usslaertes 1952-1953

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Keywords: I was on the laertes in sasebo until she left for san diego in jan 53 then we went to howai for overhall thtn ihelped put her out of commision in long beach

Father-in-law was on the ship

Comments: My father-in-law was on the ship. He passed away recently and as I was interested in his Korean War service, I found this website. His name was Bob Clayton and was HSM3. If anyone knew him, it would be fun to hear some old stories of him.

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USS Laertes AR20

Comments: I served from Feb.1952 until Dec. 1953. I was on the ship while it was in Sasabo Japan and all of our sailing until I was discharged in San Diego Dec.14 1953. I live in Lansing Michigan and have all my life.I would like to make contact with any one else that may have been on the ol girl.

Keywords: Fellow shipmates in our group were Bob Jackson, Wayne Getze, Hayes, Long, House, and our chief was Coulson.

My dad was on the Laertes

Comments: My dad was on the Laertes and a few years ago he was asking me to find out what happened to the old girl. I could not find anything online about it and surely never found this site! I began following every government line I could and found nothing. I called a Navy Recruiter in San Deigo where Dad said he was one of the last on it when she was liquid enveloped and put in drydock. I told him all I knew about it (didn't want to ask Dad too much as I wanted to suprise him) and the recruiter told me he would call me back in a couple of hours with what he could find out for me because he thought it was great I was even interested in my Dads service time or that his ship info was something I would think to look for. He did call me back and gave me the number of someone in the Smithsonian Records dept, saying that he could find nothing and that if anyone could it would be this fella! I called expecting another dead end or the question "are you sure of the name because our records dont show a USS LAERTES" even when I told them I was looking at a picture of it at the time and knew that was the name. He put me on hold for about 5 minutes and low and behold gave me the entire ships history! I was so excited when he said the ship had not been put back into service but was moved by tug to a harbor north of San Deigo where she remained. About this time I was about to cry, I wanted so badly to take him to see it again and would have but the man told me that it was sold for scrap a month or so before I called. He said it would have been possible for Dad to see it and even get on it but now it was most possilbly a foreign car or razor blades. I don't know who was the most disappointed in the information, me or the recruiter who did ask me to let him know what I found out. He said he would have made sure Dad would have gotten to see it. Anyway now you all know what happened to the old gal. By the way my Fathers name was Raymond Isadore (Izzy) Shell. If anyone remembers him, please contact me. He said someone contacted him a few years ago about a reunion but never heard from the man again. He talks about his time on this ship like it was the best time he ever had. I do remember him saying something about a bunch of the guys getting in trouble for stealing the Captians Launch and taking it for a whirl~ that and many other things! I remember him saying that the day he went to the ship he and a bunch of guys couldn't find what they expected a repair vessel to be and when they asked someone where this ship was and they pointed it out someone of the group said "AR now I know what that means... ALL RUST" They spent months scraping cleaning and painting it and said the sand from blasting it was a foot deep on deck! Hope to hear from someone about him. He lives in Brooksville, FL where he lived when enlisting and still does today.

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Anyone out there still remember me?

Comments: I served on the Laertes from it's commissioning until it's decommissioning. We had some good times aboard her. Good memories. I finally retired in 1974 as a Senior Chief Storekeeper.

Keywords: Donald Langenhorst, Terry Faust.

LOOKING FOR THT OLD CREW R DIVISON

Comments: LOOKING FOR ANY SHIPFITTERS AND ANY ONE THAT WENT TO THE BEE-HIVE BAR ON TIT MOUNTAIN IN OUR PAST DRINKING DAYS AND KEEP ZANOW OUT OF THE SHIPS BRIG SO HE WOULDENT TOSS ANY MOORE QUATER DECK OFFICERS OVER THE SIDE OR THINGS THAT WE STILL LAUGH ABOUT NOW.

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LOOKING FOR BINGHAM

Comments: ANYONE WITH INFO ON BINGHAM PLEASE FORWARD TO HOME ADDRESS THANK YOU ALL, SO GLAD TO FIND ALL THIS INFO ON SO MANY.

Keywords: JAKE--LOOKING FOR BINGHAM

Outside Repair

Comments: Was aboard from july 1952 until oct.-nov.1953. am wondering if any of the people from ourside repair are still around. I had a ariel photo of the ship coming into california from japan and it has been lost.sure wish i could replace it. yes those were the days and the nights this 75 year old remembers and relives,perhaps to often.

Keywords: USS Laertes-AR20

7th div repair looking for others on uss laertes

Comments: just wondering if any body from the 7th repair division is out here for possible reunion.

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looking for friends or shipmates of James Thone

Comments: just looking for shipmates of my grandfather who was on the uss laertes in the early 50s his name is james thone but he probably went by jim so if you know who he is fill free to contact me

Keywords: 7th div repair uss laertes

Great Job on Laertes

Comments: After no news on Laertes, it's great to see all the comments and interest. Now the next thing would be to plan a reunion. I know many sailors served before Korea and would be surprised that she came out of mothballs and served in Korea. Some of us went through the moderization process with her. See my narrative at lonesailor.org with picture, years, duty stations and significant awards.

Keywords: After serving my tour a NAS#943, Agana Guam, I went to Laertes and arrived at Sasebo December 1952. Was storekeeper in charge machinery spares boxes around the ship. Enjoyed the card games in the supply office. She was one slow ship and salt water showers, after being at sea, were awfully scratchy. Have a great color photo of AR20 returning to San Diego in 1953. We were all manning the rails.

Great Job on Laertes

Comments: After no news on Laertes, it's great to see all the comments and interest. Now the next thing would be to plan a reunion. I know many sailors served before Korea and would be surprised that she came out of mothballs and served in Korea. Some of us went through the moderization process with her. See my narrative at lonesailor.org with picture, years, duty stations and significant awards.

Keywords: After serving my tour a NAS#943, Agana Guam, I went to Laertes and arrived at Sasebo December 1952. Was storekeeper in charge machinery spares boxes around the ship. Enjoyed the card games in the supply office. She was one slow ship and salt water showers, after being at sea, were awfully scratchy. Have a great color photo of AR20 returning to San Diego in 1953. We were all manning the rails.

looking for answers

Comments: My dad, J V Reeves, served aboard the Laertes from late 1951 until early 1953. He has been recently diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma and does not have any idea where he may have been exposed to asbestos. I am wondering if any one else has experienced any problems that was on this ship. I would be very much interested in hearing from you.

Joan Hanks Covington, Tennessee

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medal of honor question

Comments: DOES ANY ONE RECALL THE NAME OF REPAIR SHOP COMANDER WHO WAS AWARDWD THE MEDAL OF HONOR ?

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does any one remeber me - Robert E. Reynolds

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Keywords: uss laertes jan. 1952 - thru - july 1953

Comments: On the Laertes from July 1952 in Japan, till it was decomissioned in National City in 1954. Any of the old Radio Gang left who remembers me?

Keywords: Nick name Squelch

Dependents Cruise

Comments: About 30 dependents made their way to Oahu during the deployment. In June 1953 we hitched a ride home from Pearl Harbor to San Diego. I was 8 at the time, and my major hangout was the gun tub on the port side where we had a great time training and elevating the 3" gun.

One night about halfway to San Diego, the galley next to my Dad's stateroom caught fire. Laertes went to GQ, and along with one other kid about my age, I slept through the whole thing.

Keywords: Sasebo deployment, 1952-53

R Division

Comments: I am lookiing for anybody that in R division in the 50s. We went to Sasabo, Japan and Korea.

Hoping to find some shipmates.

Keywords: japan, korea, Taluga, laertes, ar20, r division, ship repair unit

USS Laertes-AR-20-Wes.Pac.Japan1952,53.

Comments: "Hello" every one,,,,I have "scanned" all of our pictures, and are now avail. by, E-Mail,, and / or,,, web-site,, coming soon, we will start with 17 pictures, and continue,, courtesy of Mr.Robert Helms, Sudbury England,UK. he was on the Laertes,, with us,,, and we have been "e-mailing" to each other for the last 4 years.....and now, we can give every one a chance to "see" the "crew",, and also, the Ship... also will "scan" a "color" photo of the USS Laertes-AR-20,, as she leaves for Japan,, June,1952....and, tnx, for waiting, I know,, it's been a long time coming.... Doc.B. K7UDT.

Keywords: USS Laertes-AR-20. Japan.1952,53...

MR-1st Machine Shop,1951-1953

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LOOKING FOR FRIENDS OF MY DAD

Comments: My dads name is Bob Sofchek, his nickname aboard the USS LAERTES was "ski"....he was a cook and on board from 1951 to Dec. 1954 when he was discharged. He is looking for anyone who remembers him. He is currently living in Seminole, Florida and his local number there is 727-391-1538

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REPAIR 51-52

Comments: Wondering about a reunion.

Keywords: Sassabo Japan repair unit 1951-1952 US Navy Service 1946-1953 USS Laertes AR-20

Crew Member - Arturo Ramos

Comments: I'd be very interested contacting anyone who may have known Arturo Ramos during its commissioning and operations during the Korean War.

He was a photographer/lithographer and chaplain's assistant on the USS Laertes, AR 20, from the time of its commissioning in San Diego to its Dry Dock in Hawaii. He also set fuses on its 5" gun during its shelling of a Korean island.

Keywords: USS Laertes, AR 20, photo shop, 5" gun, battle star

USS LAERTES

Comments: I am looking for D W Gray and Sam Oakden who I served with on board the Laertes AR-20 during the korean war. we were in the supply dept. 11th div. if any one has any information on them please e-mail me

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