An extraordinary piece of American naval history, this original 1948 United States Naval Training Center (USNTC) Great Lakes, Illinois "The Keel" boot camp graduation yearbook features a spectacular historical pedigree.
This specific volume documents Company 354 and proudly contains the graduation portrait of recruit Henry J. Stark—who is the direct grandson of Apprentice First Class Gustav J. Dressler, one of the few legendary survivors of the historic USS Maine disaster in Havana Harbor that sparked the Spanish-American War in 1898.
The publication showcases a heavy navy blue textured fabric cover with embossed gold gilt lettering and a colorized photo insert of a naval color guard unit on the front face. The interior is densely packed with individual portrait photographs, training activities, and post-WWII facility baselines. An incredibly rare, highly significant crossover resource for historical militaria collectors, Spanish-American War researchers, and naval genealogists alike.
- Branch: United States Navy (USN)
- Historical Pedigree: Features Recruit Harry Stark (Grandson of USS Maine survivor Gustav J. Dressler)
- Facility: Naval Training Center Great Lakes, Illinois (USNTC)
- Publication Title: "The Keel" (Boot Camp Yearbook)
- Identification: Company 354
- Year: 1948 (Post-WWII / Cold War Era)
- Binding: Original Hardcover
Condition: Perfect, pristine vintage condition. The dark navy blue hardcover is exceptionally crisp with zero fraying, split corners, or heavy shelf wear, and the gold lettering remains bright and clear. The interior binding and hinges are perfectly solid and tight. The pages are crisp, bright, and clean with absolutely no writing, torn sheets, water damage, foxing, or missing pages.
Seller Details:
* Packaging: Shipped safely and securely from a clean, non-smoking home.
* Trust: Check my 100% perfect feedback in over 28 years on ebay and buy with confidence.
Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or need additional photos before purchasing. Thank you for looking!