USS SLC...Enlisted Navy...Kenneth Wayne Boles, GM2c

Kenneth Wayne Boles passed away on Sat., May 14th, 2011. Information from Dorothy Boles.

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Information in letter from Kenneth W. Boles received Nov. 17th, 2003

Kenneth was a 20 year old single man from Salinas, CA. when he entered the Navy in Sept. of 1942. He chose the Navy after following the advice of his older brother who was also a sailor. He went through boot camp at Great Lakes, IL., which he says was not much fun.

He went aboard the USS SLC in Nov. of 1942 while at Pearl Harbor and was assigned to the 6th Division. At that time he remembers Lt. Gerald M. Reeves as his Commanding Officer of that Division.

A typical day for Kenneth was chipping paint, wire brushing and painting. The living conditions were crowded and his bunk was in the Pump Room off the Battery. He remembers his pay as $120 per month at that time. His rating while serving on the SLC were AS, S2c, S1c, GM3c and GM2c(T).

During his free time he played cards and saw a few USO shows. He remembers Kenneth R. Brady, AMM2c while on board.

Ken was on the SLC on March 26th, 1943 during the Battle of the Komandorski Islands. He says that during battle, under the pressure of war, they became a close group.

He was very proud to serve his country and was ready to go home and "catch up" on life. His service time ended in Dec. of 1945 while in Adak, Alaska. He went home and became a Carpenter after the war.

He is registered in the Navy Memorial in Washington, DC.

#35 in 6th Division, 1944 picture from Robert Charles
Tidbits from James F. Beard
SLC Deck Logs, Nov. 1942

Kenneth & Dorthy Boles