[GreenKeys] Re: Veterans memorial info request on Vets day, 2007

[Don Robert House]

Harvey,

Pretty neat that your mom had a call sign that included GQ for General  
Quarters!

My grandfather was the Supply Officer on the USS Vestal AR-4 when the  
Japs bombed the Arizona.  He was one of the men that cut the hawsers  
tying her to the Arizona.  A bomb went through the ship and out.  The  
captain was able to get the ship underway and the crew patched the  
hole in the hull.  Charles F. House joined the Navy in 1903 as a  
"Landsman" which is what they called recruits at that time.  He served  
as a yeoman on the USS Florida BM 3 which was a monitor.  In three  
years he made Yeoman First Class and in four years he made Chief  
Yeoman.  In WWI he served as a Warrant Paymaster on the USS Carola  
which was a converted yacht stationed in France.  After the Great War  
to end all wars he went to Supply Corps School and graduated as an  
Ensign with Teddy Roosevelt's signature on his diploma.  He made Lt.  
Commander and was Supply Officer on the USS Nashville.  While on this  
assignment he was in charge of transferring the gold from the Bank of  
England to Fort Knox for safe keeping.  We have the copy of the  
receipt which has several entries, all in 8 figures.  As a Commander  
and Captain he served on Flt Adm Nimitz' staff at Pearl Harbor in  
charge of petroleum distribution for the entire Pacific Ocean.  Nimitz  
presented him with the Bronze Star for his superior performance.  He  
was also authorized to wear the V on the ribbon for valor exhibited on  
7 December 1941.

Interestingly enough the father of one of our fellow Greenkeyers was  
the Engineering Officer on the Vestal at the same time and has a  
remnant of that bomb that went through the Vestal.

May God bless Americas Veterans

Don
former AX2 (AC) USN 1962-1968
Cuba Veteran
K9TTY