Text version of the log Scan of the actual log book
Map of the Wickes Voyage (Google maps)
Squadron Information Terms and abbreviations used in the log Ships damaged or sunk
What follows is my father’s log of his time as Chief Radioman aboard the USS Wickes during the Second World War. In 1995 he transcribed it to be presented to the 50th reunion of the Wickes crew. In 2008 I decided to do what I had in mind for several years, that is, scan his transcription using OCR and also scan the log itself and supporting graphics.
Just a few notes about who this person is. My father was known as Larry Firrantello, as I am. His name, however was Loreto Lawrence, while mine is Lawrence Anthony Firrantello, that is why we have never been referred to as Sr and Jr. He was born in 1915 in New Rochelle, NY, where he lived until retirement on Cape Cod, Mass. He died in 2001. Although he mentions a girlfriend, Dotty, in the log, I have no idea who she was. Within a year after the War ended he met and married my mother, Olga Vernaglia. As you know, the War ended a month later, and he was honorably discharged from the Navy on September 6, 1945. He returned to the Navy during the Korean conflict and was stationed near Chicago at Naval Air Station Glenview where he served as a Radio instructor. Shortly after that they moved back to New Rochelle and I was born.
I’ve wielded the editorial pencil very lightly, limiting my changes to spelling and punctuation, so that you can get a feel for the man who wrote this. I have included scans of the original log so you can check on anything that isn’t clear. If there are any differences between the original and the transcription, they were made when he transcribed it. I used OCR to scan his transcript, so please forgive any scanning errors I missed.For further information on the Wickes, search for USS Wickes DD-578 on an Internet search engine. Wikipedia has a good article on it which reflects the events in this log.
I’ll be glad to answer any questions, but remember I didn’t write this log and I am not a military historian. I can cetainly tell you more about my father. You can write me at larrfirr@hotmail.com
Text version of the log Scan of the actual log book
Map of the Wickes Voyage (Google maps)