Diary of the Armed Guard Gunnery Officer on the S.S. Charles Sumner      

 Charles L. Sawyer - Commanding      Charles Sumner - Liberty - 7176 Tons
 September 7, 1943                   September 8, 1943                   

 0715 - Reveille.                    0715 - Reveille.                    
 0730 - Breakfast.                   0730 - Breakfast.                   
 0900 - Muster. Daily inspection of  0900 - Muster. Inspection of        
 magazines. Temperatures, Small Arms quarters.                           
 64-73, 4 inch 62-70, 3 inch 60-72.  0930 - Daily inspection of magazines
 1130 - Dinner.                      Temperatures, Small Arms 63-75, 4   
 1200 - Liberty granted. Ralph Seth  inch 63-73, 3 inch 62-73.           
 S1/c 753-02-92 and Horace Foster    1100 - Physical drill.              
 S1/c 351-06-64 returned. Both were  1130 - Dinner.                      
 convicted in Magistrates court St.  1200 - Liberty granted.             
 Johns, Newfoundland on charges of   1630 - Supper.                      
 drunkenness and disorderly conduct. G. Hazuka GM3/c assigned to shore   
 Punishment awarded was $5.00 fine   patrol. Gun watches maintained      
 each, Newfoundland currency.        throughout the 24 hours.            
 1630 - Supper.                                                          
 Gun watch maintained throughout the                                     
 24 hours. T. Bowerman, GM3/c                                            
 assigned to shore patrol.                                               
                                                                         
                                                                         
                                                                         
 Diary of the Armed Guard Gunnery Officer on the S.S. Charles Sumner      

 Charles L. Sawyer - Commanding      Charles Sumner - Liberty - 7176 Tons
 September 9, 1943                   September 10, 1943                  

 0715 - Reveille.                    0715 - Reveille.                    
 0730 - Breakfast.                   0730 - Breakfast.                   
 0900 - Muster.                      0900 - Muster.                      
 0930 - Daily inspection of          0915 - Daily inspection of magazines
 magazines. Temperatures, Small Arms Temperatures, Small Arms 66-72, 4   
 62-73, 4 inch 66-75, 3 inch 60-72.  inch 68-74, 3 inch 60-69.           
 1115 - Received air raid notice     1030 - Physical drill.              
 from USNLO.                         1130 - Dinner.                      
 1130 - Dinner.                      1630 - Supper.                      
 1630 - Supper.                      Gun watches maintained throughout   
 2315 - Air raid alarm, civilian     the 24 hours.                       
 drill. Men at General Quarters                                          
 stations.                                                               
 2400 - Secured from General                                             
 Quarters.                                                               
 Gun watches maintained throughout                                       
 the 24 hours.                                                           
                                                                         

                                                                         
 Diary of the Armed Guard Gunnery Officer on the S.S. Charles Sumner      

 Charles L. Sawyer - Commanding      Charles Sumner - Liberty - 7176 Tons
 September 11, 1943                  September 12, 1943                  

 0715 - Reveille.                    0530 - General Quarters. Out of     
 0730 - Breakfast.                   convoy and proceeding independently.
 0915 - Muster. Inspection of        Guns trained and elevated through   
 magazines. Temperatures, Small Arms their full arcs. Firing circuits    
 67-72, 4 inch 68-74, 3 inch 58-71.  tested. Reported working properly.  
 Turn to on issuing of sea gear.     0630 - Secured from General Quarters
 Stripping, cleaning and inspecting  0715 - Reveille.                    
 20 MM guns.                         0730 - Breakfast.                   
 1130 - Dinner.                      0900 - Muster.                      
 1630 - Supper.                      1100 - Physical drill.              
 1800 - Men at quarters for sailing. 1130 - Dinner.                      
 1910 - Secured from quarters.       1400 - Daily inspection of magazines
 Set condition three watch. Guns     Temperatures, Small Arms 69-75, 4   
 maintained till 1800. Condition     inch 67-75, 3 inch 62-69.           
 three watch maintained from 1910.   1500 - Supper.                      
                                     Condition three maintained through- 
                                     out the 24 hours. International fog 
                                     signal and range light burned during
                                     fog.                                
                                     2400 - Clocks advanced one half hour
                                                                         
                                                                         
                                                                         
                                                                         
 Diary of the Armed Guard Gunnery Officer on the S.S. Charles Sumner      

 Charles L. Sawyer - Commanding      Charles Sumner - Liberty - 7176 Tons
 September 13, 1943                  September 14, 1943                  

 Joined Convoy                       0515 - General Quarters. Guns,      
 0715 - Reveille.                    sights, and firing circuits checked.
 0730 - Breakfast.                   Reported working properly.          
 1130 - Dinner.                      0615 - General Quarters secured.    
 1300 - Muster.                      0715 - Reveille.                    
 1315 - Daily inspection of          0730 - Breakfast.                   
 magazines. Temperatures, Small Arms 1130 - Dinner.                      
 66-69, 4 inch 66-69, 3 inch 63-63.  1300 - Battle station drill. All    
 1630 - Physical Drill.              hands. 20 MM crews drilled. 3 & 4   
 1700 - Supper.                      inch pointer and sightsetter drill. 
 2015 - General quarters. Guns and   1315 - Battle stations secured and  
 sights trained and elevated through proceeded to fire stations and      
 their full arcs. Firing circuits &  abandon ship stations.              
 lights checked. Reported working    1530 - 20 MM guns cleaned. 3 and 4  
 properly.                           inch guns checked and aired.        
 2115 - Secured from general         Magazines secured and inspected.    
 quarters.                           Temperatures, Small Arms 67-75, 4   
 2400 - Condition three watch        inch 68-76, 3 inch 62-73.           
 maintained throughout 24 hours.     1700 - Supper.                      
 Clocks retarded one hour. W. Arthur 1930 - General Quarters. Guns,      
 S1/c completed his 48 hours extra   sights and firing circuits checked. 
 duty.                               Reported working properly. Range set
                                     at 800 yards. Blackout reported     
                                     complete.                           
                                     2030 - General Quarters secured.    
                                     Clocks retarded one hour.           
                                                                         
                                                                         
                                                                         
 Diary of the Armed Guard Gunnery Officer on the S.S. Charles Sumner      

 Charles L. Sawyer - Commanding      Charles Sumner - Liberty - 7176 Tons
 September 15, 1943                  September 16, 1943                  

 0430 - General Quarters. Guns       0445 - General Quarters. Guns and   
 trained and elevated through their  sights trained and elevated through 
 full arcs. Firing circuits checked. their full arcs. Firing circuits    
 Reported working properly. Range    checked. Reported working properly. 
 set at 2000 yards.                  Range set at 2000 yards.            
 0545 - General Quarters secured.    0545 - General Quarters secured.    
 0715 - Reveille.                    0715 - Reveille.                    
 0730 - Breakfast.                   0730 - Breakfast.                   
 1130 - Dinner.                      1130 - Dinner.                      
 1300 - Muster. Daily inspection of  1300 - Muster. Turn to on the clean-
 magazines. Temperatures, Small Arms ing of guns.                        
 73-76, 4 inch 74-76, 3 inch 68-75.  1600 - Daily inspection of magazines
 1700 - Supper.                      Temperatures, Small Arms 74-80, 4   
 1915 - General Quarters. Blackout   inch 75-80, 3 inch 72-78.           
 reported complete.                  1845 - General Quarters. Guns and   
 1945 - Secured from General         sights trained and elevated through 
 Quarters.                           their full arcs. Lights and firing  
 Condition three watch maintained    circuits checked. Reported working  
 throughout the 24 hours.            properly. Blackout reported complete
                                     1930 - General Quarters secured.    
                                     Condition three maintained          
                                     throughout 24 hours.                
                                                                         

                                                                         
 Diary of the Armed Guard Gunnery Officer on the S.S. Charles Sumner      

 Charles L. Sawyer - Commanding      Charles Sumner - Liberty - 7176 Tons
 September 17, 1943                  September 18, 1943                  

 0445 - General Quarters. Guns and   0515 - General Quarters. Guns and   
 sights trained and elevated through sights trained and elevated. Range  
 their full arcs. Firing circuits    set at 2000 yards. Firing circuits  
 checked. Reported working properly. checked. Reported all working       
 0550 - Secured from General Qtrs.   properly.                           
 0715 - Reveille.                    0615 - Secured from General Quarters
 0730 - Breakfast.                   0700 Reveille.                      
 1130 - Dinner.                      0730 - Breakfast.                   
 1300 - General alarm. Battle        0830 - Crew mustered, turned to on  
 stations drill. 3 and 4 inch gun    stowing gear.                       
 crews drilled. 20 MM crews drilled  1000 - Quarters inspected.          
 in loading. Fire and Abandon Ship   1100 - Magazines opened for airing. 
 drill. All hands.                   Temperatures, Small Arms 75-80, 4   
 1330 - Drill secured.               inch 76-80, 3 inch 70-77.           
 1600 - Muster.                      1130 - Dinner.                      
 1630 - Daily inspection of          1300 - Condition three secured, gun 
 magazines. Temperatures, Small Arms watch posted.                       
 75-80, 4 inch 76-80, 3 inch 72-76.  1630 - Supper                       
 1700 - Supper.                      2000 - Liberty granted, starboard   
 1845 - General Quarters. Guns and   watch to 0900.                      
 sights trained and elevated through Deguassing questionary turned in to 
 their full arcs. Lights and firing  inspecting officer by Captain.      
 circuits checked. Reported working                                      
 properly.                                                               
 1945 - General Quarters secured.                                        
 Condition three watch maintained                                        
 throughout the 24 hours.                                                
                                                                         
                                                                         
                                                                         
 Diary of the Armed Guard Gunnery Officer on the S.S. Charles Sumner      

 Charles L. Sawyer - Commanding      Charles Sumner - Liberty - 7176 Tons
 September 19, 1943                  September 20, 1943                  

 0715 - Reveille.                    0715 - Reveille.                    
 0730 - Breakfast                    0730 - Breakfast.                   
 0900 - Crew mustered. All present   0900 - Crew mustered, all present or
 or accounted for. Church liberty    accounted for. Turned to or assigned
 granted.                            work. Daily inspection of magazines,
 1130 - Dinner.                      Temperatures, Small Arms 76-82, 4   
 1200 - Liberty to 0900 granted to   inch 78-86, 3 inch 72-78.           
 port watch. Daily inspection of     1200 - Liberty granted to Starboard 
 magazines. Temperatures, Small Arms watch.                              
 74-80, 4 inch 77-82, 3 inch 72-75.  2000 - T. Bowerman GM3/c requested  
                                     the shore patrol to pick up Frank   
                                     Campbell S1/c and John Shuey S1/c on
                                     charges of drunkenness, having      
                                     liquor on board in violation of     
                                     general orders and fighting. Taken  
                                     to U.S. Naval Armed Guard Center in 
                                     Brooklyn. Men on subsistance one (1)
                                     meal.                               
                                                                         
                                                                         
                                                                         
                                                                         
 Diary of the Armed Guard Gunnery Officer on the S.S. Charles Sumner      

 Charles L. Sawyer - Commanding      Charles Sumner - Liberty - 7176 Tons
 September 21, 1943                  September 22, 1943                  

 0715 - Reveille.                    0715 - Reveille.                    
 0730 - Breakfast one half crew      0730 - Breakfast.                   
 ashore at a time - all meals logged 0900 - Crew mustered, all present or
 0900 - Crew mustered. All present   accounted for, turned to on assigned
 and accounted for.                  work. Daily inspection of magazines,
 1200 - Liberty granted to Port      Temperatures, Small Arms, 74-78, 4  
 section.                            inch 76-84, 3 inch 72-76.           
 1500 - Supplies received aboard.    1200 - Liberty granted to Starboard 
 1600 - Daily inspection of          Section.                            
 magazines. Temperatures, Small Arms 1430 - Thomas R. Bowerman, GM3c     
 78-81, 4 inch 75-84, 3 inch 75-77.  604 79 36 V-6 USNR detached.        
 Men on subsistance three (3) meals. Mulqueen, Thomas Howard 618 67 30   
                                     SM3/c V-6 USNR detached. Foster,    
                                     Horace Century 351 06 64 S1/c USN   
                                     detached. Blackwell, Dewey Ransom,  
                                     Jr. 2626826 SM3c USN reported for   
                                     duty. Summerville, Sarford Thurl,   
                                     250 78 09 S1/c USN reported for duty
                                     Gear belonging to Campbell and Shuey
                                     sent to Armed Guard Center. Men on  
                                     subsistance three (3) meals.        
                                                                         
                                                                         
                                                                         
                                                                         
 Diary of the Armed Guard Gunnery Officer on the S.S. Charles Sumner      

 Charles L. Sawyer - Commanding      Charles Sumner - Liberty - 7176 Tons
 September 23, 1943                  September 24, 1943                  

 0715 - Reveille.                    0700 - Reveille.                    
 0915 - Crew mustered, all present   0900 - Crew mustered, all present or
 or accounted for. Daily inspection  accounted for. Daily inspection of  
 of quarters and magazines. Temper-  quarters and magazines. Temperatures
 atures, 4 inch 74-80, 3 inch 70-80. 4 inch 76-82, 3 inch 68-76.         
 1200 - P. Archung, Coxswain, A.     1300 - Group No. 1; G. Antrim, C.   
 Dodrill, SM3/c, E. Byrne, S1/c,     Chittum, V. Clark, Acting P.O., S.  
 D. Oliver, S1/c, G. Pribble, S1/c,  Summerville, J. Meyers, R. Miller,  
 K. Stockwell, S1/c, granted special A. Morgan, F. Tafflinger, ashore for
 liberty to 0900 September 27, 1943. Armed Guard Gunnery School. Men on  
 Men on subsistance three (3) meals. subsistance three (3) meals.        
 Ammunition moved from Small Arms                                        
 Magazine to four inch magazine.                                         
                                                                         
                                                                         
                                                                         
 Diary of the Armed Guard Gunnery Officer on the S.S. Charles Sumner      

 Charles L. Sawyer - Commanding      Charles Sumner - Liberty - 7176 Tons
 September 25, 1943                  September 26, 1943                  

 0715 - Reveille.                    0715 - Reveille.                    
 0900 - Mustered crew, all present   0900 - Crew mustered, all present or
 or accounted for. Daily inspection  accounted for. Daily inspection of  
 of magazines, Temperatures, 4 inch  magazines. Temperatures, 4 inch     
 77-84, 3 inch 72-79.                74-84, 3 inch 68-75.                
 1130 - Dinner, end of subsistance.  1200 - Liberty granted.             
 Three meals a day aboard.                                               
 1900 - Group No. 1 returned from                                        
 gunnery school. Liberty granted.                                        
                                                                         
                                                                         
                                                                         
 Diary of the Armed Guard Gunnery Officer on the S.S. Charles Sumner      

 Charles L. Sawyer - Commanding      Charles Sumner - Liberty - 7176 Tons
 September 27, 1943                                                      

 0700 - Reveille.                                                        
 0715 - Group I returned to Gunnery                                      
 School.                                                                 
 0900 - Crew mustered, all present                                       
 or accounted for. Daily inspection                                      
 of magazines, Temperatures, 4 inch                                      
 74-82, 3 inch 70-74.                                                    
 1200 - G. Hazuka, W. Arthur, R.                                         
 Fenton, G. Rinehart, R. Seth, G.                                        
 Stroud, granted special liberty.                                        
 1700 - Group I aboard from Gunnery                                      
 School.