating a warehouse, I walked into the office and discovered the Sergeant in charge was a classmate of mine from grammar school. We took his Jeep into the jungle and located cylinders, loaded them and went back to the pier.

I was in several operations in Tawara Island, Marshall and Gilbert Islands, and Attu.

I left the ship for the V12 Program (Officer Training). First, I attended Cornell University and finally. Northwestern University, graduating with a degree and commission. The war was over, but I decided to make the Navy my career.

I served aboard a LSMR, LST, 2DD's, CA (heavy cruiser) U.S.S. Salem as Electronic Officer, U.S.S. Franklin D. Roosevelt, and U.S.S. Midway (as Special Weapons Officer), and finally, Commanding Officer on U.S.S. Krishna ARL38.

This rounded out my career and I retired in September 1964, after serving 22 years and 7 months on active duty.