World War II in the Pacific
    Navy concrete barges in WW2
    CORUNDUM (IX-164) concrete barge.

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    CORUNDUM (IX-164), formerly Limestone1 , (barge) Yard No. 14. Corundum was a non-self-propelled concrete barge acquired from the Maritime Commission, converted for use as a landing craft and vehicle spare parts barge and assigned to Service Force, Pacific Fleet. She was placed in service on 18 July 1944, towed to the Philippines where she rendered assistance to Commander, Service Division 101. On 8 August 1946 she was placed out of service and delivered to the War Shipping Administration.
    Specifications:
    Displacement: 5,636 ton.(light) ;   10,960 ton .(full)
    Length: 366'4" ;   Beam:; 54' ;   Draft: 26'
    Complement: 52 ;   Armament: one 40mm gun mount
    Propulsion none.
      ----
      1 . Limestone and Corundum swapped identities in May while fitting out. Thirteen were completed as US Navy GSK vessels for use in the South Pacific as floating warehouses and reclassified IX (miscellaneous). Carundom was fitted for to do repair work. Here is Limestone :
         Maritime Commission hull 1338 was laid down 5 January 1944 by Barrett & Hilp, Belair Shipyard, South San Francisco, under a M. C. contract; named Corundum (IX-164) 7 February 1944; launched 25 March 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Leo Heagerty; renamed and redesignated Limestone (IX-158) 23 May 1944; acquired by the Navy 14 October 1944; and placed in service the same day.
          Limestone, a non-self-propelled concrete barge, was towed to Subic Bay, Philippine Islands, for use as an Army and Marine Corps stores barge. Unheralded but necessary to the overall war effort, Limestone served near the advance bases in the Pacific until she returned to the United States in 1946. She was placed out of service 12 December 1946 at Seattle, and was sold to Foss Launch & Tug Co., 11 September 1947. - end Limestone
    M E M O R A B L E   D A T E S
    Acquired by the Navy and placed in service 18 July 1944
    Left San Francisco  12 August 1944
    Arrived at Pearl Harbor  25  August 1944
    Left Pearl Harbor  1 September 1944
    Arrived Eniwetok  20 September 1944
    Left Eniwetok  5 October 1944
    Arrived at Ulithi  14 October 1944
    Submarine attack  19 November 1944;  Tanker MISSISSINEWA sunk.
    Submarine attack /  ;  ammunition ship hit.
    Suicide plane attack 11 March 1945;  USS RANDOLPH damaged.
    Left Ulithi  19 May 1945
    Arrived at Leyte Gulf  24 May 1945
    Japanese surrender offer  10 August 1945  2100 Big Celebration ! ! !
    Left Leyte Gulf  23 September 1945
    TYPHOON : 29 September 1945; adrift for ninety hours.  
    Taken in tow by AO-4  3 October 1945
    Arrived at Subic Bay  7 October 1945
     Left Subic Bay   7 Nov. '45
    Arrived Shanghai 15 Nov 45
    Placed out of service, 8 August 1946 
    In Reserve 1948.
    ==================================
    (the remainder of this chronicle is in my father's handwriting)
         Detached from ship 6 Feb
         Left Shanghai    10 Feb 46 aboard USS Berrien PA-62
         Arrived Tokyo    13 Feb '46
         Left       "     21 Feb '46
         Arrived  Frisco   6 Mar 46
         Discharged        16 Mar 46
    SHIP'S ROSTER
    THOMPSON, William H.  Lt. Comdr
    BRINTON, Ferree Jr.  Lt. Comdr.
    SHEA, Charles H.  Lt.(jg)
    MILLER, I.F.  Lt. (jg)
    HILLMAN, F.I..  Lt (jg)
    ZUBER, J.H. Lt.
    JENSEN, Lester Ensign
    MOORE, Howard Lt.(jg)
    DIEHL, Jesse G. CPC
    HARN, M.J. CPC
    McLEOD, N.W. Technician
    DARCY, J.F. Technician
    ACKERMAN, George E.  SKT 3c
    ALDRICH, William E.  S1c (SKT)
    ALTMAN, Paul G.  S1c (SKT)
    ANESTA, Veto A.  SKT 2c
    ANGELL, Edward  S1c
    ARNETT, George S.  CSK
    ARRIGO, Ross J.  SKT 2c
    BACON, Martin J.  SKT 2c
    BECK, James A.  SKT 3c
    BEETON, H.L.  CN 1c
    BERMAN, Harvey L.  SKT 3c
    BERMOSKY, Albert T. (SHARKEY)  SKT 3c
    BERTELSON, Albert A.  SKT 2c
    BLANKENSHIP, David T.  S 1c
    BORLAND, J.L.  MM 2c
    BOUSE, Harley O. SKT 2c
    BOWLES, Joseph  BM 2c
    BRIGHAM, James W.  SKT 2c
    BROOKS, Vern L.  SC 3c
    BRISTOL, D.D.  SM 3c
    BURGESS, Joseph V.  SKT 2c
    BURK, Tom Ray Jr.  StM 2c
    BURLESON, James W.  S 1c
    BYE, Arden L.  SKT 3c
    CARLAT, Ralph C. SKT 2c
    CARRON, Thomas N.  SKT 3c
    CHERCHIO, Salvatore J.  SKT 3c
    CHIDCHIMO, A. James  SKT 3c
    COLCLESSER, Glen M.  SF 3c
    CRIM, Melvin N.  GM 2c
    CROWELL, Samuel F.  SKT 2c
    CZELUSNIAK, Matthew J.  SKT 3c
    DANIELS, Alvin E.  S 1c
    DAVIS, Donald L.  SKT 3c
    DECKER, Roland M.  S 1c
    De VRIES, Berthus S.  S 1c
    DOUGHERTY, William H.  S 1c
    DOWDY, Kenneth M.  S 1c
    DURIO, Joseph M.  St 3c
    DUTOIT, Irwin D.  SKT 3c
    DUTREIL, Eugene N.  SKT 3c
    ECIE, Bennie  S 1c
    FASSETT, James W. Jr.  S 1c
    FISHPAW, John M.  S 1c
    FOSS, Nelson F.  S 1c
    FOSTER, Rodamn L.  S 1c
    FORD, John S.  SC 1c
    FOWLER, Raymond N. Jr.  S 1c
    FRANCIS, Herbert W.  QM 2c
    FRENCH, Wilbur J.  S 1c
    FRIEND, William A.  S 1c
    GAGE, James M.  MM 3c
    GLASSMYER, Norman W.  SKT 2c
    GOODMAN, Lawrence F.  SC 3c
    GREENFIELD, Harry R.  SKT 1c
    GRINDSTAFF, John E.  S 1c
    GURLEY, Braddy  SKT 2c
    HALL, Clarence E.  SKT 3c
    HALSETH, Jess W.  MoMM 1c
    HAND, Fred W.  MoMM 2c
    HAY, Daniel L.  MM 2c
    HELLERICH, Walter G.  CSKT(AA)
    HESS, George C.  MoMM 3c
    HOLCOMB, Norton L.  BM 2c
    HOVELL, Ruport L.  BM 2c
    ISOM, Burritt D.  SKT 1c
    JEHN, Edward A.  SKT 2c
    KIER, Lyle D. Sr.  SKT 1c
    KNIGHT, Theodore E.  SM 3c
    KRENKE, Richard H.  SF 1c
    LEHMANN, Harman N.  BM 1c
    LENEHAN, Donald L.  SKT 2c
    LERBERG, Arthur N.  SKT 3c
    LEVENGOOD, Ralph H.  SM 3c
    LEWIS, Charles M.  S 1c
    LINN, Russell E.  SKT 2c
    MACKIE, Warren  SKT 2c
    MAIN, Burtin  S 2c
    MANSON, Raymond A. Jr.  SKT 1c
    MARTIN, Jack R.  S 1c
    MARINACCI, Tony  S 1c
    McGINNIS, Joseph J.  SKT 2c
    McLEOD, James C.  SKT 2c
    MELROY, James C.  SKT 3c
    MENDENHALL, Leo N.  SKT 2c
    MENEFEE, Jack SKT 2c
    MILLS, Dwight G.  SK 1c
    MITCHELL, James W.  CPhm(AA)
    MORING, J.L.  SKT 3c
    MOTLEY, James C.  SKT 3c
    MURPHY, William H. SKT 1c
    NEACE, Rufus  S 2c
    NEDDEAU, Leroy B.  SKT 2c
    NORNES, George P.  Cox
    NUNN, Wallace H.  SKT 2c
    OLSEN, Daniel L.  CMM(PA)
    PAGE, Eugene  GM 3c
    PETERS, Stanley B.  CSKT(AA)
    PETERSON, Argales L.  F 1c
    PETTIT, Vernon H.  CM 3c
    PHILLIPS, Arthur E.  MoMM 3c
    POOL, William J.  MM 1c
    POWERS, Charles E.  SK 2c
    RECTOR, Van B.  SKT 2c
    REHARD, Robert MoMM 1c
    REYNOLDS, Richard R.  EM 3c
    RUSSELL, Basil C.  SKT 3c
    SCHILLING, LaVern  SKT 3c
    SHAHEEN, Edward G.  CSKT(AA)
    SOWLES, Walter  F 1c
    STALL, Russell S.  SC 1c
    STALLCUP, Elton B.  MoMM 3c
    STANDER, Carroll C.  MM 1c
    STRODE, Dorsey L.  SKT 2c
    TACHENY, C.N.  SKT 1c
    TOMICH, Anthony J.  S 1c
    WALKER, Chester D.  GM 2c
    WALLACE, Wesley P.  EM 2c
    WALTERS, (Smith) Oliver H.  S 1c
    WARD, Benjamin E.  GM 2c
    WERNER, Chester T.  SKT 3c
    WEST, Roy J.  SKT 1c
    WILKINS, Charles J.  SKT 2c
    YOCHUM, James E. (Buckets)  SKT 1c
    WOMACK, George D.  S 1c (Bkr)
    Honolulu 27Aug1944
        - personnel data and photos provided by Walter Stander from his father, Carroll C. Stander.
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    Last updated on Jun 28, 2005.
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