United States Navy 1945-1946 Enlisted Rank S1c (LC) BMM24

THE BUST IS BASED ON US NAVY SAILOR ARNOLD JOSEPH CRAMER, BORN NOVEMBER 18, 1926 IN MELLEN WISCONSIN. CRAMER ENLISTED IN THE NAVY ON AUGUST 18, 1944, 2 MONTHS SHORT OF HIS 18TH BIRTHDAY. HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE NAVAL TRAINING CENTER IN FARRAGUT, IDAHO FOR BASIC TRAINING, THEN TO THE US NAVY ADVANCED BASE PERSONAL DEPOT IN SAN BRUNO, CA. WHERE HE THEN SERVED ON BOARD USS LSM-394 FOR THE DURATION OF THE WAR.
CRAMER WAS AWARDED THE FOLLOWING MEDALS: AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL- ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL-WORLD WAR II VICTORY MEDAL-PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons ????
LSM-394 WAS LAID DOWN DECEMBER 9, 1944 AT THE US NAVY YARD, IN CHARLESTON, S.C. LAUNCHED DECEMBER 29, 1944 AND COMMISSIONED MARCH 12, 1945. LT. JACOB SCHULMAN COMMANDED THE SHIP. DURING WORLD WAR II LSM-394 WAS ASSIGNED TO THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER.

USS LSM-394 Specifications:
Displacement 520 t.(light), 743 t. (landing) 1,095 t.(fully loaded)
Length 203′ 6″ oa
Beam 34′ 6″
Draft light, 3′ 6″ forward, 7′ 8″ aft, fully loaded, 6′ 4″ forward, 8′ 3″ aft
Speed 13.2 kts. (max.), (928 tons displacement)
Complement 5 officers, 54 enlisted
Armament six single 20mm AA gun mounts, modified to one single bow mounted 40mm AA gun mount and four single 20mm AA gun mounts
Vehicle/Boat Capacity 5 medium or 3 heavy tanks, or 6 LVT’s, or 9 DUKW’s
Troop Capacity 2 officers, 46 enlisted
Armor 10-lb. STS splinter shield to gun mounts, pilot house and conning station
Propulsion, two General Motors (non-reversible with airflex clutch) diesels. Direct drive with 1,440 BHP each @ 720rpm, twin screws, Endurance, 4,900
miles @ 12kts.(928 tons displacement)
?USS LMS-394, CRAMER IS PICTURED IN THE FRONT ROW RIGHT SIDE ON THE END