ACR-4 USS Pennsylvania / USS Pittsburgh

USS Pennsylvania anchored at Oyster Bay, New York, during the Presidential Naval Review held on 4 September 1906. President Teddy Roosevelt reviewed the fleet anchored there. Another of her sister ships can be seen in the background. This is the USS Colorado as only the Colorado and Pennsylvania had the large ventilator in front of the fore funnel. The other 4 ships in the Pennsylvania class did not have this ventilator. Some of the ships that were reviewed by President Roosevelt were the; USS Virginia BB-13, USS New Jersey B-16, USS Florida Monitor No. 9, USS Denver C-14, USS Des Moines C-15, The Auxilliary Cruiser USS Yankee, USS Hopkins.

A souvenir button from the 22 August 1903 Launching ceremony.

The USS Pennsylvania (Armored Cruiser 4) was laid down 7 August 1901 by William Cramp and Sons, Philadelphia; launched 22 August 1903; sponsored by Miss Coral Quay, daughter of Senator Matthew S. Quay; and commissioned 9 March 1905, with Capt. Thomas C. McLean in command. USS Pennsylvania operated on the East Coast of the United States and in the Caribbean until 8 September 1906 when she cleared Newport News, Virginia for duty with the Asiatic Fleet. During 1907 Pennsylvania along with the cruisers USS Colorado, USS West Virginia and USS Maryland formed the First Division of the First Squadron, Asiatic Fleet, Commanded by Rear Admiral Willard H. Brownson. On 2 September 1907 all 4 cruisers were at anchor in Honolulu, Hawaii. Pennsylvania returned to San Francisco, California on 27 September 1907 for west coast duty. A year later she was again cruising the waters of the Pacific and on the 16th of September 1908 she crossed the equator. In the autumn of 1909, she deployed westward with the Armored Cruiser Squadron and on 5 September 1909 the West Virginia, California, South Dakota, Pennsylvania, Colorado and possibly the Maryland departed San Francisco, California and arrived on 11 September in Honolulu, Hawaii steaming 2,100 miles. The force called on ports in the Admiralty Islands, Pago Pago on Tutuila Island on American Samoa, the Philippines, Japan, and China, before returning to Honolulu on 31 January 1910. Pennsylvania spent Christmas of 1909 anchored at Hong Kong, China. After return from Far Eastern waters Pennsylvania saw South American duties and she cruised off Chile and Peru. In February of 1910 the Pennsylvania was under the command of Lt. Cdr. W. Evans. It is known from letters written to loved ones by members of the crew that Pennsylvania was on 2 May 1910 anchored at the Navy Yard in Bremerton, Washington. During the later half of 1910 she underwent a refit and her original foremast was replaced with the new cage style mast as did the other six ships in her class. In the December 4th, 1910 edition of the Washington Post, under the Movements of Naval Vessels section the USS West Virginia, Maryland, South Dakota, California, Colorado and the Pennsylvania all arrived in port at San Diego, California.

The USS Pennsylvania in the Dewey Drydock at Olongapo, Philippines.

From 1 July 1911 to 30 May 1913, while in reserve at Puget Sound, Washington her duties were training of naval militia. She was renamed Pittsburgh on 27 August 1912 to free the name Pennsylvania for a new battleship. Re-commissioned, Pittsburgh patrolled the west coast of Mexico during the troubled times of insurrection which led to American involvement with the Vera Cruz landing in April of 1914. Later, as an impressive symbol of American might and concern, she served as flagship for Admiral William B. Caperton, Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet. In the days before America entered WWI, Pittsburgh took part in South American patrols in cooperation with the British, scouting for German and Austrian raiders and acted as a powerful deterrent against their penetration of the eastern Pacific. On 20 May 1917 the Pittsburg along with the USS Frederick and USS South Dakota entered the Canal at Balboa transiting to join the Atlantic Fleet. From a report from the USS Stewart the USS Pueblo on 16 May, was moored to the dock in Balboa along with the USS St. Louis, USS Whipple and the USS Truxtun was in the dry dock. The next day the Pueblo went into the dry dock at Balboa for repairs from her fight with the German Raider. Finished with repairs on 21 May, Pueblo comes out of the dry dock and the USS Pittsburg entered the dry-dock. She joined Pueblo (ACR-7), and Frederick at Colon, Panama, on 29 May 1917 then proceeded to the South Atlantic for patrol duty operating from Brazilian ports protecting shipping, paying diplomatic calls to South American ports, and preventing the sailing of German and Austrian ships interned at Bahia, Brazil.

At Hampton Roads, Virginia on May 16, 1917, the USS Nebraska (BB-14) departed for Montevideo, Uruguay carrying the body of the late Carlos M. DePena, Envoy Extraordinaire and accompanied by Minister Plenipotentiary from Uruguay, with full honors. The Nebraska was joined by the Pittsburgh in South American waters and both ships arrived in Montevideo on 10 June 1917, where the Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet, came on board for the ceremonies and the body of the late Uruguayan Minister to the United States was transferred to shore with full honors. Nebraska departed Montevideo on 15 June for home and the Pittsburgh sails to join her fleet mates already in South American waters.

After returning from Montevideo the USS Pittsburgh along with the USS Frederick, USS Pueblo and USS South Dakota proceeded to the South Atlantic for patrol duty operating from Brazilian ports. On 23 July 1917 while steaming toward Buenos Aires, Argentina an accident occurred when a saluting charge exploded and injured several men, one of which died as a result of the explosion. Gunners Mate Clay Tenny Lyles died on the 23rd from injuries from the explosion. Gunner’s Mate Lyles was born on 17 October 1896 in Texas and was 20 years old when he died. According to an article in the 26 July edition of the Washington Post, Gunner’s Mate Lyles body was buried at sea on the 25th of July, but other sources indicate that he is buried in the Lyles Family plot in Garland Memorial Cemetery in Garland Texas. The incident happened when a 3-inch saluting charge exploded and caught fire of some material on the deck. The fire now threatened to ignite the powder supply and that could have caused a devastating and possibly fatal explosion to the men as well as to the ship. As a result of the cool and heroic action of Commander Willis Winter Bradley, Jr. and Seaman Ora "Pappy" Graves who put out the fire, both men were awarded the Medal of Honor for their actions that day.

Pittsburgh was at anchor in the harbor in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on 17 August 1917 along with some British ships one of which was the HMS Glasgow. During January 1918 while the Pittsburgh was in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil there was a murder on board and 5 crewmen were imprisoned. They were transferred to the Coalier USS Cyclops for trial. The Cyclops sailed for Bahia, Brazil on 21 February and then on 4 March 1918 she sails from Bahia for Baltimore, Maryland and was never heard from again, lost in the famous Bermuda Triangle disappearances.

Around the end of June 1918 Pittsburgh and the USS Vermont were patrolling the waters off Antofagasta, Chile protecting American interests and preventing Austrian and German ships from sailing. It was during the last week of June that the USS Radnor a US Navy cargo ship made port in Antofagasta, Chile on the 28th of June, but due to she being a US Navy ship tensions were high in Antofagasta and the Radnor was ordered out of the harbor by the German ambassador or she would be interned in port. Lt. Comdr. Marcus S. Harloe, Captain of the Radnor radioed for help and the USS Vermont and USS Pittsburgh answered the call. Radnor readied for sea in a hurry and Vermont and Pittsburgh arrived and escorted Radnor to safety before hostilities started.

A Crossing the Line souvenir card of the March 27, 1919 crossing at 40 Degrees West Longitude.

Returning to the east coast, Pittsburgh prepared for duty as flagship for Commander, U.S. Naval Forces in the eastern Mediterranean, for which she sailed from Portsmouth, N.H., on 19 June 1919. Cruising the Adriatic, Aegean, and Black Seas, she joined in the massive relief operations and other humanitarian concerns with which the Navy carried out its quasi-diplomatic functions in this troubled area. Pittsburgh was at anchor in San Marco Bay in Venice, Italy on March 14, 1920. On 26 April 1920 she left Broussa, Turkey for the Black Sea. In June of 1920, she sailed north to visit French and British ports and cruise the Baltic on further relief assignments before returning to decommission at Philadelphia on 15 October 1921.

The Pittsburgh was made flagship of Vice Admiral Henry McLaren Pinckney Huse on 24 June 1920 who was Commander, U.S. Naval Forces in European Waters. On the 28th of August 1920, at the request of the United States State Department, Navy Secretary Daniels send orders to Admiral Huse who was in command of the US warships then in the Baltic area to take his flagship the USS Pittsburgh then at Reval, Estonia to Danzig, Poland in order to protect the considerable number of Americans there in that port. Reval is the present day capitol city of Tallinn, Estonia located on the Baltic coast between the Paaskula and Pirita Rivers. There was some concern that tensions in the area were growing and the State department thought is a wise move to have the presence of a US warship in the area.

Post card of the Pittsburgh sent home from Paul L. Webb a sailor aboard the Pittsburgh. It shows the Pittsburgh while in Danzig before she went aground off Libau. Webb was onboard when she went on the rocks as he made note of that on the back of this post card. This post card was mailed in Lativia as the stamp on the front is a Latavian stamp.

At 10:20 on the evening of September 9, 1920 the Pittsburgh ran aground on some rocks 3 miles off the port of Libau near the breakwater. This is the present day city of Liepaja, Latvia and Libau was the name used during the German occupations of WWI. In a dispatch from Admiral Huse the Pittsburgh was in “no immediate danger” but several sections of her double bottom were flooded. As soon as the Navy Department was advised they sent a dispatch to the USS Frederick, which was then stationed in Antwerp, Belgium. She was carrying the United States Olympic rowing, swimming and running teams to the Olympic games being held in Antwerp. The Frederick was to disembark her passengers and precede at best possible speed to render assistance to the Pittsburgh. Frederick got underway at noon on the 10th of September heading down the Scheldt River. At 7:30 on the 14th of September the Frederick was just outside the breakwater off Libau where she found the Pittsburgh afloat with the HMS Dauntless standing by her. On the 18th the Pittsburgh off loaded her ammunition to the Frederick. That evening at 8:00 PM a smoker was held on the deck of the Frederick in which Vice Admiral Huse and his staff were the guests. Two three-round boxing bouts were held and the final bout was a six-round bout of Browne vs. Crosby, both of the Fredericks engineer force. Crosby was the winner. Movies were then shown on the quarterdeck.

On the morning of the 19th of September at 7:30 the Pittsburgh got underway steaming at 8 knots with the Frederick following astern acting as her escort. Both ships steamed to Sheerness, England where the Pittsburgh went into dry-dock for repairs. She reached Sheerness at 10 in the morning on the 23 of September 1920.

In April of 1921 Pittsburgh still serving in European waters, was under the command of Captain Joseph Mason “Bull” Reeves. His command of the Pittsburgh only lasted until October 1921 when he was re-assigned as Commander, Navy yard, Mare Island, California. Reeves later would retire from the Navy at the rank of Admiral and distinguished himself by served in the Spanish-American War, WWI and WWII and it was largely through Admiral Reeves foresight that the foundation of modern carrier striking forces are based on today.

The USS Pittsburgh at Villefranche, France on Christmas Day, 1920. The officers and men entertained about 200 French children to a Christmas dinner on board , afterwards presenting them with presents . Excited poor French children waving American flags and admiring their presents on board.

USS Pittsburgh in the harbor of Venice, Italy.

Another view of the Pittsburgh in Venice.

This is a photo from Paul L. Webb who was a sailor serving on the Pittsburgh while she was in Venice. This photo taken by Webb shows an airship as it passes over-head.

Re-commissioned again on 2 October 1922, Pittsburgh returned to European and Mediterranean waters as flagship of Naval Forces in Europe. She then arrived in New York on 17 July 1926 to prepare for flagship duty with the Asiatic Fleet. She under went a refit for her Asiatic duties and her fore stack is removed changing her to a 3-stack design. She was the only ship of her class to be so modified. Gun directors were placed on the bridge just abaft of the mainmast and one large ventilator installed just aft of the bridge area.

She sailed on 16 October for Chefoo, China arriving there on 23 December 1926. Early in January of 1927, she landed sailors and Marines to protect Americans and other foreigners in Shanghai from the turmoil and fighting of the Chinese power struggle. When Chiang Kai-shek's Cantonese Army won control of Shanghai in March 1927, Pittsburgh resumed operations on patrol and exercises with the Asiatic Fleet. On 28 March 1928 Pittsburgh was in Hong Kong, China according to post cards mailed from the ship and cancelled with Hong Kong postmarks.

This photo shows crew of the Pittsburgh's landing force out side the Battilion Headquarters building in Shanghai during 1927
The sign above the door reads: "Battilion Headquarters Landing Force, USS Pittsburgh."

In the book “The Sand Pebbles” by Richard McKenna, which was also made into the famous movie by the same name starring Steve McQueen there is a passage that refers to the USS Pittsburgh. McKenna wrote this book, which tells the story of the men in the US Navy known as “China Sailors” of 1926. This was also the beginning of the start of the Pittsburgh’s tour as Flagship of the Asiatic Fleet from 1926-1931. It refers to something that happened while in South America several years previous, which is likely to be the murder that took place on the Pittsburgh during January of 1918 while the Pittsburgh was in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In those days “China Sailors” were clearly regarded in a poor light. In the movie “The Sand Pebbles” Jake Holman played by Steve McQueen tells Shirley Eckert (Candice Bergen) “…nice American girls don’t talk to China Sailors.” Even the local Chinese mock them and their superior officers treat them badly and the people whom they protect regard them as an embarrassment. McKenna reminds us in his book that the US Navy of the 1920’s was not necessarily seen as a career (except by the officers), but often as a means of escape or even punishment for the lowly China Sailor.

This may help explain the following reference form McKenna’s book, in which the implication was that the Pittsburgh had a bad reputation, with one character saying “I would rather have my sister in a whorehouse then have my brother serve on the USS Pittsburgh.” A second sailor replied, “I would rather have your brother.” In the book, the next day the second sailor received a warning in the form of a scrap of canvas with a pile of wet sand on it. This canvas warning likely refers to the old tradition in the navy known as “cobbing” or being beaten with a stocking filled with wet sand. There was no doubt that to the sailor who received the sand on his bunk that this was an old seagoing warning and that the message was very clear.

Murder on navy ships of the line is not a new thing as life within the hulls of any ship is a small sampling of the larger population and so we should expect that this would happen from time to time. An example of this would be the murder that happened onboard the USS Columbia in 1921 in which two crewmen did not get along and one man killed the other in a fit of rage.

Closing her long career of service, she carried the Governor General of the Philippines, Dwight F. Davis on a courtesy cruise to such ports as Saigon, Bangkok, Singapore, Belawan Deli, Batavia, Surabaya, Bali, Macassar, and Sandakan, returning to Manila on 15 April 1931. Six days later, she steamed for Suez enroute to Hampton Roads, Virginia arriving there on 26 June 1931. She was decommissioned for the last time on 10 July 1931 and on 8 October of that year was used by the navy in some bombing experiments as a target. Pittsburgh was sold for scrapping under the terms of the London Treaty to the Union Shipbuilding, Baltimore, Maryland on 21 December 1931.

Above is a 1927 Christmas post card for the folks back home. She was on duty on the Asiatic Station at the time. Of note is the rare view of the Pittsburgh in her re-configured 3-funnel design. She was the only ship in her class of six Armored Cruisers so modified.

Her final chapter was written as the decommissioned USS Pittsburgh was used in bombing tests on 8 October 1931. This photograph shows the explosion of the first 500-pound bomb in the test series. Also in this photo she is in her modified 3-funnel design.

And again another undated article but likely when he was attached to the Pittsburgh while she was flagship, European Forces. It reads as follows;

Not much of Joseph Chambers life story is known after 1933 but he may have passed away in the Bath, New York Veterans Hospital at an unknown date. From cemetery records compiled by Helen Shepard of Veterans buried in the North Bloomfield, Ontario County, New York cemetery Joseph Chambers name appears in the veterans from WWI. Joseph Chambers father, Charles Smith Chambers was also in the navy and was a veteran of the Civil War and lived to the grand old age of 93. Charles Chambers had a varied and interesting life and the following tells the story of his life.

Sea Dogs, Young and Old Mark Navy Day

This above newspaper clipping appeared in an un-named newspaper from October 27, 1926, and reads as follows.

“From Charles S. Chambers of Honeoye Falls, who captured blockade runners off the southern coast during the Civil War, to Ralph S. Conner, recruit from Shortsville, tars of all ages, celebrated the U. S. Navy Day yesterday in Rochester. Chief Machinist’s Mate J. C. Chambers, son of the 79-year-old sea dog, behind the navy recruiting stand shown above, is officer in charge of the Rochester Navy Recruiting Station in the Federal Building. Those in the picture are, left to right: E. Chemeleuski, C. L. Shannon, Chambers, Chambers senior, and Conner.”

Ellen Dickers Pearce and Joseph Charles Chamber on their wedding day in July of 1920

Charles Smith Chambers pictured in a home made Civil War Navy Uniform

The father of Joseph Charles Chambers, Charles Smith Chambers was born in Victor, New York on December 14, 1847. His family moved from Victor, New York to Honeoye Falls where he attended Public Schools there. His first job at age 12 was as a helper in his uncle's general store in Honeoye Falls. At 16 years of age Charles ran away from home and after an eight-mile trudge over rough roads from his home to Fishers, New York he boarded a train for New York city where on July 18, 1864, he enlisted in the Navy. He served under the command of Rear Admiral Porter in the blockade of the Confederate stronghold of Fort Fisher for five months, and as powder boy, participated in a joint Army-Navy operation under Rear Admiral Porter and Major General B. F. Butler of the capture of the fort on Christmas Eve, 1864. Following hostilities he served two years on the sloops of war Susquehanna and Rhode Island, spending the winters in the West Indies and the summers in cruising along the Atlantic coast as far north as New Brunswick. On July 2, 1867, Charles S. Chambers received his discharge from the Navy. In 1869, Chambers went to California in the first railroad across the continent, and worked on the construction of the Central Pacific Railroad between San Francisco and Sacramento. Returning to North Bloomfield, Charles in 1877 took over the dry-goods store named Tenny’s Corner Store, which was started by his brother Horace Chambers, which Charles ran for more than a quarter century. The store handled linens, dry goods, groceries and dairy products. On April 1st, 1904 Charles sold his store to Fred Klaus of Webster, New York. Charles served as village postmaster for 20 years and was commander of the Lewis Gates Post, G. A. R. in Honeoye Falls. He was a member of the former Universalist church of North Bloomfield. In 1878, he married Genevieve “Jennie” Ideson in North Bloomfield, New York.

In an article in “The Victor Herald” dated August 2, 1912 there was a reunion of Civil War veterans in which Charles Chambers attended.

ENG2c Clayton F. Martin

As the United States Navy was being called into its wartime strength in April of 1917 many of her ships were manned with peacetime crew strengths. Consequently each ship needed to add to her crew. Clayton Frederick Martin is an example of this additional force of men.

Clayton Frederick Martin was born on September 20, 1899 in Oregon to Adolph F. and Alice S. Martin. The family lived in a home on Jefferson Street in La Grande, Oregon, which is in Northeast Oregon. Adolph was born in May of 1863 in Wisconsin to German and Irish parents. Clayton’s mother, Alice was born in January of 1872 in Missouri and her parents came from Tennessee. Clayton’s father Adolph worked as a house painter to support his family.

By 1910 the family had moved to east 17th Street in Vancouver, Washington, where Adolph still was working as a house painter. The family then consisted of Adolph who was 46 years old, his wife Alice aged 37, eldest son Clayton F. age 10, Stella age 8 and Harold D. age seven.

This is Clayton F. Martin’s Crossing the Line document he received on June 4, 1917 when the USS Pittsburgh crossed the Equator at 36 degrees, 6 minutes West bound southward. The Pittsburgh was traveling southbound for Montevideo, Uruguay. Together with the USS Nebraska the Pittsburgh was transporting the body of Carlos M. DePena who was a Uruguayan Envoy. The two ship convoy reached Montevideo six days later on June 10, 1917.

Two generations later the grandson of Clayton Frederick Martin found out that his grandfather had served in the navy during WWI and on the Armored cruiser USS Pittsburgh. Clay Janer, the grandson of Clayton Martin has a Certificate from when his grandfather crossed the Equator aboard the USS Pittsburgh. The crossing took place on June 4th 1917 while the Pittsburgh and the USS Nebraska were southbound to Montevideo, Uruguay with the body of Uruguayan envoy to the United States, Carlos M. DePena who had passed away while in the United States. So by this Crossing of the Equator certificate Clayton Martin must have been in the Navy early in 1917, and likely joined the Navy before being drafted. His rank while in the navy was Engineman Second Class. Seaman Clayton Martin would have been on board the Pittsburgh when the explosion occurred on the 23rd of July 1917 that killed one man and injured several other men. As a new recruit Seaman Martin would have witnessed his first burial at sea when on July 25, 1917 Gunner’s Mate Lyle, who was killed in the explosion was buried at sea. According to family stories Seaman Clayton Frederick Martin is said to have met his future wife Irine at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Irine was born about 1898 in New York to parents from Hungary and Germany. According to the 1920 Federal Census taken on board the USS Pittsburgh on the 3rd of April 1920 as the Pittsburgh was at anchor in the harbor at Spalato, Austro-Hungary (Split, Croatia) Engineman 2c Clayton F. Martin was listed aboard as a 20-year old and single. So he and Irine would have married after he was out of the navy. But the 1930 Federal Census tells a slightly different story. It tells us that in April of 1930 Clayton and Irine were living in Brooklyn, New York on Albany Avenue, where Clayton was working as a Carpenter. The Census form states that they were married when Clayton was 17-years old and so that would date their marriage to 1917. And the first child born to Clayton and Irine was a son named John W. born sometime during 1917. So clearly they were married soon after Clayton joined the navy. In 1919 a daughter named Ethel T. was born, and both children were born in Brooklyn. The home on Albany Avenue was owned by a Jewish couple, named Samuel and Mary Thactor. This was a large home in which two other families rented from Samuel and Mary. The address was 760 Albany Avenue and the two families were the Martin’s and James and Mary Mitchell. Samuel Thactor worked as a carpenter and so it is likely that he and Clayton Martin worked together. The rent that Clayton and Irine paid to Samuel Thactor was $68 monthly, while the rent for James and Mary Mitchell was $55 monthly. Clayton and Irine lived in New York the rest of their lives. Clayton died sometime during the 40’s while still in New York.

Seaman Floyd H. Elliott

On the 1920 Federal Census taken aboard the Pittsburgh on April 4, 1920 shows that she was anchored in Spalato, Dalmatia (Croatia). Among the men listed is the name of Seaman Floyd H. Elliott. He is a 20-year old single male and listed his home of record as Decatur, Illinois.

From this information it is likely that when Floyd Elliott joined the navy he may have been 19-years old and likely came on board the Pittsburgh in the early spring of 1919. The Pittsburgh was then under command of Captain David W. Todd and left Portsmouth N. H. on June 19, 1919 for duty in the Mediterranean as the flagship of Vice-Admiral Henry McLaren Pinckney Huse, Commander, U. S. Naval Forces, European Waters. Seaman Elliott likely served on the Pittsburgh through1919-1922, which would have been the end of a four-year term. It is not known for sure how long he did serve in the Navy or if the Pittsburgh was his only ship. But when he did leave the navy hi did live in California. It is known that from the Federal Social Security Death Index that his Social Security card was issued to him in the State of California before 1951. Floyd H. Elliott passed away on October 26, 1989.

Sgt. Thomas W. Katzung, USMC

Sgt. Thomas W. Katzung, USMC

Thomas William Larson discovered that his grandfather, Thomas William Katzung, had served aboard the USS Pittsburgh on a two-year tour. This was discovered in a family photo album noted from the period from October 2, 1922, to October 2, 1923.  In the album was an news article from The Record, the local Connecticut newspaper dated October 16, 1922 where the article spoke about Thomas Katzung being assigned to the Pittsburgh as part of the Marine guard and had received special training for this assignment. At that time the Pittsburgh was being sent to the area of Gibraltar where she met up with the USS Utah where Vice Admiral A.T. Long came aboard to make the Pittsburgh his flagship. Thomas William Katzung was born on Sept. 25, 1900, and was the son of William and Mary (Strang) Katzung of Collinsville, Ct. Thomas Katzung married Vera Sabottke of New Britain, Ct. on April 29, 1929. Together Tom and Vera had a daughter named Barbara June Katzung who was born July 1, 1931. After leaving the Marines Thomas served in the 169th Battalion, Company I, of the Connecticut National Guard. He died in New Britain on November 30, 1939, and was buried with full military honors.

Sgt. Katzung, USMC

Sgt. Katzung USMC aboard the Pittsburgh

A group of the Pittsburgh's Marines

Pvt. Rollie C. Holliday, USMC

On 15 August 1902 Rollie Crumpton Holliday was born in Alabama. Rollie was raised in the down home Alabama ways through his early years and as he became of age he would travel far from his home and see the far reaches of the world, something he may have only dreamed about as a small boy back in Alabama. At the age of twenty-two, Rollie enlisted into the United States Marine Corps, which he found an adventure of a lifetime and Rollie found a home in the Marine Corps.

Pvt. Rollie C. Holliday

It was the middle of July 1924 that Rollie went to Birmingham, Alabama, to board the train where it would take him to the Marine Barracks, Training Station, Parris Island, South Carolina where on 22 July 1924 he enlisted into the Marine Corps and under went Basic Training. He was placed into Battalion B where he started his training where he remained until September 1924 when he was moved to Battalion C. On 11 September 1924 he was qualified with his rifle on the target range and finished his Basic instruction. On the 13th of September he was transferred to the Sea School Detachment at the Marine Barracks, Navy Yard, Norfolk, Virginia. There he learned the skills of a Marine stationed with the fleet. On 11 October 1924 Pvt. Rollie C. Holliday graduated from Sea School and was ordered for duty with the fleet aboard the Armored Cruiser USS Pittsburgh. Pvt. Holliday boarded the transport USS Henderson and sailed for his intended duty station aboard the USS Pittsburgh. On 2 November 1924 he reported aboard the Pittsburgh for duty. The Pittsburgh was then serving as Flagship of U. S. Naval Forces, Europe sailing in European and Mediterranean waters. The first recorded mention of Pvt. Holliday was from the Marine Muster Records aboard the Pittsburgh then stationed at Antwerp, Belgium, where he was listed as a Private with the Marine Detachment aboard ship and was detailed as a Messman for the month of August, 1925. He was detailed as Messman throughout August- October 1925. From 1-15 October 1925 he was detailed as a Cook 3rd Class, and then on 16 October 1925 this duty was revoked due to change of orders.

While the Pittsburgh was visiting many European, Mediterranean and Middle Eastern ports of call, Pvt. Holliday was getting the adventure he dreamed about as a boy. One such adventure was when the Pittsburgh was visiting Rome and the Pittsburgh’s Chaplain had arranged for an audience with Pope Pius II. Pvt. Holliday was among the men who were given the privilege to greet the Pope. They got special dispensation to wear the Marine Dress Blues for the audience with the Pope instead of the usual prescribed morning clothes required by the Vatican. As the Pope passed each of the Marines knelt and kissed the ring of St. Peter.

By September of 1926 the Pittsburgh had finished her European tour and was now back in American waters at the Brooklyn Navy Yard in New York. At that time the Pittsburgh’s Marine Detachment was transferred to the Marine Barracks at the Navy Yard. Within the month Pvt. Holliday was transferred to the Guard Company at the Marine Barracks, Naval Air Station, Lakehurst, New Jersey where he remained until April of 1927. That month Pvt. Holliday was transferred to the 81st Machinegun and Howitzer Co., 2nd Battalion, 6th Regiment. He would remain in this unit until May 1927 when he was moved to the 80th Co. 2nd Battalion, 6th Regiment, 3rd Marine Brigade.

The 80th Company was then detailed to duty in China, and in late May 1927 was stationed at Camp Butler in Shanghai, China. By July the 80th Company was moved to Tientsin, China. The 80th Company remained on station in China and Pvt. Holiday remained with them until September 1927 when he again was transferred back to his previous unit, which was also now in China. Now back in the 81st Machinegun and Howitzer Co., Pvt. Holiday remained based out of Tientsin, China, until March of 1928. Pvt. Holiday was now detailed to return to the States and on 1 March boarded the transport USS Henderson. Arriving in San Francisco, California on 4 May 1928 he disembarked the Henderson on 5 May and was quartered at the Marine Barracks at the Naval Ammunition Depot, Mare Island.

In June of 1928 Pvt. Holliday again boarded ship this time it was the United States Army Transport Cambrai for transportation to the Brooklyn Navy Yard, via the Panama Canal. July of 1928 was the end of Pvt. Holliday’s four-year term and he was awarded Character Excellent and the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal #84181 when he was discharged from the Marine Corps.

Shortly after Rollie Holliday left the Marines he married, Lois and Rollie were both 25-years old when they married. Lois was from New York and in April of 1930 they lived in Moscow, Alabama with their 11-month daughter Laurie. At the time Rollie was working as a farm laborer. Sometime in 1934 Rollie took a job with the TVA as it was being started. Once a Marine always a Marine was something Rollie lived by and in June of 1942 while still working for the TVA Rollie gave his notice to quit the TVA in order to join the Marine Corps again. On his exit interview with the TVA was this notation, “Mr. Holliday feels he can best serve his Country by Re-enlisting in the Marine Corps.” But due to his age and the fact that he now had four children and a wife to support he was turned down. Rollie did get his old job back with the TVA where he worked for the rest of his life.

While Rollie Holliday was visiting in Volusia County, Florida during April of 1966 he passed away. At the time his home was in Mobile, Alabama. Many years after Rollie had passed away, one of his daughters, Sara Hair, was visiting the new Marine Corps Museum located on the Marine Base in Quantico, Virginia. She had remembered how her dad was always so proud of being a Marine and she purchased a memorial brick in Pvt. Rollie Holliday’s memory to be placed on the grounds of the museum.

A view of the Pittsburgh at anchor in the harbor in Villefranche, France.
Pvt. Holliday writes “One half mile on top of the mountain”

Josiah Arthur Gibson, USS Pittsburgh

Josiah Gibson

Josiah Arthur Gibson was born on March 17, 1897 in Jefferson County, Alabama to George and Effie Gibson. Josiah was the third child to George and Effie, who had been married about 1892. George was born in November of 1863 in Mississippi and Effie was born in December of 1864 also in Mississippi. They both graduated from Blue Mountain College, Mississippi where they both taught.  When they moved to Woodlawn, a section of Birmingham, Alabama, George became a builder and owned the Vance Construction Company in Birmingham. Besides owning construction equipment, he owned a small railroad in the area to transport materials.  Effie was an oil painter who had studied in France. All four of their children were born in Woodlawn. In September of 1892 the first child, a daughter named Louisa, was born. She graduated from Bryn Mawr College second in her class and worked for the Navy Department as an aircraft designer. The next child was born September 1894, a son named George, Jr. who graduated from Harvard as a mechanical engineer and who became an inventor. The third child was Josiah or “Joe” who was born on March 17, 1897. He graduated from the University of Alabama. His younger brother, William, was born in 1906. William graduated from Washington and Lee University (Lexington, VA) with a degree in civil engineering. Josiah Gibson later in his life gave to his granddaughter, Kim Wilson a ring that he had made while serving in the Navy aboard the Armored Cruiser USS Pittsburgh. Kim relates of this coin ring: “...my grandfather had given me a silver ring he’d made while on the ship.  It was made from a South American coin.  All the lettering on the coin was preserved on the inside of the ring.  When I checked it, it was from Uruguay, 1917, the year that the Pittsburgh returned the body of US envoy & Uruguayan Carlos De Pena to his home country.  I had previously been unaware of the significance of that coin.”

Josiah Gibson enlisted in the navy April 10, 1917 in Montgomery, Alabama.  He was attending the University of Alabama when the war started and was one of the first students to join up. He was an Electrical Engineering major and probably in his junior year. We know he returned to the university after being in the Navy and graduated in 1919.

The discharge paper (No. 145718) shows that he was honorably discharged in October of 1919 in New Orleans as Seaman , service #160-72-09 from a Receiving Ship. However, stamped at the top is “Jan 4 1921Victory button issued Recruiting station 34 East 23rd St., N.Y.”  On the War Service certificate, it lists the USS St. Helena, Receiving Ship at Norfolk; USS Hanover Receiving Ship at New Orleans. He was a signalman on the Pittsburgh.  His daughter believes that he signed up for an additional 6 months or so to cruise from San Francisco around South America.

Since he enjoyed photography, “Joe” Gibson made a little extra income while at sea with a postcard camera, taking pictures of other sailors on board which they could send home.

After Josiah was discharged from the navy and finished college, he went to New York City and worked for Western Electric. In his spare time he studied art at the Art Academy. One day a coworker of his told him that he was going to quit and start a real estate business, and would Joe like to work with him?  “Sure,” Joe said.  He turned in his resignation that day.  Unfortunately, the next day, he heard from this coworker that his wife had nixed the idea and so he’d be staying on after all!   With no other prospects, Josiah went ahead and established his own Real Estate business.

On December 24, 1929 he married Edna (aka Gladys or Carolyn) Luchesi, the daughter of his friend Edward Luchesi, who owned a plumbing business next door to his Real Estate office.  The Luchesis were from the Bronx.  At the time they were married Josiah was 32 and Edna was 18. In April of 1930 Josiah and Edna rented an apartment located on Benedict Avenue, Bronx in New York.  The rent for the apartment was $58 per month. Josiah and Edna furnished it with antiques from the Gibson home and also one of the few luxuries of the time, a radio set. Their only child, a daughter, Althea Carol, was born on December 1, 1932.

Josiah Arthur Gibson Passed away at his home in Hackensack, New Jersey in October of 1977.

Freelin Hison Reams, USN

Freelin Hison Reaves, USN

Freelin Hison Reams was born on September 20 1887 in Arkansas. His parents were Huston Daniel Reams (1849-1915) and Elizabeth Miller (1853-1918) who were farmers. Freelin a medium built man with brown eyes and black hair was sometimes known as “Freel” or “FH” during his later life. At about the age of 17-years Freelin left Arkansas his home and joined the United States Navy. Family members have a photo of him in a navy uniform, which, was said to be dated about 1904 and was aboard the USS Pennsylvania. This would likely make Freelin one of the original crew members of the Pennsylvania. It is known from his WWI draft Registration card from June 5, 1917 that Freelin served a 4-year term in the navy. It is very likely that Freelin would have been aboard the Pennsylvania in October of 1905 when the cruisers Pennsylvania, Colorado and Maryland escorted President Teddy Roosevelt aboard the West Virginia up the east coast of the United States on a return trip to Washington DC from New Orleans. While aboard the Pennsylvania Freelin may have been a Boatswain’s Mate. He likely would have at the end of his 4-year term left the Pennsylvania when she returned to the west coast of the United States in late September of 1907.

After being discharged from the navy Freelin would return to the farm country of Arkansas where his family lived. Freelin at the time he registered for the WWI Draft on June 5, 1917 he was single and was farming for himself. At the time he lived on a farm near Springtown in Benton County, Arkansas and in the home also lived his mother and two small children. Freelin was then a widow and his former wife was named Martha O. Crane (1887-1914) and the two children listed on the Draft Card were a daughter Larue Reams (1911-1995) and a son named Leo L. Reams (1913-1989). Freelin and Martha were married about 1910 in Benton, Arkansas. When the Federal Census was taken at the Reams farm in January 1920 there was living in the home Freelin who was farming, his 7-year old daughter Larue, his 5-year old son Leo, Freelin’s 22-year old sister Nettie and her 4-year old son Burl.

Freelin would remain single until he was 39-years old when he re-married in 1925 to Lizzie Mae Hendrickson (1906-1985). Together Freelin or “Freel” as he was sometimes known, and Lizzie had one daughter named Betty Jean Reams and they made their home in Benton County, Arkansas.

Freelin Hison Reams would pass away at the age of 72-years on October 29, 1958 in Springdale, Washington County, Arkansas.

Seaman 2nd Class John Wolsko Jr.

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