Basil Hathaway Struthers Papers

Object NameCorrespondence Program

Historic Owner B. Hathaway Struthers

Association USS Intrepid (CV/CVA/CVS-11)

Date1971–1976

PeriodCold War

Mediumpaper, ink

ClassificationsCommunication Artifacts

Credit LineCollection of the Intrepid Museum. Gift of Chaplain B.H. Struthers. A2018.47

Object numberA2018.47

DescriptionExtent: 2 folders

Basil Hathaway "Hap" Struthers served on board the aircraft carrier USS Intrepid (CVS-11) as the Protestant Chaplain from 1972–1973. Before serving on Intrepid, he served on the aircraft carrier the USS Wasp (CVS-18), also as the Protestant Chaplain. His papers include items from his time aboard Intrepid and other religious and naval ephemera. Papers include correspondence with sailors and their families, religious programs, ship-wide memos, and newspaper clippings. Notably, this collection contains Struthers' papers from Intrepid's Human Relations Council from 1972–1973, The goal of the Human Relations Council was to address racial discrimination and other issues related to race, as well as other crew concerns. These items include the by-laws, memos, and minutes of the meetings held. The collection includes Struthers's statement following incidents of racial unrest on board Intrepid in January 1973.

USS Intrepid Papers
- Memorandum
-- Subject: Navy Dependent Charter Flight, report of, March 16, 1973 (3 pages)
-- Subject: Intrepid Striker Program; establishment of, May 2, 1973 (2 pages) (2)

- Correspondence
-- Basil Struthers to Executive Secretary of Navy Relief Society, January 5, 1972
-- Mrs. Helen Baurett to Basil Struthers, January 2, 1972 (might be a mistaken date, 1973 more likely)
-- Basil Struthers to Mrs. Helen Baurett, February 1, 1973
-- Basil Struthers to Chaplain M.R. Vanlaningham, Jr., April 5, 1972
-- Merrill Budge to Basil Struthers January 17, 1973 (3 pages)
-- Basil Struthers to Mrs. Larry Ketchum, January 21, 1973
-- Basil Struthers to Mrs. Lillie Russell, February 6, 1973
-- Mrs. Lille Russell to Basil Struthers, January 13, 1973
-- Selective Service System Notice of Classification for Eugene Russell
-- Notes from SMO (Senior Medical Officer) about Eugene Russell, October 15, 1973
-- Basil Struthers to Mr. & Mrs. H.C. Franklin, April 28, 1973
-- Basil Struthers to Mr. Robert Morgan of the Boy Scouts of America, May 16, 1973
-- Basil Struthers to “To Whom it May Concern,” about Michael Alan Fineman, June 7, 1973

- Human Relations Council
-- Statement of Chaplain Basil H. Struthers, CDR, CHC, USN, USS Intrepid (CVS-11), Protestant Chaplain, no date (3 pages). This statement pertains to ongoing racial tensions that led to violence on board Intrepid in January 1973.
-- Bylaws of the Human Relations Council, March 6, 1971 (2 pages)
-- Addendum to Plan of the Day of 10/28/72, "Human Relations Council"
-- Poster, “Got-A-Problem // Bring it Home // Human Relations // Council”, Bottom has “poster made & posted Dec ‘72” handwritten on the bottom of the page.
-- Memorandum; Subject: Human Relations Council, February 25, 1973 (rough draft) (3 pages)
-- Memorandum; Subject: Human Relations Council, March 2, 1973 (3 pages)
-- Minutes of the Human Relations Council Meeting of 27 April, 1973, April 28, 1973 (3 pages)
-- Minutes of the Human Relations Council Meeting of 14 June, June 21, 1973 (3 pages) (2)
-- Minutes of the Human Relations Council Meeting of 20 July, 1973, July 25, 1973 (2 pages)
-- Memorandum; Subj: Human Relations Council Survey, instructions concerning (with blank survey attached), no date
-- Note, Human Relations Council Information (handwritten)

- Directory of Officers, USS Intrepid, August 1972
- Directory of Officers, USS Intrepid, January 1973
Directories list primary duties as well as committes, councils and boards.

- Programs
-- National Prayer Breakfast, USS Intrepid (CVS-11), Lisbon, Portugal, February 1, 1973 (2)
-- Antisubmarine // Warfare Group Four // & // USS Intrepid CVS-11 // Dependent’s Cruise (June 15, 1972)
-- Barcelona // Charter // Flight // 26 March – 9 April 1973 // Welcome Aboard // COMCRUDESFLOT Twelve // US Sixth Fleet
-- 30th Anniversary USS Intrepid CVS-11 1943–1973
-- Decommissioning Ceremony, USS Intrepid, Naval Air Station, Quonset Point Rhode Island, March 15, 1974

- Ship’s Company Reunion
-- Program; USS Intrepid Ships Company Reunion, 1943–1976
-- Card; Ships Company Reunion
-- Letter; from John Postick to Basil Struthers, October 22, 1976
-- Notes’ about USS Intrepid CV-11 National Reunion Association
-- Insert of drawing of the USS Intrepid

- Notes; with names, squadron, handwritten
- Envelope; addressed to LCDR A.E. Norton, USN. “Basil Struthers” is handwritten on it.

- Newspaper clippings
-- “Drug Program Held on Intrepid,” The Quonset Scout, January 13, 1972
-- “Carrier Officer Writes of Racial ‘Mutiny,’” no date.
-- “The Intrepid, departing yesterday to join the mothball reserve,” no date
-- “Group Trying to Save Carrier Intrepid,” Navy Times, June 19, 1978

Other Naval Papers
- Booklet; Navy Christian Link-Up, April–May 1972
- Leave and Earnings Statement, Member’s Copy, for Basil Hathaway Struthers
- Evaluation of Washington Administrative Functions (2 pages)
- Memo; Subj: Information Regarding Requirements Contract – Protestant Church-Owned Publishers Association, DSA-400-71-D-0341, June 7, 1971 (2 pages)
- Blank chart

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