Memorial Day. Originally Decoration Day, honors all our war veterans both living and dead. The federal holiday commemorates U.S. men and women who have died in military service to their country. It began first to honor Union soldiers who died during the American Civil War. After World War I, it was expanded to include those who died in any war or military action. It's officially observed on the last Monday of May but now stretches across nearly a week of festivities from the annual celebration of Fleet Week to parades and celebrations usually highlighted on the weekend.
Each year, special ceremonies are held at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. Consider spending some time on-line learning more about our nation's veterans. If you're the offspring of a World War II vet and are trying to re-create your loved one's story, a Web site titled Dad's War: Finding and Telling Your Father's World War II Story gives pointers on how to begin. Visit the Korean War Veterans Memorial on-line, where you'll see the work of New York City muralist Louis Nelson. The memorial was dedicated in 1995. See a registry of all the names on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, or learn more about women's role in the U.S. military throughout history at Military Women. Soldiers who served in the Gulf War can check out the Gulf War Support Groups Directory.
For the Month May in History ..
05/01/1857 - William Walker, conqueror of Nicaragua, surrenders to US Navy
05/01/1944 - The Navy acquired the CYCLONE on 27 December 1943, renamed her the MOUNT MCKINLEY (AGC-7), brought her to the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard where she was outfitted and commissioned on 1 May 1944; Captain W. M. Graham in command.
05/01/1948 - USS Mt McKinley AGC-7 - In April and May of 1948, she was the navy command ship for the atomic bomb test at Eniwetok. Upon completion of these tests she returned to San Diego to resume coastal operations.
05/04/1861 - At Gretna LA, one of 1st guns of Rebel navy is cast
05/04/1910 - Canadian parliament accept creation of Royal Canadian Navy
05/08/1919 - 1st transatlantic flight take-off by a navy seaplane
05/08/1942 - 1st twilight game in 24 years, the Dodgers top Giants 7-6 raising $60,000 for Navy Relief Fund
05/10/1797 - 1st Navy ship, the "United States," is launched
05/15/1965 - USS Mt McKinley AGC-7 - While proceeding to Bangkok, Mount McKinley came to assistance of Herkimer, whose master was severely ill. Herkimer's captain was taken on board for further treatment in Singapore while the MSTS ship sailed on to Saigon. In early March and again in mid-April, the navy flagship coordinated the landing of Marine reinforcements at Da Nang and Hue, South Vietnam. Relieved by Estes at Subic Bay in April, she arrived San Diego 15 May 1965.
05/17/1938 - Congress approves Vinson Naval Act, which funds a two-ocean navy
05/19/1979 - "In The Navy" by Village People hits #3
05/20/1942 - US Navy 1st permitted black recruits to serve
05/20/1950 - USS Mt McKinley AGC-7 - On 20 May 1950, Mount McKinley was underway for WesPac to conduct navy training operations with the 8th Army. On 26 June, when North Korea launched their aggression against the South, the ship proceeded from Japan to direct the landing of American reinforcements at Po Han. In early September 1950, General McArthur was on board, directing the brilliant amphibious assault at Inchon which forced the Communist to scurry north in headlong retreat. The next assault was against the heavily mined port of Wonsan.
05/22/1945 - USS Mt McKinley AGC-7 - On 21 March 1945, with ComPhibGru 7 aboard, Mount McKinley proceeded to Kerama Retto off the southern coast of Okinawa. Six days prior to the last major assault of the war, AGC-7 directed the landing of the 77th Infantry Division. For the next 58 days the navy ship underwent continuous air combat conditions, her crew going to General Quarters 147 times, but, despite this constant strain and lack of sleep, the ship functioned at full efficiency. On 22 May, she sailed for Saipan, thence to Pearl Harbor and San Francisco, arriving in CONUS 23 June. In overhaul for 2 months, she deployed 20 August arriving Sasebo, Japan on 23 September, she participated in landing occupation troops there and at Kure. Returning to the United States 12 February 1946, she sailed in the early summer for Bikini Atoll where she was flagship for Operation "Cross Roads." Following the atomic bomb test in July, the ship operated out of San Diego for the next 18 months.
05/27/1919 - 1st transatlantic flight ends; US Navy flying boat takes 11 days
05/27/1942 - Dorie Miller, awarded navy cross for deeds at Pearl Harbor
Famous Birthdays May ..
05/01/1800 - Ret Thomas Aloysius Dornin, Comm (Union Navy), died in 1874
05/13/1795 - Joshua Ratoon Sands, Commander (Union Navy), died in 1883
05/16/1819 - Daniel Ammen, Capt (Union Navy), died in 1898
05/22/1804 - John William (Turk) Livingston, Commander (Union Navy), died in 1885
05/26/1806 - Henry Knox Thatcher, Comm (Union Navy), died in 1880
Famous Deaths for May ..
05/03/1841 - Cornelis T Elout, Dutch minister of Finance/Navy/Colonies, dies at 74
05/26/1939 - Cornelis J Cutters, supreme commander of Navy (1910-18), dies
This is a message I received several years ago from one of our members concerning the fate of the McKinley.
"Subj: Re: Mt McKinley Date: 09/04/2002 7:13:43 PM Eastern Daylight Time From: (withheld) To: Bill Ellis Sent via email
Bill:
I'm sorry I took so long to get back to you. My point of contact was out of town on vacation. My friend referred me to Ken Alt of Naval Ships in Bremerton, Washington. Ken tells me the records reflect the USS Mt. McKinley AGC-7/LCC-7 was sold in 1977 to a Scrap Metal company in Terminal Island, California. Unfortunately the ship has long since been reclaimed for root metal products! Wish I could have been able to tell you she was still alive and kicking and provided a location to view her, but alas.....
Ernie"
Attention on Deck for the Captains - Hand Salute
Attention on Deck for the Captains! - Hand Salute!
01
CAPT.
Graham, William M. (NG)
1 May 1944 - 20 January 1945
02
CAPT.
Gamet, Wayne Neal :RADM
20 January 1945 - 9 August 1946
03
CAPT.
Riddle, Frederick Leavenworth
9 August1946 - 2 June 1947
04
CAPT.
Ware, William Lynch
2 June 1947 - 16 October 1948
05
CAPT.
Sugnet, Lee Ferrand
16 October 1948 - 17 December 1949
06
CAPT.
Printup, Carter Alston
17 December 1949 - 18 July 1951
07
CAPT.
Chappell, Lucius Henry
18 July 1951 - 26 January 1952
08
CAPT.
Beasley, Charles Black :RADM
26 January 1952 - 25 July 1952
09
CAPT.
Norgaard, Rollo Niel :RADM
25 July 1952 - 7 April 1953
10
CAPT.
Hardin, James Thomas
7 April 1953 - 1 April 1954
11
CAPT.
Adams, Scarritt
1 April 1954 - 25 November 1955
12
CAPT.
Renken, Henry Algernon :RADM
25 November 1955 - 28 September 1956
13
CAPT.
Fleck, Thomas Martin
28 September 1956 - 30 October 1957
14
CAPT.
Blouin, Francis Joseph :VADM
30 October 1957 - 30 December 1958
15
CAPT.
Pittard, George Franklin :RADM
30 December 1958 - 23 December 1959
16
CAPT.
Kelly Jr., Monroe
23 December 1959 - 17 November 1960
17
CAPT.
Lauerman, Henry Conrad
17 November 1960 - 18 January 1962
18
CAPT.
Schwab Jr., Ernest Louis
18 January 1962 - March 1963
19
CAPT.
Flynn, Russell Francis
1963 - March 1964
20
CAPT.
Tuttle Jr., Louis K.
March 1964 - June 1965
21
CAPT.
Thornhill Jr., Henry Ehrman (Tim)
June 1965 - 17 August 1966
22
CAPT.
Bowling, Roland Alfred
17 August 1966 - 31 January 1968
23
CAPT.
Poorman, Herbert R.
31 January 1968 - 1969
24
CAPT.
Grause, Jerome E.
1969 - 26 March 1970
Our Ship
United States Ship Mount McKinley AGC-7 was the design class of ship that all of the AGC's were designed after. All were named after mountains. To see a complete list of all of the AGC ships related and almost identical to the Mt McKinley, both in looks and mission, just use our drop down menu at the top right of the page and click on 'Links'. Many of the sailors from their crews are members of our association and brothers in that we have so much in common.
What was to become the USS Mount McKinley AGC-7 was laid down, 31 July 1943, as Cyclone, a Maritime Commission type (C2-S-AJ1) hull at North Carolina Shipbuilding Co. Wilmington, N.C.
Launched, 27 September 1943
Acquired by the Navy, 27 December 1943
Converted at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, Philadelphia, PA., to an Amphibious Force Command Ship (AGC)
Commissioned, USS Mount McKinley (AGC-7), 1 May 1944, CAPT. W. M. Graham in command.
Decommissioned: March 26,1970
Struck: 30 July 1976
Fate: Sold for scrap in 1979
General characteristics
Displacement: 12,550 tons
Length: 459 ft 2 in
Beam: 63 ft
Draft: 25 ft
Speed: 15 knots
Complement: 664
Armament: 1 × 5 in (127 mm)/38 cal. gun
8 × 40mm guns (4×2)
Veteran's News
Presidential Memorial Certificate now available free
A Presidential Memorial Certificate (PMC) is an engraved paper certificate, signed by The President of The United States, to honor the memory of honorably discharged deceased veterans.
WWII Vets living or deceased are also eligible to be listed in theWWII Registry
.
VA Adds Chat Feature to Online Application for Health Benefits
WASHINGTON – Veterans will find it easier and faster to apply for their health care benefits now that the Department of Veterans Affairs has enhanced and streamlined its online Form 10-10EZ, Application for Health Benefits.
This revised online application now features a chat function which will allow Veterans to receive live assistance while they are filling out the form. Additional enhancements to the process include simplification of questions relating to military service in Southeast Asia during the Gulf and in the Vietnam wars. Several additional minor enhancements make the application easier and faster for Veterans to complete.
Veterans may also contact VA at 1 (877) 222-8387 (VETS), visit the VA health eligibility Web site at https://www.va.gov/healtheligibility or apply for health care benefits at any VA medical center at https://www2.va.gov/directory/guide/home.asp with the help of a VA health care eligibility specialist.
USS Mt McKinley Association would like to introduce you to the Honor Flight Network. Honor Flight Network recognizes American veterans for their sacrifices and achievements by inviting you to fly to Washington, DC to see YOUR memorial at no cost. Top priority (for which we are currently accepting application only) is given to WW II and terminally ill veterans from all wars. Honor Flight will be expanded to include Korean and Vietnam veterans. For Honor Flight to achieve this goal, guardians fly with the veterans on every flight providing assistance and helping veterans have a safe, memorable and rewarding experience. For what you and your comrades have given to us, please consider this a small token of appreciation from all of us. For further information, please Download and mail the Honor Flight Veteran Application Here.
This site is automatically updated via database - 05/27/20 09:24:02 Mountain Time
