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The USS Block Island Association Membership and its Board of Directors do not become involved in political matters. Each individual member may express their rights and beliefs openly however, not representing any political beliefs of the Association. What ever Political Party is elected to the Presidency of the United States that President is the Commander in Chief of all Military Forces. During WWII those military forces had two Presidents who served as such Commander in Chief the first being Franklin D. Roosevelt and upon his death Harry S. Truman. History shows that five Presidents following from WWII actually were among the veterans who served in that War.

The following are facts taken from the historical records of the US Government, the Congressional Records and the US Historical Society. Such facts are shown to support the purposes of the Association with the major purpose being to perpetuate the history of those individuals and their ships who served with the two USS Block Island "Jeep" Carriers CVE 21 and CVE 106. CVE 21 served in the Atlantic fighting the German submarine mass and CVE 106 served in the Pacific fighting the Japanese forces.

Unless this modern day world of the past 60 years goes back in history to the date that Japan bombed Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, the many "actions", "involvements", "peace keeping" circumstances and "assistance measures" the United States has undertaken since September 1945 have no relationship to WWII "a Major War". That is just under 4 years in a time frame. In that time frame the United States lost over 295,000 soldiers, sailor and marines and another 150,000 to major injuries. Those figures do not include "non battle related" deaths or injuries. Vietnam is still within the thoughts of the early part of this generation except that involvement was over 12 years and actually never ever involved any attacks on the United States or its possessions. The U S casualties were listed as just under 59,000 killed that included "non-battle related" and another 18,000 with injuries. The best showing of any comparison of WWII to any other actions the U S has undertaken since the end of WWII is that 61,000,000 deaths took place in all the countries involved combined in WWII.. Five times more US Military were killed in WWII in just under 4 years compared to 12 years for the Vietnam War. The US Invasion of Iraq on Nov. 8, 1990 until March 1991 there were 265 US causalities in that 4 month campaign. Like Vietnam history shows that except for the Freedom of Kuwait the circumstances remained the same after the US Involvement.

In 1950 the US joined with South Korea to keep China from taking over Korea. The US had 36,000 soldiers, sailors and marines killed there between 1950 and 1953. The final outcome of that war was  the formation of two Koreas. From the 38th parallel to the South designated a South Korea and from the 38th parallel to the North designated as North Korea. History show that for some 56 years that internal battle still exists.

The very existence of our great Country "as we know it" after 1945 was at stake in WWII. Those WWII veterans were fighting a war that made it possible for all of our citizens to remain a major player in this "big world". Our own way of life and that of our families were at stake and no compromises could be afforded as have been given since WWII. At a recent world meeting called together by the United Nations a question was raised by several nations as to why at all such meetings the English Language had to be used and not "the native tongue". No one spoke up or provided an answer until an orderly stepped forward and made the statement "can you imagine the problems we all would have had learning the "German, Italian or Japanese language". That answer was well understood by all the Nations in attendance and the meeting continued in English with no more questions asked !!!!!!!

The 2006 REUNION was scheduled to be held in New Orleans LA. The damage done there by the Hurricane Katrina made that an impossibility.

The Association Board  instead held  the 2006 Reunion in San Antonio, Texas starting on May 29 and ending on June 4.  Particulars and the general information was  provided in our Chips publication, and in brief here in the Reunion Section of the Website.

In 1946 when all the many ship's crew were either being discharged from the Navy, or being transferred to other ships or shore stations, someone came up with the idea that since the "ship" had surplus funds that belonged to the crew they should be used to print a book on the history of the two Block Islands. Thus came the "Big Blue Book" as it became known to everyone. "The  Story of Two Escort Carriers who Carried the War to the Enemy during Three Years of Conflict CVE 21 and CVE 106 ", published on behalf of the U.S. Navy, was a 12 by 15 inch soft back picture/story of these two ships. That book has been out of print for over 50 years, however, thanks to Bill MacInnes , the Editor of "Chips", along with  his wife Judy, that book has now been recreated in an 8 1/2 by 11 inch (bound copy) and is available to the members and the general public. Added to the Book is additional personal stories and pictures obtained from members of the USS Block Island Association (see Dedication)  including articles from newspapers and recollections by members about the sinking of CVE 21 and excerpts/photos from the 1953 Navy Publication "USS Block Island CVE 106 Caribbean and European Cruises". There are 167 pages (includes a Roster) plus a very good detailed Table of Contents. The cost of the Book is 25.00 which includes printing and mailing. Contact Bill MacInnes at 6650 Richard Street, San Diego, CA 92115 or Telephone (619) 460 - 3568 ("E"mail Wmacinnes@aol.com)

Another new fact. Under the "Ships Crew" section of this Website there has been a "Roster" added that lists the names of the majority of the shipmates who served on both ships. Again we have to thank Bill and Judy MacInnes for providing this information. If you are aware of any names that are not provided Bill and Judy would appreciate having that information. The "Roster" has been arranged in a  form so as to accommodate adding names as they are provided.  Sounds simple but history shows that the Government Records tend to get misplaced or "lost" when it comes to  Military Service. If your name (or the name of someone known to you) has been left off the Roster please understand the problems that were encountered to obtain the names that are listed.

More Breaking News 

Recreated 1953 CVE 106 Cruise Book is now available!

Total Pages:  270.  Book includes extra

photos and BI Daily Press newsletters contributed by

 several BI Association members.

Price:  $25.00 (includes printing costs, postage & insurance)

Please make your check out to:  "William M. MacInnes"

Send to:  6650 Richard Street

San Diego, CA  92115

Phone:  (619) 460-3568

Email Address:  Wmacinnes@aol.com 

On September 11, 2001 the present generation got it's 911 emergency telephone call not unlike our generation getting it's 911 call on December 7, 1941. While it took hundreds of Japanese airplanes to undertake the destruction of Pearl Harbor, with all the technical advances, it took only 4 hijacked American commercial aircraft to bring New York to  complete chaos and the death of three fold the number of our citizens. The loss of life in the airplanes that were hijacked  came close to equal the number of lives lost at Pearl Harbor. Our generation faced a task that brought conflict between nations which historically  has been the normal conflicts. This is not the case with what this generation must face. A relatively small group of terrorists brought about this massive destruction with as few as 15 of their membership risking their lives. Within less than 2 hours ten fold the amount of destruction took place directed toward civilian loss of life and property, not military installations and naval ships like Pearl Harbor in WW2.
Our generation has the confidence in this present generation to know that they are up to the task and shall  prevail in their efforts to defeat this present enemy.  Again that sleeping giant must awake. Our generation recognizes that this is a different time and a very different world but, like the crew members of CVE 21 and CVE 106, who lived in the two worlds of Europe and Asia, this generation shall prevail  with honor and will provide a safe world for the next generation. The hearts of  a generation that had "been there done that" goes out to our sons, daughters, and grandchildren in their efforts and they shall prevail.
                                             God Bless America

                                                                    December 7 1941

IN GOD WE TRUST

THE ATTACK MADE ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2001, THE GERMAN SUBMARINE ATTACKS AND THE JAPANESE KAMIKAZE ATTACKS OF WWII ALL HAVE A COMMON THREAD AND THAT COMMON FACTOR WAS MARTYRISM DIRECTED TOWARD MISGUIDED  RELIGIOUS BELIEFS.

62 years have passed and the beat goes on for our brave men and women in the Military Services of our country. When ever and where ever there is a challenge to peace in the world we will be there on the front lines. While the circumstances in Iraq may be different than the "Hitler" era this picture, taken in April 2003 there in the desert of Iraq, is not unlike the pictures and the conditions that existed in North Africa 60 years back in our history. The equipment and the fighting tools may be modern and very different from that era, however the spirit and goals have not changed in seeking freedom and peace in the World.

Iraq

For a larger view click in the picture

The German Submarine Service in WW2 was made up entirely of volunteer personnel because history shows that from the first day that Germany constructed it's first submarine, death was the inevitable. In both WWI and WW2 over 75% of the total German Submarine Crews were killed in the name of the Fatherland. In both cases that branch of the German Military Services suffered the greatest percentage of loss of human life. In WWII Germany had over 300,000 men in the submarine service and history shows that over 225,000 lost their life within 2 years of joining that service. In a desperate struggle to protect their homeland the Japanese followed that same pattern with their "human torpedoes" and the "Kamikaze Airplane" attacks on our Naval Ships in WWII. 

While this Website directs itself to both actions in the Two Worlds of the USS Block Island with CVE 21 involved with the German Submarines in the Atlantic and CVE 106 involved with the Japanese Kamikaze attacks in the Pacific. The Webmaster found a story that was published in one of CVE 106 pilots books that involved the dangers of landing his airplane on such a small "airfield" out in the middle of a vast ocean. Many stories have been told about the Kamikaze attacks (which relate closely to the attacks of September 11 on the United States) however, a story that was written in a book "Dear Folks" by Paul Matthews ( and later published in a news letter for the USS Appalachian) best describes an actual Kamikaze attack on one of our ships.

Saturday, January 13, 1945
South China Sea (the Okinawa Campaign)

Today we met our first Kamikaze.

Over an abyss of nearly forty-five years I still recall the terror of that moment. I see the destroyer escort on our port bow firing its 5-inch guns into the low overcast, an immediately I start cranking our own No. 1 5-inch gun to port. The plane is there, streaking down from the cloud cover, in a long shallow dive that is going to carry across our fantail where already our 40s and 20s are thumping and chattering. There are winks of flame in the front end of the plane and I know some of our 20mm projectiles are striking home. And I can see the pilot, almost hunched over the controls as he rides the plane through the hail of steel.

Maybe our No. 2 five-incher on the fantail is also firing. I don't hear it if it is, because I can't get No. 1 gun cranked to port fast enough to get ahead of the plane, and as I spin the crank madly in the opposite direction to swing the gun back around the bow to starboard and pick up the plane as it crosses the fantail. the plane is low, maybe fifty or sixty feet over the water as it crosses our fantail and is picked up on the scope sight. Frank Ambrutis, who is on the opposite side of the gun from me, cranks the barrel up or down a bit and between the two of us we dissect the engine cowling with the crosshairs.

"On Target" I yell and Frank yells back "On Target".  But there are over fifty ships scattered on the sea behind us, men on some of those ships already killed by friendly fire-maybe from our after guns.

No. 1 gun stays silent and for just a few seconds time slows in horror as the plane streaks across the few hundred yards of water and slams into a gun tub on the sky deck of the USS Zeilin (APA-3) just off our starboard quarter. In a blink of an eye, lives are snuffed out, winking into blackness like candle flames in the wind. 

For a few minutes, flames seem to envelop the entire ship, subsiding almost immediately to nothing more than charred, smoking wreckage in the twisted scorched gun tub. And through it all the Zeilin never slowed, never changed course, never lessened its intent of destruction upon the enemy. I looked across the breech of the gun at Ambrutis and he just shook his head.

"Bogeys all around us" that was Ray Durgan First Class Boatswain Mate, the Gun Captain, relaying information from the bridge that above the overcast we had a swarm of enemy planes buzzing around like angry hornets. Scared? Yes I was scarred silly. I had just seen men killed and knew it could as easily have been me. I wondered what it would feel like.

Again Ray Durgan relayed information from the bridge "All planes are bogey! We have no planes in the area. That made sense, because in the heat of action, a plane is a plane is a plane, and our own thoughts are centered on survival, not trying to determine from the flashing silhouette whether it be friend or foe! (Our pilots are schooled to stay clear of our ships but just maybe some of our pilots missed that lesson).

The minutes passed and things quieted down without another plane swooping down through the overcast. We stayed on the guns for another hour and then secured and went about the ship's work. That evening at sunset, the colors were dipped to half-mast, and from across the water, we could faintly hear the bugler on the Zeilin  blowing Taps, as the bodies slipped one by one over the side into the warm Pacific. All of us, all other ships in the convoy were dipping their colors and other bodies were splashing into the water. For them the war was over!

Kamikaze attack

(click on picture for larger view)

This page is being left open for news items from time to time that may be of interest to the general membership and the general public.

As a point of interest and to    assure the general public                     that the men who served
on these two ships not only     took the challenge of      service to their Country they
also have taken the challenge of today's world. This Website               and the information herein has been          gathered, processed and      provided by these same men.
The        entire layout,    the composition       and the majority of the actual computer work
and photography has been provided by       individuals , all who are over the age of 
70, who   actually served     on either or         both of the ships.

Old folks don't like to admit that we have problems keeping up with this new generation but we are willing to admit that we need a little more time on the computer work. If the readers don't get the drift of that above paragraph they must be over 80.

Not only was it taboo but against all Naval Regulations for any female person to be on board any fighting ship headed for a combat area. While many Nations permitted women to enter combat the majority of the English-speaking world strictly forbid this circumstance in those years.

As one CVE  was leaving San Diego, heading to the Pacific for combat duty, it had to pass by the Headquarters Building of the Naval District. Many officers were looking out the window for a ship that was "going in harms way”. They observed this Wave standing on the flight deck waving her handkerchief at the crowd. They all were dumbfounded as to what they saw and became concerned. This was not unlike the ships as they come back from duty flying their “broomstick” indicating a successful cruise. They immediately dug out the regulation books to see what the actual regulations were in this case. One officer grabbed his binoculars to take a better look. After a few minutes  he sat down and typed out a message to send out to the Carrier. 

Below is the message that was received by the Ship.   

                                                        UNITED STATES PACIFIC FLEET  
                                                           AIR FORCE, PACIFIC FLEET                                                                                           
Serial:    11160  Date:   28 March  1945
SPEED LETTER 

FROM:                COMAIRPAC                                                        

TO:                      CO. USS BETTER GO STRAIGHT  (CVE  8 Ball)  

      1.                              YOUR ATTENTION IS INVITED TO ARTICLE  116, US NAVY REGULATIONS.  

2.                              OBSERVERS REPORTED THAT YOUR SHIP PRESENTED A VERY IMPOSING  SIGHT WHEN STANDING  OUT OF PORT. CREW IN RANKS APPEARED SMART  AND ORDERLY. HOWEVER, A REPORT WAS RECEIVED, AND CONFIRMED VISUALLY BY OBSERVER FROM THIS HEADQUARTERS, THAT A WAVE WAS IN    THE RANKS OF THE CREW.   

3.                              THE ORIGINATOR VIEWS WITH GREAT ALARM THE ATTITUDE OF A        COMMANDING OFFICER  IN PERMITTING A VIOLATION OF THE NAVY   REGULATIONS,  ESPECIALLY SO WHEN THE WOMAN HAS SUCH BIG FEET AND    HAIRY LEGS.                                                                                                           

                                                                             B.L.BRAUN                                                                                             ASSISTANT CHIEF OF STAFF                       

CC:   COMCARDIV- 27               COMESCARFORPAC 

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