| Notes |
- Gordon attended gunnery school in Panama City. He came back from over seas during World War II where he would watch the P40s taking off. One day he saw a gas truck cut across the runway as two P40's took off. One cleared the turck, the other hit it. B25's and C45's would come through Orlando on their way back from overseas. They would stop on the runway where they would be met by a truck and spayed down with DDT.
http://rasputin.physics.uiuc.edu/~wiringa/Ships/Period3/UnitedStates/A mphibious/TaskerHBliss.html
Service: Launched in Jul 1920 as Golden State for U.S.Shipping Board. Renamed President Cleveland and assigned to American President Lines. Chartered by U.S.Army in Jul 1941 and designated USAT Tasker H. Bliss. Transferred to U.S.Navy 19 Aug 1942 and converted for naval service at Maryland Drydock Co., Baltimore, MD. Commissioned USS Tasker H. Bliss 15 Sep 1942. Participated in Operation "Torch", the invasion of North Africa. Torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-130 12 Nov 1942 in Fedhala Roads, Morocco.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Tasker_H._Bliss_(AP-42)
1940 Sept 4 Gordon Stevenson got a delayed birth certificate signed and notified by Rose Lewis that he was born 23 April 1917 in Hermleigh, Texas. Rose Lewis was C J Lewis's mother, he and CJ were in the army together on the ship heading toward the Philippines when Pearl Harbor was bombed and remained best friends until his death.
1940 Oct 15 After enlistment he was taken by truck to that area of Fort Sam for basic training, when he got of the truck, he was met by CJ Lewis, Richard Brice, and Clyde Boren, all from Hermleigh and close friends, they had joined on Sept 4 in 1940 in Lubbock and had completed their basic training at Fort Sam and had been ordered to greet the incoming trucks and much to everyone's surprise their boyhood friend, Gordon got off the truck in front of them.
1940 Oct 15 to Mar 1944 enlisted and served in 3rd Air Force, worked in armament shop repairing all types of weapons including 75mm cannon, machine guns and pistols and instructed combat crews. Serial number 18013326 - Armored gunner instructor at Columbia Air Force Gunnery School. Approx 30% of his time was spent in class room instruction, the rest in flight line maintenance
1941 Sept 7 Seattle getting ready to go to the Philippians
19 Sept 1942 - graduation picture with officers and enlisted men of the Synthetic Group - Fighter Command School, Orlando, FL
---Fort Myers gunnery training
1944 Mar - Laredo, TX Central Instructors School, it was at this time that his dad and brother were able to get extra gas ration stamps to drive from Hermleigh to Laredo to visit him before he left to go overseas.
17 Mar 1944 departed US, arrived India April 29, 1944 in India-1945 served in China-Burma-India Campaign receiving the American Defense The Asiatic-Pacific Theater with three bronze battle stars, good conduct medal, air medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster, and one over seas service bar (life membership in group)
25 Dec 1944 - India 12th Bomb Group 434th Squadron
1945 Feb returned home from overseas during WW II
On 4 Feb 1945 Uncle Gordon left Fenny to return to the United States. The following orders give his route and times back to Miami.
State #, meals, and lodging furnished by govt. for which no charge was made.
Per diem itinerary 13 Feb 1945
Name: Gordon D. Stevenson
Rank: Tsgt
ASN: 18013326
Special Order 132 Paragraph 4
Date of order 30 Jan 1945
Feni is a small southern district of Bangladesh, bordering India, Feni River estuarine and green paddy fields add to Feni district's scenic beauty.
4 Feb 1945 Depart Fenny 1600
4 Feb 1945 Arrive Barrekpore 1700
Reason for delay: transportation
Uncle Gordon departed at 4:00 PM arriving 1 hour later for a 1 hour refueling stop.
Barrackpore is located in the Ganges region of the West Bengal state. The city is about 25 km from Calcutta, and 115 km from the border with Bangladesh.
4 Feb 1945 Depart Barrekpore 1800
4 Feb 1945 Arrive Agra 2230
Reason for delay: re-fuel
The plane departed at 6:00 PM for a 3 ? hour flight crossing 1 time zone.
Agra is a major tourist attraction as it contains one of the seven wonders of the world, the Taj Mahal. Agra is an ancient city situated on the river Yamuna within the stae of Uttar Pradesh in India. After a 1 hour refueling stop departed at 11:30 PM and arrived at 4:00 AM after another 3 hour flight crossing 1 time zone.
4 Feb 1945 Depart Agra 2330
5 Feb 1945 Arrive Karachi 0400
Reason for delay: processing
Uncle Gordon spent 3 days in Karachi for processing.
8 Feb 1945 Depart Karachi 2100
8 Feb 1945 Arrive Masire Island 0045
Reason for delay: re-fuel
8 Feb 1945 Depart Masire Island 0205
9 Feb 1945 Arrive Salala 0430
Reason for delay: re-fuel
9 Feb 1945 Depart Salala 0530
9 Feb 1945 Arrive Port Aden 0915
Reason for delay: re-fuel
9 Feb 1945 Depart Port Aden 1110
9 Feb 1945 Arrive Khartum 1615
Reason for delay: re-fuel
10 Feb 1945 Depart Khartum 0505
10 Feb 1945 Arrive El Fasher 0805
Reason for delay: re-fuel
10 Feb 1945 Depart El Fasher 1030
10 Feb 1945 Arrive Maidugr 1530
Reason for delay: re-fuel
10 Feb 1945 Depart Maidugr 1700
10 Feb 1945 Arrive Kano 1900
Reason for delay: re-fuel
10 Feb 1945 Depart Kano 2000
10 Feb 1945 Arrive Accra 2230
Reason for delay: transportation
11 Feb 1945 Depart Accra 0620
11 Feb 1945 Arrive Accession Island 1300
Reason for delay: re-fuel
11 Feb 1945 Depart Accession Island 1400
11 Feb 1945 Arrive Natal 2100
Reason for delay: transportation
13 Feb 1945 Depart Natal 0700
13 Feb 1945 Arrive Belem 1140
Reason for delay: re-fuel
13 Feb 1945 Depart Belem 1230
13 Feb 1945 Arrive Atkinson 1645
Reason for delay: re-fuel
13 Feb 1945 Depart Atkinson 1735
13 Feb 1945 Arrive Borinquen 2230
Reason for delay: re-fuel
13 Feb 1945 Depart Borinquen 2330
14 Feb 1945 Arrive Miami 0430
24 June 1945 Tyndall Field Florida
1945 Oct 10 got out of service
1945 Oct 11 Technical Sergeant at the 2135th AAF BU Tyndall, FL
1945 Nov June 1946 - metal worker for $.85 at the Winter-Wise Body Manufacturer in Denver, CO
1946 July to April 1947 - worked for CV (Vance Clift) as an electrician in Hermleigh, TX wiring homes
24 March 1947 requested assistance from the Veterans Administration for assistance in getting into the VA hospital for his back injury
23 April 1947 went to Frank C Hodges, MD
25 Sept 1947 letter saying hospitalization not covered by VA
1947 May to April 1948 - Hospitalized and convalesced at veterans hospital in McKinney, TX Due to injuries received in an oil field accident in 1947 while working for an oil company Uncle Gordon went in for major back surgery at the VA hospital in McKinney, TX. Dad remembers after the operation Gordon being placed in a Stryker frame and about every hour was turned from face up to face down and back. While one must assume there was an extreme discomfort and pain Uncle Gordon seldom complained. As late as the 1990s Uncle Gordon slept on a very thin mattress on a bed that didn't have box springs, but a sheet of plywood and I grew up sitting on the floor next to him watching tv. At the time I did not realize that we sat on the floor leaning against the couch because of his back pain. I thought it was just the way you were supposed to watch tv. Even today I still sit on the floor and lean against the couch to watch tv, old habits die slowly. 2010 Gordon L Stevenson
17 March 1948 living in Hermleigh, TX
1948 May 15 to Jan 1 1949 sales clerk for $100 per month at Studer's photographic supplies in San Antonio, left employment to enter college.
1948 Aug 23 living with brother OJ, working and Brooke Army Hospital at Ft Sam Houston, TX
1949 Jan - Feb 1950 attended Durham's business College taking business and accounting courses.
1950 Feb 15-Nov 30 Asst. Mgr. Salary 175 /month Veterans of Foreign War Club in San Antonio, TX supervised 5 members of the staff and managed club. Terminated for reduction in force.
1950 Nov to March 1951 unemployed - his brother OJ Stevenson got him to apply at Randolph for a civil service job.
1951 - March to 19 Dec 1954 - Randolph Air Force Base 3513 Maintenance Squadron -employed as an air craft turret servicer starting at $1.30 /hr ending $2.15 /hr serviced all remote controlled turret, sighting stations, and repair of small arms. Terminated due to elimination of position
1951 July 9 - description of job
1952 - Ed Felix & wife were Uncle Gordon and Grandma's next door neighbors at 302 General Krueger I remember playing with the Felix kids growing up
1954 December 19 - employed at Randolph Air Force Base 3513 Maintenance Squadron, his job consisted of inspection and repair of Norden Bombsite, Bomb bay doors, bomb racks, releases, small arms, carbines, shot guns, pistols, and aircraft weapons including 50 cal. And all weapons assigned to Randolph air police salary $2.09 per hour, he was released for a reduction in force
1954 December 31 Uncle Gordon bought a Hunting license at Barbera Sports 101 W. Travis St. in San Antonio --- A news paper article " RIFLE WINNER G.D. Stevenson 406 General Krueger is the proud possessor of a Model 70 Winchester 270 caliber rifle following his victory at the Barbera Sporting Goods lucky hunting license contest. (scanned)
1955- Jan 10 - Application for employment (scanned)
1955 - Feb 17 Reduction in Force notification - extended to 9 April 1955
1955 - July 1 - Notification of Action
1957 - May 30 opened savings acct, San Antonio Savings & Loan
1961 May 12 _ completed 50 hours of training to become an aircraft and missile electicial tech, (T38A) at Randal Air Force Base
1962 - letter from C L Lewis that enlisted with Gordon
1966 - March 4 20th year service Certificate
1967 - Bought a white Chevy 4 door
1967 - Dec 5 - Position Description
1972 Jan 5 Bought Kitchen aid Dishwasher 475$ from George Schleising Plumbing our Good friends and hunting buddy
1973 - Bought a Ford 2 door hardtop
19 April 1973 - completed a aircraft electrical repair course at Sheppard Training Center
Dec 13 1976 bought is first microwave oven for $482
Sunday March 18, 1979 Gordon and Uncle Gordon went to the Atlanta International Race
1981 - birthday card (scanned)
1985 - Bought 4 door Oldsmobile
1985 Eva T Hazard 99 Oak Hill Rd N Kingstown RI 02852-6005 401-295-5744
1986 Nov Gordon built a storage shed for Uncle Gordon
1990 Oct 5,6,7 Kerrville, TX Inn of the Hills, Reunion for the 3rd Operations Co
1991 Trip to Boston "Cheers" with O.J. and Marie
1995, sept 6 Knee operation
2000 434 Bombardment Squadron Veterans Reunion (scanned)
2006 - tax return (scanned)
2008 - April Gordon Stevenson got his last drivers lincense since we were born teh same month, I drove Unlce Grodon over to get his drivers lincense as he watched an elderly lady on a walker going in ahead of him, he commented "if she gets hers, I ought to be able to get mine"
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1917 - 2010 (92 years)
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