FROM VALVES TO VALVES - PAGE 18

This is a press release to the Barberton Herald, the hometown of William Valencheck. The photo credit is U.S. Coast Guard. During his time aboard ship William ran the evaporators mentioned in the last post supplying the ship with salt free water.

From Valves to Valves

Coastguardsman William Valencheck, fireman first class of 393 3rd Street, Barberton, home of Pitcairn Valves is shown operating a valve aboard a destroyer escort convoying supply ships across the Atlantic for the battle of Germany.

NOTICE! - PAGE 17

This note printed on onion skin paper was given to the men of the USS PRIDE when they left Orange, Texas on their shakedown cruise.

NOTICE

THE SHIP WILL SAIL SOMETIME TODAY. WHEN WE LEAVE, THE SHIP WILL BE UNDER BLACKOUT CONDITIONS AND ALL MEN ARE CAUTIONED ABOUT SMOKING ON DECK OR OTHERWISE SHOWING LIGHT. NEVER THROW ANYTHING OVER THE SIDE, NO MATTER HOW SMALL OR TRIVIAL WITHOUT PROPER AUTHORITY TO DO SO. THINGS THROWN OVER THE SIDE, SUCH AS CANDY WRAPPERS, ETC., WILL LEAVE A TRAIL AND MAY DIVULGE OUR PRESENCE TO THE ENEMY. DO NOT TALK TO ANYONE ABOUT EXPECTED ACTIVITY OR MOVEMENT OF THE THE SHIP.

AFTER THE SHIP SAILS, THE WATER HOURS WILL BE SET AND ALL MEN ARE CAUTIONED TO USE ONLY THE AMOUNT OF WATER ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY. VEGETABLE PEELER WILL BE FURNISHED WITH SALT WATER ONLY. NO MATTER HOW MUCH WATER THERE SEEMS TO BE ON HAND, IN THE EVENT OF EVAPORATOR FAILURE, THE SHIP MAY BE SHORT OF WATER BEFORE REACHING PORT. TODAY WILL BE THE LAST DAY OF UNLIMITED WATER SUPPLY SO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT AND GET YOUR GEAR AND PERSON CLEANED UP.

THE COMING SHAKEDOWN CRUISE IS FOR THE EXPRESS PURPOSE OF EACH MAN LEANING HIS JOB AND LEARNING IT WELL, THE BETTER EACH MAN KNOWS HIS JOB THE BETTER FIGHTING UNIT WE WILL BE AS A WHOLE AND THE BETTER CHANCE WE WILL ALL HAVE IN COMBAT.

ALL ELECTRIC RAZORS WILL BE TURNED IN TODAY TO THE EXECUTIVE OFFICER. AN ELECTRIC RAZOR IN USE CAN BE PICKED UP BY ENEMY SHIPS AND YOU MIGHT BE INTERRUPTED IN THE MIDDLE OF YOUR SHAVE WITH A BOMB OR TORPEDO. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES WILL ANY MAN BE EXCUSED IF FOUND TO HAVE AN ELECTRIC RAZOR IN HIS POSSESSION. IT IS KNOWN THAT SEVERAL SHIPS OF A CONVOY WERE LOST DUE TO A SMALL RADIO PLAYING WHICH WAS PICKED UP BY A ENEMY SUBMARINE. ANY ELECTRIC APPLIANCE, NOT AUTHORIZED, PUT IN USE IS A DETRIMENT TO THE SAFETY OF YOUR SHIP.

BOARDING THE USS PRIDE IN ORANGE TEXAS - PAGE 15

The time for training is over. The troop trains take the men down to Orange, Texas where they will meet the newly completed ship USS PRIDE DE-323. This picture, dated 27 November 1943, shows the crew in formation on the docks looking on at the PRIDE. To their left are the officers and to the right you can see the Sousaphones for the band and some chairs at the edge of the dock for visiting dignitaries. The caption on the picture below read, "Lee - Ensign Compton - Ensign Murphy
As part of the day the crew came aboard ship and they had a flag raising ceremony pictured below. Valencheck is second from the right in the first row.
Finally the crew assembles for a picture aboard the USS PRIDE. Valencheck is third from the right in the last row. A ship resembling the USS PRIDE is seen in the background.
The ceremonies over, it is now time to start the serious business of war.

GRADUATION DAY - COMPANY 12 READY TO SHOVE OFF - PAGE 13

The Prairie Schooner announces the graduation of Company 12 and the end of their time at the North Dakota State School of Science.


A newspaper article clipped from the Barberton Herald, William's hometown newpaper, reads:


















WILLIAM VALENCHECK IN COAST GUARD CLASS

GREAT LAKES, Ill., July 29th. - William Valencheck, 22 son of Mr. and Mrs. Tony Valencheck, 393 Thrid Street, Barberton, member of the U. S. Coast Guard, has completed 16 weeks of instruction at the U. S. Naval Training School for machinist's mates at the North Dakota State School of Science Whapeton, N. D., and now awaits assignment to active duty.

The diploma reads, "This certifies that VALENCHECK, William S2c has satisfactorily completed the prescribed course of study at the U. S. NAVAL TRAINING SCHOOL (MACHINIST'S MATE) WAHPETON, NORTH DAKOTA this 17 day of July 1943.

George Fender III, Lt. Comdr. D-V(S) USNR

DEAR MR. & MRS. VALENCHECK - PAGE 9

This letter was sent to the parents of sons selected for further training which did serve Mr. Valencheck very well throughout the rest of his life.

U.S. NAVAL TRAINING SCHOOL
MACHINIST'S MATE
NORTH DAKOTA STATE SCHOOL OF SCIENCE
WAHPETON, NORTH DAKOTA

April 6, 1943

Dear Mr. & Mrs. Valencheck:

As you probably know, your son has been selected for advanced training as a Navy man. He has been enrolled at this school for this purpose.

During the sixteen weeks he will be here, he will be given a specialized course of shop instruction and related class instruction which will prepare him to work for an advanced fireman's and machinist's mate's rating.

This letter is to assure you that we are intensely interested in giving him valuable training. Upon successful completion of the course, he will be eligible for promotion in rate and pay. He will have an education in a skill which will increase his value to the Navy and be of great worth to him upon his return to civilian life.

Please feel free to write us for any information you may desire regarding his welfare or his progress in school.

Sincerely yours,
George Fender III
Lieut. Commander, USNR
Commanding Officer

THE PRAIRIE SCHOONER - PAGE 7

“The Prairie Schooner” was “An Occasional Log of United States Naval Training School Operating at North Dakota State School of Science, Wahpeton”. It was mailed home to “B-town” with a circle around the paragraph that mentioned Valencheck’s name.

In Volume one, number 24 dated 15 May 1943 it is reported that, “Cooper’s Band Jives for Formal Dance in Gym.”

Our newest company, the 13th, was welcomed aboard at a formal dance held in the gym on Wednesday, May 5. The local gals donned their finest long dresses to come out and jump with this newest group of hep-cats (and some of the old ones).

Bunky Cooper’s band of collegiate musicians from Moorhead State Teacher’s College furnished the jive, and jive it was because they left their music in Moorhead and had to jam most of the pieces to cover the parts they forgot. Maybe I shouldn’t have told you that little secret because most of the rug-cutting jitterbugs didn’t seem to know the difference.

Lt. Comdr. Fender and nearly all the other officers attached to the school were present with their wives to help make this a gala occasion. The dance was sponsored by the local USO with the smiling “Mrs. K” right there to greet her boys. Each departing company pays tribute to the fine work she is doing in making their liberty periods more enjoyable. Dances like this are just another contribution of the USO toward the welfare of the armed forces.

OUT OF THE G. I. CAN:

Big Sailor (Paul): “Thay myster, than you tell me the time?
Little Sailor (Carter): (No response.)
Big Sailor: “Thay, I asked you the tyme.”
Little Sailor: (Still no response.)
So as Big Sailor walked away a bystander asked Little Sailor why he hadn’t answered, his reply being – “Thhink I wanted a punth in the moth?”

Joe Yardbird answered the phone in his Norfolk apartment, He said: “I don’t know. Call the weather bureau,” and hung up.
“Who was that?” asked his wife.
“Some sailor, I guess. He wanted to know if the coast was clear.”

THE SCUTTLEBUTT

It has been noted lately that “Chief Chef” Holtz can cook something other than ham or beef.

That little bird who gives out with the correct dope has it that Gil Landis and Simonton are going to take the long trek on the same day come June: Why not make it the same church and have a race down the aisle?

We’re going to miss the Cook and Baker Strikers in the chow hall. So long mates, keep Tex out of trouble and don’t let Ossie get another “heinie.”

SECTION P

The boys from Section “P” and some of the boys from Section “O” wish to thank all those who made it possible for us to have the new head up in the penthouse of Barracks 1. It’s very convenient for all.

We don’t want to seem unreasonable but the tables that were “extracted” from the recreation hall are getting worn pretty well and we would appreciate a few “new” ones. How about it? Very subtle aren’t we?

Well, the boys of Section “P” are getting along fine and are saying that North Dakota has California beat completely for screwy weather except Seaman Volk who is a native “farmer” of N. Dak.

Everyone was certainly surprised to hear that Coastguardsman Valencheck is attending church supper at Wahpeton next Sunday. I wonder what the attraction could be? Maybe a little something called “Corky.”

Congratulations, Mr. Whitehouse and Mr. Davis, on your promotions as we feel that you both deserve them.

OFF TO ENGINEERING SCHOOL - PAGE 6

Having finished a run on the Ball Brothers it was back to Cleveland for evaluation testing that separated William from some of his boot camp buddies and led him to North Dakota to what he referred to as the Naval Trainings School to learn engineering. As near as we can tell this would be the University of North Dakota School of Engineering and Mines. Here is the picture of the school in the summer of 1942.

In the 1940's the school's enrollment dropped dramatically to about 775 students most of whom were women. "The campus became a virtual military camp, with thousands of military men and women training here."

And down they go!

Harold Nichols sporting an expert swing with a tennis racket is the only man identified in these pictures from the scrap book.

THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD FOURTH PLATOON, FAIRPORT STATION - PAGE 4

On the back of the picture dated February - March 1942 are some of the names of the men in this picture.

Row one - 1. Pinkley 2. F. Vinel 3. Bomboti 4. Hanson 5. Morrcillo 6. Bonner 7. Daily, Chief P.O. 8. William Valencheck (None of the other men are listed in this row.)

Row two - 1. (not listed) 2. C. W. Prepelica 3. A. W. Smith 4. Joe Kroll 5. (not listed) 6. C. E. Rhodes (None of the other men are losted in this row.)

Row Three - only the last man is listed in this row. His name is J. Delia

THE OUTBREAK OF WAR - PAGE 1

The Greatest Generation is disappearing. According to Veterans Administration at the beginning of this year there were approximately 5,032,591 veteran of World War II still living in the United States but they are dying at the rate of 1,136 a day. As they die so do many of their memories.

Sometimes the memories die before the veteran does himself. Our Father, MoMM3c William Valencheck who served aboard the USS Pride DE 323 and who is now confronting the ravages of Alzheimer’s at the age of 87, has lost much of his memory. Though he never would talk much about his experience of WWII, he cannot now even if he were so inclined.

In putting his estate together there was revealed a sizable cache of his memorabilia from WWII. There were letters from old girl friends, pictures of fellow guardsmen, drawings, and other mementos that for us are disconnected from actual people and events. Unsure what to do with all of these images of memories that are in some way treasures, his children thought to begin this blog and post the various items from week to week.

The intention is not so much to focus on MoMM (Motor Machinist Mate) William J. Valencheck or even to give an in depth historical analysis of the war, but to give a snap shot of some of what a crew member aboard a U.S. Coast Guard ship during the great war held on to as memories.

THE OUTBREAK OF WAR

World War II broke out on 1 September 1939. The world was already in great unrest when Germany invades Poland without a formal declaration of war. But for those living in the United States, it was a war taking place “over there”. Though tense times, this was not yet seen as something that Americans as a whole felt a need to be involved in.

That all changed on 7 December 1941 when Japan attacked our naval forces at Pearl Harbor. On 8 December the United States declared war on Japan. A few days later, Germany and Italy declared war on the U.S.

Perhaps the darkest period for the Allied forces was the late summer of 1942. In the Atlantic Germans subs were sinking Allied ships at an alarming rate even up to the shores of the States and the Gulf of Mexico. It was during this time that William Valencheck, age 21 without informing his parents, enlisted to serve in the United States Coast Guard Reserve.

Those who were approaching a recruitment office for the Coast Guard would have been given this information sheet. It is interesting to note the changes in the requirements made in red, which is not unlike what we are experiencing today. The top of the age requirement was raised from 34 to 54 and the level of education was lowered from a high school graduate to completion of the eighth grade:

Of course a physical examination was necessary:




Then it was off to training. Here we see Wm Valencheck on leave before being deployed with his Mother and Father.