TURNER, Charles Murdock, Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana
Submitted to the USGenWeb Archives by Inez Bridges Tate, Sep. 1998
File prepared by D.N. Pardue.

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>From "St. Helena Vets Remember World War II: Personal Interviews
With World War II Vets", published by St. Helena Historical
Association, 1995.  Compiled and edited by Inez Bridges Tate and
reprinted with permission.

     Charles Murdock Turner (C.M.) was born on June 5, 1925

near Ponchatoula.  The family moved to the Woodland Community

and C.M. attended Woodland School.  His mother then moved the

family near Port Allen and C.M. graduated from St. Gabriel

High School in 1942.

     The day following his graduation from high school, C.M.

joined the U.S. Navy as he was young and so filled with patrio-

tism.  He was sent to Great Lakes Training area, north of

Chicago, where he had only limited training.  Mr. & Mrs. Courtney

think only three weeks - "just long enough to lear to shoot a

gun."

     C.M. was assigned to serve as an armed guard on a Merchant

Marine ship - the U.S.S. John Drayton.  Murrell (Bones) Kemp

told the family he served aboard this ship with C.M. for a

while.

     C.M. lost his life when his ship was torpedoed and sunk

off the coast of Cape Town, Africa in early 1943.  The exact

date is not known to the family.  Very little information has

ever been made known to the family concerning the sinking of the

ship.  Mrs. Courtney said one could only wonder if C.M. was

able to get into a life boat and then perish or if he went down

with the ship.

     There is a monument at Cape Town, Africa listing the men

who lost their life aboard the U.S.S. John Drayton.

     The family has several post cards written home by C.M.

It was interesting to note no postage was required, only the

word "Free" written where the stamp is usually affixed.

Information was provided by Mrs. Lillian Turner Courtney, sister.

- - - - -

Post Card from C.M.:

To. Rina Turner, Port Allen, Louisiana, Route 1
From: C.M. Turner, UD-2-383 (?)
      Naval Armory
      Ft. Randolph St.
      Chicago, Ill.

Hi Mom,
Just a ard to let you know I'm OK.
Your son,
C.M. Turner

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