Laurel outlook., 1944-05-03
Liqhts Of New York
by L. L. STEVENSON

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world-178 feet in height-a great
new American flag floats proudly
over the brown sandstone building:
of the recently dedicated United
States Merchant Marine academy a
Kings Point, Long Island. Those
buildings bear names that go away
back into the past since the mer'
chant marine antedates the army
and the navy and wen the Republic
itself. But the building names are
not confined to days of long ago,
since with the nation at war, the
merchant marine is again living up
to its glorious traditions. So the
drill hall and gymnasium bears the
name of Edward J. O'Hara, a cadet
midshipman who received a post
humous award of the Distinguished
Service Medal. Before O'Hara, who
learned gunnery at Kings Point,
was MORALLY wounded and went
down with his ship, he took over the
stern gun and single-handed, sank
a Jap raider.
The new Merchant Marine acad-
envy, which is to the merchant ma
rine what Annapolis is to the navy,
is on the estate of the late Walter
p. Chrysler which was n of the
show places of Long Island and on
which he is said to have expended
S 3 1000, 900. 1t comprises about 10
acres of land sloping gently down
to the waters of Long Island sound.
The government acquired it in 1912
for 100000. Since then, in a record
breaking building program, $6,9OO,-
600 has been expended. The man
sion, a palatial residence somewhat
reminiscent of the White House,
which was originally built for Henri
Bendel, is now the administration
building and is known as Wiley Hall,
in honor of the late Admiral H. A.
Wiley, who, as commissioner in
charge of training for the United
States Maritime commission, "a
the ''father" of the merchant ma
rine cadet corps.
Much more might be written of
the academy buildings, the class
rooms, the mess hall where more
than 1900 meals are served each
day, or the comfortable fire proof
dormitories, but I'm eager to get ia
the personnel. The day of our visit,
the enrolment stood at 2,670. It
varies constantly since cadet-mid-
shipmen are always coming and 60
ing. All cadet-midshipmen receive
a three months course either at the
academy or at the basic schools at
Pass Christian, Miss, and San Ma
teo, Calf. Then they go to sea for
six months or more as cadet officers.
Their see duty completed, they re-
turn and receive nine months more
training at the academy. Their
studies go OH while they are at sea.
Graduated, they are licensed either
as third mates or third engineers.
Or the navy may take them as en-
signs.
The acknowledgment, who be-
come members of the navy
with their entrance to the academy,
receive S65 a month while in school,
also uniforms, text books, quarters,
subsistence, dental and medical
care. At sea as cadet officers, they
also receive regular wages and
when they are licensed, receive the
pay of their grade. The emphasis
of their training is of course on the
merchant marine side. But this be-
ing wartime, they also receive navy
training principally in the use of
guns. To date, cadets have figured
in 309 enemy attacks and 107 have
lost their lives. Capt. j. H. Tomb,
United States navy %(retired) is
superintendent of the academy and
Capt. Giles c. Stedman, USNR, for
mer commander of the America, is
commandant of cadets.
The time of the cadet-midshipmen
fully occupied and when they are
not studying, usually they are n
gagged in athletics of various kinds.
Also they drill, one of the reasons
for the drills being discipline. Dur
ing their first three months, the
Acknowledgment are not allowed
10 smoke cigarettes, though they
may smoke pipes. Again, discipline
and a chance to study their response
10 it. But though they know the
meaning of discipline, the cadet
nidshipmen still retain certain boy
ish traits. In the 48-hour interval
between the time the cadet-midship-
nan finishes his studies and is Civ
en- his license, he is invariably
1unked, clothes and all, in the swim.
ming pool.
Having been in existence only a
title more than a year, the United
States Merchant Marine academy
traditions as yet. But there
are customs that will grow into
traditions. For instance, on final ex-
animation day, the students toss coins
nto the pool of Amphitrite, the
Creek goddess of the sea-. The coins