| TALES OF THE SEA Tin Can Sailors Recall Life Onboard |
| Life Aboard a DE By Dick Huntsberger The USS Atherton DE 169 is in Green Cove Springs Florida to be decommissioned. Dick talked the captain into letting George Pisarski FM 2/c off restriction from a previous drunk and disorderly charge so he could go to the January 1, 1946 Gater Bowl football game; George was a football player and did not want to miss the game, besides the tickets were free. The captain told Dick "OK, but I am holding you responsible for George." |
| During the game one of the players broke out and was running for a touch down and all of a sudden a sailor ran out on the field and tackled the runner. Dick said right then he knew he was in trouble. He bailed George out of jail and sure enough both were put on restriction that lasted two weeks.Typhoon August 1945 off Okinawa Ensign Dick Huntsberger on duty Forward Engine Room said that between the rolls from side to side, the ship would fall sharply with a terrible thud, and one time there was a very loud, sharp noise. Just aft the forward bulkhead, the beam that runs bow to stern broke. He called the captain down to look at it. Captain Lewis Iselin, who was an experienced sailor, said "Well, we still have twelve more." and went back to the bridge. |
in the
Stafford County Sun
about Preston Davis:
"History Remembered"
| Life aboard USS Atherton DE 169 by Ken Homberger SM 1/c As I remember, I was on the bridge with Chuck New SM 2/c who actually had the duty. Chuck had recently reported aboard and was not well known. We were in port and Lt. Alfred Swan was the Officer of The Day standing watch on the quarter deck by the gang plank. For some reason he called the bridge and New answered the phone. In the course of conversation Swan wanted to know who he was talking to. New responded "I'm New." Swan once again asks "who I am speaking with?" New once again said "New." The third time, Swan, irritated as hell, said "I want your name or you are going on report." New in a very firm voice- "I have told you twice now, my name is New." On the other end of the line there was a silence and finally Swan said "OH!!" A True Story Ken Homberger |
in the
Times Dispatch
"Stories of War"
Patricia R. Parrella
"Another Proud Chapter in DE History"
| Life Aboard a Destroyer Escort 1943 to 1946 By Carl F. Barth Jr. SM 2/c USS Atherton DE 169 I was on duty one night when our Skipper came back to the ship a "Bit ah…how you say ah…" (Time 2 AM). He went to the PA panel, opened all the switches and said, "Now hear this. This is your Captain speaking… |
| All Hands Aft Lay forward, All Hands Forward Lay aft, and All Hands Amidship stand fast to cause confusion." He then closed all switches…and went to bed. What a GUY. I remember one time seeing him sitting on a depth charge with a cloth around his neck getting his hair cut, along with the rest of us GIs. Most of the other officers had someone come to their state rooms. I read, in one of the articles about his climbing the mast to free a signal flag caught in the antenna. Actually whoever wrote that was mistaken. It was a great deal more than merely removing a flag. I had the signal watch that day. We had just left the shipyard a couple days before where they had replaced one type of antenna with a new type of High Frequency Radio Direction Finder. I just happened to look up at the top of the mast and saw that antenna flopped to one side and as we rolled to port it flopped the other way. Evidently they had forgotten to tighten the bolts in the flanges that held it in place. I reported it to the OD and him to the Skipper. The Skipper went down and got a pair of crescent wrenches, stuck them in his hip pocket and up the mast he went. It wasn't a heavy sea, but when you are 93 feet above the water even in a calm sea you move 4-6 feet off center. Everyone that was not on watch was out there watching and praying for him as he worked those wrenches. From that day on he could ask any one of us to do ANYTHING and it would be done. Unusual name story, One of the original crew had such an unusual name that the Ex. Officer was going to make him change it. He refused to do it so they transferred him to shore duty. His name was D.J. Illuminate. The problem was, the command "Illuminate" was to light up the big search lights, such as if a man fell overboard. The fear, of course was, if we were in battle or such and someone was to yell "Illuminate" the lights would be turned on and you know what that would mean. Well … That's my "Stories" for today. Carl F. Barth Jr. SM 2/c USS Atherton DE 169 |
| Christmas Aboard the Atherton Written by a member of our Crew after Our First Christmas at Sea T'was Christmas Day in Forty Three Not a strip of land could we see The day is clear, not a cloud in the sky, Just the glint of a tear in everyone's eye. For this is the one day in the year, That most everyone holds so dear, Being away from home is bad enough, But all this pitching and rolling just ain't up to snuff. We had a lovely turkey dinner this Christmas Day, But you were always eating off someone else's tray. First you get your tray out of the rack, Then wait in line for a neck or back, What funny turkeys they serve here, The legs and the breast never appear. Getting your spuds, peas and wine, (ha) Then you get cake and maybe some pie, But if you eat it you're liable to die. And commence to eat (if you're able) You hold on with both hands, eating as you may, First thing you know, you have somebody else's tray, When you start switching around to get yours back, But all that is left are the bones from the back. You get up from the table, scullery bound, The ship gives a pitch, and the deck you have found, Well finally you make it up topside, With a sigh of relief you let it ride. You don't feel embarrassed or lose your pride, For all of your mates are at your side. Now chow is over for all the crew, And the chiefs and officers, "Turn to." You get a brush and a bucket of paint, And start putting it on "where it ain't." After doing this for an hour or two, You can't find a spot that is worn clean through. Now you secure the paint and clean the brush, And head for the fantail before the rush. (The fantail is on the aft end of the ship) Where all the mates gather and do a strip. The Sun is hot this Christmas Day, Where are we I cannot say. We're somewhere on the ocean blue, So many miles away from YOU… Submitted by Carl F. Barth, Jr. SM 2/c 635-07-65 USNR V6 |
| The Water Hour (apologies to H.W. Longfellow) Between the daylight and the sunset When the seat begins to sour; Comes a pause in the days' occupation Which is known as the water hour. With a rush they swarm up the ladder, Away from the stench below. Far away from the perspiring bodies, And the pungent, nervous B.O. From across the deck to the washroom, Hear the patter of dirty feet, And skivvies are cast away because, Of corrosion of the seat. "Is it a riot?" the O.D. cries; "Is there a mutiny down by the shower?" "Oh, no sir." A stinking seaman says, "This is the water hour." The scene in the shower is wild indeed; Timid souls stand back, alone. For none can be sure in this frenzied mob That the parts he cleans are his own. The weak must bathe with water splashed From the back of the naked throng, For the coveted spot, 'neath the shower head Is always held by the strong. But strong like the lowly skunk; For an arm pit stinks in the South Sea Isles, Like nothing before has stunk. Now cursing with bitter power, Stands a lonely figure covered with soap. It's the end of the water hours. Submitted by Carl F. Barth, Jr. SM 2/c USS Atherton DE 169 |
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