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Stanley        McDowell As tod to Laura Braza,
Homestead High School
Radioman on the USS General C.C. Ballou
At 17, Stanley McDowell enlisted in a pilot training program that allowed him to attend Western Michigan College -
at the expense of the United States Navy. It initially gave him an opportunity to realize his dream of attending
college. Several months later, the program was discontinued and he was sent to a nine-week boot camp.
After boot camp, I was sent to 20 weeks of Naval Radio School at University of Wisconsin-Madison. Upon
graduation from school I was assigned to the troop transport USS General C.C. Ballou, where I gained a new job
as a radioman and a new identity as "Scars McDowell."
I worked on a schedule of four hours on duty and four hours for sleep, It was difficult, but I thoroughly enjoyed
my service during World War I1. In fact if I were given the opportunity to enlist again, I would do it in a heartbeat.
The Navy allowed me to see the world.                            "Scars" McDowell (left and below left),
I remember vividly the entire ship's mad rush to get         served as a radioman on a troop trans-
shore leave as soon as the Ballou pulled into port. The   -      port ship, the USS General CC. Ballou.
USS General C.C. Ballou visited ports around the world.          He saw many ports and travelled
Usually the troops were given only about 12 hours on
shore but we made the most of it, trying the food, meet-
ing many people, and seeing the legendary sites in the
areas. I had the opportunity to visit ports all over the
world, including Marseilles, France, the Suez Canal in
Egypt and Calcutta, India. I remember each of my trips
to these ports; these places opened my eyes to the
world. I saw places, people and cultures that I would
never have been exposed to had I not enlisted.
I always considered myself extremely lucky to get a position in the
Navy. I think that soldiers in the Army saw a much different side of the
war than we did. I can still recall our first few days out of port when there
would be fresh eggs and other food. Even after several days on the water, we still ate freshly cooked meals
prepared by the cooks and bakers on the ship. The Army troops didn't have it so lucky.
The Ballou did not see combat during the time that I spent on it. The closest that we ever got was navigating
through a minefield in the water. Everyone was serious and quiet that day; I'll never forget it.
The Ballou did not see combat during the time that I spent on it. The closest that we ever got was navigating
through a minefield in the water. Everyone was serious and quiet that
day; I'll never forget it.
I met some wonderful guys on the Ballou. For example, the ship
had a mascot, a dog named Buddy that was given to the captain by
his wife before leaving. I still chuckle even now to recall how we taught
the dog to do his business in a certain part of the ship so that we
radiomen would never need to clean it up.
The ship even had its own band, which was perfect for raising
morale and cheering up the crew. My most vivid memory, however,
was a telegram received when the Ballou was en route to Marseilles,
France. It came on Aug. 14, 1945. The telegram announced a United
States victory in Japan. The attitude on the ship was pure joy; I'd never seen anything like it. The celebration meal
alone - I still have a copy of the menu - included roast tom turkey, gravy, oyster dressing, layer cake and cigars.
I received a number awards during my time in the Navy. These awards include the American Area Campaign
medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign medal and the World War
II Victory medal.
I returned home after my discharge, completed college and entered the Ready Reserve in case I would ever
be needed to fight again. I was never called upon, but I made sure that the story of the Ballou is not forgotten. I
put together a pamphlet about the Ballou's part in World War II and the Korean War; a copy of it is in Grafton's
USS Liberty Memorial Library. I have also organized annual reunions for those that served on the Ballou.
After 21 years of satisfactory federal service, I retired on Oct. 5, 1969 with the rank of Lieutenant Junior
Grade.
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