As a result of gaining some information about my Dad's career, I took up an interest in learning what I could. He kept a journal of daily events during WWII which is included in this article.  The following pages hopefully will serve as a memorial to that service and give the casual reader one man's perspective on what it is to be in the military during a war.

Early Military Picture                                                           San Francisco – Warrant Officer Thies – 1945

Navy Career:

First Enlistment:  July 13, 1932, NRS, Dallas, Texas; Recruit Training – San Diego, Calif.; Was in hospital from Sept. 30 – Nov. 8, 1932; within first four years held ranks of AS, S2c, SC1, EM3c; Served on U.S.S. Greer (Pearl Harbor), U.S.S. S-23, U.S.S. S-1, U.S.S. S-29, U.S.S. Pike, U.S.S. Holland, U.S.S. NARWHAL; pay at discharge $66.00 – pay per month. 

Length of Navy Service: 20 yrs. 9 months 17 days

 Last Duty Station:  Transfer to Pearl Harbor:  August 26, 1952, Rank EMCSS 

Transfer to Inactive Navy Status: August 14, 1953, Destination Address: 3381 Sunnybrook South, Jacksonville.

Military Decorations of Joseph R. Thies

(In the Order of Rank)

 Bronze Star w/ combat “V” for service on U.S.S. Crevalle from 12/30/43 to 2/28/44 for sinking or damaging Japanese vessels of more than 39,000 tons; sign by James Forrestal, Secretary of the Navy

  Navy Unit Commendation - 10/43-12/43; 12/43-2/44; 4/44-5/44; 6/44-8/44

 Good Conduct Medal with three Stars (awarded four times for four year periods)

 American Defense (with star signifying second award)

American Campaign

Asiatic- Pacific

 WWII Victory Medal

Philippine Defense

Submarine Combat Patrol Badge with Three Stars (Awarded four times)

 Promoted to Officer: Electrician by Order of President: Effective: Jan. 24, 1945      Terminated: 8/1/46

 Ships Stationed On:

 U.S.S. Greer ( 145)

Transferred to:  First Ship for duty – 12/21/32   Transferred from: Dec. 31,1933

Rank: A.S., Sea2c; Ship Stationed:  San Diego, Calif.

U.S.S. S-23

Transferred to: Jan. 25, 1935 Transferred from: Dec. 4, 1936 Rank:  EM3c

Sub Stationed: Pearl Harbor.

 U.S.S. S-1

Transferred to: Dec. 31, 1936   Transferred from: Feb. 11, 1937    Rank:  EM3c

Sub Stationed: Pearl Harbor

 SS-105, U.S.S. S-1

The first of the S-boats, S-1 was launched on 26 September 1918 at the Fore River Shipbuilding Company, which was acting as subcontractor for Electric Boat, but not commissioned until 5 June 1920. After a shakedown cruise to Bermuda, she operated out of New London until 1923.

In late 1923, S-1 was modified by the addition of a steel seaplane hanger abaft the conning tower. A Martin MS-1 collapsible seaplane was housed in the hanger. This could be brought out, assembled, and launched by flooding down until the deck was awash. The experiments were continued through 1926.S-1 was deactivated at Philadelphia on 20 October 1937.

 Recommissioned on 16 October 1940 as part of the pre-war buildup, S-1 served on training duty until the U.S. entry into World War II. She was transferred to the Royal Navy on 20 April 1942, and stricken from the Navy List on 24 June 1942.

 Renamed HMS P-552, she served in the Royal Navy until 16 October 1944, when she was returned to U.S. jurisdiction at Durban, South Africa. She was not physically returned to the United States, but was stripped for parts and her hull sold on 20 July 1945. She was scrapped at Durban in September of that year.

 U.S.S. S-29

Transferred to: March 31, 1937  Transferred from: May 17, 1937   Rank:  EM3c

Sub Stationed: Pearl Harbor

 U.S.S. Pike

Transferred to: May 17, 1937   Transferred from: June 30, 1937    Rank:  EM3c

Sub Stationed: Pearl Harbor

 U.S.S. Holland

Transferred to: June 30, 1937  Transferred from: Sept. 30, 1937    Rank:  EM3c

Sub Stationed: Pearl Harbor

 U.S.S. NARWHAL

Transferred to: Sept. 30, 1937  Transferred from: June 23, 1938  Rank:  EM3c

Sub Stationed: Pearl Harbor

 U.S.S. R-13

Transferred to: Nov. 10, 1938 Transferred from: Dec. 31, 1938 Rank:  EM3c

Sub Stationed: New London, Conn.  Built in 1919; Scrapped in 1946

U.S.S. Seal (SS 183)

Transferred to:  11/18/38    Transferred from:12/19/42   Rank: EM3c, EM2c, EM1c,CEMA  Sub Stationed:  Coco Solo, Canal Zone, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, San Diego, Calif., Pearl Harbor, Asiatic Station (at start of war), Fremantle, West Australia.

U.S.S. Crevalle (SS-291)

Transferred to:  6/23/43    Transferred from: 8/30/44     Rank: CEMA, CEMP

Sub Stationed: Portsmouth, N. H., South East Pacific, Fremantle, West Australia, South China Sea

U.S.S. Puffer  (SS-268)

Transferred to:  8/30/44    Transferred from:  1/25/45      Rank: CEMP, Elect.(T) Warrant Officer       Sub Stationed: Beyond Limits of continent USA

SS-268, U.S.S. Puffer

U.S.S. Burleigh  (APA-95)

 Transferred to:  10/20/45   Transferred from: 5/5/46               Rank: Elect. (T)

Sub Stationed:  New London, Conn.

 Burleigh (APA-95) was launched 3 December 1943 by Ingalls Shipbuilding Co., Pascagoula, Miss., under a Maritime Commission contract; sponsored by Mrs. Dallas H. Smith; and placed in reduced commission 1 April 1944. She was taken to New York and placed out of commission 13 April 1944 for conversion by Bethlehem Steel Co., 56th St. Yard, Brooklyn, N. Y. The ship was placed in full commission 30 October 1944, Commander D. G. Greenlee in command.

On 3 December 1944 Burleigh departed Hampton Roads, Va., and proceeded to the Pacific arriving at Pearl Harbor 23 December. She became flagship of Transport Squadron 18 at San Francisco 3 January 1945. During January and February 1945 Burleigh transported passengers and supplies to Pearl Harbor, Guadalcanal, and the Russell Islands. March 1945 was spent at Ulithi, Caroline Islands, in preparation for the assault on Okinawa. Burleigh departed Ulithi, in company with Transport Squadron 18, 27 March 1945 and arrived off Okinawa I April. She remained in the area disembarking Marines and supplies until 10 April when she got underway for Pearl Harbor. She arrived at Pearl Harbor 27 April, after stopping at Guam to embark casualties.

Returning to San Francisco 4 June 1945, Burleigh embarked troops and supplies and steamed to Guam via Pearl Harbor, Eniwetok, and Saipan. She returned to San Francisco 2 August. With the cessation of hostilities Burleigh was assigned to the "Magie Carpet" fleet returning veterans from the Pacific until March 1946. On 15 March 1946 she departed the west coast for Norfolk, where she arrived 3 April. She was decommissioned 11 June 1946 and returned to the Maritime Commission the following day.

Burleigh received one battle star for her World War Il service.

 U.S.S. Ex-U3008

Transferred to:  4/14/47    Transferred from: 6/12/48       Rank: EMC (SS)

Sub Stationed:  Key West, Florida, Portsmouth, N.H.

U.S.S. Quillback (SS-424)

Transferred to:  July, 1948;   Transferred from: 6/25/48     Rank: EMC (SS)

Sub Stationed:  Portsmouth, N. H.

 U.S.S. Flying Fish (SS-229)

Transferred to:  6/18/48    Transferred from:                Rank: EMC (SS)

Sub Stationed:  New London, Conn.

U.S.S. Burrfish (SSR312)

 Transferred to: 11/4/48 – 3/17/49; 3/20/49 – 4/29/49; 4/30/49 – 2/13/50:  EMC(SS)

Sub Stationed: Portsmouth, N.H.

 U.S.S. Spikefish (SS-R312)

 Transferred to:  March 18, 1949    Transferred from: March 19, 1949;  4/29/49:  EMC (SS)  Sub Stationed: Portsmouth, N.H.

 U.S.S. Sea Owl (SS-405)

Transferred to: July 11, 1949  Transferred from:  July 13, 1949  Rank:  EMC (SS)

Sub Stationed: Portsmouth, N. H. 

U.S.S. Sea Poacher (SS-406)

Transferred to: 4/29/49   Transferred from: 4/30/49; 7/11/49  Rank:  EMC(SS)

Sub Stationed: Portsmouth, N.H.

 U.S.S. Greenfish (SS-351)

Transferred to: 1952     Transferred from: June 1, 1953   Rank:  EMC (SS)

Sub Stationed: Pearl Harbor

Other Known Duty Stations:

Naval Hospital:  Feb. 21, 1945 – June 2, 1945

Fayetteville, Arkansas – Recruiting Duty  June 30, 1950 -- August 1952

Pearl Harbor:  August 26, 1952 – August 24, 1953