Robert C. Horch Collection

Collection — Box: AR00059

Identifier: 000083

Scope and Contents

The Robert C. Horch Collection is a collection of materials related to the service of Robert “Bob” Clarence Horch, MSgt USAF, aboard the U.S.S. Omaha (CL-4) and the U.S.S. Steele (DE-8). This collection is organized into three folders that include documents Horch received aboard the U.S.S. Omaha (CL-4) such as Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve dinner menus, a Plan of the Day schedule, holiday greeting cards, and a news bulletin, the original manuscript and a printed copy of Pacific Odessey: A History of USS Steele (DE-8), and a scrapbook dedicated to Horch’s time spent on the U.S.S. Steele (DE-8).

Pacific Odyssey: A History of USS Steele (DE-8) was written by Lt. (jg) Frank W. Bates, an officer aboard the U.S.S. Steele (DE-8), and published after the war. Included in the collection is the original manuscript submitted for publication, a rough published copy, and a cruise book titled Brief History of U.S.S. Steele (DE-8).

Dates

Creation: 1939 - 2004

Creator

Bates, Franklin W., 1914-2004 (Person)
Horch, Robert Clarence, 1921-2014 (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Biographical / Historical

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Robert “Bob” Clarence Horch (1921-2014) served in the United States Navy during World War II as a Motor Machinist’s Mate First Class aboard the U.S.S. Omaha (CL-4) and later the U.S.S. Steele (DE-8). At the end of the war, Horch joined the United States Air Force where he obtained the rank of Master Sergeant and served on active duty until 1963. As part of his active duty, Horch served on rescue boats along the Texas coast, and had assignments in England, North Dakota, California, Washington, and Iceland. After retiring from active duty, Horch served for 20 years in the Air Force Civil Service.

Franklin W. Bates (1914-2004) was a graduate of the Culver Military Academy, Williams College, and Harvard Law School. During World War II, Bates served as a Lieutenant Junior Grade aboard the U.S.S. Steele (DE-8), where he wrote Pacific Odyssey: A History of USS Steele (DE-8) that was published after the war. Beginning in 1947, Bates became legal counsel for the Arabian Oil Co. in San Francisco, Beirut, New York, The Hague, and Dhahran until his retirement in 1969.

Full Extent

.4 Linear Feet (4 Folders)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

The Robert C. Horch Collection is a collection of materials related to the service of Robert “Bob” Clarence Horch, MSgt USAF, aboard the U.S.S. Omaha (CL-4) and the U.S.S. Steele (DE-8) and the original manuscript and a printed copy of Pacific Odyssey: A History of USS Steele (DE-8), written by Lt. (jg) Frank W. Bates, an officer aboard the U.S.S. Steele (DE-8).