A column for shipmates and their families who are looking to find former shipmates and seeking information about other former shipmates.
by Bill Busching, secretary.
An Assistance Request from a Fellow Shipmate:
Shipmates:This is an assistance plea for William (Bill) Machart. who served on John W. Thomason from September 1950 until April 1954 and was Special Detail Ships Helmsman and reached 2nd Class Quartermaster.
After the Shipwreck off the coast of Korea we were patched up in Japan. We were then sent to Hawaii for further repair of the J.W.T. While there I injured my knee severely while playing ball and was left behind by my ship. I was released after surgery and recuperation from Trippler General Hospital and requested to be sent back to J.W.T. I caught up with the ship in Tokyo. A couple of months later all four Destroyers were sent back to San Diego. J.W.T. was then sent to Mare Island for overhaul. I was assigned to welders watch in the bottom of the dry dock. As I squatted on my heels, elbows on my knees, a steel toolbox fell from above, hitting me in my back. I was taken to the base hospital for x-rays and observation. Several years ago I applied to the V.A for disability. There was no record of the incident in my files. Therefore I was denied disability for my back problems. I need any shipmate who witnessed this incident to send me a notarized letter, explaining how you saw this happen.
Since I had the bad left knee I always thought it was the cause of my back problems until one day I remembered the toolbox incident. The V.A.. said it was not the cause. I need the help of my shipmates to prove to the V.A that I have a service cause for disability.
Just for the record-I have had a knee replacement and two back operations. Today I can walk only with some kind of assistance I would really appreciate any help anyone can give me.
Thanks,
Bill Machart
Please Reply to:
William Machart
P.O. Box 18
Morrison. OK 73061
Debbie Fliess wrote:
Hi!
I was going to notify someone that my father, Robert A. Green (Jacksonville, FL) passed away in a car wreck in July 1994. If there is anyway to track down anyone who knew him, I would be interested in learning of any stories or memories someone could share with the family. He has 5 grandchildren he never got to meet but they would love to learn about his time in the Navy. My son is 11 and is full of questions about Grandpa Green.
I know that he went to a reunion several years ago. I believe it was in California.
Thank you!
Keith Corkum, onboard JWT 1948-49 writes:
I served on DD 760 during the China deployment from December 1948 to June 1949. One incident that stands out in my memory, was when we were anchored in the Wousung Delta where the Yangtze and the Wangpoo Rivers converge, waiting to evacuate people from Shanghi as the communist army was advancing. At about midnight, they fired a starshell over us. General Quarters was sounded and I believe we slipped the anchor to race down the Yangtze River in order to avoid a possible shelling. This is how I remember the incident. I would appreciate it if anyone was aboard JWT at the time and can verify this incident, especially dates and times. /s/ Keith Corkum
Was anyone out there onboard the Fighting John in 1949 with Keith who remembers this incident? Contact Keith at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
The son of a previously "missing" shipmate, Joseph Crum, who served on board JWT 1950-52 has contacted us and stated that his Dad is in failing health and would love to hear from his former shipmates. It would mean a lot to him to hear from any of you who remember serving with Joseph Crum. He can be reached through his son, Richard Crumb, at Richard's e-mail address:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Richard wrote:
My dad served on the JW Thomason from approx. 1950 until 1952. I googled the ship and found the ship's web page and dad enjoyed looking at the old duty logs, pictures and the rest, and reminiscing about some of his shipmates. We just received the newsletter and he did enjoy reading it. If anyone cares to correspond with him they can e-mail me and dad will get it; my email address is This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Or by mail:
Joseph Crum
c/o Richard & Cathy Crum
613 Benbrook Court
Temple, TX 76502
Does anyone remember Rich Torres? He was onboard 1952-53 and would like to hear from anyone who was onboard the JWT at the same time. He does not have an e-mail address and he didn't give me a home address, but a buddy of his, Jack Briggs, says he will forward any e-mail to Rich that you send to him at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (Jack’s e-mail address).
Bob Hiatt, who is the son of deceased shipmate Carl W. Hiatt, wrote looking for any information about his father's service aboard the JWT. We have found record of Carl W. Hiatt reporting aboard on 11 Oct. 1945, the day the ship was commissioned, and the 1946 muster list shows him too.
Mr. Hiatt sent along a very fine drawing of the JWT that he found among his father's things. The drawing is signed by a W. C. Jones and dated S.F. '45. Mr. Hiatt suspects that W. C. Jones may have been one of his father's shipmates. To date we have found no record of a W. C. Jones being assigned to the JWT.
If anyone remembers Carl W. Hiatt or knows who W. C. Jones was please let us know so we can pass the information on to Mr. Hiatt.
We have reproduced the drawing below. Click on the drawing for a full sized version.
