Larry Claude Swanson
Larry Claude Dockstader was born on 28 Sep 1929 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, USA as the first child of Lawrence Oscar Dockstader and Myrtle Maude Groesbeck. He had one sibling, namely: Jettie Lou (1931-2010). Dad died on 27 Oct 2010 in Madison, Dane, Wisconsin, USA.
I honor my Dad's service.
by Jerry Dean Swanson
Dad enlisted in the service on December 10, 1946. His training in the U. S. Maritime Service was administered by the United States Coast Guard.
The War Shipping Administration had announced that the United States Maritime Service would enlist young men between the ages of 16 and 17 ½ years of age for training for service in the Merchant Marine of the United States, with their parents' consent.
This allowed Larry to enlist at 16 years of age. Just a year after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Brooklyn, NY, saw the opening of the largest United States Maritime Service training
station at Sheepshead Bay. Larry received his training there.
What a military mug shot!
Six weeks training was required for service as mess men and utility men in the steward's department, and 13 weeks training for service in the deck and engine departments. Larry was trained as a mess man.
Upon completion of their training, the men were assigned to merchant vessels within a few weeks.
Dad was assigned to the ship USAT Jarrett M Huddleston, a Liberty-type freighter, which had been transferred to the War Department in 1943 for use as a mercy ship. It was named after Colonel Jarrett M Huddleston, who was killed in Italy. The ship was discontinued as a hospital ship in 1945 and was altered for use as a dependent-carrying transport ship....a "War Brides Ship".
The Huddleston was capable of 11 knots, was 441 feet long, 476 tons, and had a passenger capacity of 476.
Wartime Britain and Europe was host to tens of thousands of allied service members. Many women were swept off their feet by some of those young soldiers, soon romance blossomed, and marriages were the result. During the war, some new brides were transported to the United States on returning troop transport ships through the treacherous waters of the Atlantic. Most brides had to wait for the end of the war before they could be transported to their new lives.
Sheepshead US Maritime Service
Training Station, NY.
When the war was over, soon the soldiers were shipped back home. However, tens of thousands of brides, some with children, were left behind in Britain and Europe. The “War Brides” began frustrating months of waiting for transportation.
Dad made two voyages on the USAT Jarrett M Huddleston transporting these War Brides. The first voyage departed from Bremerhaven, Germany, on December 31, 1946. The ship arrived in New York nineteen days later, on January 19, 1947. The second voyage departed from Southampton, England, on February 15, 1947. The ship arrived in New York on March 1, 1947.
Partial image of the Crew Manifest for the USAT Jarrett M Huddleston on its departure from Bremerhaven, Germany, on December 31, 1946.
Larry C Dockstader is listed as a Yeoman.
In a related note...In the 60's, when the Navy Pea Coat was in fashion, I remember asking Dad if he still had his service coat. He said it was totally damaged one day when he had to use it to help extinguish a friend's auto engine fire. I think I finally found one at St. Vincent de Paul. I still wear one...occasionally...smiles.)
Dad with his '31 Chevy...Looking so Dapper!
The Swanson's
Roger, Brenda, Jerry, Yvonne, Steve, Dad, Larry, and Bonnie, 2003
Yvonne M (Mellem) and Larry C Swanson
Highland Memory Gardens
3054 County Road Bb, Madison, WI 53718
Thank you for your Service Dad!
Never Forget!