USS Enterprise Liberty Card - QM3 Ernest P. Turp

USS Enterprise Liberty Card - QM3 Ernest P. Turp
This is a WWII-era United States Liberty Card issued to Quartermaster 3rd Class (QM3c) Ernest B. Turp while he was a crewman aboard the USS Enterprise (CV-6): the most storied and decorated ship of WWII.

Liberty Cards are the naval equivalent of a "pass" and as stated on the card, "This entitles the bearer to leave the ship or station on liberty if entitled to liberty." Liberty is the term used by the US Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard for time spent off of work and time spent on weekends. Generally there are restrictions placed on how far a sailor may travel from the base or vessel while on liberty.

There is a difference between Leave and Liberty. Liberty is privilege granted at the discretion of higher authority and may be locally restricted based on need, discipline or the good of the service. Leave is a right granted by Congress and defined under Federal Law.

Turp's USN Liberty Card (ZFC3865) was accompanied by other Enterprise artifacts; a 48 star #10 ensign (ZFC3843); an admiral's absence signal (ZFC3844); a MK 2 USN Utility Knife & Sheath (ZFC3847 & 3848 ) and an Enterprise ashtray (ZFC3845).

In the United States Navy of WWII a Quartermaster's duties included standing bridge watches, preparing and computing navigational data, recording navigational detail on charts, plotting courses, steering courses and in general supervising the bridge crew.

Provenance:
* USS Enterprise, issued to USN Quartermaster 3c Ernest B. Turp by Lt. F.G. Erricson, USN, 1945.
* USN Quartermaster 3c Ernest B. Turp, 1945/46.
* Retained by QM3c Turp as a memento of service until, 1990s.
* Acquired by purchase by The War Museum of New York City, 1990s
* Sold via Bonham's of New York City, NY to Zaricor Flag Collection, 2013.

Sources:

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USS Enterprise, Wikipedia, 9 April 2013, from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Enterprise_%28CV-6%29

Remembering Enterprise, USS Enterprise CV-6, The Most Decorated Ship of the Second World War, USS Enterprise Association, 9 April 2013, from: http://www.cv6.org/remember/default.htm

USS Enterprise, Naval History and Heritage Command, 9 April 2013, from: http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-usn/usnsh-e/cv6.htm

Zaricor Flag Collection (ZFC) Archives, 2013.

Image Credits:
Zaricor Flag Collection

Hoist & Fly
Width of Hoist	2.75
Length of Fly	3.675

Frame
Is it framed?	no

Nationality
Nation Represented	United States

Fabric
Fabric	Paper
Comments on Fabric	Card Stock

Attachment
Method of Attachment	None

Applica
Applique Sides	3-D Artifact

Documentation
Documents	All original documents and drawings are held in the Zaricor Flag Collection Archives.
Drawings	All original documents and drawings are held in the Zaricor Flag Collection Archives.
Research Documents	All original documents and drawings are held in the Zaricor Flag Collection Archives.
Public Copy & Signs	All original documents and drawings are held in the Zaricor Flag Collection Archives.

Condition
Condition	Good
Damage	Used, worn, with a staple tear & card loss
Displayable	yes

Date
Date	1945