#but John is only mentioned as being punished once for 'shirking duty' and was 'deprived of leave until all electric lamps are clean' | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

starbuck · 4 years ago

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Some new research updates on my boy, James Heath, AKA the sailor from New York buried on St. Paul Island, Alaska:

1. His reasoning for joining the Navy seems to be that his step-father was abusive which is really upsetting but I’m happy that he found an escape.

2. He had a “goddess liberty” tattoo on his right forearm that he got somewhere around 1885, which coincides with the statue of liberty being assembled in New York City, where he was living at the time.

3. One of his friends who was with him when he died was named John McKearney and he was Gunner’s Mate 2nd Class which means they probably worked together a lot.

#John McKearney also got into very little trouble according to the Concord's logs #idk why but the Concord was a fucking PARTY SHIP - people were constantly drunk and fighting and being dishonorably discharged it was WILD #but John is only mentioned as being punished once for 'shirking duty' and was 'deprived of leave until all electric lamps are clean'#which is frankly hilarous #get u a man who inadequately cleans ur electric lamps #James never got in any trouble and i mean... this was his twelfth year in the navy so i wouldn't expect any different #but anyway back to the first two items i'm honestly just thinking about James freeing himself from his abuser and then getting #a symbol of freedom tattooed on himself like mmmmMMMMMMMMMM #AND ALSO WITH THE CONTEXT THAT HIS PARENTS WERE POOR IMMIGRANTS #poor Irish immigrants at that #i think he may have gotten more tattoos later and i'd love to know what they were #obsessed with this random man forever and always #honestly the next time i see his grave i'll probably cry #abuse tw #forgot to tag WHOOPS SORRY

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