By Sal Rossitto 1988
“We have met the enemy and they are us!”
In the southwest Pacific, during the times we were supporting our troops in the forward areas, we would return to the rear area for ammunition and fuel.
As I recall , it was on one of our return trips to a rear area, about 1600 hours or so. We went alongside starboard side to the Merchant ship port side. They would not handle our lines. I will always remember this – they were on strike!
I distinctly remember climbing over the life lines and onto the Merchant ship forecastle deck with the Swanson’s working party and handling our own lines. The forward hatch on the Merchant ship was open but only one Merchant seaman was on deck near us. Our own working party went down the hatch and I stayed on the topside. I think we got approximately 150 rounds of 5” powder, which was all they had. No projectiles.
We put our empty (fired) cartridges, about 200 rounds down in the same hold and we did not stack them very carefully. I can not remember if we put the hatch cover on or not. But I don’t think we did.
This I do remember very, very clearly – as we were climbing back over the lifelines to the Swanson or just before – this Merchant seaman was sitting on deck with his back to the bulkhead just under the bridge. His words were:
“Hey Gunner, I hear you have some leather gloves – how about a couple of pairs?”
“You S.O.B. its
all I can do to keep from throwing over the side – and you the guts to bum a
couple of pairs of gloves from me! Kiss
my a___!” I replied.
And with that I climbed aboard the Swanson and we left from alongside.
I still think I remember that the Merchant ship Skipper saying that the crew was on strike and would not handle our lines.