Prior to enlisting in the Navy I was stationed at the C.C.C. (Civilian Conservation Corp.) camp in Holyoke, MA. I enlisted in the navy at the Springfield, MA recruiting station 11/26/1940 for a six-year term. My parents had to sign my enlistment papers.
From Springfield we took a train ride to Worcester, MA to meet up with more recruits. Then a bus ride to the Newport, RI training center. We arrived around 10:00 p.m. for my first navy meal. You guessed it, "beans". I will never forget when the lights went on; hundreds of cockroaches scampered off the tables. I have often wondered if any roaches were a part of the meal. Beans and roaches, not bad!
We were the last unit to use hammocks for sleeping. Many cold hours were spent on the drill field. My pay was $21 a month and $112.75 was issued for clothing.
On 1/22/1941 I was temporarily assigned to the USS Wasp for transportation to Guantanimo Bay, Cuba. There I was to pick up the USS Hughes DD-410 on 2/2/1941, my permanent assignment. Enroute to Cuba seasickness struck. I teamed up with another shipmate who was sick. We took care of each other. We ate alot of crackers to have something on our stomachs. Needless to say we survived.
Early in 1941 the ship was in Portsmouth, VA naval yard for repairs. Here I pigged out on fresh strawberries and shortcake, a real treat for me. I broke out in hives and was restricted to the ship wearing only my underwear and calamine lotion. I looked like a zombie. I didn't eat strawberries for a long time.
My ship was assigned to the North Atlantic, neutrality patrol, operating out of Iceland. When we came off patrol, we anchored in Hvalfjord Harbor which was protected by submarine nets. We were early arrivals to Iceland. For liberty we would anchor in Reykjavik. As we walked the streets the civilians would get off the sidewalks and pass us on the road. One time I suggested to my shipmate that we step out onto the road before the people, instead of them. We received apprehensive looks.
On 8/31/1941 the Hughes was sent out to help a British convoy under attack. My first taste of combat. I watched merchant ships burning and sinking in disbelief. One assignment was to locate a German battleship, Bismarck, for the English navy, between Greenland and Iceland. We had no radar and never located the Bismarck.
We made depth charge attacks on German submarines. Attack, run, and get away fast so that no connection could be made to the US Navy. We also boarded merchant ships looking for German raiders.
The North Atlantic was a rough and cold ocean, creating cracks amidships on the main deck. General quarters were called every day at dusk and dawn. This really wore the crew down. |
