Everything I know (which is not much!) about my father's service in the United States Navy Reserves during World War II is from his DD 214 and discharge forms which provide basic information - enlistment date (26 August 1944), service class (Mailman 3rd Class), and discharge date (6 Feb 1946).
I know that he served aboard the U.S.S. Halford and that he was in the Aleutian Islands near the end of the War. But what did he experience? Was he in battles?
I hoped that Artificial Intelligence could help me understand his service. I decided to ask Google Gemini 3 for help:
1) Prompt: "My father, Mailman 3rd Class Frederick W. Seaver (1911-1983) served aboard the USS Halford from October 1944 until February 1946 when he was discharged in San Pedro CA. Where did the ship sail during those months, what action did they see, and what did a Mailman 3rd class do aboard ship?"
AI Google Gemini 3 (Thinking) Response:
Your father served aboard a decorated Fletcher-class destroyer during some of the most intense and pivotal final months of World War II. Because the "Mailman" (MaM) rating was officially established by the Navy in September 1944, your father was among the first generation of sailors to hold that specific title.
The Journey of the USS Halford (Oct 1944 – Feb 1946)
When your father arrived in October 1944, the Halford was in the thick of the Philippines campaign.
- Battle of Surigao Strait (October 1944): This was one of the most famous naval engagements in history. The Halford was part of a destroyer division that helped "cross the T" of the Japanese Southern Force, witnessing the near-total destruction of the enemy fleet in a midnight battle of torpedoes and heavy gunfire.
- The Philippines & Mindoro (Late 1944): After Leyte Gulf, the ship operated out of Ulithi and returned to the Philippines to escort supply echelons to Ormoc Bay and troopships to Mindoro. During this time, the ship was under frequent threat from air attacks.
- San Fernando Strike (January 1945): The ship participated in strikes against Japanese shipping at San Fernando, Luzon, destroying several cargo ships and barges.
- Damage and Repair (February – May 1945): In mid-February 1945, while at Saipan, the Halford was involved in a collision with a transport ship. The damage required her to return to the U.S. for repairs. She spent the spring of 1945 at the Mare Island Navy Yard in California.
- The Aleutians & Occupation (June – September 1945): After repairs, the Halford was sent north to the Aleutian Islands (Alaska). She was based there when Japan surrendered in August 1945. She then sailed to Northern Japan to participate in the initial occupation forces, arriving at Ominato and later Honshu in September.
- Decommissioning (Late 1945 – Feb 1946): The ship returned to the West Coast via Alaska in November 1945 for "inactivation overhaul" at Bremerton, Washington. She moved to San Diego (and nearby San Pedro) in January 1946 to join the Reserve Fleet, which aligns perfectly with your father’s discharge date.
Duties of a Mailman 3rd Class (MaM3c)
Mail was the lifeblood of the ship. Without it, the "tin can" sailors (so-called because destroyers had very thin hulls) became depressed and homesick.
- The "Postmaster" of the Ship: Your father was essentially the postmaster for 300 men. He didn't just hand out letters; he was responsible for the Personnel Directory, a constantly updated list of who was on board, who was in the infirmary, and who had been transferred.
- Censorship and Security: He assisted officers in "censoring" outgoing mail—ensuring sailors didn't accidentally mention the ship’s location or upcoming operations.
- In the Navy during WWII, mail was considered second only to food and ammunition in its impact on sailor morale. As a Mailman 3rd Class, your father was a Petty Officer responsible for the ship's vital link to the outside world.
- The Personnel Directory: His most critical "silent" job was maintaining a meticulous directory of everyone on board. On a destroyer with roughly 300 sailors—with people constantly being transferred, wounded, or arriving as replacements—this directory ensured mail actually reached the right person.
- Mail Call: He would handle the "Mail Call" announced over the ship's 1MC (intercom). He sorted thousands of letters and packages, often received via "highline" (cables) from supply ships while at sea.
- Postal Services: He operated a miniature post office on the ship, selling stamps, processing money orders (so sailors could send pay home), and handling registered mail.
- Battle Station: Like all sailors on a destroyer, he had a secondary "General Quarters" role during combat. While his day job was mail, during a battle like Surigao Strait, he likely served as a phone talker, a member of a damage control party, or an ammunition handler for the 5-inch guns. A Mailman often served as a Phone Talker (the person on the headset relaying orders between the bridge and the gun crews) or a Stretcher Bearer for the damage control parties.
Quick Stats for the USS Halford (DD-480)
- Class: Fletcher-class Destroyer
- Battle Stars: 13 (Your father was likely present for at least 3-4 of these)
- Nickname: Sometimes called a "Hybrid" because it was one of only three destroyers built with a scout plane catapult (though this was removed by the time your father joined).
Would you like me to look for more specific details about the Battle of Surigao Strait or the ship's time in the Aleutians?
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2) Prompt: "Please add more detail about the battle, the ship's time in the Aleutians and thr repair at Mare Island."
The Google Gemini 3 (Thinking) Response:
Your father was part of the "Greatest Generation" serving on a Fletcher-class destroyer, often called the "workhorses of the Navy." Because the Halford was a specialized vessel with a unique history, his time on board was particularly eventful.
Here are the specific details of the ship’s journey, the combat your father witnessed, and his role as a Mailman.
1. The Battle of Surigao Strait (Oct 24–25, 1944)
This was the most significant action your father saw. It was the last time in history that battleships fought each other, and the Halford was in the center of the trap.
- The "T" is Crossed: As part of Destroyer Squadron 56, the Halford was positioned on the flanks of the strait. As the Japanese Southern Force (including the battleships Yamashiro and Fuso) steamed into the narrow waterway, the Halford and her sisters were ordered to charge.
- The Torpedo Attack: The Halford participated in a coordinated torpedo attack in the pitch-black early morning hours. Under the command of Admiral Oldendorf, the destroyers raced in at high speed, launched their torpedoes, and turned away through a "wall of fire" from Japanese secondary guns.
- The Result: Your father would have heard the massive "thump" of torpedoes hitting the Japanese battleships and watched the horizon light up as the Fuso exploded and broke in two. It was a decisive American victory with almost no U.S. losses.
2. Collision at Saipan & Repair at Mare Island (Feb–May 1945)
- In February 1945, while your father was on board, the Halford suffered a setback that brought her back to the U.S.
- The Collision: On February 14, 1945 (Valentine’s Day), the ship was patrolling Saipan Harbor in a thick, artificial smoke screen designed to hide the fleet from Japanese bombers. In the low visibility, the Halford accidentally rammed the merchant ship M.S. Terry E. Stephenson.
- Mare Island Repairs: The damage to the hull was significant enough to require a trip across the Pacific. The ship arrived at Mare Island Navy Yard (Vallejo, CA) on March 24, 1945.
- Life in the Yard: Your father likely spent this time in a "Quonset hut" on the naval base while civilian workers swarmed the ship. He was there for two historic events: the death of President Franklin D. Roosevelt in April 1945 and the news of V-E Day (Victory in Europe) in May.
3. The "Thousand Mile War" in the Aleutians (June–Sept 1945)
- After repairs, the Halford was sent to the North Pacific, a theater known for brutal weather, fog, and "williwaws" (violent winds).
- Northern Patrols: Based out of Adak and Kodiak, Alaska, your father’s ship patrolled the Kuril Islands. They performed "anti-shipping sweeps," looking for Japanese supply vessels.
- Bombardment of Paramushiru: The Halford participated in the bombardment of Japanese installations at Kurabu Zaki on the island of Paramushiru. This was dangerous work, as the ship had to navigate treacherous, unmapped northern waters in heavy fog.
- Occupation of Ominato: When Japan surrendered in August, the Halford was one of the first ships to enter Ominato, Northern Honshu on September 12, 1945. Your father would have seen the surrender of the Northern Japanese naval base firsthand before the ship began the journey home to California.
Summary of Service
Event Date Location
Battle of Surigao Strait Oct 1944 Leyte Gulf, Philippines
Collision Damage Feb 1945 Saipan
State-side Repair Mar-May 1945 Mare Island, CA
Northern Strikes July 1945 Kuril Islands (North of Japan)
Japanese Occupation Sept 1945 Ominato, Japan
Discharge Feb 1946 San Pedro, CA
Would you like me to find out more about the specific "General Quarters" battle station usually assigned to Mailmen on Fletcher-class destroyers?
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3) The Google NotebookLM Video Overview of this story is below.
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