William Furman "Furman" PATTERSON Sr.
Sex: M
Individual Information
Birth: Jun 11, 1919 - Iva, Anderson Co, SC
Christening:
Death:
Burial:
Cause of Death:
Events
1. Military Service:, 1937-1939 in Anderson, SC
South Carolina National Guards, 263rd Division, Coast Artillery, Company "E", Search Lights unit, Anderson, SC. Joined @ age 18. Entry date delayed until2. Military Service:, National Guard, 263rd Division, Coast Artillery, Heavy Artillery Unit, 1939-1941 in Greenville, SC
13 Oct 1937 (due? to going immediately to two-weeks training, in 1937).
October 1944 @ Submarine Base, New London, Conn - Completed Sub-School - shipped out due to Sinus infection --
Jan, 1945 @ Recieving Station, Pier 92, New York City, Duty: 'Master At Arms' over 300 Sailors, while waiting assignment -- Assignment:
U.S.S. Menelaus, ARL 13 (Auxillary Repair Landing Craft) - Destination Guam, West Pacific, via Panama Canal; San Diego, Calif; and Hawaii, with one night at Royal Hawaiian Hotel on Waikiki Beach.
Dropped anchor in Mariana Islands, between Guam and Saipan. We watched planes return to Guam Air-strip, after a bomb run, where one exploded when it
touched down. Because of the barrier of dirt, (to shield the air-strip) we never got the full details.
We looked for souvenirs in the hills of Saipan, where an officer of Japanese Army was hiding. He surrendered 5 years after the 'War" was over.
Radioman 3rd, Duties: Send & Rec. all msgs, full-charge of 'Radio room' except
one officer who decoded or coded messages). My spare time spent typing 'news over short-wave radio' at ninety words per minutes. The news Paper was distributed to the Captain, with another copy to a 'Party" of sailors. The Cook furnished orange juice and Pharmist the alcohol. (Me, didn't drink). They knew the 'War' was over before the Captain.
Offered promotion of RM 1C to ship-over to regular Navy, but accepted my discharge.
Transferred to U.S.S. Mount Katmai (AE-16) ammunition ship. Almost ship-wrecked, off coast of Guam, [during violent typhoon), with oil tanker (less than one inch between ships, out of control). Seattle, Wash. and Charleston, S.C. then home 15th Day Feb 1946.
US National Guards 51st Signal Corp, Greenville, S.C. May 26, 1947, highest
rank T-Sergeant First Class, Character "Excellent". Rated expert Sharpshooter with Carbine. Honorable Discharge March 21, 1950.
National Guards, 263rd Division Coast Artillery, Heavy Artillery Unit, Company "F".
Unit chosen in 1941 (before World War II) fto leave for one year training. Having nearly 4 years, almost ready for discharge, also one child, had option to go or take early discharge.
3. Military Service:, US Navy, 1944-1946
WW II. Boot Camp at Sea Bee Training Camp, Camp Peary, Williamsburg, Virginia.4. Military Service:, 1947-1951 in Greenville County, South Carolina
(Sea Bee training included some construction, physical & amphibious Training,
hand to hand combat, weapons, plus general drills where my duty was "acting" 'Drill Sargeant', due to previous training.
Much of 'Boot Camp' spent helping train those with no military training. ------
Brother Eugene in Hospital there with 'Kidney operation' - spent some time there.
Had three brothers, one sister in US Service and sister in training at end of war.
June 1944 Communication School, @ Miami University, Oxford, OH. -
Courses included: typing, Morse Code, short-wave radio, flag-man, types of communication equip-ment, incl. teletype. Had back-sprain while there, in hospital
most of three weeks, but graduated with good grades, and asked to volunteer for submarine service
Oct 1944 - Submarine School, Sub-Base, New London, Connecticut. Submarine school plus advanced communication training, self-defense training, and under-water tactic.
(Training included some of the surveillance of a German Submarine, bringing a spy to contact German Patriots in USA. He debarked off coast of Massachusett and later arrested, with a great number of others, after he had made his contacts in the US). Completed Submarine School and training, but developed 'sinusitis', had operation, and sent to 'Receiving Station' for re-assignment. -----
Jan 1945 Navy Receiving Station, Pier 92, NYC, NY (Waiting regular assignment)-
1. Guard at Navy Yard, Brooklyn - (temporary)
2. MA (Master at Arms) for 350 personnel - (In New York City, entertained a WAC visitor, Mary Patterson, my sister (one of the five siblings in service). We took in many shows between Friday and Sunday, incl; Ice Land, Rose Room (owned by the Rose Orchestra) Jack Dempsey Restaurant, and many other shows, and restaurants. We stayed on "Times Square" at the Dixie Land Hotel. On Sunday we watched the Easter Parade on 5th Avenue, from the top of a transit bus)
3.Assigned to regular duty, as "Radioman" ---
Embarked in Rhode Island, aboard USS Menelaus (ARL13 - Auxilliary Repair Landing Craft), destination Guam and Saipan, West Pacific.
Route included trip through Panama Canal, San Diego, Cal., and Honolulu with
'Liberty' in Colon, Panama - San Diego - and Honolulu with it's Royal Hawaiian Hotel and Wakiki Beach at the side door.
Dropped Anchor in 'Saipan Bay' and watched a plane, returning from a 'Bomb Run' explode when it landed. A bomb had fail to fall, and hung from the rack, so we were told.
We got plenty of messages, but found time to type a 'Newspaper' from a
station giving the news by Morse Code. Four copies were made. One each for the Captain, Doctor, Cook, and Crew. Party time while the news was read.
Alcohol furnished by pharmist, orange jiuice and midnight snack by the cook.
My spare time was spent searching for souvenirs among the hills of Saipan, where planes had crashed. (This is same place a Jap Officer surrendered 5 years after the war ended). He lived in one of the many caves we had been exploring.
War over, Ship received 'orders' to replace Communication Officer with Radio- man 1st Class, so offered, "Option" Radioman 1st or transfer for discharge.
Transferred to Ammo Escort Ship (U.S.S. Mount Katmai AE-16) for return trip to States. Ships first orders were "Typhoon approaching, weigh anchor, ride out storm". With ships out of full control, at sea, we missed a collison with an oil tanker less than five inches. Belted to the 'rail', with nothing to do except watch.
Dropped anchor near Seattle, Washington and after a week was sent by train to USN Separation Center, NAS, Charleston, S.C.
Discharge recorded World War II Book 9, page 467, 18th Feb. 1946, Greenville, SC, but does not show Service Training at Miami University, Ohio nor any medical record there.
National Guards, 51st Division Signal Corps, Master T/Sergeant, Communications. Four years - Completing about 10 years 'Military Service'
5. Family Photo, 4 generations 'Sr to William IV'
6. Picture, Four Generations w/Gene
7. Picture, Roseroom, May 7, 1945 in New York, NY
Furman Patterson, Johnny Nutt, Magdalene Patterson
8. Picture, Furman and Lylton, 1940 in Main Street, Greenville, SC
Parents
Father: Daniel Nathaniel "Dan" PATTERSON (1880-1954)
Mother: Annie Belle SUTHERLAND (1889-1963)
Spouses and Children
1. *Lylton Carol "Lylton" HARBIN (Jul 18, 1921 - )
Marriage: Feb 9, 1940 - Piedmont, Greenville Co, South Carolina
Status: Divorced - 1970
Children:
1. William Furman "Bill" PATTERSON Jr. (1940- )
2. Kenneth Eugene "Gene" PATTERSON (1942- )
3. Donald Craig "Don" PATTERSON (1947- )
4. Mark Gregory "Mark" PATTERSON (1956- )
2. Ronia SHELLNUTT (Jun 25, 1938 - )
Marriage: 1964 - Georgia
Status: Divorced
Children:
1. Donna Lynn PATTERSON (1967- )
Notes
Marriage Notes (Lylton Carol "Lylton" HARBIN)
Married at the home of Bride's parents, on Hwy 29 S., Greenville -Piedmont Rd, Piedmont, Greenville County, SC. The 'Honeymoon' was spent in Spartanburg, SC.