Page 109 - Senior Link Magazine Fall 2021- Online Magazine
P. 109
Joe Hargrove Four Years, naVY
Three Ships Korean War
by Larry Williams
machine shops and around
2400 sailors aboard doing
mostly repair work. On the
way over, we stopped in
Hawaii for refueling and
landed in Sasebo, Japan.” (The
ship served in Sasebo and
Yokosuka from June 1951 to
August 1954).
Joe recalled, “I stayed
there in Sasebo for several
months, then we sailed to the
Philippines and docked at
Sangley Point south of Manila.
I had to train the Filipinos to
work on our equipment; I was
he U. S. Navy has a knew the Korean War was only ranked 3rd Class and
large array of ships in beginning, so he decided to should have been a 1st Class
Ttheir arsenal, especially join the Navy. His mother said to be in charge. A few months
during times of war. During no, but as soon as Joe turned later, the captain wrote a
the Korean War, there were 18, he joined up. He went to letter of commendation for
Carriers and Amphibious Amarillo by bus, then took a me. We had a few days of
Warfare Ships, Auxiliary Ships train to Albuquerque where R&R, and some of us went to
and Battleships, Cruisers he was inducted. Hong Kong. I was transferred
and Destroyers, Patrol to the U.S.S. Laertes (AR-20),
Frigates, Destroyer Escorts Hargrove’s basic training which was a repair ship. The
and Minesweepers and was at the Naval Training first night, I was put in charge
Submarines. Joe Hargrove of Center, Elliott Annex, near of the main engine room
Crosbyton, Texas served on San Diego, California. During because the senior men got
three different ships during its two years of existence, transferred out for dealing in
his nearly four years in the over 150,000 recruits were the black market. One night,
Navy during the Korean War. trained there. Joe said, “After I had just gotten off duty and
basic, I attended a Class A
Joe Kenneth Hargrove was Diesel Mechanic school for got into my bed when alarms
born on February 6, 1933, in ten weeks. We always had went off. General quarters
Crosbyton, Texas to Clark and lots of fire drill training. was called, and I heard, ‘Man
Lillie. He had 11 siblings, four The firefighting technology your battle stations!’ My
boys and seven girls. His dad is so much better now. battle station was the main
was a farmer and most, if not After that, I was assigned engine room, so I went there.
all, of the children worked to the U.S.S. League Island I didn’t even have a headset
on the farm as soon as they (AKS-30), a supply ship. to get instructions. The young
were able. Joe graduated We supplied spare parts head engineer handed me
from Crosbyton High School to the fleet in the Far East. his headset. The captain said,
in May 1950 at age 17. He We had a repair shop, three ‘Give me all you’ve got.’ I
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