1944: Ralph Lucarello, Sr. U.S.N. Ret.

I met Ralph Lucarello Sr. on Mike McNicoll's very interesting website. I have Ralph's permission to post just a few of the photos he took during his tour of the Pacific as a member of the U.S. Navy. Following is a copy of Ralph's service experiences. It seems like a page right out of that fabulous Broadway musical, "South Pacific," even as you see he and his buddies doing leg kicks as they sing and dance to, "There is nothing like a dame!" Many thanks, Ralph and to you also Mack for the great job you are doing on your web blog.

RALPH WROTE

Hi Tom, this is Ralph Sr. I was in the US Navy Fleet Post Office San Francisco Navy 140 which was located on Espíritu Santo in the NEW HEBRIDES ISLANDS. I was in the Post Office in Trenton at the beginning of WW2 and could have enlisted in the Navy as a Chief Petty Officer but they wouldn't guarantee my job upon returning and would only do so when I was drafted. When I was finally drafted in April of 1944, I went to boot camp in Bainbridge, Md and was granted third class petty officer mail specialist. I was stationed in NY for 3 months and then sent to San Francisco. After 3 months in san francisco we shipped out to the South Pacific. When I was discharged in 1946, I was a Second Class Petty Officer. While I was on Espiritus Santo, the Fleet assembled there in preparation for the Invasion of Okinawa. Our Unit was tasked to distribute mail throughout the South Pacific Area. Here are the Photos I have of my time on Espíritu Santo .