~ contributed by Jodi Kearns
Psychologist Dr. Robert S. Waldrop was a chaplain aboard the USS Benevolence, a hospital ship stationed in Japanese waters during summer and fall of 1945 after the atomic bombs were dropped.
written on back of photograph: “AH-13 Benevolence docked Yokahama August 1945″ [M1623 Folder 13]
on the deck of USS Benevolence [M1623 Folder 3]
In a blog post from 2012, you can read more about Dr. Waldrop’s contributions and you can listen to a 2012 recording of conversation between Dr. Waldrop and CHP Director Dr. David Baker discussing these photographs and Dr. Waldrop’s work on the USS Benevolence.
Dr. Waldrop captured photographs with own camera during his 1945 deployment to Japan. Low-resolution images of the whole collection are available for review in the CHP online repository: http://collections.uakron.edu/cdm/ref/collection/p15960coll2/id/4944. In this post, we give a close-up excerpt of this collection.
On September 2, 1945, the Japanese surrendered. Dr. Waldrop captured the spontaneous prayer vigil held at the announcement of the end of the war.
written on back of photograph: “Docked in Yokosuka @ Announcement of end of War. I held prayers of thanks for our crew AH-13 and other ships docked 8-6-45″ [M1623 Folder 1]
Released prisoners and other patients of Allied forces were transported to the USS Benevolence for treatment.
wounded coming aboard [M1623 Folder 6]
Dr. Waldrop played his instrument in the USS Benevolence 14-piece band.
written on back of photograph: “USS Benevolence Band (14 piece); RSW organized, got instruments donated while in Brooklyn Shipyard. We played in/out of every port and many special occasions underway.” [M1623 Folder 11]
The USO visited the deck of the hospital ship. (I think the performer in the hat might be Eddie Bracken. What do you think?)
USO entertainers; Tokyo Bay; 1945 [M1623 Folder 3]
Dr. Waldrop and his shipmates also spent time in the skies
written on back of photograph: “scenes of Nagasaki. RSW took these from a bay door of a navy seaplane” [M1623 Folder 6]
and on the land
Robert S. Waldrop in Yokohama [M1623 Folder 16]
written on back of photograph: “shot from Theater Street in Yokahama showing a canal running down the center of town. A clean job of bombing on one side of the canal” [M1623 Folder 14]
surveying the damage caused by the atomic bombs dropped on Japan.
[M1623 Folder 17]
written on back of photograph: “some of my shipmates viewing the results of the “A” bomb, Nagasaki 1945″ [M1623 Folder 17]
This rich collection of photographs can be viewed in its entirety in our online repository and onsite with a scheduled visit. Also check out the finding aid for more information about the Robert S. Waldrop papers. Contact ahap@uakron.edu to schedule a research appointment.