In The Navy

Main Gate to the Naval Training Center, San Diego, CA - Sep. 18, 1947
Photo 295588 courtesy NARA

Early in 1948 Scotty enlisted in the US Navy.  Though under-aged, only 16 at the time, he did so with his parent's permission and his father's help.  He was sent to the Naval Training Center in San Diego, CA (now the Liberty Station Barracks in the Point Loma district).

Scotty at the former Naval Training Center San Diego, CA. The undress blues with the white cord suggest probably no later than mid Spring 1948
Photos © Vikki Hein

Scotty at the former Naval Training Center San Diego, CA. The undress blues with the white cord suggest probably no later than mid Spring 1948
Photos © Vikki Hein

Scotty at the former Naval Training Center San Diego, CA. The undress blues with the white cord suggest probably no later than mid Spring 1948
Photos © Vikki Hein

Scotty first served aboard the USS LST-855 in China from mid 1948 as a fireman (FN) below deck where he would also play guitar though sometimes on the stern. By the fall the ship assisted with evacuations of Americans as the Chinese Communists fought the Nationalists for control and in 1949 it was the last Navy ship to leave China.

USS LST-855
Official U.S. Navy Photograph courtesy web

Officers and crew of the USS LST-855 in Shanghai China (Scotty top right)- Jan 29, 1949
Photo © Vikki Hein

After trips to the Aleutian Islands the ship went to Bremerton, WA for decommissioning. While stationed there he started a band and met his first wife, Mary. The LST-855 was decommissioned in Bremerton in February of 1950 and Scotty was reassigned to the USS Valley Forge. He and Mary married in March of 1950 prior to shipping out again to the Fareast. The Valley Forge was in Hong Kong at the start of the Korean War and Scotty served several tours there until April 1951.

USS Valley Forge (CV-45) and USS Leyte (CV-32) moored at Sasebo, Japan - ca. Oct.-Nov. 1950.
US Navy Photo # 80-G-426270 courtesy Navsource

He was briefly assigned to the USS Boxer (CV-21) in San Diego but reassigned to the Naval base there when it redeployed since by this time he was considered a "short-timer." He was discharged in January of 52.

Scotty in a photo sent to his parents inscribed: To those whom I owe more than I can ever repay. Your loving Son, Winfield
Photo © Vikki Hein

Special Thanks to Vikki Hein for sharing the photos of her dad.
Page added May 19, 2017