Can anyone tell me what a radioman first class did please? i'm researching someone who was killed August 24th 1944, Saint Brieuc near Saint Malo. Are there any websites i can look at? Thanks in advance.
I was a Machinist Mate for a few years myself. Your RM1 would have been in a senior position, maybe 2nd in charge of the radio shack, that being his General Quarters position when combat was proximate. If you know the names of any ships you can find their official history here.
i'm not sure how he was killed. There were no other Navy casualties that day. St Brieuc is not far from where i live. I'll have to do a bit more digging.
Arie Z Eddleman Jr 38-21-600 Home of record Muskogee, Oklahoma Buried Plot K Row 11 Grave 5 Brittany American Cemetery St. James, France Info from available muster rolls: 3/16/40 NAS San Diego, AS, received from Naval Training Station San Diego 7/22/40 NAS San Diego, SC2, transfer to ComPatWing3 NAS Coco Solo for duty 12/17/41 USS Denebola (AD-12), RM3c, received from Receiving Station Boston FFT USS Edison 1/5/42 USS Edison (DD-439), RM3c, received from USS Denebola for duty 4/1/42 USS Edison (DD-439), RM3c, change of rate to RM2c BuNav C/L # 1-42 2/16/43 USS Edison (DD-439), RM2c, received from Receiving Station New York for duty 5/6/43 USS Edison (DD-439), RM2c, transfer to Receiving Station Norfolk for transfer to USS Ancon for duty in flag complement of Comnet operations. 5/11/43 USS Ancon (ACG-4), RM1c, received from Receiving Station Norfolk for duty 6/26/44 USS Ancon (AGC-4), RM1c, transfer to USS Miantonomah (CM-10) TAD with FOWest Com11Phib Looks like he was aboard USS Edison and at some point, between April 1942 and February 1943, was temporarily detached and then returned. He was then transferred to the flag staff communications for Com11PhibFor (Commander 11th Amphibious Force) which was involved in the invasions of Normandy and southern France. I wonder if that last transfer was one to temporary duty with a forward observer (FO) group ashore. Bureau of Personnel records list him as killed in action during the invasion of southern France on 25 August 1944, ashore, not aboard a ship. Of course, southern France is a fairly long way from St Brieuc. No explanation for the discrepancy, all the more curious with the interment in Brittany. At any rate, I do not believe he was killed aboard any ship, but rather ashore. USS Miantonomah sank on 25 Sep 1944 after striking a mine near La Harve with the loss of 58 of her crew . . . a month later, but still a little piece of the puzzle . . . closer to St Brieuc than, say, Toulon.
I have been looking on and off for ages but could never find anything like that so thank you. I think you're right saying that he was killed ashore rather than at sea. St Brieuc is only an hour and a half from St James so it would make more sense. A mistake perhaps with the Bureau of Personnel records? should have been 'killed in action during the invasion of NORTHERN France". ?? I have found another kia. Lieutenant Junior Grade WILLIAM H. BLUE Thursday, 24 August 1944 United States Naval Reserve not sure if they would have been connected as he is USN reserve?