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Faces and Places in history

Island Vets of World War II

By Gail larson Toerpe

First Engineer, Jacob Gunnlaugson

Jake Gunnlaugson, like so many other Island men of its early history, worked 
on the Great Lakes. Many men were on ore boats. These freighters became the 
transports after America entered the war in December of 1941.

Jake recalls having been in the Naval Reserves and had enlisted in the Merchant Marines when the war was in full bloom. He and Russell Gunnlaugson enlisted together but were never aboard the same ship, nor did they serve together at any time during that period. 

Jake first went to Officer’s Training School at Fort Trumbull, New London, CT. after which he was on a Liberty ship transporting all manner of things for the military: ammunition as well as troops.

Married and a father of two, Jake’s tour of duty didn’t begin at the beginning. As near as he can remember, he began in July 1944. He was about 28 at the time. He was to serve on the west coast aboard transports.

Two of the Liberty ships he served on were the U.S. Henry B. Alvarado and the U.S. Chief Charlot. The Liberty ships, says Jake, weren’t huge like the battleships or cruisers. “They [the transports] could get in where bigger ships couldn’t.”

The transports – at least in the beginning, according to Jake – traveled with convoys. Because of that, his ships were protected to a great degree. Although the boats he was on were never attacked, “they were after us,” he said of enemy submarines. “Oh, they were watching us all right.” 

He was “on the ocean” for a long time. “I never liked being away from home,” says the nearly 87-year-old. And mail came in “every couple weeks but it was censored.” 

An emotional moment came as the WWII vet recalled the saddest times. “The last trip we made…all the young guys laying dead on the beach. Troops were laying on both sides of the river.” 

Jake’s faced had changed as we spoke, from a smiling remembrance (that the enemy never got them) to somber recollections of the “young guys.” He paused momentarily before continuing, “They never had a chance.” His ships transported the living and the dead, so recollections of the harm wars do is still vivid in his memory. 

Carrying military personnel and troops in the tropical heat, recalls Jake, wasn’t pleasant for those being transported. They had to stay below, he says. “Poor devils; it was plenty hot. And the officers weren’t given any special treatment – they were below with their men.” When asked if he himself had a stateroom (it’s the only word I knew to use) Jake laughed out loud. “What did you think I was…and Admiral?”

Although his boats weren’t attacked by an enemy, the oceans are something to deal with in themselves. “We went through typhoons,” he said. “A lot of typhoons.” 

Jake was born and raised on Washington Island and, as a young man, started an Island newspaper with his cousin, Eugene Gunnlaugson…but earning $7 profit a year “didn’t support a wife (June) and two kids (John and Mary).” 

He and June also were about to buy the Washington Hotel those many years ago but Jake was “on the water” and couldn’t get back in time to sign the papers. They bought Maple Grove instead (now, the Deer Run Golf Course and Resort).

June Gunnlaugson died two years ago and Jake misses her. His son John and daughter-in-law, Lois, have moved into the mobile home on Main Road for now to help assist him in his needs. 

“Both my children married nice people,” says Jake. And with 7 grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren and 1 great great grandchild, he considers himself “so lucky. They’re all good people.” 

One more note from our WWII veteran in what now (after 9-1-1) seems prophetic: “The war’s still not over! It goes on and on.” He informed me too that “I’m still in the reserves you know.” A hearty chuckle preceded, “But I don’t think they’ll call me up.” 

I doubt it, Jake. You’ve got “time in.” 

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