Veteran's History Project

The Veterans History Project of the Library of Congress collects, preserves, and makes accessible the personal accounts of American war veterans so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand the realities of war.

Robert Palmer's Dad made Robert promise to finish high school before he went into the Navy. The dad, a WWI sailor, knew that if his son went off to the Navy, he would never finish high school. Robert (Bob) went to the school principal and talked with him about his status and when he could graduate? The Principal told Bob he had plenty of credits then to graduate. Bob relayed that information to his Dad, who confirmed it, and the Dad signed the papers allowing the 17 yr old to join the US Navy.

Bob figured joining the military was part of his obligation as an American. Most of his peers felt the same way and were joining up as well. Bob weighed 139 pounds when he joined. He said he couldn't make a shadow when he stood up. Bob had to take a preliminary physical exam in Cheyenne. He really liked soda pop and had a few bottles of pop. When he provided a urine sample, the Doctor told him he probably had sugar diabetes. When the Doc found out he had the pop earlier, he told the lad to have no pop for a couple of days and come back...

The next stop was the military induction center in Denver, followed soon by a long trip to San Diego, CA on a troop train. Air conditioning was not known for train use at the time. As the train steamed ahead, with all the windows open, the smoke from the stacks came in through the openings and blasted the passengers. The trains stopped at "Harvey" houses so the passengers could eat, etc.

At the training base, Bob arrived and got into the process of becoming a sailor. He said that he was "six feet tall and weighed 139 pounds. If he drank a bottle of sarsaparilla soda, he would look like a thermometer!" At the clothing issue point, he got all the things he would need.

Bob remembered his trainers, Chief Sellers and PO1st Class Smith. He also recalled the training on how to abandon ship... get up to the top of a 30 foot tower, get on the life jacket and jump. Bob was a swimmer... no problem. There was useful information put out as well. Every sailor is a firefighter because on a ship, when a fire breaks out, all hands are helping.

The pay was $25.00 every two weeks or $50.00 a month. Bob said that he wasn't a drinker, smoker, or one to chase "wild women". He didn't need the cash so he let it build up. His Dad had taken Bob hunting several times and had taught Bob how to shoot a rifle. This came in handy when it was time to qualify with the Navy marksmanship requirement. Bob got 148 out of a possible 150 points and was the top shooter of the company. Bob graduated boot camp and sent to the USS Cowpens, CVL 25. There was no advanced training, just on the job training. Bob's work place was in the engine room. He was going to be a MoMM2. (MoMM2 has 4 parts. The first "Mo" means Propulsive Machinery, maintenance and operation. The next M means Machinist. The last M means Main Engines. )

He learned about the evaporator system and the efficient use of steam throughout the ship. In the engine room, there is plenty to do. He said it was like "McDonalds over the lunch hour". He watched the gauges and made changes as needed. He worked four hours on and eight hours off, 24/7.

When he had time, he went to the machine shop to make needed parts. He didn't have an assigned place to go when the call for "Duty Stations" went out. His work was to keep the ship under way and powered to get wherever it was destined.

Bob also learned to work on vehicles in a different shop. If there wasn't that much to do in one area, he moved over to the motor pool and made himself useful and learned a trade. Bob really liked mechanics.

The Cowpens was out to sea, near Okinawa, when the Atomic Bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, Japan. He and the others on the carrier knew the situation of war had changed.

Bob returned to Cheyenne, WY. He was assigned to a Navy Reserve unit and for a few years, stayed with it and was on a couple of cruises as part of his job. He also found a very good job at Fort Warren, an Army Base northwest of Cheyenne. Things were going smoothly for the young man who was barely 21 yrs old.

When Bob was twenty-three, the Navy called Bob back to Active Duty. He was sent to Bremerton, Washington where he was assigned to work on the LST 1101. This Landing Ship Tanks, was designed to carry tanks and trucks and anything else it could. The ship had been inactive and in mothballs since shortly after WWII.

One of the first things a crew had to accomplish was making sure the engines ran and fuel system was capable. Bob said he and others physically went into the fuel tanks and carefully cleaned them out. This would not be an easy task. Finally, with clean fuel, LST 1101 was set to go to Korea. Because of their doing this painstaking work, their ship moved well without having to stop because of fuel problems. There were eight LSTs in their group. Every ship but the 1101 broke down because of fouled fuel.

This group of ships had the capability of opening the front of the ship like swinging barn doors. When the doors opened very close to land, the tanks and trucks the ship carried were driven ashore to meet the warriors trained to use them. One of the first stops was at Camp McGill, Japan. Here they loaded bombs, trucks and tanks and sailed for Inchon, South Korea. The 1101 off loaded at its assigned berthing, and was essentially without cargo – and weight in the water. With 30+ feet tide moving out, the ship was beached. This ship was 50 feet wide, three hundred twenty- eight feet long.

After a time and quite a bit of frustration, the tide came back in. Some sailors were directed to get off the ship. They were to take fire hoses to wash the sand away from the ship. They used a huge winch on the 1101, pulled the anchor. As the ship's staff tried to jockey the ship back and forth, the circuits kept blowing in the engine room due to the stress on the system. Bob, now a salty sailor, told the men to lock down the circuits and go to full power. The ship, no longer a target for enemy forces, moved off the sand and was again useful! The 1101 earned five battle stars for its service in Korea.

In some of his off time, Bob became adept in metal work. He made a knife, a hammer and some rings. Sometimes a pinnacle game was played and he wrote letters home. Bob was activated for seventeen months this time and he was notified his time on Active duty was up. He sailed on a Navy passenger ship home and after 10 days, went ashore to out-process.

Bob's work and career waited for him at Fort Warren. He served there for thirty-seven years. MoMM2 Robert I. Palmer, your work was essential to the operation in the Navy and its role in Korea. Thank you for your service!