USS Florence Nightingale AP 70

USS Florence Nightingale AP 70 (navsource.org)

Letter from a WWII Group

George Swarts

February 2005

 

I started out in the scouts and raiders in 1942. After North Africa. I went abroad The USS Florence Nightingale AP 70. Stayed aboard her for 22 months. Making the invasion of Siscly, Selnora, Point De Lac, and Southern France.

 

Returned to the states and was transferred to the Pre Commission detail of the USS Ostara AKA 33. Took her out to the Pacific for 13 months. Had the honor of being the first convoy into Tokyo Bay? Spent 2 months moving the Chinese army from French Indo China to Chingwongtow to fight the communist.

 

Returned to the States. Picked up The USS Wakefield AP21. Made one trip to Okanawa and brought back 8800 Marines to New York.  Spent 6 months putting her out of commission in Bayonne, NJ.

 

Was transferred to USS Steinaker DD863. Spent 22 months aboard her. In February 1945, I broke my back in a North Atlantic storm. Spent 6 months in a cast aboard the USS Constellation AH 5. 

 

September 1948 transferred to Bayonne, NJ.

 

October 1948 discharged.

 

June 1950 called back for Korea.

 

Put the USS Monrovia APA 33 back in commission took her the Greenland. As I was classified as limited duty and there was no longer such a classification, I was discharged in June 1951.

 

That is the sad Story of George B. Swarts MM1/C. 

 

Good to be with you guys, Hope to hear from you all.

 

Shipmates are Shipmates Forever

 

George Swarts

 

U S Legacies Magazine 2005