Do note that many of these messages were entered prior to our database updates. They are listed to help foster networking among former POW's and family members.
-Editor - Ted Barker, KWP - March 12, 2002
From: James H. Temperly Email address Sunday, March 11, 2001 I found a great site that you may wish to pass on. It's the military sea transportation society and it will bring back many memories to those who rode a troopship to and from Korea. I know it did for me and I will never forget the (Buckner) and the (Meigs). The URL is MSTS Web James H. Temperly
On Sat, 29 Aug 1998 BlxJac@aol.com wrote: Nothing on the troopships that took part all thru the Korea event? They were operated by M.S.T.S (Military Sea Transportation Service) and the Navy is not wild about addmitting that anyone other than they, know how to operate ships. When Korea started, the Navey was desperatley short of experienced, qualified, seagoing types. They created a seperate operation called Military Sea Transportation Service and turned all of the troop transports over to them to operate. M.S.T.S then crewd thjese ships with Merchant Marine officers and seamen contracted to work by the trip. The only Navy people on board were the medical staff and a few (about 15, officers and men) to handddle the loading and unloading of the troops. The Merchant Marine officers and men worked for the Navy as Civil Service employees. The arrangement worked very well, and there was no conflict between the two services that I am aware of. For instance When we returned to San Francisco after a trip, I was releived as Third Officer, and told to report to Treasure Island Damage Control School. When I did, I and a group of others, both Navy and Civil Service, were given a crash 12 week course in damage control and nuclear decontamination procedures. After the course, we returned to our respective ships) General E.T. Collins for normal duty. After several more regular runs, SF to Yokahama to Inchon, we were detached from our regular run and attached to the Atomic Energy Commission and served as a hotel ship for the personnel on Eniwetok during the first of the H Bomb test. As the Korea war startedf to wind down most of the Civil Service people left the Navy employee and went on to other interests.