 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
| Back to The Beginning |
| Back to May 1941 |
JOURNAL of DONALD ANDERSON, USN
JUNE, 1941
| Below is the journal my father kept during the pre-war years of 1941/42. I found it in his effects after his death in April of 1998, along with a series of photos that he took during that time period. I am publishing this account on the Web because it is a wonderful way to get to know the man who was my father, and the hundreds of men like him who manned the ships known as Four Stackers. Words in black type are transcribed directly from the journal. Where I deem it useful and appropriate I will include background data in other colors, and photos from his collection. |  |
June 1, 1941 Sunday
Tied up to pier all morning. In afternoon we got underway to look for schooner which sent S.O.S. - another ship had already reached her.
June 2, 1941 Monday
At anchor in harbor at Coco Solo today. Payday today.
June 3, 1941 Tuesday
Came through the Canal from Coco Solo today. Tied up to pier in Balboa to fuel. Went on liberty in Panama City.
June 4, 1941 Wednesday
Moved out of Balboa harbor and went to Torpedo range off of Perlas Islands. Made practice runs then anchored.
June 5, 1941 Thursday
Made practice torpedo runs. Anchored at Saboga Island and went swimming.
June 6, 1941 Friday
Got underway to fire "fish". Fired "fish" and lost one of them. Anchored to see if it came up but it didn't so we went to Balboa.
WAR NEWS BULLETIN:Today a bill was signed that authorizes the Government to requisition foreign merchant ships lying idle in United States ports. The Naval Air Station, Balboa, Canal Zone, was established on this date.
June 7, 1941 Saturday
Got underway to transit Canal. Anchored in Gatun Lake near the U.S.S. NITRO. Got underway and transited Gatun at 1700 - tied up in Christobal at 1900.
June 8, 1941 Sunday
Fueled ship this A.M. and moved out into harbor to anchor.
June 9, 1941 Monday
At anchor in Christobal harbor on Plane guard duty. Within the past 2 weeks, 2 battlewagons, 2 cruiesers, 6 destroyers and 1 seaplane tender (Curtiss) came through to the Atlantic side - transferred from the Pacific.
COMMENT: There seems to be some discrepancy here in my dad's report. The USS Curtiss may well have transited the Canal in June of '41, but she was being transferred from training excercises in the Carribean to duty in the Pacific. I can't tell about the other ships' directions, as he did not record their names. Curtiss never did return to the Atlantic during her lengthy career.~Kenn
June 10, 1941 Tuesday
Laid at anchor all day today. Got underway; to escort 3 troop transports; at 1000 - Condition III Watches - Darken ship.
June 11, 1941 Wednesday
Escorting ships to Florida coast. The ships are carrying about 1000 Marines on each. Darken ship.
June 12, 1941 Thursday
Escorting troop transports enroute to Florida. Leaks in fuel oil tank and forward Guinea Pullman* today. Darken Ship.
EXPLANATORY NOTE: The Guinea Pullman is the nickname given originally to the after berthing space. According to Norman Algiers, author of The Four Stack to APD Coloring Book, "this compartment is right over both propellers and underway you listened to the "rumble" noise from rotation of screws - not unlike the noise inside a box car from the 8 steel wheels rolling on the steel tracks, so someone in 1917 gave the name "Guinea Pullman" to that compartment. It was the common name on all 4 stackers." The name attached itself to the forward engineering berthing spaces later, as well.~Kenn
WAR NEWS BULLETIN:Today, all members of the Naval Reserve who are not in deferred status, are called to active duty.
June 13, 1941 Friday
Escorting 3 transports yet. Were relieved this afternoon and headed for Gtmo Bay, Cuba. Darken Ship.
June 14, 1941 Saturday
Enroute to Guantanamo Bay for fuel.
June 15, 1941 Sunday
Arrived in Guantanamo Bay this morning at 0810. Tied up alongside for fueling. Got underway again at 1700 for Panama.
June 16, 1941 Monday
Enroute to Panama. Sea is rather rough. Darken ship again tonight.
June 17, 1941 Tuesday
Enroute to Panama this AM. Arrived in Coco Solo at 1630 and went to fuel dock for fuel.
June 18, 1941 Wednesday
Moved out into channel this morning. Got underway about 0900 to operate with subs. Anchored again at 1530.
June 19, 1941 Thursday
Got underway to operate with subs but it was too rough so we came in and tied up about 1040. Working on Ice Box today.
June 20, 1941 Friday
Operated with sub this AM. Tied up alongside of Clemson (note: CLEMSON was AVD-4, originally designated DD-186, the class leader for many four stackers, including BARRY) this afternoon. Had 8-12 messenger watch tonight.
June 21, 1941 Saturday
Alongside of Clemson all day. Went swimming this afternoon. Drew small stores today.
June 22, 1941 Sunday
Alongside of Clemson all day. Went swimming this afternoon.
WAR NEWS BULLETIN: Today, Germany, Italy, and Romania declared war on Russia and invaded along a front from the Arctic to the Black Sea.
June 23, 1941 Monday
Operated with subs today. Tied up again about 1130. The weather was awful today.
June 24, 1941 Tuesday
Stayed at dock today - worked on ice box all day. What a hell of a job!
June 25, 1941 Wednesday
Operated with subs till 0200. Tied up about 0245. Working on ice box.
Four stackers had walk-in refrigerators on the main deck, port side. These were large boxes with ammonia-cycle cooling units not known for their reliability. I don't know what sort of work was being done on this one, but it obviously wasn't going well!
June 26, 1941 Thursday
Operated with subs today. Tied up about 1500. Leak in pipe in wardroom tonight. Working on Ice Box - Duty today.
June 27, 1941 Friday
Operated with subs today. Were fired at by subs today. Tied up about 1400
June 28, 1941 Saturday
Alongside of dock at Coco Solo. Finished Ice box this morning - Thank Goodness!
June 29, 1941 Sunday
Alongside of dock in Coco Solo
June 30, 1941 Monday
Transited Canal today. Anchored in Gatun Lake and had swimming party. Tied up to N.A.D. Balboa about 0630.
WAR NEWS BULLETIN:Naval vessels on hand (all types) - 1,899.
Personnel:
Navy................284,427;
Marine Corps.........54,359
Coast Guard..........19,235
Total personnel.....358,021
| Ahead to July 1941 |
| Ahead to the Latest Entry |
This page, and all contents, are Copyright (C) 1999 by Kenn Anderson,Sr., Scranton, PA. (USA)