My grandfather, Charles Dean Paul “Chuck”, served aboard the YMS-299. His service in the Pacific at Okinawa during 1944 and 1945 has been chronicled in a journal he kept and around 50 letters he sent home. I’ve collected his photos, personnel file, letters, audio stories, journal and more and am putting together a history on the ship’s and her crew’s activity during this time period.
While working on the project, I’ll be making the historical data and files available here. I’ll also continue sharing stories, photos and documents that other enthusiasts and family members send my way.
If you have any information you would like to share with me, please email me at anthonydpaul@gmail.com.
#1 by Vernon A C Mills on March 3, 2011 - 11:03 pm
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I was so unbelievably happy to find a website about the Rhea. I also cried to learn that She had sunk. As a Sea Cadet during the 70′s, I lived to be at Port Stanley every weekend. I think, if given the opportunity, I would have left home and lived on that ship. My teen years will never be forgotten as long as I have memories of the MV Rhea. Thank you for your time and trouble to bring back all those wonderful minutes, hours and years. Also, would you by chance have an e-mail address for Charley Donaldson, I just realized it’s been over 35 years since I’ve seen or talked to him. Many thanks.
Vern Mills
#2 by anthonydpaul on March 4, 2011 - 5:26 am
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Thank you for your comment! I sent you an email with Charles’ contact information. Also, I mentioned that I don’t have any pictures below decks yet, in case you happen to have any. In general, I’d be very appreciative of any photos, stories, mechanical information, maps, memorabilia, etc.
#3 by Richard Thornton on March 12, 2011 - 10:04 am
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Tony
So glad to see an interest in this severely neglected branch of the Navy during WWII operations. I sent you a separate private e-mail about potential other information that mentions the YMS-299 as well as the YMS-1, 92, 425 as well as the PGM-18. To anyone interested, go to the Navsource website and open the listing for the YMS-103. I have had them post an after-action report that my father filed as a result of the ’103 being mined. Small world, almost 65 years ago our parents and grand parents were involved in naval operations, literally within yards of each other and here we are talking about it and sharing information on what we know. Internet at it’s best.
The best book covering WWII minesweepers, IMHO, is “Most Dangerous Sea” by Arnold S. Lott LCDR, USN.
#4 by anthonydpaul on March 12, 2011 - 12:40 pm
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Thank you for your email! I just ordered the book and a handful of others I’ve had on my list for a while. I’ll take a look at the Navsource mention. It may be one I’ve looked at already. I can also look up your ship in my grandfather’s journal and see if there are any mentions of YMS-103.
I have another pretty cool file I got this week that I’ll blog about in a moment. You should check it out.
I’ll email you back as well, to see what kind of stuff you have that you’d like me to post.
#5 by Jim Howlett on January 18, 2012 - 4:29 pm
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I am so I have found this blog wich includes the “Rhea” I was In the Sea Cadets when we bought her, a very exciting time in my teen years .Many a weekend was spent working on this ship and traveling to Conneaut and Sandusky Ohio .
Some of my fondest memories of my youth are about this ship.
I was just looking at some stuff on a site from Port Dover [Scruton marine dot com] and in the marine antiques section low and behold there is the ships wheel from the Rhea,for sale,I must admit it brought a little tear to my eye
Its interesting the mention of Bruce Lumly he and I were great buddys for many years along with a number of others who spent time on the Rhea
Thanks for the trip back in time
Jim