Gordon Stone 1989
“Memories of the USS Swanson DD443”
The first time I saw the USS Swanson was in the fall of 1943. She was tied up at a dock way out in the backwaters at Bayonne New Jersey.
As I had never been or seen a ship of any type, I thought she was a large craft. Little did I know that I would travel half way around the world and participate in naval action vital to the welfare of our GREAT COUNTRY.
My first trip aboard her was a convoy escort to Casablanca. One of the new men that had came aboard shortly after me, was bent over the rail amidship and was busy polluting the ocean on the third day out of port. I asked him what was wrong and he replied he was sick. I told him not to worry as we were only about two or three miles from land. He seemed to perk up and while looking around asked, what direction? I informed him, straight down. When I turned around he had returned to his previous chore of messing up the Atlantic Ocean.
We returned to the States during the month of December and docked at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Whenever I had liberty I rode the subway into Times Square. Passes were always available for various events such as stage plays, radio programs being aired, and first run movies.
One evening a shipmate and I made the trip into the hub and as we left the subways we decided to have a good cigar. We could not find a store open so, we knew that all hotel lobbies have tobacco counters. We entered the lobby of the first hotel we encountered and were looking around for the corner that a stand would be when a Bellhop said down the stairs to your left. How he knew what we wanted surprised me. We followed his directions and were sent down another hallway. We came to a large room with double doors.
We were in a large room with tables, band stand, and a dance floor. A very nice genteel lady seated us at a table, asked if we preferred steak or chicken, and had a waiter put a bottle of chilled wine by the table. Meanwhile the room started filling up, and the band began playing, and all the people were sailors.
After we ate we were given our choice of cigarettes or cigars, and asked if we wanted company. The hostess brought over two nice young ladies. We danced, chatted and engaged in small talk until midnight.