That Morton was a creaky old ship. It was calm weather, both ways, but you
could hear the plates squeak as it rolled in the waves. Maybe all big ships do
this. But I don't recall the British frigate that carried us to Korea sounding
this way.
I almost forgot something! While we were on our way from Camp Stoneman to
San Francisco the Morton was struck by a tug in the harbor, and her hull was
damaged. Rather than send us back to Stoneman, they sent us aboard to await
repairs. This took nearly a week. Maybe this had something to do with the
squeaking plates!
We didn't put in at Hawaii .... going over or coming back.
1st Raider Co. 1950.
Sent: Tuesday, October 01, 2002 5:16
PM
Subject: Re: The Morton
The Morton
Sailed into typhoon and rode into it for three days,November 23rd off
the coast of okinawa,had thanksgiving at sea,the galley was a Mess,50 foot
swells,when ship got to top of wave the prop was out of water and you
thought that the ship would come apart,then when the ship came to
bottom off the next swell and with the crash you could almost see
the rivets jumping out of the steel plates. Over the inner-com : All
personal remain below decks,A hell of alot of sick troops aboard again
after their experience after passing the Golden Gate some days before,Went
pass the Golden Gate westward a half hour after NoonChow,they served
SPAGHETTI,,need i write anymore ?
Left Okinawa 15th Sept 1951 aboard the Anderson. The Anderson came into
okinawa straight from San Francisco loaded to the bridge with troops going to
korea,by way of Okinawa then japan, When us AirDales got aboard we had
no quarters and had to sleep top side till we reached japan the
next day,after troops disembarked we then got our bunks below. I
think we stayed in Japan for two days,some were able to go ashore for six
hours if i remember right.,I stayed aboard. After leaving Japan we sailed
straight for Hawaii,a day out of Hawaii over the intercom came this "All Air
Force Personal who are carrying there personal records can draw an
allownce from their pay records,report to finance office 3rd deck below "This
was a zip-off,In order to get some money you had to buy a five
dollar chance on a 1946 Cov Cadillac down in the hold that belong to the
Capt of the ship,Some Airman won it as we docked in San Francisco.I had
to take Bus from there to Westover AFB,Ma,Long ride but a great way to see
this country.
A LongAgo Airmans travels
Les
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Monday, September 30, 2002 11:51
PM
Subject: The Morton
HAHAHA. Les, the "quarters" was a bunk with about two feet between it
and the bunk above it. I don't know about the chow going over. I got seasick
shortly after passing under the Golden Gate, and stayed sick except for the
last three days of voyage.
On the way back, I was assigned to K.P. I went down and told the
cook that I took a blood test a couple of days before boarding the
ship, and told him that I didn't know the results yet. This was a lie, but
he ordered me out of the galley telling me I didn't belong in food
service.
Bob Dove
1st raider Co. 1950
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