William Hensler 1989
“I REMEMBER”
1. Standing on the fantail during commissioning ceremonies. One tall lanky nineteen year old proud sailor.
2. Chief Water Tender telling me that I was now in the Black Gang and assigned to #1 Fireroom. At that time I had no idea what the Black Gang was. I soon found out when I myself inside of the steam drum of #1 Boiler.
3. First time I had to assist installing the stack cover on #1 stack. Will never forget the small thin foot and hand rails going around the stack. That stack looked fifty stories tall.
4. At my General Quarters station in the after Fireroom when the U.S.S. Roe DD418 rammed the Swanson in the forward Fireroom. My first thoughts were for the safety of the men in that forward Fireroom. I did not for one minute think that anything bad could happen to the Swanson. I still wasn’t shaken at that time. I did have some grave thoughts when word was passed to prepare to abandon ship !
5. After the naval battles off North Africa as the Swanson entered Casablanca Harbor seeing the damage to the French Battleship Jean Bart. Her gun turrets put out of action by U.S.S. Massachusetts.
6. Baking the best tasting baked potatoes by removing the outer cover of the steam drum on one of the steaming boilers while underway. Then talking the duty cook in the galley out of butter for the potatoes.
7. Fueling ship while underway. Somewhat rough sea while fueling. Stationed at the after fueling station and having the fuel hose pull out of the fueling tank. Oil every where except where it should be. I was stationed right at the fuel tank.
8. Being transferred in Panama at my request after the war as Swanson transit the canal for the last time. Just prior to her being placed out of commission. Why? My father was stationed at Panama. My father whom I had never met. What an odd feeling meeting him for the first time on the quarter deck of the U.S.S. SWANSON DD443.