Dayton James Turner was born in the Cook County Hospital at Chicago, IL, on 4 Jul 1929, to Dayton Lee and Anna Ruth (Hammond) Turner. His parents divorced in May 1934 and his mother then married his step-father, Victor McGee Mains. Dayton James grew up using the family name “Mains” and in 1954 had his name legally changed to Jimmie Dayton Mains.
In 1939, Jim’s mother and step-father divorced. His mother moved the family to Mena, AR, where they lived and worked on a farm owned and operated by his grandparents, Archer Dana and Mary Anna (Dickinson) Hammond.
Because of the great depression and economic conditions that gripped the land, Jim grew to manhood early in life. At 9 years of age, he became a Farm Hand. He helped his grandfather and uncle Elmer Sylvester Hammond perform all aspects of farm operations. In addition, he attended Grade School in a two-room building located on a dirt road near Old Potter (about 3 miles from the farm). He walked to and from the schoolhouse each day class was in session. He continued to perform his farm chores before and after school. He graduated from the 8th Grade in the Spring of 1941 at age 11.
In the Fall of 1941, Jim started to attend classes at the High School in Mena, AR, but had to stop after a few weeks when his mother married his step-father, Jeremiah Allen, and moved the family to Pine Bluff, AR, where Jeremiah gained employment as a Millwright at Pine Bluff Arsenal which had expanded its operations due to the start-up of World War II. Jim completed the 9th Grade at the High School in Pine Bluff, AR. The family then moved closer to Jeremiah’s employment and Jim started the 10th Grade at the High School in Whitehall, AR. He completed the 10th Grade and started the 11th Grade at that school. Because a formal education was not a priority, at age 14 Jim stopped attending High School and started full time employment with: (1) a Logging Company, (2) Peterson and McFadden Construction Company and (3) the Cotton Belt Railroad.
In Dec 1944, when his mother could stand his persistent pleadings no longer, she signed papers that permitted him to enter military service. He was only 15 years old at the time but she indicated that he was 17 (the minimum age allowed).
On 22 Jan 1945, he enlisted in the US Navy for the "Duration of the War plus Six Months", indicating that he was born on "4 Jul 1927". He traveled from his home in Pine Bluff, AR to Camp Robinson at Little Rock, AR where he assembled with other recruits and boarded a Troop Train for Boot Camp at San Diego, CA. After 12 weeks at Boot Camp, he attended amphibious training at Coronado, CA, and then left the United States for overseas locations where he participated in naval amphibious operations.
He traveled as a passenger aboard several US Navy Ships: on 25 Aug 1945, he departed Treasure Island Naval Station at San Francisco, CA, aboard the US Navy Attack Transport (APA-33) USS Bayfield en route via Eniwetok Atoll and Guam to Tacloban, Leyte, Philippine Islands - The ship arrived at Leyte Gulf on 14 Sep 1945 and unloaded its passengers and cargo at Samar.
He recalls that voyage so well. His naval unit, Garrison Boat Pool, Group Pacific (GROPAC) 13 was among approximately 1,200 US Marines bound for the invasion of Hokkaido, Japan (Code named “UCIP FOR HATE”). His billet was located on the lowest deck in the most forward hold – he claimed a canvas berth on the port side of the ship’s bow. After leaving Treasure Island, he sailed under the Golden Gate Bridge. He was among several passengers who looked up at the underside of that bridge and became sea sick – he remained in that condition for the first three days of the journey. On the evening of the third day, he decided that he would either have to eat something or he would surely die. He made my way topside and stood in the chow line for a long period of time and finally made his way down to the galley located on a lower deck. He presented his tray and the mess cook rewarded him with a greasy Pork Chop. He dropped the tray and hurried topside to do his business. After that event, he felt better and enjoyed the rest of the trip. He learned the skill of playing poker, dice and other such games. He sailed around Eniwetok Atoll and recalled how beautiful the Island appeared. On arriving at the anchorage at Guam, the Captain informed everyone that the ship was running low on fresh water and encouraged them to bathe in the ocean. They immediately jumped from the ship and swam around for a while. Meanwhile, the Captain’s Gig with a contingent of guards armed with Machine Guns patrolled the area on lookout for Sharks. On arrival at Samar, he was among those poor unfortunates designated to perform Stevedore functions unloading the ship.
He departed Samar after a few days ashore aboard the US Navy Attack Cargo Ship (AKA-77) USS Towner en route to Okinawa; about mid-October 1945 (soon after the devastating Typhoon Louise passed on 9 October), He departed Okinawa aboard the US Navy Vehicular Carrier and Troop Transport (LSV-6) USS Montauk en route via Tsingtao [now known as Qingdao] to Taku, China. As an element of his parent organization, GROPAC 13, his unit was in support of elements of the 1st and 6th Marine Divisions which had been sent to North China to assist Chinese Nationalist authorities in disarming and repatriating the Japanese and in controlling ports, railroads, and airfields. They also supported the Nationalist government while it reasserted its control of that nation in the face of anarchy and civil war.
His amphibious unit established and maintained a Boat Pool at Taku, located at the mouth of the Hai River in Bo Hai Bay, which is connected to the Yellow Sea by the Bo Hai Strait. They were involved with transporting supplies and equipment between large ships that lay at anchor off the Taku Bar and the shore. (The Taku Bar is a submerged bank in the estuary created by continuous deposits of sand from the river. Located some ten miles east of the port city of Taku - the gateway to the major city of Tientsin [now known as Tianjin], the sand bar effectively blocked large American warships from proceeding further up-river.) Personnel of his Boat Pool were berthed and fed aboard the Self Propelled Barracks Ship (APB-41) USS Wythe which remained parked pier side in the Taku Harbor. This ship originally had been launched as Landing Ship Tank (LST-575) and later modified and redesignated LST (M) and finally APB-41 USS Wythe. As a member of the Garrison Boat Pool, his primary occupation was Coxswain of Landing Craft Mechanized (LCM).
In Jun 1946, he became eligible for return to America and discharge from the service. On 5 Jun, he boarded the American Freighter and Troop Transport (SS Dashing Wave) and debarked at San Diego, CA, on 22 Jun. He boarded a Troop Train and traveled to Millington, TN, where he received an Honorable Discharge from the service on 27 Jun 1946 (seven days before his 17th birthday when he would become eligible to enlist legally). During that enlistment, he attained the grade of Seaman First Class (E-3).
In recognition of his service with the US Navy, Seaman First Class Jimmie D. Mains was awarded the China Service Medal; American Campaign Medal; Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal; World War II Victory Medal; and the Navy Occupation Service Medal (Asiatic-Pacific).
After leaving the US Navy in Jun 1946, he joined the US Army on 13 Sep 1947 and served in several branches of that organization until he finally retired from military service at Fort McClellan, AL on 31 Dec 1966 as a Sergeant Major (E-9) in the US Army Chemical Corps. He then joined the US Civil Service and served in various positions of the US Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service until October 1982. At that time, he transferred to the US Army Chemical School (an element of the US Department of Defense) and finally retired from that organization at Fort McClellan, AL on 31 Dec 1989 as a Military Research Analyst (GS-12).
After 1 Jan 1990, he has continued to support non-profit activities of local veteran’s organizations, civic groups and clubs in which he has maintained membership.
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Other Comments:
Peavy, Dr. Thomas, SP5 Medical Department
Sergeant Major,
Thanks for the stop-by at my page. Additional thank for your service beyond the USN. What a career you have had. You are a part of the generation in which my dad and uncles served. You men of WWII are my heroes. I grew up hearing of the great things all of you did. Were it not for you and those men, our nation and lives would be so different. My one enlistment in the USAR was instructive and certainly prepared me for a return to the Navy as a Corpsman. Little did I know that I would spend twelve years attached to the Fleet Marine Force as a Corpsman based on my Army time. Old Senior Chief Petty Officers such as I are honored to offer an honorary rack in the Goatlocker to those who hold ranks equivalent to Chief and above. If you have an opportunity drop by my Together We Served USN page and pay a visit. In my Chief's mess you are always welcomed. Thanks again for all you have done for our nation in and out of uniform.
Dr. Thomas Peavy, HMCS,USNR,(Ret.)
Corpsman of Marines
Best Friends Family: Father - Dayton Lee Turner (Passed 26 Dec 1963) Mother - Anna Ruth Hammond (Passed 27 Apr 1994) Sister - Bettye Ruth Turner (Passed 28 Jul 1994) Sister - Beatrice Darline Mains Brother - Victor D Wayne Mains (Passed 5 Mar 2012) Sister - Jacqueline Mains Brother - Jeremiah Patrick Allen Friends: Seaman Recruit Glen Dale Marshall (Passed 16 Dec 2009) Seaman Recruit Robert G. (Bob) Mathis (Passed 9 Mar 2003) Seaman Recruit Willard Magness (Passed Jul 1972)
Other Memories In Dec 1944, when Jim's mother could stand his persistent pleadings no longer, she signed papers that permitted him to enter the service. He was only 15 years old at the time but she indicated that he was 17 (the minimum age allowed).
On 22 Jan 1945, he enlisted in the US Navy for the "Duration of the War plus Six Months". He traveled from his home in Pine Bluff, AR to Camp Robinson at Little Rock, AR where he assembled with other recruits and boarded a Troop Train for Boot Camp at San Diego, CA.
Travel aboard the Troop Train was exhausting but enjoyable. The trip lasted several days. It seemed that the train stopped at every town along the way. At each stop, they were met by well wishers who gave them food and drinks.
During Boot Camp (which lasted about 12 weeks), the recruits were issued clothing and equipment and learned about naval customs and procedures and how to act as Sailors. They learned how to march and carry a rifle - real weapons were in short supply, so they used wooden rifles during drills. On the Range, they fired 30.06 Rifles - the weapon kicked like a Mule. They learned how to swim and jump into the water from a 10 Meter platform simulating the deck of a ship - during those occasions, the swimmers always wore Mae West Life Jackets; its a wonder that the Vest's did not take heads off when they entered the water. He recalls Jack Dempsey, the famous Heavy Weight Boxer, was their Instructor during Boxing Lessons. [A Platoon of trainees joined another Platoon of trainees and the trainees practiced boxing each other.] The food was plentiful and the best he had ever had. At enlistment, he weighed in at 147 pounds - at graduation from Boot Camp he weighed 182 pounds and was as hard as a rock. He had great respect for his Platoon Leader and thought the man was Jesus Christ or at least a high ranking officer. At Graduation, it was learned that his leader was a Seaman Second Class. He has since forgotten the man's name but still remembers what a great leader he was. _________________________
