WWII USN US NAVY NAMED PHOTOGRAPHS LETTERS SECRET MAP JAPANESE BATTLE FLAG. The Descriptions of Battle written in Franklin Reynolds letters to his parents are what is of Historical importance. I will do my best to transcribe what he wrote in the letters, below. For individual photos of the letters, please ask. If you’d like me to take individual photos any any items, please let me know. Named Set: belonging to Franklin Arthur Reynolds. Also Includes: Original Signed Letter by Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal. History: Franklin Reynolds w. A Sailor aboard the USS LUBBOCK. He wrote detailed letters of days he spent in battles. He got the Flag from a shot down Japanese Suicide Pilot, and also had two what appear to be Japanese Leather Holders in his collection (see photos). Letters in no specific order. (1) 12 Thursday 1945. Well I got off the medical list this morning. We got our own load about 9:00 and got it into the beach about 9:30. The waiting line was so long we knew we couldn’t get unload right away, so we circled. The little Italian kid in my boat from New York wanted to ride into the beach on one of the LVT’s? To get some survivors so 2 let him go in. We didn’t get unload until 1:00 in the after-noon. A couple of ____ after that. They are easier to get unloaded than the loose cargo. We had an air raid first as we got the second ____ loaded. Their nothing but for shooting but if a plane did come close enough we could have some fun shooting at it. About 15 minutes after that we noticed a big ____ of anti-aircraft fire going up over the island, next we could see a plane coming over the hill and boy he was drawing fire from every place. All of a sudden he started to dive for ships which was _____off the island. It was way out of range for our little guns, but if he were ____closer we sure would have ____some fire at him. 2 was loaded down with a guy so we could go over there ___a couple of our boats did. This morning we arrived at our destination Okinawa about 350 miles from Japan. We will hit secured beaches just about all the way through this invasion. The troops which we carried are reserve so we won’t be making an assault landing unless we are assigned to other ships which are carrying assault troops. They set ____ ____ this morning just before noon chow. Some part of the clutch was froze and made it impossible to go forward or backward, so we were brought aboard again. It took most of the day to put in a new clutch, ___ whole engine had to be lifted and that is quite a job. We had an air raid tonight after dark. We laid down a smoke screen so you could see what was going on, but of course the main purpose was for them not to see us. Well thats about all that happened today. I’ll try to write again tomorrow. (3) F A Reynolds Okinawa 10th April 1945. Today is our second hear. My boat is in good running condition, but we didn’t use it today. It has been rainy all day today and makes it hard for us to get much done. This afternoon we had the duty in one of the smoke boats. At night we do the same, but we also have to stand by to make smoke in case of an air attack. The (Japs) ships have some small one man boats which carry high explosives which they use for suicide boats, so we have to keep a sharp look out all night long. They also set drums afloat with a mine attached underneath them and hope the wind or the current carrys them into some of our ships. The smoke boats are equiped with machine guns, hand grenades and rifles so if we do see any floating around we can sink them before they can do any damage. They aren’t having as much trouble taking this island as they did Iwo Jima, but we are getting more air opposition here than we did at Iwo Jima. We get an air attack once or twice a day, but they don’t send only just a few planes at a time and very few of these get back to their home base. Most of their planes which they have been sending against us are older planes, so we have a good idea they are getting short of them. Well, running short of time and space so I guess maybe I should turn in and call it quits. With love your son Art. I was supposed to relieve the crew in the smoke boat this morning, but on account of a little mishappening I didnt. I had eaten breakfast and we were waiting for the men to refuel the boat. I was hurrying somewhere; I dont remember just what it was now, but I was making pretty good time I know; when I ran into something. Next thing thing that I know I was picking myself off the deck rubbing my hand. I went on down to where my crew was waiting, and this was the first time I noticed it bleeding. I went into sick bay to get a patch put on it, but instead of a patch they put three stitches and put me on the medical list for 24 hours. So I have been a little gold ___ all day. It has been raining the past two days and not very pleasant hauling cargo in the boats. Well seeing that I didnt do anything today I guess there isnt much to write about. Bye for this time. With love your son, Art. (5) 28 FEBRUARY 1945. FROM: THE COMMANDING OFFICER. TO: THE OFFICERS AND CREW OF THE USS LUBBOCK. I WISH TO EXPRESS MY SINCERE APPRECIATION FOR THE EXCELLENT JOB JUST COMPLETED. THE CREDIT IS YOURS AS TO MANY OF YOU IT IS A NEW LIFE. I WISH TO PARTICULARLY PRAISE THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, THE BOAT OFFICERS AND CREWS AND THOSE WHO REPAIRED AND KEPT BOATS RUNNING UNDER TRYING CONDITIONS AND CIRCUMSTANCES. FORGET ANY HARD WORDS I HAVE USED AS THEY WERE NOT MEANT FOR KEEPING. EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU HAVE MY HEARTIEST THANKS AND APPRECIATION FOR YOUR HARD WORK, LONG HOURS, PATIENCE AND LOYALTY FOR THE JOB WELL DONE. (Appears to be a photocopy signature). (6) Manila 8 Dec. Into Pier #15 here in Manila and will e loading troops most of the night, so we can pullout early in the morning. It will take about 19 days for the trip so we should be in by the 26. Ill be thinking about you Christmas. Lots of love, Art. (7) May 22, 1946 Important Letter with Original Signature. I have addressed this letter to reach you after all the formalities of your separation from active service are completed. I have done so because, without formality but as clearly as I know how to say it. I want the Navys pride in you, which is my privilege to express, to reach into your civil life and to remain with you always. You have served in the greatest Navy in the world. It crushed two enemy fleets at once, receiving their surrenders only four months apart. It brought our land-based air power within bombing range of the enemy, and set our ground armies on the beachheads of final victory. It performed the multitude of tasks necessary to support these military operations. No other Navy at any time has done so much. For your part in these achievements you deserve to be proud as long as you live. The Nation which you served at a time of crisis will remember you with gratitude. The best wishes of the Navy go with you into civilian life. 22″ x 8″ Group Photo 1944 US Naval Training Center Great Lakes, IL. 10″ x 8″ Photo of Franklin A. 35″ x 25.5″ Japanese Battle Flag. Condition: Individual Photos have all yellowed/browned due to age, have creases, and corner folds/curls. Group Photo has been stored rolled up in a cardboard canister all these years, wants to curl up strongly after you open it, has creases & cracks in the paper. Japanese Battle Flag has been folded and has creases all over. The Battle Flag also has many holes in it. Battle Flag Silk has also yellowed/browned due to age. All letters have yellowed/browned due to age. All Letters show some wear. Envelopes are torn in areas and have also yellowed/browned due to age. Some letters are in envelopes, others are not. Any defects not mentioned but visible in the pictures will be considered as “described”. Doing that is against U. Track Page Views With. Auctiva’s FREE Counter. The item “WWII USN US NAVY NAMED PHOTOGRAPHS LETTERS SECRET MAP JAPANESE BATTLE FLAG” is in sale since Thursday, February 02, 2017. This item is in the category “Collectibles\Militaria\WW II (1939-45)\Original Period Items\United States\Documents & Maps”. The seller is “siennastef” and is located in Sarasota, Florida. This item can be shipped worldwide.
- Country/Region of Manufacture: United States