RECOLLECTION

John Lindsey 1989

To serve; or not to serve in the Pacific !

One of the veteran sailors on the Swanson with several years’ service was a BM2c named Pool, a non-swimmer. He had openly stated he would never serve in the Pacific. Everyone thought he was merely mouthing off and did not take his statement seriously.

During the night of 19-20 January 1944 while the Swanson was moored at a Pier in Balboa, Canal Zone, Pool committed a General Court Martial offense on board the ship. The Swanson was scheduled to sail for Milne Bay, New Guinea on 20 January. I could never understand why a superb boatswain’s mate was unwilling to serve in the Pacific.

I remember being the Officer of the deck when he was led off in handcuffs and as he walked by me, Shore Patrol, he winked. He would serve his time in prison and not in the Pacific.

Within hours the Swanson was underway heading out into the calm and pleasantly warm Pacific Ocean; certainly an improvement over the heavy seas experienced by the Swanson in the Atlantic.