Editor’s note: The Seafarers LOG reserves the right to edit letters for grammar as well as space provisions without changing the writer’s intent. The LOG welcomes letters from members pensioners, their families and shipmates and will publish them on a timely basis.Wartime Shipping Memories Still Vivid
Sixty-three years ago, I took an oiler’s job on the John W. Meldrum. We loaded 10,000 tons of ammunition out of Beaver Ammo Depot, which is near Clatskanie, Ore.
On leaving Beaver and going across the bay, the No. 1 bearing got hot. I was trying everything in the book to cool it down, including dumping kerosene in it followed by gallons of oil. (This was a Liberty ship with a triple expansion steam engine.)
I was running up and down the staircase with the oil and kerosene. The chief engineer was running behind me, beating me on the back with his fists. He was furious. But he was a small man, so he didn’t hurt me.
I finally got the bearing cooled down, but it was wiped out, so it hammered all the way across the Pacific to the Admiralty (or Manus) Islands. The minute we dropped anchor, the first engineer pulled that bearing down and scraped it and refitted it like new!
The next day, the USS Mt. Hood blew up alongside of us. The port officials moved our ship a couple miles out to sea, where we dropped anchor and were unloaded by barges. It took six weeks to unload.
There is a discrepancy as to how many people lost their lives—anywhere from 325 to 375. No bodies were ever found—only bits and pieces. I was on deck at the time, and the blast almost blew me over.
Ed Unversagt
Warren, Oregon
Retiree Remembers Sailing Days
The following poem was written by John M. Clarke of Houston, Texas, “an old retiree who no longer can ship out but who often thinks about what it used to be like.”
Brother Clark wishes “good luck to all the officials and members of the SIU—the finest maritime union in the world—and to all in the number-one port in the U.S.A.—Houston.”
Remembering
Hope you take some time
To read this little rhyme.
It came into my head
Before I even got out of bed.
I want to make a trip
On a good old union ship.
To places I want to see
Somewhere across the sea.
Perhaps over to sunny Spain
And hope it does not rain.
To feel ocean breezes once more
Far from the American shore.
I do have a hanker
Once again to ride a tanker.
Ras Tanura, here I come
Hold out your hand in welcome.
One thing I want you to get
I am not ready to sail yet.
I am just letting off steam
And having a nice little dream.
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