My grandfather, Donald Demers, served aboard the Chiwawa as a 2nd Class Boatswain, and Jon Strupp's father, James "Jo" Strupp, served as a 1st Class Watertender on the Chiwawa.
We are trying to track down crew members and memorabilia for the history project, and to interview crew members or their relatives whenever possible.
Please feel free to tour the site and give us your comments and suggestions.
And please e-mail us contact information and historical information and let us know what would be a good time to contact you.
Here is some basic information you could compile for the project:
1. Your memories aboard the Chiwawa.
2. You rank on the ship.
3. Duration of service, time aboard the Chiwawa.
4. Your name, address, phone number and e-mail address.
5. Let us know what is a good day and time to contact you.
5. Contact information for other crew members who want to participate in the project.
6. If we receive enough response, we may publish a newsletter and organize a reunion. Let us know if you would be interested in either.
7. Let us know if you would like copies of photographs or documents, and if you would like to receive them by e-mail, fax or postal mail.
8. Do you have memorabilia that you could lend for the project? A copy of the ship's newsletter, the Oil Spout? Photographs, liberty passes, holiday menus, etc.? If so, please let us know if you could make photocopies or scan them and e-mail them to us for use in the Web site.
Thank you for your participation in this project, and thank you for your service aboard the U.S.S. Chiwawa. This is an effort that will preserve a very important era in history for future generations to experience, and it will hopefully revive friendships and good memories for those who served their country in the war years.
Thanks again and we look forward to hearing your tales from the sea.