The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1943-12-09
Heroes

was transferred TO the hospital
ship "Solace' They had a bod re.
served for capt Catch on the hos
pital ship but he wouldn't leave his
ship. There wasn't a man abroad
who didn't LOVE the Captain" Davis
said proudly, and when the skip
per finally had 10 leave the ship
/ every man cried.
The day after Adm Catch Was
wounded he was lying in sick bay
when he heard a Jap battlcship was
within 80 miles Of his ship and he
wasn't soing to stay IN bed in
that case. but the doctors wouldn't
I let him M That was one time
when In medical officer outrauked
the Captain, he said. Captain
Catch pulled through and com
manded hi ship during the subsc-
quent Sayo Island Battle Said
Davis Of admiral Catch Hes \
wonderful skipper" Said Admlral
Catch of Davis: He's a good cook
and a good machine-Sunncr.
Davis had nothing but praise for
the Navy war workers saying
Without their help the boys at
sea would be like clay pigeons.
Our job depends on their job. he
continued. "and without teamwork
we won't have victory"
Davis was accompanied on his
tour by Lieut. Schuyler Patterson
representative Of the Undersccre-
tary of. the Navy. In addition 10
the Purple Heart Medal he wears
the Asiatic Southwest Pacific, Pre-
Pearl Harbor aud the North Allan
tic Patrol ribbons.
Wants Sub Post
Multor. who wants to get into the
submarine service 50 be can sec
plenty of Nazis swimming in freeE
ing water like he did, told workers
how two torpedoes disturbed a calm
moonlight night and sunk his ship
before the crew could unlash life
boats. During the roar and tur-
MOL following the torpedo blows,
Multer was washed against a life
boat and pinned underneath. He
tried TO wiggle free but his foot
was firmly lodged. Then he was
Knocked unconscious and when
he came too he was tossing IN the
water Just of the coast OF Iceland.
IL gave up thought of ever be.
ing rescued" he said. but then !
saw ship an the horizon. II turn
ed out to be tanker hit by the
same sub Then. almost like a
dream. two more ships came IN
sight. 4 few minutes later a rescue
shin threw me line but | was too
weak TO grab it, They finally pull
ed me into a small boat-from then
until a few weeks ago my life has
been Just one operating room after
another. They wanted TO cut my
foot off. but wouldn't let them
and my officer talked them into
saving it-and they did.
IN be ready for active duty soon
and ! want to get into the sub ser
vice so | can see a few Germans
swimming around in the water Ike
l did"
Multer Joined the Navy right
after his 18th birthday and has seen
action in the Atlantic. He was
enthusiastic about the members Of
his gun crew and preferred to tell
stories about them rather than
dwell on his injury and hours In the
cold water.
Even after the ship was sunk,
some OF the fellows managed 70
create a good laugh, he said. There
was gang OF them crowded into
a small lifeboat Someone had
Jug OF whiskey and instead OF using
the stuff to warm themselves, most
OF them got drunk. There they
were. in a fimsy boat tossing from
one wave to another and singing
to the p OF their lungs, You Are
My sunshine, in the middle "
winter too
I'VE rad lot 81 run on board and
we're on very good terms with the
merchant crew. They would even
give us money when We hit port
and we're broke. The cook, q Peur-
10 Rican named Prince he really
was q Prince Multer added. liked
the Navy, so we got hot bread and
cakes that even the ships captain
couldn't get
prince and a big colored fellow
named Steve would come down to
our quarters a lot and we'd have
res jam session with Prince play
ing Peurto Ricau songs on guitar
and Steve playing Nanny SONGS on
Fren' Il harp.
Most OF the fellows IN the gun
crew were from the Midwest and
none ~ Us h d seen the sea until
We io- 4 the Navy. Then NC saU
plenty OF il"
~ present. Multer Is stationed ~
tho Navy Hospital, Great Lakes,
and is participating IN specjal war
plant tours conducted by Lieut..
Schuyler Patterson, representative
NJ the Uudersecretsry OF the Navy.
He wears the Purple Heart medal
/ the European-African. and Ameri-
| can defense ribbons
LISBON Up Berlin residents
were issued 2 special three quarter
round ration Of rye bread after
T hrpLr