USS Penguin

[Walt's Daughter]

I emailed this gentleman, this morning...

 

 

Dear Eric:

 

I am conducting research for a new friend, regarding the USS Penguin and one of her crew, George Farmer. While performing research this morning, ran across this page with info about your uncle, Lieutenant James William Haviland. I read you had discovered some papers from the war, and wondered if you ran across any rosters from the ship?

 

I am hoping you can shed more light on the Penguin and then I turn I can pass along the info to my friend Doug. He would be very grateful.

 

Kindly,

Marion

 

Here's the page: http://navalwarfare....guin-am-33.html

 

 

I heard back from Eric this week (AUGUST 2012), and here's what he had to say:

 

Dear Marion:

 

The only information that I have are some family papers of the Captain (my grandmother's brother) and internet sources. Sorry, no roosters. I was really curious if he had served in China or the Philippines too.

 

I did read a letter by Chief Robert O'Brien which described the events of the Japanese attack and aftermath. http://guampedia.com...risoner-of-war/

 

Very interesting! The letter truly outlined the battle in a more personal way than the official military reports that I have read. Everything went wrong that morning. Ordinary servicemen, thrust into a no win situation, who rose above themselves and did their duty with great bravery and sacrifice. Truly moving to me. They make me so proud!

 

My other grandmother had a brother who also served in the Pacific. He was a Marine who fought on Iwo Jima. The family name is Snell, he was born in Indiana, and lived in Texas after the war. Can you suggest how I can find out more information about my other granduncle? The events of his life are not as well documented as Rear Admiral James Haviland (he continued in the Navy after his release).

 

It's funny, I've traveled to Japan twice, and had no idea that I was only a few miles away from the prison camp where he was kept for all those years.

 

Yours truly,

 

Eric Smith

Grandson of Jeanne Haviland (sister of Captain Haviland)