Where the Fleet Goes, We've Been.
My Dad, John Patrick Whiteman, served in the US Navy from November 21, 1942 until March 4, 1946. He earned the rank of signalman and...
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This site was created in memory of John Patrick Whiteman,
Signalman Third Class (SM3c), and in honor of the crew of the USS YMS-346 for their role in American history.
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marywh346
- Sep 14
- 4 min
"Sampson Sailors"
In the same location that transformed "Young Boots" into able-bodied sailors for the United States Navy at the onset of WWII, now stands...
32 views
marywh346
- Sep 7
- 7 min
A Call to Action and an Action Report
Before the YMS-346 was called to action in WWII, the ship was being built in Jacksonville, Florida by the Gibbs Gas Engine Company. A...
22 views
marywh346
- Aug 28
- 4 min
YMS-346 - Photographs of the Crew and Stories - Part 3
I have been corresponding with the daughter of Meyer H. Leavitt, the Yeoman who wrote the 1st Anniversary Celebration of the ship. She...
58 views
marywh346
- Jun 5
- 3 min
A Veterans Day Story for the Anniversary of D-Day
Although Veterans Day is officially celebrated on November 11th every year, I thought I would tell this particular Veterans Day story...
166 views
marywh346
- May 26
- 6 min
The Realities of War
"I have seen the whole world, except at the time I saw it, they were blowing it up." I remember my father saying those words. Not...
82 views
marywh346
- May 18
- 4 min
A Sailor Goes Home and a Ship is Decommissioned
On March 4, 1946, Signalman John P. Whiteman was officially discharged from the U.S. Navy. The YMS-346 was decommissioned two months...
43 views
marywh346
- May 12
- 10 min
YMS-44 - Headed to Japan
Even with the end of the war, for the minesweepers, there was still much work to be done. The brave men who served on minesweepers...
43 views
marywh346
- May 5
- 7 min
News of the End of the War
News of the end of the war reached the crew of the YMS-346 in 1945 while they were still underway. There are two dates that commemorate...
30 views
marywh346
- Apr 28
- 6 min
Signalman Third Class (SM3c)
In the early part of 1945 the YMS-346 was headed back to the US and by mid year was headed to the Pacific. After assisting with the...
56 views
marywh346
- Apr 19
- 6 min
The Sinking of the SS Leopoldville -Christmas Eve 1944
On Christmas Eve 1944, the Belgium troopship Leopoldville crossed the English Channel with over 2000 American soldiers onboard and was...
87 views
marywh346
- Apr 11
- 3 min
YMS-346 - Photographs of the Crew and Stories - Part 2
Seaman Jack Whiteman kept an album on the ship with photographs of the crew and his family. The photographs below are of his shipmates...
61 views
marywh346
- Apr 11
- 3 min
YMS-346 - Photographs of the Crew and Stories - Part 1
Seaman Jack Whiteman kept an album on the ship with photographs of the crew and his family. In a letter dated October 15, 1944 Jack...
66 views
marywh346
- Apr 5
- 6 min
YMS-346 - One Year in Commission - August 20, 1944
August 20, 1943 found a group of officers and men leaving Jacksonville, Florida - starting on new careers and missions......................
63 views
marywh346
- Mar 29
- 5 min
Sinking of the YMS-350 and YMS-304
The YMS-350, a Yard Class minesweeper, hit a mine and sunk on July 2, 1944. The YMS-304 hit a mine on July 30, 1944. Both sunk in the...
99 views
marywh346
- Mar 22
- 2 min
The Sinking of the USS Corry DD-463 and the Sinking of the USS Tide AM-125
The USS Corry DD-463 was a lead destroyer lost during Operation Overlord on D-Day, June 6,1944. The AM-125 Tide was an Auk Class...
55 views
marywh346
- Mar 15
- 3 min
Osprey AM-56 - The First Ship Lost in the Normandy Invasion
There were many naval ships and many sacrifices that contributed to the Invasion of France, leading up to and following D-Day. So many...
59 views
marywh346
- Mar 8
- 5 min
A Convoy of Ships Head for France - June 5,1944
"Soldiers, Sailors, and Airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Force! You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have...
85 views
marywh346
- Mar 1
- 4 min
YMS-346 Arrives in England January 5, 1944
After spending 3 days in Horta, the ship finally arrived in England. The following are excepts from the First Anniversary document...
35 views
marywh346
- Feb 23
- 4 min
YMS-346 Heads Overseas December 14, 1943
On December 14, 1943, the YMS-346, along with her sister ships, YMS-347, 348, 349, 350, 351 and 352, started their journey overseas,...
41 views
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