U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation Collection: Henry Champ Papers

1939-1959
Manuscript Collection #677-045
Creator(s)
Champ, Henry, 1918-
Physical description
0.155 Cubic Feet, 150 items , consisting of photographs, awards, correspondence, orders, propaganda leaflets, and miscellaneous items.
Preferred Citation
U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation Collection: Henry Champ Papers (#677-045), East Carolina Manuscript Collection, J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA.
Repository
ECU Manuscript Collection
Access
No restrictions

Papers (1939-1959) including photographs, awards, correspondence, orders, propaganda leaflets, and miscellaneous items.


Biographical/historical information

Henry Champ (b. April 26, 1918) received his naval training at the U.S. Naval Training Center, Great Lakes, IL, and was assigned to the repair ship USS MEDUSA (AR-1) as an apprentice seaman (May 1939-October 1944). Champ became certified as a fireman, storekeeper, and chief storekeeper while serving on the MEDUSA. Champ also served on the heavy cruiser USS COLUMBUS (CA-74, October 1944-August 1945); at the Navy Overseas Freight Terminal in San Francisco, CA (August 1945-July 1947); in fleet activities at Yokosuka, Japan (August 1947-December 1950); and on board the destroyer USS BRECKENRIDGE (DD-148, February 1951-June 1, 1951). He attended Service School Command in San Francisco (July 1951-March 1955) and served with the Mobile Construction Battalion in Guam (March 1955-June 1957. Champ then served with the Bremerton Group, Pacific Reserve Fleet, in Bremerton, WA, until his retirement (March 1959).


Scope and arrangement

Correspondence consists of orders, a letter, and a telegram that informs the receiver of Champ's safety following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

The bulk of the collection contains photographs and includes battleships USS ARIZONA (BB-39) and USS OKLAHOMA (BB-37), and destroyer USS DOWNES (DD-375) after the Pearl Harbor attack (December 7, 1941). Also included are photographs of Ford Island and Battleship Row during the attack, Japanese prisoners of war, landing seaplanes, officers and crew of the MEDUSA, and German pocket battleship ADMIRAL GRAF SPEE at sea and sunken.

Miscellaneous items include programs and menus from holiday celebrations on board the MEDUSA, propaganda leaflets dropped by the Japanese on U.S. service men, occupation money issued to the U.S. military, an armistice ticket for Japanese surrender, "safe conduct passes" issued by General Douglas MacArthur, and other memorabilia.


Administrative information
Custodial History

February 6, 1996, ca. 150 items; Papers (1939-1959) of a U.S. Navy enlisted man, including correspondence, photographs, certificates, menus, propaganda leaflets, and miscellany. Gift of U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation, Washington, DC.

Source of acquisition

Gift of U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation

Processing information

Encoded by Apex Data Services

Copyright notice

Literary rights to specific documents are retained by the authors or their descendants in accordance with U.S. copyright law.


Key terms
Personal Names
Champ, Henry, 1918-
Corporate Names
Arizona (Battleship)
Downes (Destroyer)
Medusa (Repair ship : AR-1)
Oklahoma (Battleship)
Topical
Leaflets dropped from aircraft
Pearl Harbor (Hawaii), Attack on, 1941
Prisoners of war--Japan
Prisoners of war--United States
World War, 1939-1945--Prisoners and prisons
World War, 1939-1945--Propaganda

Container list
0677-045 Digitized Material