Project 888
Name: Jack Anderson ROLAND
Rank / Rating: PHM1-Pharmacist's Mate First ClassService #: 893 12 00 DOB: Feb 15, 1918 From: Crawford, GA Parents: Arthus Gray and Mindel Crawford Roland Went Aboard: Jun 25, 1945 Age When Ship Went Down: 27 years, 5 months, 15 days Spouse: Children: Grandchildren: Bio Submitted By: Patricia Stephens (Admin) and Marilyn Northcutt Henry |
 ROLAND, Jack A |
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Jack was 22 years old when he registered for the draft in his hometown of Crawford, GA. He was a student at the University of Georgia in Athens. A photo from his Junior year is shown in this bio.
Jack enlisted in the US Navy on July 26, 1943, in Atlanta, GA.
His service involved numerous training facilities and assignments in shore installations for the first 23 months. His last five weeks of service would be on board his first ship - USS Indianapolis CA-35.
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| His initial training was at the Naval Training Station, Great Lakes, IL. On October 15, 1943 Jack was a PhM3c (Pharmacist's Mate 3rd class) when he was received at the Naval Hospital, Great Lakes, IL., “for duty.” On November 9, 1943 he was transferred from Great Lakes to Naval Hospital at Key West “for duty.” While there, on December 17, 1943, he was advanced in rating to PhM2c. April 28, 1944, at Key West, he was reassigned to the hospital staff. His training continued and he was advanced on July 16, 1944 to PhM1c(T), a temporary position. Twelve days later he was transferred to the Hospital Corps School, Navy Hospital, Portsmouth, VA. On August 12, 1944, he was received for advanced instruction at the USN Hospital Corps School, Portsmouth, VA from the USN Hospital, Key West, FL where his rate was noted as PhM1c (Pharmacist’s Mate 1st class). This is a clerical error and should have read PhM1c(T). He was transferred from Portsmouth, VA and on October 25, 1944, Jack was received at the Naval Hospital, Seattle, WA. He was noted as being on the “Staff”. His time here was short. On November 8, 1944 he was transferred again to R/B Tacoma, WA. His rating was still PhM1c(T). Jack spent the next five months at the Naval Barracks in Tacoma, WA. He is noted on the muster rolls as a PhM1c(T). The report of changes for the barracks shows Jack was transferred on April 10, 1945 to San Bruno, CA. The Naval Advanced Base Personnel Depot (NARPD), San Bruno, CA., was a new naval facility built to support the war effort in the Pacific. It handled personnel traveling to and from the war zones. The base was also known as Camp Terry B. Thompson, San Bruno, CA. Jack would serve there for the next 2 months. He was transferred from NARPD and on June 8, 1945 he was received at Shoemaker, CA. After training and shore duty the past 1 year and 11 months, Jack was about to embark on his first ship - heavy cruiser USS Indianapolis CA-35. He traveled from Shoemaker, CA to Mare Island, CA and reported aboard Indianapolis on June 25, 1945. Indy was in dry dock at this time still undergoing repairs from the kamikaze attack the previous March and for refitting. Many men were granted leave and others were transferred for duties away from the ship. The records seem to indicate that Jack was transferred for a few days to the Mare Island Hospital, shown in the following record: July 12, 1945, the “Patient Personnel ROC” at Naval Hospital, Mare Island, CA, shows Jack was received from USS Indianapolis CA-35 and two days later he was Transferred to the receiving station at San Francisco, CA for further forwarding to Indianapolis. He arrived in San Francisco and the same day was transferred back to Indianapolis. He was noted as a PhM1c. On July 12, 1945, Captain McVay received orders to ready his ship for a top secret mission. He cancelled all leave. Crew members were to return to the ship immediately. This is most likely why Jack served only a few days at the Mare Island Hospital before being ordered back aboard ship. He reported back on board July 14, 1945, the day Indy conducted her sea trials following her repairs. As noted, above, from Mare Island hospital, Jack was transferred to the receiving office in San Francisco to be further transferred to Indy. It is likely he boarded the ship in San Francisco as she was leaving the bay for sea trials. Indianapolis departed Mare Island, CA on July 16, 1945 carrying components of the atomic bomb that would be dropped on Hiroshima and, ultimately, ending WWII. After her secret cargo was unloaded at Tinian, northern Marianas, and after a brief stop in Guam, Indianapolis headed to Leyte, central Philippines. Approximately half-way to Leyte, Indianapolis was struck by two torpedoes from Japanese submarine I-58. She sank in 12 minutes. Jack went down with the ship that had been his new assignment for only five weeks. If he was in the sick bay area when the torpedoes hit, it is likely he was killed instantly. Jack’s parents placed a beautiful headstone in his memory in the Crawford Cemetery in Crawford, GA. The stone is inscribed, “In Loving Memory of our son who sacrificed his life in the great conflict. He rest at sea" You Are Gone, But Not Forgotten. Source: Official USN training bases and ship records Navy Department, Casualty Section, Office of Public Information (1946): Combat Connected Naval Casualties, WWII, by States; Vol. AL-MO; GA. Citing Jack Anderson Roland. p. 12 | |
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