The Maritime Career
Of 
Donald C. Rattenne

Don Rattenne's Maritime Career Timeline

A collection of documents, photographes, letters and log books
from 1941 to 1973, written and compiled by Kirk J. Rattenne
with additions from Ken Rattenne

1941

July to July`42 Boeing Aircraft, Seattle  Rivet Driver
December 7th Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor  

1942

August to February`43  USAT General W.C. Gorgas Oiler/Fireman

1943

April LT 145 ?
August to February`44 USAT William L.Thompson Aleutian Islands campaign

1944

January to April USAT Zalinski ?
May to September U.S. Maritime Service Officers School / Alameda released from active duty
October to December USAT Otsego 3rd Engineer

1945

January to December USAT Lake Francis 2nd Engineer
August World War II ends  Don still at sea

1946

January USAT Lake Francis 1st Engineer
May to June USAT American Legion 3rd Engineer
Note: one document refers to the USAT Sierra during this same period
June to August USAT Marshall Victory 3rd Engineer
August to September USAT Herald Of The Morning 3rd Engineer
October to February`47 USAT James O`Hara 3rd Engineer

1947

February to October USAT James O`Hara 2nd Engineer
October to December USAT Frederick Funston 3rd Engineer

1948

January to December USAT Frederick Funston 2nd Engineer
October Takes leave to marry Jayne Houfek  2nd Engineer

1949

USAT becomes MSTS  
January to July USAT Frederick Funston 1st Engineer
July takes leave for the birth of 1st son Kenneth  Daddy
September ’49 to June`50 USAT Frederick Funston 2nd Engineer
November appointed Lieutenant(jg) in Naval Reserve  

1950

June to December USAT Frederick Funston 1st Engineer

1951 Korean War breaks out

February USNS Bald Eagle 1st Engineer
Jayne and baby Ken move to Appleton,Wi. lonely 1st Engineer
June requests move to San Francisco / Fort Mason

1952

May USNS Bald Eagle Chief Engineer

1953

January to December USNS Bald Eagle Chief Engineer
September Promoted to full (First) Lieutenant USNR
July End of Korean War
October reduced from Chief to 1st due to reduction in personnel

1954

Don retires from going to sea, remaining active in the U.S. Naval Reserve
February daughter Karen born
  bought a meat market on Juda St. in San Francisco
  sold market / bought another on Nob Hill

1955

  employed as meat cutter / Corte Madera, Calif. Moved family to Mill Valley, Calif.

1956

January became employed as a machinest at Dudley Machinery, Santa Clara, Calif. Moved family to Londendarry Drive, Santa Clara.
February assigned to Naval Reserve Officers School
May assigned to Damage Control School, Treasure Island San Francisco 

1957

  became employed at Owens Corning Fiberglass, Santa Clara, Calif. as machinest.
 Summer family moves to 2674 Hocking Way, San Jose, Calif.

1958

  machinest @ Owens Corning Fiberglass
August Naval Reserve Status: transferred to Stand-by Reserve - Active

1959

  machinest @ Owens Corning Fiberglass
May Son Kirk born

1960

January resigns from the U.S. Naval Reserve

 
1961 returns to sea, works out of union hall in San Francisco, standing watches on various ships while they are in port
1962 sails on Matson Lines "Lurline"

1963

January rejoins MSTS  Junior Engineer
  USNS Phoenix  3rd Engineer
February requests reassignment from USNS Phoenix due to prolonged mission  
February USNS Asterion 1st Engineer
April USNS Asterion Chief Engineer
November USNS Breton 1st Engineer (temp)

1964

January   completes one year trial period
April USNS Breton appointed Chief Engineer
July USNS Core 1st Engineer
July USNS Core appointed Chief Engineer

1965

March USNS Breton Chief Engineer
April USNS Sunnyvale 1st Engineer
May USNS General Leroy Eltinge 1st Engineer
August   promoted permanently to Chief Engineer

1966

January to December USNS General Leroy Eltinge Chief Engineer
February to Sept 24 Eltinge in port - sails 09-24
November family moves to 3393 Todd Way (Chief Engineer in doghouse)

1967

January to July USNS General Leroy Eltinge Chief Engineer
October Administrative Training Ashore / Oakland  
October assigned to USNS Geiger Chief Engineer
October flies to Yokohama, Japan to join ship

1968

January to December USNS Geiger Chief Engineer

1969

May USNS Huntsville Chief Engineer
  flies to Hawaii to join ship  
 May 26., 1969 participates in Apollo 10 recovery mission
July 24, 1969 participates in Apollo 11 recovery mission
November 24, 1969 participates in Apollo 12 recovery mission
December suffers severe injuries while rescuing a shipmate who fell overboard while docked at Port Hueneme

1970

January to October ashore recovering from injuries to ankles
April awarded "Marine Employee of the Year"
October USNS Kingsport Chief Engineer

1971

January to December USNS Kingsport Chief Engineer

1972

January to December USNS Kingsport Chief Engineer
December suffers a mini-stroke while on a mission in the North Atlantic and flies home on sick leave  

1973

August retires on permanent disability


NOTE: The above information was taken from hundreds of official government documents as well as Don Rattenne’s own notes and logs. Interviews with family members and Kirk and Ken's own memories were also used. The information is as accurate as can be expected.
 
Kirk Rattenne
May 1998
Petaluma, CA
email: krattenne@comcast.net
GLOSSARY OF ABBREVIATIONS
USAT = United States Army Transport
USNR =  United States Navel Reserve
MSTS =  Military Sea Transportation Service ( later changed to Military Sealift Command )
USNS =  United States Naval Ship
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