japanships 2
Our ship, the USAT Republic was a pre World War I ocean liner built for the Hamberg American Line in 1907. The ship had a long and important history including aiding in the creation of Czechoslovakia after the First World War. Czechoslovakia did not exist until after the First World War and many of its future citizens had been fighting against the Soviet Union in the eastern half of the nation. Once the Soviets began defeating their enemies on the battlefield, combatants fighting the Soviets were ferried back to Europe on ships supplied by the US Army. Republic was one of those ships and carried thousands of Czechs back to Italy from Vladivostok, Siberia.
Fast forward to 1948 and the former German liner was still employed in troop movements for the US Army, carrying both troops and their families to and from the US to occupation duty in Japan. Mother, sister and I were some of those thousands sent to Japan to represent the US to the Japanese people. Our stay was for two plus years so I was to arrive in my third year and depart in my fifth. Only once did we sail on the Republic. I only vaguely remember the voyage over.
Photo by Captain L. L. Arbon
Zeiss Ikon Ikoflex Twin Lens Reflex camera
japanships 2
Our ship, the USAT Republic was a pre World War I ocean liner built for the Hamberg American Line in 1907. The ship had a long and important history including aiding in the creation of Czechoslovakia after the First World War. Czechoslovakia did not exist until after the First World War and many of its future citizens had been fighting against the Soviet Union in the eastern half of the nation. Once the Soviets began defeating their enemies on the battlefield, combatants fighting the Soviets were ferried back to Europe on ships supplied by the US Army. Republic was one of those ships and carried thousands of Czechs back to Italy from Vladivostok, Siberia.
Fast forward to 1948 and the former German liner was still employed in troop movements for the US Army, carrying both troops and their families to and from the US to occupation duty in Japan. Mother, sister and I were some of those thousands sent to Japan to represent the US to the Japanese people. Our stay was for two plus years so I was to arrive in my third year and depart in my fifth. Only once did we sail on the Republic. I only vaguely remember the voyage over.
Photo by Captain L. L. Arbon
Zeiss Ikon Ikoflex Twin Lens Reflex camera