Another Mitchell story .......

  I received this email yesterday from Mr. Hunt. I was shocked when I saw his name, I served aboard her with a Hunt, only an H. W. Hunt from Texas. In doing some checking of dates, I think that was his Father, how neat is that? Those pictures were taken before I got on board, so it well could be him.

 Hello Mr. Dooley. I enjoyed reading about your time on the Mitchell, and after looking at your pictures, I believe my Dad is the seaman standing guard as an officer comes aboard the ship. His name was Gilbert Hunt, and he passed away a few years ago from Parkinsons.  
He is wearing the correct number of stripes, and has the same glance I saw a million times growing up. Dad joined the navy shortly after graduating from Lane Tech High School in Chicago after World War ll.  He told me he was having a very difficult time finding work because all the jobs were being given to veterans that had returned from the War, so he figured he'd join up and see the world, then try job hunting after his time of service was up. He said he was due to get out when "Harry" sent him a telegram "Suggesting" he stick around as Korea was starting up.  Dad never talked much about his time in service, but did mention that he felt horrible about seeing guys leaving ship one trip, only to pick them up later in terrible shape after going thru what must have been some sort of Hell. I am pretty sure the only ship he served on was the Mitchell, and I'm sure he stayed thru most if not all of the war.  He was a machinist mate in the engine room, and he did once tell me his ship had " 2 stacks", which he seemed proud of .  Your timeline seems to be just after Dad would have left, but it sures does look like him to me !!  By the way, if that is him, and if he is wearing a sidearm, I find it funny, because whenever he trained with a 45, he told me he couldn't hit **** , and he never owned a gun .  Thanks again for your stories and the site .   

Howard Averbach

My name is Howard Averbach; I'm from Pittsburgh, PA.

 

My father, Louis I. Averbach, who is now 95 years old, was an administrative officer in the Army Air Corps, stationed at Boca Raton Air Field in 1942 & 43, then in 1944 & 1945 served in India.

 

I'm writing a history of my father's service, after finding his Army 201 file and combining that original documentation with the information and stories he has been telling me.

 

I'm writing to you because I found your website in my search for the USS Gen. Wm. Mitchell, which is the ship my father sailed on when he left the US from VA in August 1944 and arrived in Bombay India, October 1944.

 

I have the original schematic diagram of the ship, bunking orders, etc.

 

Only a page or two of my work focuses on the trip from VA to Bombay, including why it took so long and some of his experiences aboard; however, if YOU are writing the history of the USS Gen Mitchell, my documents may be of great interest to you.

 

Howard Averbach

 

Another Shipmate Heard From

Got an email from a Bill Call who was aboard the Mitchell in the early 50's. He is going to send along some old photos, will put them up when I get them ......