USS Thompson refuels from USS Arkansas, April 1944. Department of Defense photo. When my grandfather, Ship’s Cook 3rd Class Michael John Flanagan (1927 – 1997) left the USS Mervine on February 20, 1948, he transferred to the USS Thompson for his final month of service in the Navy. The USS Thompson (DD-627) was a Navy destroyer commissioned […]
Michael John Flanagan And The USS Mervine
USS Mervine (DD-489) off New York Navy Yard, 23 January 1943. Photo courtesy of the US National Archives. As Memorial Day approaches, I am honoring a World War II veteran who thankfully made it back home — my grandfather Michael John Flanagan (1927 – 1997). Grandpa claimed to have served on multiple Naval ships while […]
My Mexican-Born Great-Grandfather Jose “Joe” Robledo And The World War I draft
Jose Robledo (1875 – ca 1936). This is the only known photo of my great-grandfather. I know very little about my great-grandfather Jose “Joe” Robledo. He died before my Dad was even born, and only one of his children is still alive, so that has created some major brickwalls in my research. Family lore claims […]
