WWII USS Washington Armband?

[militbuff]

I've had this for a while. It belonged to a soldier who returned from the ETO via the USS Washington in the fall of 1945. Does anyone know if it would have been used aboard the USS Washington? If so, what for?

 

 

[militbuff]

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[Salvage Sailor]

It could signify a Watchstander, specifically a Firewatchstander, which was rotated every two to four hours in berthing spaces and (temporary) troop spaces during Operation Magic Carpet. As the ships's crew was shorthanded during this operation, some of the troop complement would have been assigned to this duty as scheduled by the Watch, Quarter and Station Bill on the USS WASHINGTON.

 

Assigned to troop transport duty on 2 November 1945, as part of the "Magic Carpet" operations, Washington went into dockyard hands on that day, emerging on the 15th with additional bunking facilities below and a crew that now consisted of only 84 officers and 835 men. Sailing on 15 November for the British Isles, Washington reached Southampton, England, on 22 November. After embarking 185 army officers and 1,479 enlisted men, Washington sailed for New York. She completed that voyage and, after that brief stint as a transport, was placed out of commission, in reserve, on 27 June 1947.

[militbuff]

Hi Salvage Sailor, that's fascinating. I never would have guessed that.

 

Many thanks! Dan