WILLIAM BURTON HARRISON, SR. – SERVICE IN US NAVY (1919 TO 1924) AFTER TWO YEARS IN THE US ARMY
Daddy (William Burton Harrison, Sr.) joined the Navy at age 18, not long after the World War I armistice. We always understood he had lied about his age to enlist but that is now a bit confusing. According to Wikipedia, the draft/enlistment laws for Daddy’s age were:
National registration days and termination
During World War I there were three registrations.[9]
- The first, on June 5, 1917, was for all men between the ages of 21 and 30.
- The second, on June 5, 1918, registered those who attained age 21 after June 5, 1917. A supplemental registration, included in the second registration, was held on August 24, 1918, for those becoming 21 years old after June 5, 1918.
- The third registration was held on September 12, 1918, for men age 18 through 45.
After the signing of the armistice of November 11, 1918, the activities of the Selective Service System were rapidly curtailed. On March 31, 1919, all local, district, and medical advisory boards were closed, and on May 21, 1919, the last state headquarters closed operations. The Provost Marshal General was relieved from duty on July 15, 1919, thereby finally terminating the activities of the Selective Service System of World War I.
Daddy (William Burton Harrison) joined the US Navy 19 July 1919 for an enlistment period ending 12 June 1921. Over my growing up years in Wildwood, Daddy told me he served on three ships: the USS Houston, the seagoing tug Sunnadin, and the USS Milwaukee. I obtained his OMPF (Official Military Personnel File) from the Naval Personnel Records Center in 2007. The OMPF indicates he also served briefly on the USS Charleston.
Here is the OMPF for William Burton Harrison (1899 – 1972).
The three ships Daddy served on are pictured below.
USS HOUSTON
USS SUNADDIN
