My father ROBERT THOMAS WILSON was born 27 July 1924 and died 19 October 1955. He served in the Navy on the United States Engstrom, class Evarts destroyer escort ship. USS Engstrom was a relatively small escort ship. The diesel ship electric powered Engstrom traveled across the Pacific to Pearl Harbor where the men geared up for what became for my Father a run to numerous islands based in the Pacific Ocean where some of the most horrific battles of the Pacific side of World War Two were fought. Primary operations aboard USS Engstrom and similar destroyers escort were to provide protective escort for our Pacific fleets near and on Pearl Harbor. Guns on board were K guns shaped like the letter K. The weapon was a manual department charger thrower for enemy submarines. There were no computers on board. Weapons had to be handled and calibrated to the correct dept loaded and fired manually by yanking on a cable. The Islands the ship went too were Staren, Guam, Kiwajalen, Tenehan, Ulithi, Eniwetuk, Iwo, Jima and Truk. Primarily in the Allutian Island which are located between Alaska and the Soviet Union. The Japanese invaded and tried to launch another attack in direct aim on Pearl Harbor. The Japanese thought Jimmy Doolittle air attack on Tokyo Japan aircraft came from these Islands. They did not know they were launched from the USS Hornet out in the Pacific Ocean. When patrolling the islands the Destroyer Escort was to circle the Islands and keep close watch and chase enemy submarines and provide gun support on Victory Day. When Japan had surrendered to the United States the USS Engstrom was chosen to pick up surrender papers from the Japanese. When the United States and allies declared Victory, the crew stayed aboard while the Japanese office came on board. This bestowed great honor to the crew of 198 men. After World War Two ended the USS Engstrom traveled back to California were it and the other six ships in the division were decommissioned. The USS Engstrom was sold to the Gillette Company, which produced razor blades and decommissioned on 19 December 1945. The size of the ship is as follows: Weight 1140 tons, when empty, 1430 when full, length 289 feet, beam 35 feet, draft 12 feet, machinery 4 GM, model 16-278 A Diesel engine with electric drive with 2 screws, power output 6000 STP, speed 19 knots, Range 41 50 NM, at 12 knots. Contained 198 crewmen, Armament 3X3X1 Anti Aircraft 9 X 20 MM, Anti aircraft, 1 Hedge Hog projector, 8 Dept charger Projector. Launched on 24 July 1942 and decommissioned on 19 December 1945.
. ROBERT THOMAS WILSON son of CHARLES WILSON (1901-1974) and HARRIET ELEANOR VOGT (1904-1980) was born 27 July 1924 in Ohio, and died 19 October 1955 in Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio. He is buried at Highland Cemetery, Ft Mitchell, Kentucky. He married HAZEL MARIE SEXTON 02 February 1946 in Covington, Kenton County, Kentucky, daughter of JOHN SEXTON and EDITH MIDDLETON. She was born 03 January 1924 in Turley, Campbell County, Tennessee, and died 18 May 1986 in Florence, Boone County, Kentucky.

The following information is submitted by Harriet Sue Wilson Price, daughter of Robert Thomas Wilson.

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since 01 May 2006