CAPTAIN TURNER
Capt Henry J. Turner's son, Captain , John S. Turner.  Capt. USN (Ret.) has been in correspondence with Rebecca Baker, granddaughter to Capt. Russell who was the Captain of the Lake Tanker Valera when Henry Turner served as the 1st. Mate.  The Valera was torpedoed and sunk by U-518 on 7 March, 1944.  Capt. Russell was the only crewmember to perish.  1st. Mate Turner spent 8 days floating on a raft with other crewmembers before being rescued by the U. S. Coast Guard and taken to Margarita Hospital, Panama for treatment.
Capt Henry J. Turner's son has been able to piece together some of the ships his father served on based on letters his father wrote to his mother Eileen Turner.
1941 – Pedernales (supernumerary 1st. Mate, sailing as 2nd. Mate)
1944 – Valera (1st. Mate)
1946 – Ambrosio (Master)
1946 – Inverrosa (Master)

Some time after the birth of my sister Jane, in 1946, my father worked as a tug captain in San Nicolas Harbor.  He retired from Lago in 1965 and died in 1979.

Since Capt. John Turner and  Rebecca Baker have been corresponding they have slowly been unraveling some of the mysteries!  One of the photos Rebecca submitted shows Capt. Russell and his wife with several other men on board a ship.  The officer in choker whites to the far left is my father (we think!).  The photo above was submitted by John, it shows his father, Captain Henry Turner.  Below is a copy of the photo submitted by Rebecca.  I (Dan Jensen) have made a photo-merge blown up photo for comparison.

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