SHIPS LOG
(Newsletter for 83' Sailors)
Welcome aboard for this
issue of the 83' Sailors newsletter. Spring is near and it’s time to get
underway once more.
WELCOME ABOARD:
New members this issue:
Steve Kimmick
WPB-83346
LETTERS:
As some of you know our
shipmate Dick Craig (83481) underwent surgery to amputate his foot. I would ask
that everyone keep Dick in your prayers as he is undergoing a follow-up surgery
on March 9th. The following is a letter from his wife Carole:
To our
friends,
I just
wanted to give you give you an update on Dick. He is in Northwest Hospital and
has had to have his right foot amputated. He developed an infection in the
bottom of his foot. He noticed a blister a couple weeks ago. He has had
blisters before (this is a big problem for diabetics). He called our doctors
office last Friday, but couldn't get in until Tuesday. Last weekend he had a
temperature that spiked but thought he had a flu bug. That passed so he went to
the doctor on Tuesday. His blood sugar level was high. The doctor ran lots of
tests and sent them to the lab. On Wednesday morning, he called at 6 am and
told Dick he had to get into the hospital immediately. We got there at 8 am.
His blood sugar was 700. They had him hooked up to a bag of insulin and
another bag of "stuff"(my brain has taken a momentary leave !) to
flush out his system. He had a raging infection in his foot. The ER doctor told
him he had a 50/50 chance of loosing his foot. We sat in ER from 8 am to 5 pm
because they didn't have a bed available in the hospital. They operated on his
leg Wednesday night and had to amputate his right foot above the ankle. Believe
it or not he has a great attitude! (Thank you Lord!) You all know Dick and his
attitude! He is in ICU so they can closely monitor everything. We are dealing
with many doctors. They have not closed up his leg yet as they want to make
sure that no infection is in there so they are allowing it to drain. He will go
back in the operating room this weekend to have his leg stitched up. The road
is long but we are taking everything one day at a time. I apologize for the
length of this email but I wanted everyone to know what is going on. Dick will
probably be there for 2 weeks. Please feel free to call me 206-542-6656 or send
an email to Dick's email address. We are so thankful for all of our friends and
our family. Keep the prayers coming as the road is going to be long and there
will definitely be some rough road ahead.
Thanks for
listening!
Love,
Carole
This one is from my
shipmate ENCS Ralph Gallant:
Wink;
If you e-mail Jim Leftwich, tell him at least they got something from drop of
depth charge.
While
I was aboard the 83483, at Friday Harbor, we went between Canada and San Juan
Island, on a gunnery trip, after checking out 20mm, we were to make one run,
drop depth change, it was set deep for depth of water, we were running full
throttle, dropped same, when it went off, the stern raised, the light bulbs in
the vessel went out.
In
checking the stern storage, we noted the packing glands on rudder post leaking,
at same time it was noted the shaft packing was also leaking, repairs were
started as we proceeded to Friday Harbor, as they have a drydock pull out, that
could help us, by the time we pulled in to the Harbor, we had all leaks slowed
or stopped, the District had us go to Seattle, we went in to yard, in checking
the bottom it was noted some of the caulking was gone or loose, all bottom area
was redone from galley back.
That's
the last drop we made. I was on the boat when these depth charge racks were
first installed, later made good oil barrel holders. I told the BMC Earl Ulrick,
we should pick up the fish, ha, no time.. Missed a good fish dinner.
Chief
NOSTALGIA:
The following is a
narrative from Harry Smalling about his WWII experiences:
WPB - 83472.
HARRY A. SMALLING - MoMM 2/C - REPORTED ABOARD THE ‘72
ON FEBRUARY 5, 1945 FROM THE CGRS AT JAMES ISLAND, S.C. WHILE THE '72 WAS IN
DRYDOCK AT THE CHARLESTON NAVY YARD FOR REPAIRS.
AT THIS TIME, THE SHIP'S COMPLEMENT CONSISTED OF THE FOLLOWING:
*. PAULU T. SAARI - ENSIGN AND C.O.
*. ERNEST B. BARNETTE - CMoMM.
*. THADDEUS A. BELESKY - S 1/C.
*. BILLY B. BROWN - S 1/C.
*. ROBERT G. CONRAD - MoMM 1/c.
*. THEODORE T. HEINS - CBM.
*. DANIEL C. JOHNSON, JR. - BM 1/C.
*. JAMES E. KEYS - SoM 3/C.
*. EDMUND. F. KOLANO - MoMM l/C.
*. JOHN N.ROUNTREE - SM 3/C.
*. ROBERT L. SCHROEDER - GM 3/C.
*. HARRY A. SMALLING - MoMM 2/C.
*. ROBERT C. TAYLOR - S 1/C.
*. BILLY J. WINGO - COX.
*. ROBERT A.ZOLLINHOFER - SoM 2/C.
CREW MEMBERS LISTED 5 AS REGULAR COAST GUARD
(INCLUDING C.O.) AND 10 AS RESERVISTS.
VESSEL AND ABOVE NAMED CREW MEMBERS REPORTED IN NEW
YORK, FROM THE 6TH NAVAL DISTRICT, CHARLESTON, S.C. FOR ASSIGNMENT TO DUTY.
WPB - 83472 - COMMISSIONED 1943 - ASSIGNED TO
PHILSEAFRON
USCG PTC FLOTILLA #1 - OPERATED OUT OF MINDORO ISLAND
IN THE PHILIPPINES IN 1945. SHE WAS AN 83 FOOT, WOOD-HULL CRAFT POWERED BY 2
STERLING VIKING GASOLINE ENGINES - FUEL CAPACITY OF 1900 GALLONS OF 100 OCTANE
GASOLINE - TWIN SCREW - HAD A COMPLEMENT OF 1 OFFICER (ENSIGN) AND 14 MEN -
EQUIPPED WITH RADAR AND SONAR UNITS - HAD A MAXIMUM SPEED OF 15 KNOTS EQUIPPED
WITH _ - 20 mm/80 AFT - 4 dc TRACKS AND 2 MOUSETRAPS. THE ENGINE ROOM WAS
EQUIPPED WITH 1 5KW KOHLER GENERATING UNIT AND 1 10 KW KOHLER GENERATING UNIT
(GASOLINE POWERED) TO HANDLE THE LARGE AMOUNT OF ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES ABOARD.
THIS VESSEL WAS EQUIPPED WITH DUAL STEERING POSITIONS, FINGER TIP
PANISH CONTROLS AND ALL OTHER NAVIGATION ESSENTIALS FOR QUICK MANEUVERABILITY.
THESE 83 FOOTERS WERE CONSTRUCTED BY THE WHEELER
SHIPYARDS, INC.
AT THE FOOT OF CROPSEY AVENUE IN BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.
ON MAY
11, 1944, VICE ADMIRAL R.R. WAESCHE WROTE TO WHEELER
COMMENDING THEIR CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM OF THE 83 FOOT CUTTERS AND A TOTAL OF 230
UNITS WERE BUILT FOR THE COAST GUARD.
IN 1945, THESE 83 FOOTERS WERE LOADED ABOARD THE SSe FRANK WIGGINS -
83469 - 83364 - 83437 AND 83472. THE FRANK WIGGINS HAD A GROSS TONNAGE OF 7,176
AND ON 16 APRIL 1945 LEFT THE NAVY PIER AT BAYONNE, NEW JERSEY AND JOINED A 28
SHIP CONVOY. ON WEDNESDAY, 18 APRIL 1945 THE WIGGINS WAS ORDERED TO BREAK AWAY
FROM THE CONVOY AND PROCEED SOLO TO THE PANAMA CANAL AND ON THURSDAY 26 APRIL
1945 THE WIGGINS ENTERED THE CANAL LOCKS.
ON WEDNESDAY, 30 MAY 1945 ANCHORED AT MANUS ISLAND TO PICK UP
ADDITIONAL GUN CREW FOR THE ARMED GUARD ABOARD THE WIGGINS.
ON THURSDAY 31 MAY 1945 THE WIGGINS DROPPED ANCHOR AT PORT OF TACLOBAN
IN THE PHILIPPINES. ON 10 JUNE 1945 A FLOATING CRANECAME ALONGSIDE AND ALL 4
COAST GUARD CUTTERS WERE UNLOADED AND WERE ASSIGNED SEPARATE AREAS OF
OPERATION.
FROM BAYONNE, NEW JERSEY TO TACLOBAN IN THE PHILIPPINES,
THE COAST GUARD CREWS SLEPT IN THEIR OWN BOATS, PERFORMED DAILY RITUALS AND
TOOK PART IN GUN DRILLS WITH THE ARMED GUARD UNIT AND STOOD LOOKOUT WATCHES
ABOARD THE WIGGINS. THE CUTTER CREWS ATE IN THE MERCHANT MARINE MESS HALL
ABOARD THE WIGGINS AND
ON 27 MAY 1945 THE WIGGINS CROSSED THE EQUATOR AND THE
INITIATIONS BEGAN IN EARNEST!!
* WHILE IN THE PHILIPPINES, THE 83472 OPERATED OUT OF PT BOAT
BASE ON THE ISLAND OF MINDORO.
*THE 83472 DID ISLAND PATROLS AND LINE PATROLS IN THE
SOUTH
CHINA SEA.
*WHILE IN PORT, THE CREW SLEPT ABOARD THE 83472 AND ALSO ATE
MEALS ABOARD PREPARD BY THE SHIPS COOK.
* THE COOK WAS A "SCROUNGER" AND OFTEN GOT FOOD FROM THE BASE COMMISSARY AND MADE DEALS WITH MANY OF THE ARMY REFRIGERATED BARGES FOR "GOODIES" AND ONE "GOODY" WAS CANNED SPAM! HOW ABOUT THAT? MADE GOOD SANDWICHES!
* SINCE I HAD ENOUGH POINTS TO GO HOME, I LEFT THE '72 IN
NOVEMBER OF 1945 AND MADE MY WAY TO A DEBARKATION CAMP IN MANILA AND I WAS
STILL A MoMM 2/C.
*WHEN I LEFT THE '72, THE CREW SIZE WAS STILL ONE
OFFICER AND 14 ENLISTED MEN. *. THE 83472 HAD SCOPE VENTS.. I WAS DISCHARGED IN
DECEMBER OF 1945 AND RECEIVED 2 WEEKS VACATION PAY FROM CONSOLIDATED EDISON
COMPANY OF N.Y. AND THAT WAS A SURPRISE! MY WIFE, MINNIE, AND I WILL OBSERVE
OUR 56TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY THIS YEAR AND WE HAVE 3 CHILDRE WITH OUR DAUGHTER
LIVING IN HOLLAND, MICHIGAN AND ONE SON LIVING IN SAYERVILLE, N.J. AND ONE SON
LIVING IN RALEIGH, N.C. AND WE HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH 10 GRANDCHILDREN. I
RETIRED FROM CON-EDISON IN 1988 HAVING PUT IN 48 YEARS IN STEAM AND GAS
CONSTRUCTION AND FINALLY RETIRING FROM GAS ENGINEERING AS A SUPERINTENDENT.
HERE IS A LITTLE SIDE STORY THAT HAPPENED TO ME WHILE
ON THE 83472.WE WERE COMING IN FROM
A PATROL WHEN I SPOTTED THE LST
886 AT ANCHOR AND I ASKED "TINY" OUR SIGNALMAN TO SEE IF HE COULD
MAKE CONTACT WITH THE LST AND SEE IF THERE WAS A ROBERT T. MARS ABOARD WHO WAS
IN THE "BLACK GANG". HE GOT AN AFFIRMATIVE AND THE SKIPPER PULLED
ALONGSIDE AND DROPPED ME OFF AND I WENT UP THE GANGWAY AND SALUTED THE O.D. WHO
DID NOT EVEN QUESTION MY BEING ABOARD WITH THE EXCEPTION OF WANTING TO SEE MY
BUDDY ONCE AGAIN. I WAS WEARING MOCASSINS,
NO SHIRT, NO HAT AND HAD A BEARD! BOB AND I HAD SERVED ON THE CGC BOWSTRING
(WPB 365) IN 1943.
NO SOONER HAD WE RENEWED ACQUINTANCES WHEN I WAS
ORDERED TO COME TO THE CONNING TOWER TO SEE THE C.O. I BORROWED A SHIRT AND A
HAT AND THE C.O. WAS PRETTY LENIENT WITH ME AND FAULTED THE O.D. FOR LETTING ME
COME ABOARD AS THE SHIP WAS ON ITS WAY TO OKINAWA. HE SAID HE WOULD PUT ME
ASHORE NEAR MANILA AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO MAKE MY WAY BACK TO THE '72 AS BEST
AS I COULD AND THAT WE WOULD NOTIFY THE BASE AND MY SKIPPER THAT I WAS NOT A
DESERTER!
AS THE LST HEADED OUT, A PT BOAT WAS COMING IN FROM A
PATROL
ON ITS WAY TO THE MINDORO BASE. THE C.O. HAD IT
FLAGGED DOWN TO SEE IF THEY WOULD TAKE ME ABOARD AND BRING ME BACK TO THE
MINDORO BASE. I MADE IT DOWN TO THE PT BOAT VIA A JACOBS LADDER AND THE PT BOAT
SKIPPER ASKED IF I HAD EVER BEEN ON A PT BOAT BEFORE AND WHEN I SAID NO, HE
OPENED UP THE 3 ENGINES AND GAVE ME A FAST RIDE BACK TO THE BASE! AFTER
THANKING THE SKIPPER, I MADE IT BACK IN TIME FOR CHOW AND MY SHIFMATES NEVER
MISSED ME!! SO MUCH FOR ADVENTURE!
Well shipmates, that is
going to have to do for this edition. Remember my contact info is:
(503) 703-0241
PICTURE OF THE MONTH:
WPB-83394 circa 1948 (photo courtesy of Jim Flynn)
