Sal Rossitto 1989
“Chicken Fricassee”
On 29 October 1941 the Swanson sailed from Casco Bay enroute to Argentia, Newfoundland. I had the 8 to 12 wheel watch as a Gunner mate 1st class (all gunners mates, Torpedo men and Fire Control men stood wheel watches.)
The day was bright and sunny, the sea had a slight chop and we proceeded to cross over the Grand Banks the height of the waves increased and the ship began to roll.
At noon I was relieved of my watch and I proceeded down to the mess deck; gathered at the top of the ladder were the rest of the watch; Machinist mates, Radio men, Signal men etc; in all about 20 people. I was the leading petty officer and they asked me to see if we could have other food. I called Chief Commissary Steward Joe Forney and asked him for at least sandwiches but he said he could not do it as the Captain had signed the weekly menu and it could not be amended.
Forney and I looked down into the mess hall; and it was a real mess; men were laying on the deck getting sea sick and sliding from port to starboard with their mess gear and the chicken fricassee slopping out of the steam table onto the linoleum deck! It was impossible for anyone to stand up due to the chicken fricassee on the slick deck !
I asked Joe Forney if I could get the OOD’s permission for him to make us some sandwiches and he said okay but that he would place me on report for doing so! I didn’t mind that, as we were all hungry. The OOD sent his JOOD (a young Ensign just out of school) down to inspect the mess hall. When he came out of the mess hall he was as white as a sheet and he reported to the OOD that no one could possibly get down into the mess hall! We were given our sandwiches.
This incident started a new procedure by the Captain; that in rough weather the cooks would only cook stew in the Copper and bread pudding in another Copper for dessert and the crew would use bowls to eat out of. And I was not placed on report!