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Dedicated to my Father
Harold Robert Annis
1924-2006
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There are many things that I remember about my father and the relationship that we had when I was a child growing up. Despite the fact that my parents were divorced when I was seven years old, there was never a lack of love in our household.
My father was Harold Robert Annis and he was born March 14, 1924 in an area a few miles south of Fenton, Michigan. This area is known locally as "Tyrone Hills", although there are not any hills of a truly respectable size there. Nevertheless my father, who enjoyed "real" Country music, would tell people that he was "born down south in the hills", that is south of Fenton in the Tyrone Hills.
Dad was the youngest of the four children of Ira Benton Annis and Alice(Runyan) Annis, and spent his childhood in the Fenton area. He was just a small boy when the Great Depression hit the nation, but he could recall the hard times and sacrifices that the family had to make in order to scratch out an honest living.
The family was led by an exceptional man. Although Ira, my Grandfather, died before I was born, many long time residents of the area would later relate tales to me of this remarkable man. They were stories of his wonderful sense of humor, his giving nature, and his ability to always reach out a big hand in friendship and help. These images of a man that I never knew warmed my childhood and teen years, and instilled in me a pride of my heritage that has never left me. In the 1940's, when my Dad was a young teen, Grandpa became ill with the condition that would ultimately take his life. Dad went to work and helped support the family. They had moved into the house that would eventually be the home that I spent my childhood years in, and Dad never faltered in his responsibility to his parents. At an age when most young men were dating and "sowing their wild oats", my father was concerned with caring for a family, and putting in a good days work. That's not to say that he didn't know how to have fun, but family responsibilities came first.
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Grandfather's health continued to decline during the early part of World War II, but in 1943 our Nation called and my Dad became a member of the United States Naval Reserve. After basic training at Great Lakes Naval Training Center near Chicago, he was stationed on Long Island, New York. On March 26, 1944, at the age of 53, Ira Benton Annis passed away, and Dad came home on emergency leave to the sad task of mourning and burying the father that he loved and respected.
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U.S.S Eldorado AGC-11 in 1945
The following August Dad was assigned to, and shipped out on the U.S.S Eldorado.
The U.S.S. Eldorado was a newly commissioned ship, and it's service history up until the time of my Dad's Honorable Discharge, more or less tells the story of his duty aboard ship.
The Eldorado sailed from Norfolk on September 15, 1944 and arrived at San Diego on September 29th to embark Rear Admiral L.F. Reifsnider who broke his flag as Commander, Amphibious Group 4. In November Eldorado sailed to Pearl Harbor and there became flagship for Vice Admiral R.K. Turner, Commander, Amphibious Forces, Pacific.
After rehearsal landings in Hawaii, the command ship sailed January 27th 1945 for the Marianas and further preparations for the assault on Iwo Jima. She also carried General H.M.(Howling Mad) Smith, USMC, and his staff, and Secretary of the Navy J.V. Forrestal and his party when she sailed from Saipan February 16th for Iwo Jima. From February 19th to March 9th, Eldorado lay off Iwo Jima, her distinguished passengers directing operations ashore and afloat. She served as headquarters for war correspondents, and broadcasted directly from the beachhead to the people at home through her facilities. Through the critical period of this bloody and arduous operation, she carried out her duties as flag ship and operations center with effective thoroughness.
Arriving at Guam on March 12th, 1945, Eldorado embarked Lieutenant General S.B. Buckner, USA, Commanding General of the 10th Army. After rehearsals at Leyte in the Philippines, hove to off the Hagushi Beaches, Okinawa for the initial invasion landings on 1 April. Here she carried out with equal distinction the same type of duties she had performed at Iwo Jima. Since both the Commander, Air Support Control Unit, and the Force Fighter Director Officer was embarked, Eldorado's combat information center was the central unit in the air defense against the day and night air raids. General Buckner and his staff debarked April 18th to establish headquarters on the island itself, and until the ship's departure May 18th, she was visited by several distinguished guests, including Admirals Chester W. Nimitz, William F. Halsey, Jr,, and R.A. Spruance, and the noted war correspondent Ernie Pyle.
At the end of the war Eldorado was at Manila preparing for the proposed invasion of the Japanese home islands. She returned to Pearl Harbor in October where Admiral Turner and his staff debarked.
Although my father never told us "war stories" when we were young, there was no mistaking the pride and love that he had for the Navy.
Our family lost several family members during World War Two, including Dad's first cousin, Julius "Judy" Rasmussen, who died in France 7 weeks after D-Day, and his brother-in-law,William "Bill" Merrill (Edith's husband) who died at Normandy on June 9, 1944 when the LST he was on was torpedoed by a German Patrol Boat.
Dad always stood to attention and sang loudly when "Anchors Aweigh" was played on the television or radio, or the National Anthem was played. While my Dad was stationed on Long Island he met his future wife, Ruth Ann Coleman. Ruth was born November 29, 1927, and is the daughter of Irving and Mary (Grucci) Coleman of Bellport, Long Island, New York. Upon Dad's return to civilian life, Ruth traveled to Michigan and they married June 22, 1946 at Fenton, Michigan.
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The poem The Village Blacksmith by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow holds special significance to me and my relationship to my father. Dad's father was a blacksmith, a hard working man that always put his family first. My father had always been a man that did not let his masculinity get in the way of his heart. I can remember him reading this poem to me when I was a young boy, and the effect that it had on him and knowing that he was thinking of his father that died far too young.. There was generally a tear in his eye and a hitch in his voice by the time he had finished the poem.
"Toiling,—rejoicing,—sorrowing,
Onward through life he goes;
Each morning sees some task begin,
Each evening sees it close;
Something attempted, something done,
Has earned a night's repose.
Thanks, thanks to thee, my worthy friend,
For the lesson thou hast taught!
Thus at the flaming forge of life
Our fortunes must be wrought;
Thus on its sounding anvil shaped
Each burning deed and thought!"
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Thanks Dad. Thanks for showing me what being a man is really all about, and "for the lessons thou hast taught".
Harold's lineage is: Ira Benton Annis 1891-1944, Simeon Benton Annis 1845-1921, John Matteson Annis 1813-1876, Truman Annis 1786-1865, James Annis 1743-1829, John Annis 1700-c.1771, Abraham Annis 1668-1738 , Charles Cormac Annis 1638-1717
Carrying on the Naval tradition of this Annis family, my son Erik Michael Annis also joined the United States Navy and served for four years aboard the carrier USS Nimitz in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He was very proud to carry on the tradition of his grandfather and father in the United States Naval Services.
Erik Michael Annis
Update December 29, 2003
I served on the USS Eldorado from January 1945 until April 1946. I came aboard in Pearl Harbor with Admiral Turner's staff. I was an SKD1c and worked in the Disbursing Office (Payroll). I remember your Dad very well and I served with him during the Iwo Jima and Okinawa invasions. He was a great person and it was my pleasure to serve with him during the war.
Curtis Booher
Allen, Texas
Annis Family Association
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