WWII Diary of Frank (Mickey) Flynn Jr.

  This diary was written in a tiny notebook over a period of almost two years, often a few words at a time.

USS Cassiopeia

 Page 1.       Left the states 16 Sept, 1943. Sailed to Noumea, New Caledonia on the Benjamin Ide Wheeler Landed there twenty four days later. Left the ship the following day for the receiving station. Was a pretty strict place. After being there about 3 days met Bill Hogan, Al Hauge and some of the other guys I had met. Stayed at the receiving station about eight days and then was assigned to the USS Cassiopeia. Came aboard the same Oct 16, 1943. Nothing happened for about two weeks, then November first at fifteen minutes after two there was a very bad explosion at the dock where we were along side. There were well over two hundred people killed.

Page 2       That was the closest I had ever come to death and I hope I never come that close again. We got underway in about five minutes. We were the first ship out. Laid out in the harbor about two days and then made our first trip to Guadalcanal. Everything was pretty quiet except for a very large explosion they had. We went to Tulagi, Purvis Bay and back to the canal, Kukum and Lunga. After unloading proceed back to Noumea, New Caledonia. After unloading and loading again stated out for Guadalcanal, then to Tulogi and then up the line to the Russels. There I went through my first air raid. Was pretty scared at first but nothing happened. They dropped a few bombs, but that was all. The next night, the same thing.

 Page 3      Happened again. That was all the bombing. After unloading , went back to Noumea and about this time it was Christmas . It was a pretty bad Christmas compared to what I had at home. Christmas eve I went to midnight mass with Paul Frye, Henry and Fritz Janik, We all went to Communion. Christmas day we had a good meal and it was a pretty dull day. The next day and Christmas was over. All went back to work. We loaded for something big. Got underway and was at sea on New Years day. Went to Espiritu Santos and loaded some more , from there we went to Guadalcanal and did the same. Left there and went Russels Islands and loaded some more. By this time we were pretty.

 Page 4       Well loaded. There we met a Convoy and proceeded up the slot. We were in Convoy with L.S.T.s so we thought it was an invasion and it was. On our trip we passed Munda on New Georgia, we had some Submarine alerts but nothing happened. We passed Vella Lavella and up passed Bougainville. There was still some fighting on Bougainville. Got by allright and there wasn’t anything at Green Island. We had set a record for being the first AK ship up that far. After unloading we proceed to Guadalcanal and then back to Noumea. That was the big day. We got orders to go to Auckland, New Zealand. Arrived in Auckland allright. Stayed there just one night and the next day started for Wellington, New Zealand.

 Page 5       There we went into dry dock and we really had to do some work. After the work was finished, I had my first good liberty in seven months. Boy! Was it ever good. I just about knocked a lady over the first day looking at a good looking girl. Really had a good time on liberty. I went on liberty every day we were there. We were there eighteen days met some very nice people! We had a ships dance and boy! What a time everybody had. I went to the dance with Dawson. He was a good friend. Had a little trouble with a cook that night but only got a little black eye. He had his head cut open and had to have a couple of stitch taken. The next day everything was allright and no hard feels. (not much).

 Page 6       We finally left Wellington and went to Auckland. Arrived there safe and sound. Had just two liberty and on the third had an attack of Appendicitis. They took me to the hospital that night but didn’t operate until the next morning. I was pretty scared when I went into the operating room but was under so much dope it didn’t bother. I had a spinal shot and wasn’t put under. I was very sick and I thought I was going to die. The next day after the operation they let me go to the head by myself. I was pretty weak but they said I could so I went. I got pretty sick and had a very bad headache for about five days. After that I knew I was getting better. After a week I had liberty.

 Page 7       Its is. Hard to believe but just a week ago I was operated on I was on liberty. They really do things up in a hurry in the Navy. I went on liberty the following Wednesday and from then on started to work up at the nurses home. Boy! were there some nice chicks up there. Then I had liberty every night. After staying in the hospital about six or seven weeks, I was sent back to duty. That was an awful thing. I left the hospital and went to the receiving station. It was called the Domain. Had liberty there every night. One night out every two was against regulations but I was in New Zealand and I didn't know if I would ever get back there again, so I went.

USS Rochamborn

 Page 8       I stayed at Domaine about two weeks and had my share of liberty when I was there. one morning we went to muster and they told us that we were to leave at two o'clock that afternoon. There was a lot of sighs but we had to go. That afternoon we went aboard the Rochamborn. She was a big French liner before the war. Our quarters were pretty bad and we only got two meals a day. I got along allright although I was pretty hungry at times. I knew then that I really didn't appreciate home when I was there. We arrived in Noumea about three days later and again they sent me to the receiving station. This was the second time and I knew the ropes so I didn't have to work.

 Page 9       We were underway again for the islands. We went to Espiritu Santos and then to the Russels. After unloading we went to Guadalcanal. We got orders to go to Auckland, New Zealand and we were happy. We loaded and took off for Auckland. We got there safe and sound and the first day I was on liberty and from then on I didn't spend much of the fourteen days we were there on the ship. Well we had to leave and we started out for the islands once again. Everybody on the ship was pretty mad at everything they had all been out for there eighteen months and it didn't look like they were going back yet. Well in a few days we got to Tulagi. We unloaded a little bit and.

 Page 10       Then went out to the canal. While we were at the canal, we got orders for a special mission that was very important, so there goes the chance of going back to New Zealand again. We were supposed to get unloaded as fast as possible and load up at Russels. Well we did this and it really looked like a bigger deal than we had been in. Well we had our orders to leave. We left in convoy and went up the slot again. We went past Savo Island and New Georgia, Bougainville and passed Green Island. We met some more of our task force at Emirou. We left there and finally dropped the hook at Manus Island in the Admiralty group. There I saw something.

 Page 11      I had never seen before. There in the harbor which is a very big one, Over FIVE HUNDRED fighting (Ships) of all kinds. It was a real sight and we knew then it was going to be a big push. We waited there for a little over a week and got orders to go to Hollandia, Dutch New Guinea. We didn't know what for but we left and in two days we were at Hollandia safe and sound. There were a lot of ships here and of all kinds shapes and sizes. There had been a lot of talk about where we were going at first they thought we were going to YAP Island. But now they think it is going to be the Philippines, and I really and truthfully think it is to. Well I guess that we

 Page 12     Lot of action and we were very fortunate to get out of there. When we left there we went back to Hollandia for a few days and then to Guadalcanal. We were at the canal long enough to get another load and we went up to Bougainville. There was still about 30,000 Japanese on Bougainville. Well we left there and went back to Guadalcanal. We are at Guadalcanal at present. We spent Christmas here and it was pretty bad. We are waiting for our orders. We got our orders and we go back to Bougainville. I hope it won't be long. Well we are underway and everything is fine, getting in tomorrow. Here we are, everything is still the same hotter than ever unloading started. We got orders to load and go to.

 Page 13       New Zealand. This is indeed a happy day. Loading now and just about ready to shove off for good old liberty port. Underway and everything allright hope to get there soon. This is the day we get in and everybody running around putting on blues and getting ready for that liberty. Went on liberty and everything the same except not so many Americans as before. Good liberty. Well started to load so It won't be long now. going to Auckland from here. Are in Wellington now. Got hit in the head the other night but feel fine now. Underway to Auckland, will be in tomorrow and some more liberty. First liberty, everything allright. Loading and got orders to go to Noumea then to Espiritu Santos, then to Guadalcanal.

 Page 14      Well, got to Guadalcanal and hear that AK97 the Serpena blew up. Had a load of ammunition on board. Just our luck and orders were changed and now we are loading ammunition, same as the K97 bad. We are to go to Bougainville, Green Island and Emirou. Well we finally got loaded and will leave in the morning for Green Island. Underway now for Green. Everything the same, guys just a little jittery over load. Got to green safe and sound and it looks like we are going to be here for quite some time. today makes 18 months out of the states. Well we stayed at Green for a couple of weeks and then went to Bougainville. We continued to unload and the guys were not as worried about it anymore. WELL this is the last straw. We are going to load some bombs for Green. They are just small ones so that isn't too bad. Well we went to Green again and they are just about finished unloading what they are going to take off. T guess we are going to Emiru tomorrow. Well we got to Emiru OK, and they have started to unload. I guess we will be here a couple of weeks. Well they are done with every hole except four and they will finish that tonight. They are loading lumber and I guess we leave in the morning. Well we feel a lot better now with all the bombs off. We are now under way for Green.

 The diary ends here in about March 1945.

 Noumea 10/2/43

Left.........................................Arrived

Noumea 11/3/1943.........................Guadalcanal 11/10/43

Guadalcanal 11/11/43.....................Tulagi 11/11/43

Tulagi 11/27/43..........................Guadalcanal 11/27/43

Guadalcanal 12/3/43......................Noumea 12/9/43

Noumea 12/30/43..........................Tulagi 1/4/`944

Tulagi 1/12/44............................Russels 1/12/44

Russels 1/20/44...........................Guadalcanal 1/20/44

Guadalcanal 1/27/44.......................Russels 1/27/44

Russels 2/9/44............................Noumea 2/15/44

Noumea 2/19/44............................Espirtu Santos 2/21/44

Espiritu Santos 2/24/44...................Guadalcanal 2/27/44

Guadalcanal 2/29/44.......................Russels 2/29/44

Russels 3/3/44............................Nissan 3/6/44

Nissan 3/10/44............................Guadalcanal 3/12/44

Guadalcanal 3/20/44................... ...Noumea 3/25/44

Noumea 3/27/44............................Auckland4/1/44

Auckland 4/2/44...........................Wellington 4/4/44

Wellington 4/23/44........................Auckland 4/25/44

Auckland 4/7/44...........................Noumea 5/11/44

Noumea 5/13/44............................Esperitu Santos 5/15/44

Esperitu Santos 5/20/44...................Pervis Bay 5/22/44

Pervis Bay 6/5/44.........................Guadalcanal 6/5/44

Guadalcanal 6/14/44.......................Esperitu Santos 6/16/44

Esperitu Santos 6/20/44...................Auckland 6/26/44

Auckland 7/7/44...........................Noumea 7/11/44

Noumea 7/17/44............................Russels 7/21/44

Russels 8/11/44...........................Guadalcanal 8/12/44

Guadalcanal 8/15/44.......................Auckland 8/21/44

Auckland 9/6/44...........................Guadalcanal 9/19/44

Guadalcanal9/22/44........................Russels 9/22/44

Russels 9/27/44...........................Tulagi 9/27/44

Tulagi 9/29/44............................Guadalcanal 9/29/44

Guadalcanal 10/2/44.......................Manus 10/7/44

Manus 10/13/44............................New Guinea 10/12/44

New Guinea 10/18/44.......................Leyte 10/24/44

Leyte 11/11/44............................Hollandia 11/16/44

New Guinea 11/19/44.......................Guadalcanal 11/29/44

Guadalcanal 12/6/44.......................Bougainville 12/8/44

Bougainville 12/20/44.....................Guadalcanal 12/22/44

Guadalcanal 12/30/44......................Rendova 12/31/44

Rendova 1/1/45............................Munda 1/2/1945

Munda 1/2/45..............................Bougainville 1/3/45

Bougainville 1/8/45.......................Wellington 1/18/45

Wellington 1/22/45........................Auckland 1/24/45

Auckland 2/2/45...........................Noumea 2/6/45

Noumea 2/13/45............................Espiritu Santos 2/15/45

Espiritu Santos 2/19/45...................Guadalcanal 2/21/45

Guadalcanal 3/13/45.......................Nissan 3/15/45

Nissan 3/?/45.............................Bougainville 3/?/45

Bougainville 3/?/45......................Nissan 3/?/45

Nissan ?/?/45.............................Emirau 4/7/1945

Emirau 4/7/1945....End of diary.

Note: In early May we were again in New Zealand, in Wellington for about 3 weeks, then to Auckland for a week before being ordered home to be Retro-fitted for the invasion of Japan. Stopping in Hawaii for some cargo and arrived in San Francisco on July 9, 1945. ordered into Pier 60 where the work began immediately.