It wasn't until I started researching history on the Mulberry that I realized that the 'Working' ships of the Navy were regarded as
"insignifant". It seems the 'Fighting' ships had men onboard who were assigned to maintaining
history, but the only place to find the history of the working ships is in the ship logs, or from the
crewmembers themselves. And unlike information on the fighting ships, the costs incurred in
obtaining information is 'outragous'. This space gives me the opportunity to make the following
statement: "Those 'working' ships and men contributed as much toward the war effort as the
other ships, and I think it is about time they are recognized".
Robert (Bob) Cooper,Sr.
rccoopersr@att.net
KEEPER OF THE PAGE
Would love to hear from you. To email meclick on icon below
I joined the United States Navy in 1949.
From 1949 to 1955 I served on 3 ships: USS Cacapon, (AO-52), USS Caliente, (AO-53), and USS Eunice (PCE-846). I began as a deck hand, then went to cook .. but in 1955,
I changed my rate to Yeoman. Directly out of Yoeman School, I was assigned to my 4th and last ship .. the USS Mulberry.
The Mulberry had just returned from 5 years of non-rotating duty in Japan. Records were in bad shape,
and it took me several months to get the paperwork in good order. I went onboard the Mulberry in December 1955
and was onboard for a little over 18 months.
The ship was such a great experience for me .. and from the time
I was discharged in October 1958, I never forgot
what a great little ship the Mulberry was. And the crewmembers that I served with turned out to be an experience
of comradeship that I had never known before or after. That is why I have spent so much time and money on setting up the Mulberry
Historical Association ... and this homepage. I simply could not bear to see a little, seemingly insignifant 'work' ship, and all those hard
working crewmembers, go through 20 years of service to the country without some written history. I hope you enjoy this website.
