Evening star., 1946-06-09
ODYSSEY Of a Star Copy Boy

T/
notes: August 7-passed Marshalls Au-
gust 9-nearing Truk, Japanese bastion
OF Pacific. Radio says three Jap subs
trying to get in supplies. We zigzag.
They're not calling all hands to work on
deck now because It's too hot They
put up canvas canopy today. AS soon
as you come off watch you head for the
sack or play poker. Checkers very pop
ular; everybody plays it except the two
that are playing it. August 10-Fifty-
nine cards in a blackjack game tfighU.
August l1-Passed Truk Heard over
radio that Japs were going to surren-
der"
The captain was greatly affected by
the news. He had l3 cases of Scotch in
his cabin, which he had been told would
sell for s35 fifth in the Philippines.
He broke out three bottles (expected
value s105) and bought a drink for
every one on board When he returned
to his cabin he found something that
made him pretty mad Six additional
bottles had been stolen during the cere-
mony.
But that wasn't all there was to drink.
The captain was not the only one with
a cache on board. Bottles appeared
from everywhere. We spent a couple
of days celebrating.
A wartime merchant captain leaves
port with sealed orders and opens them
at sea. We were evidently instructed
by wireless to get new orders because
We put into Tacloban on Leyte only
long enough for small boat to come
Out and its crew throw package aboard
-new orders
We sailed around the northern tip of
the Philippines and put in at San Fer
nando in Lingayen Gulf. The captain
found that Scotch was bringing oniy
SIS bottle. The war was over and
there began the series of long waits
IN ports. good part of our cargo was
ammunition. No one wanted it and
no one seemed to know what to do with
1t. We continued to Manila and spent
nearly a month there. With the am
munition still in our hold We finally
took on deck cargo of tractors. bull
dozers and roadbuilding machinery and
started for Tokyo Bay.
Had the Wheel
During Big Blow
We arrived in Tokyo Bay October II
after getting pushed around a bit en-
route by a typhoon. Nobody knew
what to do with the ammunition. The
100 per cent bonus and the SIS day had
ended October l. But all seamen were
given a s45-a month raise. And, be-
cause the Western Pacific was still in
tested with mines We were getting a
bonus of $3.50 a day. But every one
wanted to go home.
We remained more than four months.
We loafed. We hired japanese for a
few cents day to keep things ship
shape-do our work for us. We went
to the dance halls nights. Fraterniza-
ton was the rule rather than the ex-
ception. Finally we cleared for home.
I had the wheel during the big blow
in March, We newcomers to the sea
thought it was the real thing. We
knew it was when the radio reported
the Soviet tanker Donbass had been
broken in two by the waves. The bal
last was insufficient. The ship was high
in the water. 1t was much worse than
the typhoon. Then we had cargo. The
ship seemed to 60 over until her side
slapped the water. hesitate, right itself
and then slap the surface with its other
side. We wondered how we'll made was
this 50-day wonder of New England
shipyard. She was made all right. She
held together.
There was an important letter in the
mail when We reached Seattle. My
father had found farm at purchas-
able price which he thought would
grow potatoes.
Because OF the ammunition on board,
ship and crew remained in Seattle har-
Dor for weeks. But because OF my
status as correspondent. I managed to
get paid OF. Ny pay voucher showed
total earnings of s2,34039 Deductions
were s8S6.S3 $36934 in taxes and
S517.49 in purchases from the slop
chest and advances from the captain).
Half of the advanced money was drawn
in Seattle to purchase clothes. was
given $1.453.56 in cash. 1t looked like
lot Of money. I sent my father $1,000
and took train for Maine.
The farm is in the Kennebec River
Valley north of Augusta-not the true
potato country. 1t had been abandoned
during the war. The price was $1,000.
Two other younger boys in the family
put up ST 900 each and it was purchased
with $4,000 down payment. 1t can be
timbered to make the remaining pay
ments regardless of crops.
My father and brothers have made
test planting of 20 acres of potatoes on
the farm. The Government support
price on potatoes is now about $1.25
bushel and will continue up there as
long as food Is short. If the test runs
100 bushels or better to the acre-this
Is q success story. .-. -.-