DDaddy/Jim,
Great photo! These troopships were indeed WWII workhorses! At risk during every crossing, those guys were brave men and what they did was not appreciated enough.
You are justifiably proud of your Dad!
I echo your feeling of depression about not starting your search 20 yrs ago.
There are so many people I'd liked to have talked to - buddies who were with my Dad in the 181st ID in 1941 like Herb Gebelein (My father called him "Gubie") and Bob Cunningham who was with him from Salerno to the Rhine. When he was in Winston Salem NC during manuevars, there were families who'd take the soldiers in on weekends & make them feel at home & a family named Younts (they owned a men's clothing store named "Younts-Deboe") clearly had a special feeling for my Dad. Their children continued to write to him throughout the war (unfortunately, none of the letters survived - just the Christmas cards sent him after war was declared). For the rest of his life, my father spoke about the kindness & generosity of the people in the Carolinas.
mary ann