James Tyra Duncan
James T. Duncan
Text Information
All photographs from the collection of James T. Duncan
My second ship was the Liberty ship SS John H. Eaton, on which I served
from May 9, 1944, until Feb. 21, 1945. She made three trips from the United
States, twice to Naples and once to Leghorn, Italy. My records are not so
good on this ship. The only name I have is our officer, Lt. Leo F. Swierk,
and that is because he signed a pass for me in Leghorn. I believe he was
from Boston or maybe elsewhere in the northeastern states. I was able to
contact his wife in California and she told me he had passed away. I have
pictures but no names.
SS JAMES SULLIVAN
April 3, 1945 until October 19, 1945
SS JAMES SULLIVAN
April 3, 1945 until October 19, 1945
My third ship was the SS James Sullivan. The dates and places are listed.
Also due to the war almost being over with Germany we had half a crew.
Jan. 1945 Leghorn, Italy and Marseille, France
March 1945 Half of Armed Guard Crew removed
April 6, 1945 New York
April 15, 1945 New Orleans, La.
May 1, 1945 Colon, Panama
May 13 through 18, 1945 Tocopilla, Chile
June 10 through 12, 1945 Wilmington, N.C.
June 13 through 17, 1945 Charleston, S.C.
June 27, 1945 Trinidad, Port of Spain
July 10 through 26, 1945 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
July 30 through Aug. 3, 1945 Montevideo, Uruguary
Aug. 5 through Aug. 25, 1945 Buenos Aires, Argentina (war over with Japan)
At sea 35 days, first sight of land was the Canaria Islands
Oct. 1 through 2, 1945 Le Harve, France
Oct. 16, 1945 Baltimore, Md.
Oct. 17 through 19, 1945 in dry dock, all guns and Navy gear removed.
ARMED GUARD CREW MERCHANT MARINE
O.C. Stuckey Lt.jg Leon Jay Chief Radio Operator
James T. Duncan GM/2C
Andrew Markus Signalman/1C
Joe Wolf Seaman/1C
Earnest Swanner Seaman/1C
W.C. Holloway Seaman/1C
McCarthy Seaman/1C
Victor Blaszak Seaman/1C
Walter VanderburgSeaman/1C
Herbert Alley Seaman/1C
Mike Bernotski Seaman/1C
Sam Oliver Seaman/1C
In Wilmington, N.C. all hands but three were removed from the James
Sullivan. We three were to maintain and guard the naval gear on board.
James Tyra Duncan GM/2C
Andrew Markus Signalman/1C
Earnest Swanner Seaman/1C
U.S. NAVY RECORD – JAN. 18, 1943 until APRIL 1, 1946
JAMES TYRA DUNCAN 832-17-10
Jan. 18, 1943 Enlisted Navy Recruiting Station, Atlanta, Ga.
Jan. 19, 1943 Arrived Navy Training Station, Bainbridge, Md.
Mar. 18, 1943 Leave 9 days plus 3 day travel to Atlanta and return
Mar. 30, 1943 Reported back to NTS, Bainbridge, Md.
Apr. 2, 1943 Transferred to Armed Guard School from Bainbridge
Apr. 3, 1943 Reported to AGS, Little Creek, Va.
Apr. 24, 1943 Completed Armed Guard Training, Little Creek, Va.
Apr. 30, 1943 Transferred to Armed Guard Center, Brooklyn, N.Y.
May 1, 1943 Arrived AGC Brooklyn, N.Y. (S1/c 5-4-43)
May 5, 1943 Attached duty on SS Richard Henry Lee (Liberty ship)
Jan. 27, 1944 Detached from SS Richard Henry Lee (GM3/c 1-29-44)
Jan. 28, 1944 Leave to Atlanta, Ga. 10 days plus 3 day travel return to
AGC, Brooklyn, N.Y. for assignment
Feb. 19, 1944 Arrived at AGS (Shelton- Norfork Va.) for 5” 38 training
Apr. 14, 1944 Completed training (granted delay in reporting until 1200
Apr. 24, 1944 Reported AGC Brooklyn, N.Y.
May 9, 1944 Attached duty on SS John H. Eaton (2-16-45 GM2/c)
Feb. 21, 1945 Detached duty completed SS John H. Eaton at Phila., Pa.
Leave 18 days plus 3 day travel return to AGC Brooklyn
Apr. 3, 1945 Attached duty on SS James Sullivan
Oct. 19, 1945 Completed duty on SS James Sullivan in Baltimore, Md.
Oct. 20, 1945 Transferred to NRS, Atlanta, Ga. 18 day leave 3 day travel
Nov. 12, 1945 Reported NSNRS, Atlanta, Ga.
Nov. 13, 1945 Transferred to Navy Yard Receiving Sta., S.C.
Dec. 11, 1945 Transferred to PSC, Lido Beach, L.I., N.Y.
Dec. 12, 1945 Arrived at PSC, Lido Beach, L.I., N.Y.
Jan. 5, 1946 Transferred to PSC, Jacksonville, Fla.
Jan. 7, 1946 Arrived at PSC, Jacksonville, Fla.
Apr. 1, 1946 Honorable discharge with 3 years, 2 months, 14 days