Saturday, June 15, 2013

Scott Allen

This was on a Facebook page I have for the Mitchell .... not sure when it was posted ... great memories of the early life of the "Mitch"

Mr. Dooley,
Just wanted to add a note about my father. His name was Don Allen and served aboard the Mitchell during WWII. He came aboard for her maiden (shakedown) cruise just after she was built in 1943. He was assigned to the Brooklyn Navy Yards at the time. He enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard out of Cleveland, Ohio. The U.S. Navy used Coast Guard crews on many ships at this time.
He attained the rank of 2nd Class Seaman and was the head Storekeeper in the Main Issue Room. He served under her first captain, Henry Coyle and later under Captain Randall(I think). He was aboard her over 100 thousand sea miles and many ports around the world during the war.
His many stories include very seasick troops they were transporting to Africa that made a terrible mess all over the ship. He and two buddies going over the side and swimming ashore while at anchor in Scotland. Being on Shore Patrol duty in Bombay, India (and not liking it one bit). Buying the best hard candy he ever had in New Zealand(Blackpool candy). And lastly, his anguish about telling the story of bringing home wounded and fallen troops from the Burma campaign to San Francisco at the end of the war.
He left the ship in 1946 in San Francisco and was discharged there. He returned to Cleveland, Ohio the same year.
My father passed away January 18, 2006 at the age of 83. I miss him and his stories about the USS BILLY MITCHELL.
Scott Allen