Veteran's history project

Editor’s Note: This story is one of many American Veteran accounts published in the Sidney Sun-Telegraph. The writer, who is from Potter, is conducting the interviews as part of the Library of Congress’ Veterans History Project.

Roger S, Allen is a resident of the Nebraska Veteran’s Home in Scottsbluff, Nebraska. He served in the US Navy during the Korean War 1951 to 1954.

Allen enlisted in the US Navy when he was 20 years old. All his friends and associates had either joined up or were going to join the military. His uncles and cousins were in all the other branches at one time or another. He picked the US Navy because he liked what they had to offer.

He and about 30 other guys had to take the bus to Denver to get their induction physicals. During the physical it was disclosed that Allen had a knee injury from his football playing days. Things weren’t looking good for him until a doctor asked him if he really wanted to join the Navy?

Allen said he “sure did”!

In time, he and others were on their way to San Diego, to the Naval Training Center and boot camp. They arrived in the early morning hours.

By sunrise, they had new haircuts, new clothes and had just met their leader, a Navy Chief.

The Caucasian sailors lived apart from the African-American ones. Allen learned about marching, Navy practices, rifle marksmanship, physical readiness training and barracks maintenance. He said he was a better shot than many of the instructors. After all, he already owned a home arsenal.

During down time there were opportunities to play basketball. Although he wasn’t so tall, Allen was good.

Following graduation he reported to the USS Marsh, DE 699, a destroyer. He was assigned to the deck division. Deck crews were the “hey you” guys. Any job needing worked on started out with “hey you…”. The painting, brushing, scrubbing and similar tasks were handled by these newer members. Allen trained on various weapons, including the 20mm, 40mm, the 3 inch gun and the depth charge team.

Allen’s living quarters were on the 0-1 deck, about midship.

He went to Sonar training next. The instruction lasted about six months and was in San Diego. As he returned to his ship, he learned that it had already sailed for Japan while he was in school. He and others were flown to the Navy Base near Tokyo so that they could find their respective ships. In Tokyo, Allen snuck off the base to go to a nearby basketball game. In the meantime, the USS Marsh left port.

The Master-At-Arms found Allen and the others and while returning them to base, administered the proper amount of verbal commentary. Not long after, the ship returned to pick them up.

The destroyer and other ships sailed for Korea. The mission was to provide screening for the carriers, supply the mines for the harbors, and chase the enemy submarines away. Allen said a Sonarman was called a “ping jockey.” Underwater movement could come across as metal-against-metal noise and would produce a “ping.” The noise could develop into a pattern representing enemy (or friendly) presence. The men would then apply their skill to further refine and discern the noises before relaying their findings to the operations officers.

Off Wonsan, on the east side of North Korea, the enemy fired on their ship daily. Allen had very keen eyesight. During change of quarterssituations, the command made sure he was on the bridge because he had a reputation for being able to see things far away. There were casualties aboard the Marsh.

Allen didn’t remember much about ship activities, he was most interested in “getting the hell out of there!”

He was promoted to a Sonarman, Third Class. During rough weather, life on the ship wasn’t so good, but for the most part it was tolerable. The sailors played cards regularly. He didn’t like to crap games much. He and others formed a barbershop singing group and entertained people.

Allen liked the Mills Brothers. They elected Debbie Reynolds as “Miss Depth charge.” There was an “Esther Williams Pennant.” The ship with the pennant were the champions because they stole it from another ship. The Manse claimed to hold on to it the longest.

While the ship was docked at Sasebo, the men learned that hostilities with Korea had ended. One of their duties was to take about fifty extra men to Pearl Harbor and on the San Diego. These men had been in the Korean conflict much longer than others and were allowed to leave on one of the first ships heading back to the states.

Allen’s service ended in November 1954. He went back to brick-laying. He tried to stay in touch with his former ship mates. He joined the VFW. He also worked on some radios and electronic devices. Much of his future life was spent with radio repair.

During his service, Allen earned the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Service Medal, the Expeditionary Medal and a Presidential Unit Citation.