Personal log of Arthur Altvater-U.S.S. Relief (AH-1)

Arthur Altvater's USS Laramie memories at Slowbell (Story of the torpedoing of Laramie and burial at sea)
USS Relief's Wartime Chronicle (provided by Arthur Altvater)
Arthur Altvater's photos and the story of SNAG 56
A page based on Arthur's USS Laramie photos - Supporting Greenland
R. Jackson's Ship Index

Personal log of Arthur Altvater
aboard
U.S.S. Relief (AH-1)
Covering Feb. 13, 1945 through Sep. 10, 1945

Modification of Official Photo Taken at Ulithi 13 March 1945
Colors have been added based on small color photograph

USS Relief's Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships entry. NavSource's USS Relief page contains more information and photos.

Click on thumbnail to left to see the first page of the original (134k .jpg file).

Date Transcription of log [notes added by R. Jackson for reference]

Feb. 13, 1945 Hoisted anchor, tossed off mooring lines from pier 46 Frisco at 0730 and set sail for the Pacific. Sailed Under the Golden Gate Bridge at 0800. What a sight. What a much more beautiful sight it will be coming back.

Feb. 21, 1945 Passed two islands in the Hawaiian group off our port beam, approximately 20 miles.

Mar. 5, 1945 Sighted land at 0600 and by 0700 could see several islands and mast of several ships which as we continued in developed into quite a fleet. By 0800 we were just outside the atolls of Ulithi in the Caroline Islands and going into the harbor formed by these many islands. What at first seemed like several ships proved to be hundreds. Never have I seen so many ships. Carries by the dozens, as were cruisers, DD's, Tankers, Cargos, DE's, and several Battleships. Dropped anchor at 1000.

Mar. 6, 1945 Began the business of servicing the fleet as patients from the various ships came aboard.

Mar, 7, 1945 Hoisted anchor and moved to different anchorage. Passed close to several islands having native huts. Eureka -- our first mail came aboard today, Oh what a grand thing.

Mar 7, 1945 More mail today. Getting it almost regular now.

Mar 11, 1945 Had stretcher bearer watch from 1600 to 2100 along with Hass, Tucker and Jorgage. General alarm sounded at 2000 and Jap suicide plane crashed into carrier Randolph and another crashed into neighboring island. Did quite a bit of damage to Randolph, killed 20 or 25 and injured approximately 35 or 40. We got 30 cases. All badly burned boys. This was my first air raid and I at first thought it was only a practice alarm. I saw both crashes from the quarter deck but thought they were set off flames for realistic purposes. [Randolph (CV-15)]

Mar 12,1945 Went on Recreation today to Mog-Mog. Had three beers and pitched some horseshoes. Sure felt good to touch ground again.

Mar 15. 1945 Some of the carriers in here are the Bunker Hill, Hornet, Essex, Hancock, Randolph, Enterprise, Wasp, Franklin, Intrepid. BB's: Indiana, Wisconsin, Tennessee, N. Carolina, Iowa, Texas. Cruisers: Indianapolis, San Diego, Springfield, etc.

Mar. 18, 1945 U.S.S. Solace pulled in today. Had stretcher watch from 1600 to 2400. [Solace (AH-5)]

Mar. 21, 1945 Had boat drills this afternoon. Boats were lowered into water then we climbed down Jacob's ladder into boat and rowed around for about 30 minutes to one hour. Damn glad to call it quits on the rowing stuff. Sure hope we never have to use them. Also takes too long to lower and get into them.

Mar. 24, 1945 Three carriers came back from operations off Japan. Wasp, Lexington and Franklin. The Franklin was just a hull that was not even whole. Wow she sure took a terrible beating. Don't see how she can stay afloat. Received about 120 patients from her crew. Reported about 1,000 to 1,500 men abandoned ship. Lots of the men died in sealed up compartments. Must really have been awful.

Mar. 25, 1945 Had stretcher bearer watch again from 1600 to 2400. Nothing stirring. All calm.

Mar. 26, 1945 Hoisted anchor at 0730, Are going to Guam with our patients.

Mar. 27, 1945 Sighted Guam at 1500. Anchored after much maneuvering of tugs and LCM's at (or rather docked) 1830 and started carrying patients off to waiting ambulances on dock. Carried whole blood aboard on return to ship.

Mar. 28, 1945 Left Guam, bound for Okinawa

Mar. 31, 1945 Are being tossed about like a match stick. Are running just ahead of a typhoon. Everything is being doubly secured. Hope it doesn't hit us.

Apr. 1, 1945 D-day at Okinawa

Apr. 2, 1945 Attacked by Jap Bomber at 0615. Dropped one bomb off our port stern, shook the ship, but caused no damage. Made attempt to return but a DE steamed up from our port bow and opened up with it's guns on the plane and it scrammed. Sure was glad. Never so scared in my life, however had lots of company. We remained at security stations for about ½ hour. Pulled into Okinawa about 1000-D day plus one. Cruisers and Battlewagons were shelling the island. Sure looked like a beautiful island and things on island itself seemed quiet. Air flash red control yellow at 1300, lasted for three hours. Several planes were over and shot down including three of our own, what a thunder of guns. Pulled out at 1630 according to International law for hospital ships and cruised about 80 miles away fully lighted up.

Apr. 3, 1945 Pulled back in at 0830 and ready to take on patients. Sent Field Hospital Equipment ashore. More aid raids during day. Pulled out again at 1630. Out each night and back each morning.

Apr. 4, 1945 Taking on patients. Air raids continuing.

Apr. 6, 1945 Worst air raids today. Boy did the ships and shore batteries open up. Shot down about 5 planes.

Apr. 7, 1945 Routine day, interrupted with air-raids. Mass air attack reported. headed this way. Thank God it didn't come. Had special watch on Meningitis case in ward A, isolation from 0400 to 0800. Had to change bed sheet at 0730. Patient had defecated.

Apr. 10, 1945 Pulling out with a full load for Guam. Sure be glad when we are far enough out to be safe from raids. Will be relief to get away. (80 air-raids)

Apr. 11, 1945 Passed small convoy off our starboard beam. Had boat drill, put boats over the side in readiness, if needed.

Apr, 13, 1945 Passed a floating mine off our starboard side. Tried to explode it with gun fire but failed. (small arms)

Note Typewritten pages stopped April 13 and began again July 19 with handwritten pages in the interval. I had thought the typed pages represented a later effort to transcribe the handwritten notes. When Arthur sent original documents I saw the yellowed originals of both. The change from type to hand dates from 1945. (R. Jackson)

Apr, 15, 1945 Arrived Saipan 0730. Beautiful island. Unloaded patients. Boy these stretchers get heavy after a while. Received mail in the afternoon. Our first in three weeks. What a thrill. Saw B-29s by dozens.

April 16, 1945 Had recreation party on beach. Went on afternoon shift. Pitched horseshoes. Saw 50 to 60 B-29s come back at about 0700 from raids on Japan. Pulled anchor about 1730 reported headed for Ulithia [Ulithi].

April 18, 1945 Arrived Ulithi at 1000 -- took on stores upped anchor at 1700 and headed for Okinawa again.

April 19, 1945 Really making speed. Passed within sight of Yap, (Jap held). Had news Ernie Pyle kille on Ie Jima today.

April 22, 1945 Arrived Okinawa at 1810. Big guns on ship and shore booming all day and night. Sky lighted up with flashes of our fire and flares all night. Inshore boats make smoke during air raids at night, blankets out entire area like a big fog.

April 26, 1945 Upped anchor and pulled out of Okinawa again with full load.

April 28, 1945 Passed convoy going toward Philippines. The USS Comfort [AH 6] was hit today by a suicide plane. Crashed into bridge and O.R. Quite a few killed and wounded. Rather a spine chilling feeling considering fact that Japs will from here on down anything they can. Hope they never hit us. This could very easily and according to schedule should have been us because the Comfort pulled into Guam day before we made Saipan. She was held up there and we pulled back to Okinawa from Ulithia [Ulithi] in her place. In this way we took her schedule and she ours so our Guardian Angel was again at our side in making the switch.

April 30, 1945 Arrived Tinian at 0900, arrived in Saipan 1000. Went on recreation party pitched horseshoes. No mail.

May 2 [1945] Upped anchor bound for ? Heard Hitler died, also Goebbels.

May 4 [1945] Tokyo Rose broadcast said she was sorry the Comfort was hit. Mistook it for Relief.

May 7 [1945] Arrived Okinawa again 1200 and dropped anchor.

May 8 [1945] Learned of unconditional surrender of Germany. No celebration, backslapping, etc. Take as routine news.

May 10 [1945] Air raids began at 1800 and lasted all night.

May 11 [1945] Left Okinawa 0730 with DE for escort since bombing of Comfort makes our safety more hazardous.

May 14 [1945] Arrived Guam 1330, and unloaded patients until 1700. Mail came aboard our first in a month. Was distributed after chow. Oh what a wonderful evening, oh what a wonderful day.

May 15 [1945] Left Guam for Okinawa 1000. Had all night working party taking supplies aboard (5-14). Landed on working party this morning. Worked in Provision hold all day. Hotter than ??

May 16 [1945] Though this is Thursday we had a Rope Yard Sunday today to give the boys a little relaxation.

May 19 [1945] Arrived Okinawa 1230. As in past are close to shore. Can see activity ashore. Watched dive bombing, etc., on Shuri Castle and Naha. Also big battlewagons are blazing away.

May 21 [1945] Visited Okinawa today. Tucker and I took body ashore for burial. Visited Armour (a medic in Army). Nicks found Talbot. Armour took us on a short tour. Visited huts and tombs.

May 25 [1945] Air raids today started at 2000 and lasted till 0515. What a night mare. You never know when.

May 26 [1945] Left Okinawa at 0800 with DE escort.

May 30 [1945] Arrived at Guam 1400. Unloaded patients and had mail call again.

May 31 [1945] Went on recreation party. Very poor recreation facilities. Wished I'd stayed aboard.

June 1 [1945] Left Guam 0800 for Okinawa.

June 4 [1945] Were ordered to reverse course because of typhoon ahead. Manned Security Stations at 1630 because of sub off our port bow. Proved to be friendly thank heavens and we secured from Security Stations 1645. Some of the typhoon hit us. Waves frequently washed over deck. One splashed through port in Pharmacy.

June 6 [1945] Reversed course again and are Okinawa bound. Storm has passed.

June 7 [1945] Arrived Okinawa 1600. Took on 150 patients before 2100.

June 11 [1945] Left Okinawa at 0745 with our usual escort

June 15 [1945] Arrived Saipan at 1430. Didn't get unloaded until 1830. Not enough ambulances, which slowed down operations. Also had no help from base as stretcher bearers.

June 16 [1945] Went on recreation. Pitched horseshoes and had a nice time.

June 18 [1945] Nothing of importance happened.

June 21 [1945] Left Saipan 1845 for Okinawa again. This is our 6th and probably our last trip.

June 26 [1945] Arrived Okinawa 1400. No air raids. Things seem pretty quiet. End is in sight.

June 30 [1945] Left Okinawa 1300. Have only 125 stretcher patients, rest are all ambulatory. Really a light load. Ward Corpsmen are deserving. At 1500 we were notified that our mission with the 31st task force had been completed. Gratitude was extended to us for our very fine work during the entire Okinawa campaign. As I stood at the rail taking my last glimpses of what was a very beautiful island when we first arrived, but more a churned up heap of rubble for the most part, the closing words of a travelogue man came to my mind "and so we leave, etc., etc., --"

Note Handwritten notes end June 30 with gap until July 19. Relief's Chronicle shows she was underway to Guam, diverted to Saipan arriving on 5 July, then to Guam on 8-9th for logistics before transit to Leyte. She arrived Leyte on the 13th taking duties as station hospital ship in midst of dysentery epidemic.

July 19,1945 Went on working party to K-111 at 0745 to get stores. We worked in holds loading cargo nets with practically everything imaginable. Never have I seen such stores. One of those ships have enough supplies in their holds to feed all of Jasper sumptuously for at least one year. We did not get back to the ship until 1600. We were supposed to get back in the AM. ["K-111" would be USS Giansar (AK-111)]

July 25, 1945 Went on recreation, my first time since the accident. We go in an LCI now, have been since the day after the wreck. It's safer this way.

July 27, 1945 An epidemic of Dysentery broke out in this area today after sporadic cases had been reported off and on. We received quite a few of the more severe cases.

July 31, 1945 The Dysentery epidemic is raging. We now have about 200 cases or more aboard among them several of our own crew. The Mississippi has been put under quarantine having 650 cases aboard.

August 3, 1945 Was on Leyte this afternoon for the first time, and quite fortunate to get to go. Our recreation parties are to Samar Island, something I didn't know until the other day. Four of us acted as pall bearers for a boy who died aboard this morning from the Mississippi. We went to the F.P.O. landing and thence by ambulance through Tacloban and also Palo to the cemetery which is about twelve miles inshore. At the cemetery we took the body to the morgue wrapped in a tarpaulin put it back on the litter covered it with a casket top and draped the flag over it and carried it to the flag pole at the entrance to the cemetery where a brief service was held by a Protestant chaplain after which a rifle squad fired 3 volleys and taps were fired and then 3 volleys and then taps were sounded. We then carried him back to the grave where a brief prayer was offered by the chaplain after which we took our leave. This was my first look at a armed forces cemetery and it was really beautiful. White crosses row on row, 4,000 of then surrounded by a white picket fence. Jap prisoners are employed digging graves and they stopped to laugh as we neared with the body. Tacloban is the capitol of Leyte and we saw the capitol building, which was quite impressive, considering the surroundings. These people sure live in squalor but apparently thrive on it. Nothing but unpainted shacks. The stores are shacks with an open show window and door of course and unbearably hot and dusty. We also saw a College and High school. It's quite a large town. No sidewalks or lights of course. The natives look like the Philippino I saw in California. Palo Is a smaller town than Tacloban, but the thatched huts and squalor are the same. We saw quite a few Caribou (water buffalo) and many pony (small thin horses) drawn carts like small surreys. I saw no attractive girls. I'd like to have stopped and bought some bananas and things, but we had no time.

August 10, 1945 "Japan accepts the terms of the Potsdam conference with the exception she wishes to retain her Emperor on his throne." These electrifying words came over the radio to us at 2110. At the moment the entire harbor was blacked out as usual, but 5 minutes the shooting and array of fire works would have done the grandest 4th of July celebration proud. All the ships in the harbor (several hundred) turned on their search lights and played them up and down and side to side and round and round in the black sky, and talk about your rackets, star shell, spider flares and what not. All the colors of the rain bow, red and blue and green and purple, orange, yellow, white. Some of the ships turned on their fire hoses and made colored fountains of them in the rainbow flares. Never have I seen such a sight. Ships blew their whistles, men sang and shouted. One ship, the Dixie put her band in a large motor whale boat and they went from ship to ship serenading. All this lasted from approximately 2115 to 2200. Not having any flares to shoot we turned on all our lights and made our Christmas tree effect. ["Dixie" would be USS Dixie (AD-14) "In September she arrived at the huge fleet base at Ulithi serving there until February 1945. Her essential services were next given at San Pedro Bay, Leyte, where Dixie remained until the end of the war." (DANFS)]

August 11, 1945 Last night to all Intents and purposes the war was over. Today however, with no confirmation from Washington, London, Moscow or Chunking we are still at war. It is apparent the allies will not accept Japan's condition surrender. Father Joyce said a Thanksgiving mass on the movie deck at 0900. I pray Japan has seen the light and will surrender unconditionally.

August 14, 1945 At 1505 we heard a Frisco broadcast quoting Domei that Japan has accented the Potsdam surrender terms in their entirety.

August 15, 1945 At 0850 received word that President Truman had officially, announced and accepted Japan's complete surrender.

August 17, 1945 Two new reporters and photographers came aboard to "Cover our future operations." Scuttlebutt is running wild aboard ship that as soon as the peace is signed we will head for Tokyo and take the first load of P.O.W.'s back to the states.

August 20, 1945 Last night rumor had it that we will stay here indefinitely and service the fleet. Learned this morning we are now detached from the third fleet and are now a part of the 7th fleet, whose headquarters are in Manila.

August 25, 1945 Hoisted anchor at 0700 and headed out for Subic Bay purportedly to service the fleet there. Subic Bay is just north of Bataan Peninsula and about 40 miles north of Manila. It's been a wonderful calm day today with porpoises and flying fish playing along our sides.

August 24, 1945 Hoisted anchor at 0700 and sailed over to Guinan, Samar and unloaded our patients in LCM's for transfer to hospital there. Job was completed at 1400 and we lay at anchor over night off Guinan

August 27, 1945 Dropped anchor in Subic Bay at 1430. This is really a secluded Bay and well protected. Not very many ships here however, passed a convoy of some 40 ships mostly APA's and LST's coming out as we were going in. In the Bay we passed 2 Limey Aircraft Carriers and a Limey Hospital ship, a very dilapidated looking job enroute to our anchorage. The skipper left ship to receive our orders a little while ago and just came back and word has it we are to refuel at 1500 and pull out again in the morning presumably bound for Guam, as we seem to have been detached from the 7th fleet again. Our trip from San Pedro Bay in Leyte Gulf was a very interesting trip. We pulled out of the Bay and Gulf and sailed south through the Surigao Straits into the Mindanao Sea, west into the Sula Sea thence northwest through the Mindoro Straits into the South China and north up the west coast of the Philippines past Corregidor and Manila Bay to and into Subic Bay 40 miles north of Manila. The hills of Luzon surrounding Subic Bay are very beautiful and some of the mountainous peaks extends into the clouds.

August 28, 1945 Upped anchor at 0730 and steamed out of Subic Bay enroute apparently to Guam for orders from CinPac. Our journey along the west coast of Luzon has been absolutely beautiful. Green hills and valleys blending in with the majestic peaks of brown mountains and long stretches of sandy beaches. It is now 1530 and we are beginning to pass by the mouth of Lingayen Gulf.

August 29, 1945 Have been sailing north along the west coast of Luzon all day at a distance of only about 10 miles from the coast. Luzon appears to be a very mountainous island, but very beautiful from this distance. We passed 2 or 3 stretches of nice beaches and surrounding flat lands. At approximately 1630 we started into the strait and are now headed for Guam.

August 30, 1945 Have had typhoon warnings all day, water is getting rougher and wind is starting up.

Sept. 1, 1945 The typhoon warnings were certainly correct. I am exceedingly thankful to God that I am here today to make this entry. Yesterday I didn't think I'd see the light of another day. The typhoon hit us about 0930 as Nick and I were putting the finishing touches on our place for Captain's inspection. The first big roll caught our ointment jars, but fortunately Nick was standing by them and we lost only 1# Simple ointment. The next roll was more severe, however and 3 gallons of Chlorine Solution and 1 of Lime water slithered about the deck and crashed and broken glass and Chlorine Solution was all over the deck. We picked up the glass and sopped up the solution until we were both almost asphyxiated and Merren came along and helped finish the job while we got some much needed air. When we got the place cleaned up somewhat, we checked everything for security and locked up and laid on the deck in the Record Office until a giant wave came over the side and busted down the starboard vestibule doors and we shipped so much water it started to run over the sill into the office. We then moved up to SOQ, where quite a few boys were gathered and huddled ourselves into a corner where we stayed and prayed until about 5 P.M., at which time we got us a couple of hard boiled eggs, bread and pie for a bit of supper. The typhoon finally passes us by about 12 P.M., but there is no way to describe the horror we went through for 15 hours. The ship just rolled from side to side continuously between bucking up and down. Our largest roll recorded was 42. The ship under calm conditions can take 54. Wave after wave washed over our foc'sle which is fifty feet above the water and many of them were 60 to 80 feet high, one such smashed through a window in SOQ on the second deck and flooded the place and well near drowned several boys laying in bunks in the forward starboard room, Nick among them at the time. Much credit must be given our Captain who sat on the starboard side of the flying bridge and kept check on the wind so as to keep it heading into our starboard bow and thereby keeping our course as steady as possible and so as not to let it hit us broadside. The engine room crew deserves a Presidential Unit Citation for keeping the good Relief steamed up. Never have I been so scared in my life. The only thing I could do to help was pray and brother I certainly lost no time doing that. Deo Gratios!

[The emphasis on the typhoon's danger is interesting. Arthur was no recent arrival without war experience. He had been in danger from enemy action as described at the end of this transcription. For example, on the evening of August 27, 1942 Arthur was on the USS Laramie, a tanker carrying aviation gas and sea mines, when she was torpedoed. This is one of several accounts of veterans who remember such storms at sea as being more terrifying than enemy action, perhaps due to the long duration of the "attack."

This typhoon apparently caused a delay in the formal surrender: The beginning of the occupation, however, was delayed 48 hours by a typhoon, which also caused postponement from 31 August until 2 September of signing of the formal instrument of surrender, a copy of which Japanese emissaries had brought back from Manila. Nevertheless, on the morning of 27 August an advanced unit of the Third Fleet, guided by a group of Japanese naval officers, harbor pilots, and interpreters, and provided with maps and charts, moved into Sagami Bay, which is just southwest of Tokyo Bay. (Excerpted from Admiral Earnest J. King, Second Report to the Secretary of the Navy: Covering Combat Operations from 1 March 1944 to 1 March, 1945. March 1945, pp. 103-133 and Second Report to the Secretary of the Navy: Covering the period 1 March 1945 to 1 October 1945. December 1945, pp. 173-204) On line copy.]

Sept. 2, 1945 Orders were changed during the night and we are now headed for Okinawa. We heard the formal Japanese surrender via ships radio at 1030 but it seemed a pitiful and meaningless anticlimax and too we are still fighting big swells and nothing can be unsecured. All of us are as nervous as bunch of cats. Every time the bos's pipes anything we think it's another typhoon coming up.

Sept. 3, 1945 0800--Are just pulling into Buckner Bay, Okinawa. Seems like a very nice place, much nicer than the East China Sea coast of Okinawa, where we had anchored during operations. There are six hospital ships, Relief, Haven, Consolation, Hope, Mercy, Sanctuary in here and a 7th is reported coming in. Wouldn't surprise me to see a convoy of hospital ships led by the famous Relief headed back for the states one of these fine days loaded with P.O.W.'s. What a magnificent sight such a convoy would be.

Sept. 4, 1945 Upped anchor at 1800 and are apparently on our way to Korea or Port Arthur, in southern Manchuria. As we steamed out of the bay I was amazed at the large number of battleships, cruisers, destroyers, etc., and escort carriers. This morning we took on fuel and the tanker that refueled us rammed our bow somewhat and tore up one of our motor boats, the same one that was wrecked that day at Leyte on our Recreation.

Sept. 5, 1945 It was announced over the PA system this morning that our destination is Dairen on the Kwantung Peninsula of Manchuria. It is a port city of approximately 500,000. It was leased by Russia from China in 1898 and taken over by the Japs in 1905.

Sept. 6, 1945 At 0900 this AM sighted two survivors (Koreans apparently) in an outrigger canoe. They were picked up by one of our escort mine sweepers and transferred to us by Breeches Buoy while underway. They had been out four days and suffered from exposure. They were placed in M ward with a guard. They were a man and a woman.

Sept. 7, 1945 At 0930 deep in the Yellow Sea one of our mine sweepers sighted a mine and signaled us to stop. When we had stopped they proceeded to fire on it with their 40 mm and exploded it. It certainly made a loud explosion and spouted water 150 feet in one air. It is now 1800 and we have been going through mine fields all day. Our DE's have exploded 10 or 12 of them and tonight we will be passing mines all night.

Sept. 8, 1945 Oh what a beautiful morning is more true than somewhat. The very thought we got through the night safely makes morning a wonderful thing. We docked at Dairen at 0830. Looks like quite a modern city and quite large, on the docks are Russian soldiers and sailors as well as U.S. sailors. The civilians are either Japanese, Chinese, Korean or Manchurian. In checking on the map I find I am 10,500 air line miles due west of Indianapolis. Yesterday in the process of exploding mines in our path one of our escorts got too close to one of them and when it exploded a piece of shrapnel went through one of the boy's helmets and through his head. They immediately pulled along side and transferred him to us by breeches buoy, but he died a few minutes later. Most of his brain was knocked out.

Sept. 10, 1945 Not being allowed to go ashore the boys are bartering and trading with the Chinese from the ship to the dock, throwing them cigarettes, soap, candy, cigars, etc., in exchange for Chinese coins, Pan holders, helmets, china ware and the like. The Chinese boys are evidently getting huge quantities of coins from the adjacent warehouse and are having a great time throwing hands full of them aboard. It sounds like a hail storm hitting the side of the ship.

Some Background on Arthur's Previous Experience

As mentioned under the typhoon, Arthur was no novice new to the war at this time. He had survived, as he put it, "one of the miracles of war" in which the tanker USS Laramie (AO-16) had been torpedoed August 27, 1942 on her way to Greenland loaded with aviation gasoline and sea mines. For some of the group with sea experience or knowledge of the usual fate of torpedoed tankers the survival seemed more than an "ordinary" miracle. Arthur clarified what appears to be a mistake in the ship's brief official history. He had also been under air bombardment in England while with a hospital being prepared to receive Normandy invasion wounded. See the associated pages that are linked at the top or bottom of this page on those topics.

Arthur, from Baltimore, Maryland, enlisted in 1942, trained at Newport, R.I., spent a year aboard Laramie, finished Hospital Corps School at Portsmouth, Va., served at the hospital at Portsmouth, N.H., and a hospital in England (below), then the USS Relief (AH-1). He was discharged on points December 1945. He later served in the Korean War, but he says "that is another story." The comments and references below give some of this background. Notes are in italic, Arthur's comments are regular font.

Thanks for the attachment on the Laramie, sure brought back some good & some rather sad memories.

I was one of the seamen that put the bodies of my 4 shipmates in canvas body bags for burial at sea. that were killed when we were torpedoed. The good LORD was with me that night. I was on watch on #1 gun, my bunk was right over top of the guys that were killed. I have pictures of the burial at sea and sometime I will send you a picture if you would like to have it.

Here is Arthur's response to my somewhat incredulous questions about a tanker surviving a torpedo hit as described in the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Vessels' entry on Laramie with the description "Although gasoline ran ankle deep over the forward gun platforms, no fires broke out":

I don't know who wrote that article about the LARAMIE but here's the straight scoop.

I was on watch on #1 Gun when the fish hit and there was no Fuel splashing around in the gun turret, the fish hit the food locker and ruptured the bulkheads in that compartment. We were really lucky that night. When the fish hit I was on the phones and I looked down at the water & saw another fish pass right in front and go on by. My bunk was right over top of the 4 shipmates that were killed, so if I didn't believe in guardian angles I sure did after that night. This happened to me after only 6 weeks in the navy at age 17. I am now 75 years old and I can still hear that explosion. Had 4 weeks of boot camp & on the 6th week I was home on leave from being torpedoed.

We had a great damage control team and they are the one's that saved our ship that night. Again there was no fuel sloshing around where I was on #1 gun [or any] other place I can recall. [If I'm not mistaken, #1 gun is just above the hole in this photo so Arthur indeed was way too close for comfort.]

Well I guess it was one of the miracles of war. And I guess the reason the whole ship didn't blow up was the fish hit right in the food locker, and it ruptured the bulkhead but it never went off.

Among the papers Arthur sent is a copy of the 15 January 1947 letter notifying him of the award of the Navy Unit Commendation to Navy Base Hospital #12 with his NUC Ribbon shown under "Encl:" for his duty during the period covered (1 March - 30 September 1944). On his duty with SNAG 56 at Navy Base Hospital No. 12 at Royal Hospital, Netley, England:

. . . you sure know how to bring back memories, I brought up the page Frequently asked questions and I couldn't believe my eyes. When I saw the story Normandy Invasion, 6th June 1944 by LT. Helen Pavlovsky. I was part of that unit as a matter of fact I have a book written by Henry W. Hudson, Capt. (MC) USNR, it is titled The Story of Snag 56. I knew both of those nurses. I don't know how I managed to hang on to my copy after all these years. It was called SNAG 56 (Special Navy Amphibious Group). We left N.Y. on the H.M.S. Aquitania arriving at Belfast, Ireland, and the story goes on from there too much to relate here. Will send you pictures later. I have a bunch of them.