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Veteran's History Project - Leroy C. Sporing - U.S. Navy 1944-1946

Writer’s note: While working as a support driver for RASDAK (Ride Across South Dakota) {a 7 day bicycle ride w/brother doing the biking}, a local person from Bison, SD approached the writer and inquired about the event going on. As the conversation progressed, she learned about the bicycle ride. She also found out about the Veterans History Project. She asked the writer to interview her father, then and there. He was in the Navy during WWII. After the Veteran drove his John Deere tractor to the farm, the interview took place… then and there!

Leroy C. Spoering (Leroy) had graduated from high school from Pilger, NE. He was just a young man and was aware the Draft was going to select his name soon. He liked having a choice about his future. He had family members who had been in the Navy. Very soon, this young man was on a bus to Omaha, NE for a physical exam and other testing. Sure, he passed all the tests! Next was his first train ride.

The train was filled with men of various ages who were headed to the same destination. It was the Great Lakes Naval Training Center (near Chicago, IL). Leroy had few if any, challenges in boot camp. His testing showed that he had some aptitude in numbers and tracking. Once he marched across the parade field as a graduate of boot camp, he was set for his next train ride.

This train, also filled with Navy personnel, was headed for Florida. His next training block was learning how to operate the Higgins boat. The Higgins boat is essentially a flat bottomed boat the carries men and supplies to landed locations. This vessel could get onto the shore, and drop the front facing of the boat. Once on land, other personnel would help off-load the supplies the Higgins boat carried, then the Higgins boat would head back out to sea. The training consisted of operating the boats on the seas and ramming them onto sandy beaches, again and again.

On graduating from this training, Leroy was next sent from Florida to California, on another troop train. This was to be a long, long trip! There were lots of stops so the guys could stretch their legs. The sailors, soldiers, and Marines were heralded by local folks along the entire route. On arrival in California, Leroy’s orders had declared that he was to be a Ship’s Clerk on the USS Birgit (KA 24).

The Birgit was an attack cargo ship. It was fairly new, having been built Providence, RI, in 1944. The ship did the usual shake-down tours then loaded with cargo, some passengers, and headed south. After turning right at the southern tip of Florida, the Birgit went west through the Panama Canal and on to Hawaii. Leroy boarded the ship there. After dropping off her cargo and re-loading, the Birgit went to the Marshall Islands, specifically, the island of Eniwetok.

This ship carried a tremendous amount of cargo. She was capable of sailing independently without support of other ships. Once in port, the cargo off-loading commenced. Leroy had pictures of the ship and its cargo. One of the pictures showed an on-board crane lifting a jeep from the cargo hold up and over to land. Pretty cool.

Leroy’s job entailed storing and readying the food supplies for the galley. A weeks’ menu was published stating the items to be served for meals three times a day. The ships cook was provided a copy of same. When the cooks came to his area, he would have the items ready for them so they could cook the food for the sailors. Leroy maintained copies of the menu items. Sometimes, he didn’t have the inventory on hand so he needed to go ashore to find stuffs. The ship administrators prepared a card for him stating his name and that he was authorized to be off the ship to conduct business. Leroy said that the meals sounded good on paper, but in reality, not so much!

At one point, the supply of meat got real low. The flour on hand became wormy. The butter had molded over. They did get a load of mutton sent in but Leroy said it was most likely meat from a herd of old rams! A British ship came to them to help the sailors out. The two Chief’s colluded to trade the mutton for some good butter. Their butter was no better. No one gained from this trade.

One of Leroy’s tasks was to climb to the ships’ crows nest, to keep an eye out for good or bad news. He was in effect, a forward observer, without leaving the ship! Moreover, he was a loader for the eight inch gun on the Birgit. Every morning and evening he had a “battle station” to get to so he could be a part of a 7-man crew that fired anti-aircraft guns.

Leroy was not a big person at this time… about 5’6, 130. He had a photo available that showed his uniform didn’t fit so well. The sleeves were about 6 inches too short and the spats for his pants didn’t have much cloth to wrap around his ankles. He had a big smile on his face.

In spare time, Leroy said that he was a member of a group of six guys who played poker. During the month, they kept track of winnings and losses. On payday, they settled up. He said no one really made much more than anyone else. There were sailors aboard who were black. They were the stewards for the officers.

The ship had its’ own newspaper. It gave the scores of games “back home”, the times they started and finished for the day, and other stuff that was important at the time. It also told the men that the Victory over Japan happened. The Birgit remained in the area of Japan, assisting with the occupation of the Island and the re-settlement of its citizens.

The USS Birgit headed to the US. It went to San Francisco, reaching her destination in January 1946. She sailed under the Golden Gate Bridge… a memory of the ages! Well, that was nice, but they had to return to Okinawa to pick up men who were anxious to get home. The did their ordered task and headed back to San Francisco.

Within days, the Birgit went back to sea and headed for the Panama Canal. The ship went through the lock system of the canal and then was on the Caribbean. The ship found its destination near New Orleans. She sailed up the Mississippi River. The ship was to be in moth balls and out of commission.

Leroy was sent on to the Great Lakes Naval Station for out processing. His service to the United States was over.

Leroy reflected that the Navy was a big part of his life. He recommended that young people join the military. If it wasn’t for war, he wouldn’t want any-one to go through that but the service was needed. When asked what his best day in the Navy was? Coming home.

He did a good job as Ships Cook! Thank you for your service Third Class Petty Officer Leroy Spoering!

 

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