Robert Hinds

Robert Hinds was a Shipwright 1941-1942, Boat Builder 1942-1943, Army Transportation Service - Tugboat Operator & Fireboat Captain 1943-1945.

NPS Photo/Alison Taggart-Barone.

Robert Hinds

Shipwright (1941-1942), Boat Builder (1942-1943), Army Transportation Service - Tugboat Operator & Fireboat Captain (1943-1945)

In Memory of...
Early Life and Passion for Boat Building
Robert Hinds, known as Bob, was born in Berkeley, CA, on June 29, 1920. From an early age, Bob found his passion in life: boat building. He constructed his first boat at the age of 14, followed by a sailboat at 15, and a cabin cruiser at 19, which he sailed to the 1939 World’s Fair on Treasure Island.

Career at Hunt Marine Service and Moore's Shipyard
At the age of 19, Bob began working with Hunt Marine Service, where he steadily advanced from apprentice to supervisor of joiners. In 1941-42, Bob worked at Moore’s Shipyard in Oakland, constructing launching ways—the holding areas where Navy ships were built before being launched.

Supervisory Role at Hunt's Shipyard
In 1942-43, Bob worked as a boat builder at Hunt’s Shipyard in Richmond, where he was promoted to a supervisory role at the age of 21. He oversaw the construction and maintenance of 30-50 foot patrol boats, rescue crafts, command boats, and more for the Army Transportation Service (A.T.S.). The shipyard was located across from Kaiser Shipyard #1.

Service with the Army Transportation Service
In 1943, Bob officially joined the Army Transport Service, beginning as a Tugboat Operator and later serving as a Fireboat Captain until the end of the war.

Resourcefulness During Wartime Rationing
Wartime shortages affected civilian life, including gas rationing. Bob owned a 7-passenger Packard, which he used to carpool with fellow workers. Ingeniously, he adapted the car to run on a small amount of gas supplemented by stove oil, thereby conserving his rationed fuel. Although he had civilian rationing cards allowing 3-4 gallons of gas per week and special work cards permitting up to 8 gallons, Bob managed to reduce his gas usage significantly with this adaptation.

Post-War Life and Legacy
After the war, Bob continued his love of woodworking by purchasing a lot and building his own boat shop and store in Berkeley, located at 5th & University. Although his business no longer exists, the building he constructed still stands.

In 1945, Bob met the love of his life, a Navy Yeoman Second Class stationed in Oakland during the war. They were married for 65½ years until her passing in 2011.