Roger Kelm 1945/46 photo collection

Roger at 93 years young
Roger's memoir

LCM during construction of Atafu Aug/Sep 1944

Atafu, Unit 93, Original Crew
Front Row, L-R: J. Teater [KY] S1c, N. Smith [MA] RdM3c, W. Killip [NY] RM2, A. Padgett [WA] CRE "Skipper", W. Kelly [CA] CMoMM, G. Kowalski [MI] RdM3c [L], T. Reagan [PA] RM1c

cond Row, L-R: D. Gabbard [KY] MoMM3c, R. King [OK] RdM3c [L], F. Kurtz [PA] RdM3c [L],
F. Dennick [NJ] RdM3c [L], "Buddy" Sheard [WA] S1c, J. Porter [MA] RdM3c, J. Crisenzi [CA] S1c

Back Row, L-R: H. Warrington [IL] RdM3c, T. Brown [CA] SC1c, J. Nermo [ND] SC2c,
W. Burns [WI] RdM3c [L], L. Rooney [MA] CRT, J. Ferdian [CT] PhM1c, R. Kehm [SD] RT2c, G. Coffman [IN] RT2c, W. Brunson [KS] RT2c, M. Angel [KY] RT2c

Not Pictured: W. Garcia [NM] RM2c, B. Woodard [WA] RM1c

CRE Albert F Padgett, Construction CO Sept 1944 Atafu Unit 93

Construction Crew Aug/Sep 1944
Front Row LtoR: RT1c Glenn D. Coffman, RT2c Maurice Angel
Back Row LtoR: Fred Hall (Unit 211), RT2c Roger L Kehm, PhM John Ferdain, RT2c William Brunson
The RT's and PhM were part of the Construction Crew and stayed as permanent party.

Clearing the land

The "Garage" in the construction phase.
With native help, the end result was a garage for the truck and bulldozer
and the second story housed six crew members (the luck ones).

End result of Chief Kelley's desire for a "garage" for the truck and bulldozer.
The building is a two story and six crew members were quartered there. Supposedly the lucky ones.
As Roger Kehm (pictured and provider) stated "It was more like home and not the Quonset Hut".

Boat used to meet PBY when it came in about every
six weeks with mail and supplies. Shown left to right
RT2c Roger Kehm, RM1c Tom Reagan, CMoMM Earl Kelley.

The mail/supply plane

Roger on guard duty

Equipment hut and antennas
Tall antenna is the transmission and the others arer receiving

CO came out of the Officer's hut and annouced that FDR has died
"Half staff the flag"
in honor of Franklin D. Roosevelt

Living quarters
1st hut is the Officer's hut

Water tower

Fuel dump

Around the village

The village

the village eldeers

Some of the residents

The community center

a typical house

a typical canoe

Thanks Roger!

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