USS Merganser (AMS-26)

Navy BBS

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Kenneth Bonnell wrote on February 22, 2015

Email Update Needed

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City and State: HIGH ROLLS NM

Unit: ELECTRONICS

Service or Relationship: Navy Veteran

Comments: Just curious if any of the men I served with on the LST-735 and then the USS Merganser during the 1953-54 era might be around. N . K Rogers, Lt. JG was our skipper, followed by Roger Lewis, Lt. JG. We came back from Sasebo, Japan to Long Beach, CA. Took thirty days. The ship had been in Japan since 1945. The going home pennant was 27 feet long. I still have my portion of it. There were 32 crew members. Ensign Twan was Exec. The ships dog was named Chesai. One night while we were on patrol the ship took a 49 degree roll. Would be interesting to hear from any other crew members.

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Len Edwards wrote on November 28, 2012

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City and State:

Unit:

Service or Relationship: Navy Veteran

Comments: My dad served on the USS Merganser from 1948 to
1950.I
was wondering if anyone had pictures from the ship
around that time? My dads name is James L. Edwards.
Please feel free to e-mail me. Thanks

Keywords: USS Merganser

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Jenny LeBlanc wrote on July 9, 2009

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City and State:

Unit:

Service or Relationship: Friend of Veteran

Comments: I was asked by my boss's father to see if I could find anyone who was on the ship from around 1944 to 1947. He was on the ship around that time and is really interested in finding anyone else that would have surved on the ship the same time he did. PLEASE contact me if you were on the ship around this time. Thank you so much.

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Alfred David Jones wrote on June 30, 2009

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City and State: VAN BUREN AR

Unit: USS JASON

Service or Relationship: Navy Veteran

Comments:

Keywords: 1947-- USS Jason Shanghai China -- to Marina Islands

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Alfred David Jones wrote on June 30, 2009

Send Email To ALFRED DAVID JONES

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City and State: VAN BUREN AR

Unit: USS JASON

Service or Relationship: Navy Veteran

Comments:

Keywords: 1947-- USS Jason Shanghai China -- to Marina Islands

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Alfred David Jones wrote on June 30, 2009

Send Email To ALFRED DAVID JONES

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City and State: VAN BUREN AR

Unit: USS JASON

Service or Relationship: Navy Veteran

Comments:

Keywords: 1947 USS Jason Shanghai China to Marina Islands

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Mathew Ellis wrote on January 19, 2008

Send Email To MATHEW ELLIS

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City and State:

Unit:

Service or Relationship: Family Member

Comments: My Grandpa passed away on Thanksgiving Day 2007. I enlisted in the Navy in his Honor and leave for bootcamp in July after I get out of High School. I'm looking for anyone who was on the U.S.S. Cardinal from 1952- 1956. Flyod T. Ellis from Ohio. I want to know all I can about my Papaws ship and stories. Thank you.

Keywords: U.S.S. Cardinal AMS-4

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James A. Juliano wrote on November 24, 2005

Send Email To JAMES A. JULIANO

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City and State: SAUGERTIES NY

Unit:

Service or Relationship: Navy Veteran

Comments: Transferred off of this ship onto Guadalupe 103(I think) where I was an engineman also.

Keywords: Guam

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Lawrence J. Brunke wrote on September 12, 2004

Email Update Needed

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City and State:

Unit:

Service or Relationship: Navy Veteran - Korea

Comments: I seved on the USS Merganser 1951-1953.
I was an Engineman. I was fortunate enough to go back aboard the Merganser while it was under repair in a shipyard in Jacksonville Florida during the 1980's. At that time it was privately owned.It really brought back memories. I am glad we were in Florida because it was not as cold as Korea.

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Michael Goshen wrote on November 14, 2003

Send Email To MICHAEL GOSHEN

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City and State: NORTH LITTLE ROCK AR

Unit: USS MERGANSER AMS26

Service or Relationship: Navy Veteran - Korea

Comments: I served with a GREAT bunch of fellows
We did our job without question.
email me when you have time.
mj

Keywords: USS COURSER AMS6
USS CARDINAL AMS4
USS MAGPIE AMS25

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Robert Hahn wrote on December 27, 2002

Email Update Needed

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City and State: SAN SIMEON CA

Unit:

Service or Relationship: Family Member

Comments: My older brother, George C. Hahn served on the US Merganser (as executive officer?) sometime during the period from 1948 to 1951. I would like to hear from anyone who rembers him. He would be 77 years old this coming February.

Keywords: Brother

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Craig Rothhammer wrote on December 8, 1999

Email Update Needed

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City and State: LA CRESCENTA CA

Unit: USS GRASP (ARS-24) USS BOLSTER (ARS-38)

Service or Relationship: Navy Veteran - Korea

Comments:

USS MERGANSER (AMS-26)

A large, fisheating, duck with a long, slender, toothed beak.

(YMS-417: dp. 272; 1. 136'; b. 25'4"; dr. 8'; s. 15 k.; a. 1 3'', 4 20mm., 2 dct., 2 dep.; cl. YMS-1)

“Within 2 weeks she had joined TF 95 and was participating in action off Wonsan.”

The second Merganser was laid down as YMS-417 by the Stadium Yacht Basin 9 January 1944; launched 29 June 1944; and commissioned 11 November 1944.

Assigned to the 1st Naval District after commissioning, YMS-417 operated along the northern New England coast until 20 July 1945. She then got underway for Pearl Harbor and duty with the Pacific Fleet. Arriving in Hawaiian waters in October, she was assigned to the Philippine sea frontier and continued her voyage, reporting to ComPhilSeaFron in January 1946. The next month she was transferred to Minesweeping Squadron, Pacific Fleet.

In January 1947, the motor minesweeper commenced a 9-month tour of minesweeping operations in the western Carolines, Marshalls, and Marianas, giving primary attention to the waters near Truk and Guam. During this period, on 17 Feb. she was redesignated AMS-26 and named Merganser.
She was next attached to the Naval Operating Base, Marianas and operated from Guam for the next 3 years, conducting minesweeping exercises and ASW patrols, and providing target-towing services.

On 16 September 1950 Merganser departed Guam for Sasebo, Japan, to join the U.N. forces then fighting in and along the coast of Korea. Within 2 weeks she had joined TF 95 and was participating in action off Wonsan. She conducted minesweeping operations along the eastern, southern, and western coasts of Korea throughout the police action and remained after the truce as a unit of the Escort and Blockading Patrol. Before leaving the area in mid-1954, she served several tours as observer for truce violations on the truce line off the west coast.

Merganser departed Sasebo 21 August 1954 for the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, where she underwent conversion to AMCU-47, commencing 1 October. Upon completion of conversion, she was assigned to the Harbor Defense Unit, Port Townsend, Wash., where she remained until April 1955. With the designation MHC-47 effective 7 February 1955, Merganser conducted underwater sound tests at Carr Inlet Acoustics Range in Washington for the first 2 weeks in April and then got underway for duty with the 11th Naval District at San Diego. There, until February 1958, she provided target towing and sonar training services, conducted harbor defense exercises, and performed search and rescue missions.

On 2 February 1958 she was attached to the San Diego Group, Pacific Reserve Fleet, and began inactivation overhaul. Two months later, 2 April 1958, after more than 13 years of service, she decommissioned and was berthed at San Diego. She was struck from the Naval Register 1 May 1959 and on 5 May 1960 was sold to Hilburg and Turpin, Los Angeles, Calif.

USS Merganser received nine battle stars for Korean service.

From: Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships

Keywords: MINESWEEPER, TF 95, WONSAN, PEACE PATROL,

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