USS James E Kyes (DD-787)

Navy BBS

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Laurel Dale wrote on October 4, 2015

Email Update Needed

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City and State: PEORIA AZ

Unit: NAVY

Service or Relationship: Family Member

Comments: Walter Stephens was Cmdr of the USS James E Kyes during the years of 1958-1959. I am looking for a Crew Book to give him. Does anyone have one?

Thank you,

Laurel Dale

Keywords: USS James E Kyes, DD 787, Crew Book 1958-1959, Walter Stephens

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William Loud wrote on August 20, 2015

Send Email To WILLIAM LOUD

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City and State: LOS ANGELES CA

Unit: DD 787 ,JAMES E KYES

Service or Relationship: Navy Veteran

Comments: Who was Executive Officer on Kyes 51-52?

Keywords:

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Donald Shevock wrote on April 30, 2013

Send Email To DONALD SHEVOCK

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City and State: SPARTA MI

Unit:

Service or Relationship: Navy Veteran

Comments: My name is Don Shevock and I was aboard the ship USS James. E. Kayes from
1963 to 1966 in the Vietnam service. I am seeking information about if anybody
else has or is trying to seek compensation from the VA for symptoms caused by
Agent Orange. I have filed for compensation under the Blue Water Act and
wonder if we were ever in the Brown Water up the Saigon Water, and if so how
far. They say we were only in the river mouth but I distinctly remember taking on
ammunition and tying to shore. Please contact me if you can give me any
information on the subject, please contact me through my granddaughter's email
below:

Keywords: Agent Orange, Dioxin, Herbicide, Poison, Effects, Illness, Diabetes, ect, VA,
Searching, compensation

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John H. McGath wrote on November 16, 2012

Email Update Needed

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City and State:

Unit:

Service or Relationship: Navy Veteran

Comments: DECK LOG - REMARKS SHEET

USS Passumpsic (AO-107) Sunday 3 December
1950

0 to 4 Steaming under boliers; 1,2,3 and 4
   L E Boliver, LT, USN
4 to 8 Steaming as before and 0737 USS CACAPON (AO-52)
Assumed formation guide.    H.C. Sanders, ENS.,
USN
8 to 12 Steaming as before. 0800 Mustered on station,
No absentees. 0942 USS Keyes (DD 787) alongside to
starboard for fueling. 1000 Rigged high line to USS
Keyes (DD-787) for transfer of mail, passengers and
freight. The following passengers were transferred to
the USS Keyes (DD 787) for further transfer:
J.H. McGath AA USN
Commander Fleet Activities, Sasabo, Japan

orders Navy # 3912 dated 30
November 1950
J. Neighbor AA
USN Commander Fleet Activities, Sasabo,
Japan

orders Navy # 3912 dated 30
November 1950
AND OTHERS
1036 Ceased pumping station 3. 1048 Ceased pumping
station 5. 1110 retrieved all lines to starboard and
USS Keyes DD-787.

Frank I. Winant Jr. , Captain USN Commanding H.
C. Sanders, ENS, USNR Navigator

Thanks for a great Lunch and ride in bos'n chair to
Phil Sea CV 47
The Phil Sea searved us a splended Sunday Dinner.
O' yes we had a good breakfast on the Passumpsic
while we listned to the Army - Navy game.

Keywords: Flight deck Crah Crew Phil Sea CV 47 50-51

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Thomas E. (T.E.) Moore wrote on July 24, 2012

Send Email To THOMAS E. (T.E.) MOORE

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City and State:

Unit:

Service or Relationship: Other

Comments: The USS James E.Kyes-DD-787, (Cdr.R.A.Thacher,
commanding), got a lot of enemy attention. She was
shot at by the enemy on 16,March,1953, near Songjin.
Ten days later, in the same area, she was taken under
enemy gun fire, escaping damage from some 50 rounds of
enemy gun fire. Two days later, with the sweeper USS
Waxwing-AM-389, near Hungnam, ten more enemy gun shell
splashes near her. On 1,April,1953, the USS Kyes
loaded her boat with a recon party, and dispatched
them to the area of Cha-ho to watch, and listen for
enemy trains. One was spotted, but it was in a
position that the USS Kye's guns could not bear. She
contacted a night-heckling 5th. Air Force B-26
aircraft, and vectored him to the train's area. Later
the Air Force pilot reported, Several enemy box-cars
destroyed. On 4,April,1953, the USS Kyes was under
enemy gun fire again near the island of Mayang-Do. On
18,April,1953, near Cha-Ho, the USS Kyes fired at an
enemy train, the enemy's counter battery fire forced
the USS Kyes to open the range. On 17,May,1953, in
company with the USS Brush-DD-745, the USS Kyes-DD-
787 supported a ROK raiding party above the battle-
line near Kojo, with the destruction of two enemy
automatic weapons sites, and fourteen enemy sampans.
On 19,May,1953, with the USS Eversole-DD-789, at Cha-
Ho, they succeeded in hitting, and stopping an enemy
nocturnal train. Illuminating the area with 128 star
shells. The two destroyers put 418 rounds of 5-inch
shells into the doomed enemy train. Then the following
honor; The USS James E. Kyes-DD-787 is a member
of The Trainbusters Club, of Task Force-95.
Vice Admiral Robert P.Briscoe, Commander Of Naval
Forces Far East, congratulated the bombarding fleet on
19,June,1953: Your straight shooting of the past 12
days will not soon be forgotten by the enemy. You
knocked him off Anchor Hill, ripped up his front
lines, and supply routes, and added another chapter
to the lesson that the way of the aggressor is hard.
The destroyers assigned to Task Force-95, could
predict the statistics of a tour in Korean Waters
with precision: a typical tour would require 110
underway replenishments, the average ship would burn
more than 3,000,000 gallons of fuel oil while in the
theater. The ship would see the expenditure of an
average of 2,360 5-inch rounds, and 1,341 3-inch
rounds.

Keywords: T.F.-95, Korean War, USS James E.Kyes-DD-787, 1953.

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Patricia O'Connell-Richard wrote on April 2, 2012

Email Update Needed

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City and State: PIKEVILLE NC

Unit:

Service or Relationship: Other

Comments:

Keywords: James e keyes in the year 1969 1970 stationed in long
beach. anyone knowing of a gerald w parker plz call

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Gordon Lee wrote on November 21, 2010

Send Email To GORDON LEE

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City and State: DOUGLASVILLE GA

Unit: 7TH FLEET

Service or Relationship: Navy Veteran

Comments: ANY PICTURES OF SHIP IN the in land rivers?? DA NANG RIVER?? OR SIAGON?

Keywords: JAMES E KEYES,1967-1971

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Bill Golden wrote on September 10, 2010

Email Update Needed

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City and State: BASEHOR KS

Unit: USS JAMES E. KEYES 1966-1968

Service or Relationship: Navy Veteran

Comments:

Keywords: My brother Bo Golden (deceased) and I served aboard the Jumpin' Jimmy. I am looking for photographs taken during the 1967-1968 Vietnam tour. I lost my 6 albums when my basement flooded in 2004.

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Harley Ellis wrote on August 11, 2010

Email Update Needed

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City and State: PORTSMOUTH OH

Unit: JAMES E. KYES DD-787

Service or Relationship: Navy Veteran

Comments:

Keywords: James E Kyes DD-787, Korea 1949 - 1953

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Paul Claxon SR. wrote on June 16, 2010

Email Update Needed

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City and State: WHEELERSBURG OH

Unit: DD-787

Service or Relationship: Friend of Veteran

Comments: Looking for any friends that were on the Kyes from

1949 to 1952

Keywords: USS Kyes

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Donna Siano-bailey wrote on May 9, 2010

Send Email To DONNA SIANO-BAILEY

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City and State: LIVERMORE CA

Unit:

Service or Relationship: Family Member

Comments:

Keywords: I'm helping my father fine his records. We are doing our family tree. Please if you have any info let us know Thanks Donna Siano

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Chris Kirby wrote on June 8, 2009

Email Update Needed

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City and State:

Unit:

Service or Relationship: Friend of Veteran

Comments:

Keywords:

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Judy Jerrell wrote on January 19, 2009

Email Update Needed

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City and State:

Unit:

Service or Relationship: Air Force Veteran

Comments: Hi, I'm looking for Terrance Smith or Rud Johnson. They were some of my dads friends when he was in the Navy. He asked me to look them up. Also, can anybody let me know if there is a reunion coming up soon. He served on the James Keyes (i believe) between 63-65, maybe longer. My dad is William Robinson.

Thanks,

Judy Jerrell

Keywords: Terrance Smith, Rud Johnson,

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Robert Thomaston wrote on March 7, 2008

Send Email To ROBERT THOMASTON

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City and State: OROVILLE CA

Unit:

Service or Relationship: Navy Veteran

Comments: I have a copy of the complete set of log books for the Kyes Years 1950-1953

Keywords: Uss James E Kyes DD787,Retired

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Robert Thomaston wrote on March 7, 2008

Send Email To ROBERT THOMASTON

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City and State: OROVILLE CA

Unit:

Service or Relationship: Navy Veteran

Comments: I have a copy of the complete set of log books for the Kyes Years 1950-1953

Keywords: Uss James E Kyes DD787,Retired

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John McDowell JR. wrote on March 1, 2008

Send Email To JOHN MCDOWELL

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City and State: SKOKIE IL

Unit: USS JAMES E KYES

Service or Relationship: Navy Veteran

Comments: I'm looking for shipmates of my father John E. McDowell, he was initially a frogman and tagged mines in the Japan Bay and near Hong Kong. After getting hurt he was retrained into the Signal Corp where at one time was the only one on the ship excluding the Skipper who could read and send semiphore. He told me a story about how he won a few bets by getting the scores from games in the states early from other ships and placed a few bets. He stopped when he found out the new XO could read semiphore.

He also told me a story about when he had to spend 30 days straight on the signal bridge, because there were no other signalmen on the ship at the time. He told me that he fell off the signal bridge once and fell 3 decks and had to be hoisted ship to ship for sickbay on another ship.

Yet another story my dad told me was when he was posted on shore on a watch on a clif face over a beach. A mortar went off close by and he fell rolling down the hill onto the beach and in the middle of a mine field. He woke up with a captain screaming at him for wrecking his mine field.

If you know my Dad by any of these stories, let me know. I have pictures of him and the Kyes to share with you. Thanks for viewing my post.

Keywords: My fathers nickname was Jack,

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Gale Bullock wrote on December 7, 2007

Email Update Needed

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City and State: COLUMBIA MO

Unit: RESEARCHING MY DAD

Service or Relationship: Family Member

Comments: Shooting shells and missing the supply trains as they came out of the tunnels.... Dad said that's what you guys did, and you never hit a damn one! Dad was born in 1930. Dad would have been about 22 years of age. He was a really small young man, had a navy clearance to wear Justin Boots because of his feet, and had ears that stuck out from his head. At the time he was either an undergrad at the University of Missouri-Columbia, or had just finished his degree before going to Korea on the DD-787. I have a picture of the ship's crew and DD-787 which is a big rascal [the picture is big, destroyers are small vessels!] when Dad was on board, if my Mom can now find it. After service in Korea, Dad came back to MU-Columbia and got his Masters in Ag Science, and then went to the University of Arizona for his Ph.D. in Agronomy -- dirt doctering. I lost Dad in January 2004, and I miss him much. If anyone knows my Father, I would appreciate it, deeply.

Gale Bullock
1404 Jake Lane
Columbia, Missouri 65203
573-356-5018 cell
573-445-0130 unlisted home number.

Thanks. And thanks to all the young, brave men that defended their country at this point in time... in our
history.

Keywords: shooting shells and missing the supply trains as they came out of the tunnels.... Dad said that's what you guys did, and you never hit a damn one!

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David Hale wrote on September 13, 2007

Send Email To DAVID HALE

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City and State: BEND OR

Unit:

Service or Relationship: Family Member

Comments: Looking to speak with anyone who knew my father.
Sonarman Chelsey A. Hale from Everson Wash.

Keywords:

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Dennis Klamfoth SR. wrote on September 9, 2007

Send Email To DENNIS KLAMFOTH

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City and State: CHICO CA

Unit: USS SAGINAW LST 1188 , USS SCHNECTADY LST 1185,USS

Service or Relationship: Navy Veteran

Comments: The Kyes was the 1st ship I went to sea on during an dependants cruise the cruise was the finishing touch of my having gone into the navy the other was the fact that my father was in the navy in WW2 , My Family was friends with Jerry D. Cable ( was a snipe ) and Glen Chapman ( I believe he was a cook )in the mid to late 60s. I have some photos of the ship both before and after conversion. if anyone wants the photos just email me.

Keywords: USS James E. Kyes DD 787

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Steve Wilson wrote on June 1, 2007

Send Email To STEVE WILSON

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City and State: CHESAPEAKE VA

Unit:

Service or Relationship: Navy Veteran

Comments: The son of the late James Ellsworth Kyes, the namesake of the USS James E Kyes, has died. David Mark Kyes died on May 30th, 2007. More info can be found here:

http://bonneywatson.com/_mgxroot/page_10775.php?id=424152

Keywords: USS James E Kyes, David Mark Kyes

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Deborah Carter wrote on May 2, 2006

Send Email To DEBORAH CARTER

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City and State: MIRA LOMA CA

Unit: DIVISION 31

Service or Relationship: Family Member

Comments: Albert Leo Carter was a Fireman on the James E. Kyes and left the states in 1952 on route to North Korea. My father had passed away in 1981 and I an trying to find any one who knew him in the navy.

Keywords: Pearl Harbor ,Midway,Yokosuka Japan . Division 31

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David Tucker wrote on April 6, 2006

Send Email To DAVID TUCKER

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City and State:

Unit:

Service or Relationship: Other

Comments: Found someones badge laying in the grass. looked as though it has been there a while. I thought I contact someone in regards to it.

Keywords: Badge number six found. Master at arms USS James E. Kyes. Found on April 6, 2006 at 1200 hours.

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Bill Hernandez wrote on December 8, 2005

Email Update Needed

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City and State: SAN DIEGO CA

Unit:

Service or Relationship: Navy Veteran

Comments: Recently while on a visit to Taft, CA I came across an old salt of a shipfitter named Irving R. Freeman. Once he discovered I am a retired Master Chief we struck up a great conversation and I thought I would pass this information to you. He was a WWII Vet who became a plank owner of the USS Kyes. If anyone is interested in communicating with him please email me and I will pass your info onto him. I am also looking for any destroyer nostalgia or websites I may look to buy something for this old sea dog. He is a great guy to talk to and I can only think of doing something nice for him. Thanks

Keywords: Irving R. Freeman, USS Kyes, Korean War

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Dick Grey wrote on July 21, 2005

Email Update Needed

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City and State: LOS ALTOS CA

Unit: USS JAMES E. KYES DD-787

Service or Relationship: Navy Veteran

Comments: I cannot believe that I misspelled the James E. "Kyes" (DD-787).

I still need to find out the dimensions of the sonar acoustic dome that was installed when the ship had the QHB-Able Sonar installed in Mare Island in 1951.

I am also looking for pictures of how she looked topside when she left the yard.

Dick

Keywords: Previously provided

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Dick Grey wrote on July 5, 2005

Email Update Needed

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City and State: LOS ALTOS CA

Unit: USNR-DESRON 31

Service or Relationship: Navy Veteran

Comments: I'm having a model built of the Keyes and the records are inaccurate - looking for pictures in the Jun-51 to Sept-43 era.

Keywords: Shipmates -Tear Dog Miles, Captain Thacher, Ensign Close; First to reopen Taiwan Koashung Port.

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John W. Beames wrote on May 30, 2005

Email Update Needed

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City and State: DALLAS TX

Unit: USS JAMES E. KYES DD787

Service or Relationship: Navy Veteran

Comments: I have been conversing with a Plank owner of Kyes for a couple of years now through e-mail. His name is Pilgreen,Bill C. If you would like to find him, please send me your e-mail address and I will send them to him, so he can choose to answer or not.
beamesjw@aol.com

Keywords: DD-787 1968 to 1972

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Philip McFatridge wrote on May 8, 2005

Email Update Needed

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City and State:

Unit:

Service or Relationship: Navy Veteran - Korea

Comments:

Keywords: uss james e keyes

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Christopher Jay wrote on April 12, 2005

Email Update Needed

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City and State: ABERDEEN

Unit:

Service or Relationship: Interested Person

Comments: As a corrigendum to previous message, the legend does in fact read "James E. Kyes".

Keywords:

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Christopher Jay wrote on April 12, 2005

Email Update Needed

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City and State: ABERDEEN

Unit:

Service or Relationship: Interested Person

Comments: I am a student at Aberdeen University in Scotland, mainly studying the history of HMS Belfast at this time. Interestingly, a Zippo lighter with an engraving of a destroyer and the legend "James E. Keyes" has just come into my possession. I was just interested to know if personnel were issued these at any time? Date mark suggests 1960-61. Sorry if this seems trivial but small effects such as these have really got me interested in military history of the 20th Century. Thank you for your time.

Keywords:

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Thomas S. Maple wrote on January 17, 2004

Email Update Needed

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City and State: EXCELSIOR MN

Unit: USS KYES DD 787

Service or Relationship: Navy Veteran - Korea

Comments: I have great picture taken from helo of 787 with Los Angles in background

Keywords: Gunnery Officer DD 787

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Bud Simmons wrote on August 12, 2003

Email Update Needed

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City and State:

Unit:

Service or Relationship: -

Comments: My brother, Ray Simmons, a native San Franciscan, served on the James E Kyes during the Korean War. He died in 1989. He was proud of his time of service to his country in the United States Navy. He was follwed into the service during this time by his younger brothers, Jim who became a United States Marine and myself who was a member of the United States Air Force.

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Rocci Ratay wrote on March 19, 2003

Email Update Needed

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City and State:

Unit:

Service or Relationship: Family Member

Comments: my father served on the kyes during the korean war, his name was frank ratay. looking for anyone who may have served with him.

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Nornan Benito wrote on February 25, 2003

Email Update Needed

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City and State: SANTA CRUZ CA

Unit: US NAVY

Service or Relationship: Navy Veteran - Korea

Comments: Hope to hesar from someone

Keywords: USS James E. Kyes Oct 1951 till July 1954 Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class

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Nornan Benito wrote on February 25, 2003

Email Update Needed

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City and State: SANTA CRUZ CA

Unit: US NAVY

Service or Relationship: Navy Veteran - Korea

Comments: Hope to hesar from someone

Keywords: USS James E. Kyes Oct 1951 till July 1954 Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class

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John W. Beames wrote on December 15, 2002

Email Update Needed

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City and State: DALLAS TX

Unit: DD787

Service or Relationship: -

Comments: Was stationed on kyes as asroc gunnersmate po3 and po2. best ship of the four I served on

Keywords: 1968 to 1972

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Debi Craft wrote on September 30, 2002

Email Update Needed

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City and State: OROVILLE CA

Unit:

Service or Relationship: Interested Person

Comments: Looking for any shipmates who was on the SS James E. Kyes...1953-1968, for my pops.. bill craft.

Keywords: SS James E. Kyes

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