A
Anonymous
Guest
As with the recent post of King Weasel’s German ancestors, I find it fascinating to connect one’s family tree with the events of the Great War. In my case, two Canadian first cousins twice removed fought with the CEF, but none of my immediate family participated in the conflict.
However, my great uncle was a midshipman at the United States Naval Academy during the war and graduated in 1921. As Ensign, he served aboard the USS Oklahoma, a Nevada Class Battleship. I have a handful of photographs from this period of his career, which may be of interest to some.
Below is the Oklahoma (BB-37). She was at “Battleship Row” during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and capsized after being struck by three torpedoes.
My uncle is at the extreme right in this photo. Note the uniform of Oklahoma’s Captain.
This snapshot appears to be contemporaneous with the above. Judging by the burned out turret behind my uncle, the crew must have been engaged in salvage operations.
Oklahoma’s scout plane: it appears to be a Nieuport 28.
My uncle in full dress uniform:
Posing with a sextant:
The following pictures were taken in 1920 during my uncle’s Annapolis days. Here he is, pictured with my grandfather during a visit home. As collectors, we know it was once the fashion for German boys to be attired in the uniform of their relations’ regiments. It would appear the tradition also existed in the United States.
A second photograph: the stone tablet in the background belonged to my family and has an interesting history of its own.
When my grandfather died in 2002 at age ninety-four, I acquired that white jumper he wore eighty-two years earlier. It represents a connection with the past that I value highly.
The USS New York (BB-34) was a New York Class Battleship. She was commissioned in 1914. Though New York survived the Second World War, her ultimate fate was nonetheless sobering. She served as a target during the atomic bomb tests at Bikini Atoll, Marshall Islands.
Petty Officer Second Class:
Cap Tally:
A tailor named Taylor:
The whole ensemble:
Chas.
However, my great uncle was a midshipman at the United States Naval Academy during the war and graduated in 1921. As Ensign, he served aboard the USS Oklahoma, a Nevada Class Battleship. I have a handful of photographs from this period of his career, which may be of interest to some.
Below is the Oklahoma (BB-37). She was at “Battleship Row” during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and capsized after being struck by three torpedoes.
My uncle is at the extreme right in this photo. Note the uniform of Oklahoma’s Captain.
This snapshot appears to be contemporaneous with the above. Judging by the burned out turret behind my uncle, the crew must have been engaged in salvage operations.
Oklahoma’s scout plane: it appears to be a Nieuport 28.
My uncle in full dress uniform:
Posing with a sextant:
The following pictures were taken in 1920 during my uncle’s Annapolis days. Here he is, pictured with my grandfather during a visit home. As collectors, we know it was once the fashion for German boys to be attired in the uniform of their relations’ regiments. It would appear the tradition also existed in the United States.
A second photograph: the stone tablet in the background belonged to my family and has an interesting history of its own.
When my grandfather died in 2002 at age ninety-four, I acquired that white jumper he wore eighty-two years earlier. It represents a connection with the past that I value highly.
The USS New York (BB-34) was a New York Class Battleship. She was commissioned in 1914. Though New York survived the Second World War, her ultimate fate was nonetheless sobering. She served as a target during the atomic bomb tests at Bikini Atoll, Marshall Islands.
Petty Officer Second Class:
Cap Tally:
A tailor named Taylor:
The whole ensemble:
Chas.
Otto
