October 3, 2007
Sea Time: Life on Board Supply and Troop Ships during World War II and its Aftermath
Bill Haynes
M.D. retired physician and author
Minutes of the Third Meeting of the 66th Year
The meeting was called to order by President Giordmaine at 10:15 AM after a social hour.
John Marks led the invocation. Newly elected members were welcomed.
Charles West summarized the previous week's speech by former Congressman, James Leach. The speech had been critical of the Administration policy except of two possible positives. The speaker believed there was some hope re North Korea's nuclear activities and faint hopes for agreement between Fatah and Israel As for the Middle East, the congressman/professor merely parroted the policy of the Democratic part - get out of Iraq by six months!
Visitors were introduced:
John Fredericks introduced his wife.
John Brinster introduced his spouse.
Joe Bolster introduced Kate, his wife and Bill Haynes' swimming buddy.
John Buzard also introduced his wife.
Bill Haynes introduced his friend, Ed Dreisacker.
There was a totally inaudible one.
Julianne McIntyre introduced Mavian Klipper.
Dr. William Haynes was introduced by Warren Leback. He will discuss his book Sea Time.
Shortening his high school senior year Bill entered the Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point, N. Y. in March 1944. The curriculum was severely compressed from four to two years. Plebe year was three months, the year at sea now six months and actual year at Kings point equal to two years.
Training & Classes were daunting. Bill's group was billeted in an old coal burning three master with bunks and hammocks. Bill did not tell us if he drew the first nor if so how many times he fell out of it.
His first trip began with a cross country rail trip to pick up his first ship, a Liberty ship on the west coast. There were four midshipmen two on their first trip and two on their second. Off they went heavily loaded for Pearl Harbor for refueling and then south to Bora Bora, Pango Pango and other islands. It was, he said, almost a vacation.
His second trip was another story. From Pearl, west in an immense convoy to Saipan where Japanese bodies floated in the water. The return to Pearl was rough because the ship had no ballast after unloading. This was preparation for invasion of the Philippines.
The last year of King's Point was extremely demanding. A highpoint was a proposed whaleboat race against Massachusetts Maritime Academy. it happened to be V. E. Day and so was cancelled. But these budding sailors did get a chance to ride the Swan Boats in the Boston Commons. I would like to see photographs of that!
After graduation Bill served to help bring POW's to Europe and troops back. He made it sound routine until he described commanding the ship in a fog and making a starboard turn with no marker buoy. No problem, but Bill didn't tell if the captain ever knew.
From 1946 to 1950 he attended medical school and had an internship. Then he was a medical officer on a larger vessel where he was responsible for troops, displaced persons, women or children on different rows. I note the maturing that this gives a young physician having gone through an air force equivalent myself.
Bill got to Guantanamo, traveled to the Panama Canal, saw much of the world and served our country. He is proud to have done his duty and we are proud of him.
Respectfully submitted,
Jerome K. Freedman
John Marks led the invocation. Newly elected members were welcomed.
Charles West summarized the previous week's speech by former Congressman, James Leach. The speech had been critical of the Administration policy except of two possible positives. The speaker believed there was some hope re North Korea's nuclear activities and faint hopes for agreement between Fatah and Israel As for the Middle East, the congressman/professor merely parroted the policy of the Democratic part - get out of Iraq by six months!
Visitors were introduced:
John Fredericks introduced his wife.
John Brinster introduced his spouse.
Joe Bolster introduced Kate, his wife and Bill Haynes' swimming buddy.
John Buzard also introduced his wife.
Bill Haynes introduced his friend, Ed Dreisacker.
There was a totally inaudible one.
Julianne McIntyre introduced Mavian Klipper.
Dr. William Haynes was introduced by Warren Leback. He will discuss his book Sea Time.
Shortening his high school senior year Bill entered the Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point, N. Y. in March 1944. The curriculum was severely compressed from four to two years. Plebe year was three months, the year at sea now six months and actual year at Kings point equal to two years.
Training & Classes were daunting. Bill's group was billeted in an old coal burning three master with bunks and hammocks. Bill did not tell us if he drew the first nor if so how many times he fell out of it.
His first trip began with a cross country rail trip to pick up his first ship, a Liberty ship on the west coast. There were four midshipmen two on their first trip and two on their second. Off they went heavily loaded for Pearl Harbor for refueling and then south to Bora Bora, Pango Pango and other islands. It was, he said, almost a vacation.
His second trip was another story. From Pearl, west in an immense convoy to Saipan where Japanese bodies floated in the water. The return to Pearl was rough because the ship had no ballast after unloading. This was preparation for invasion of the Philippines.
The last year of King's Point was extremely demanding. A highpoint was a proposed whaleboat race against Massachusetts Maritime Academy. it happened to be V. E. Day and so was cancelled. But these budding sailors did get a chance to ride the Swan Boats in the Boston Commons. I would like to see photographs of that!
After graduation Bill served to help bring POW's to Europe and troops back. He made it sound routine until he described commanding the ship in a fog and making a starboard turn with no marker buoy. No problem, but Bill didn't tell if the captain ever knew.
From 1946 to 1950 he attended medical school and had an internship. Then he was a medical officer on a larger vessel where he was responsible for troops, displaced persons, women or children on different rows. I note the maturing that this gives a young physician having gone through an air force equivalent myself.
Bill got to Guantanamo, traveled to the Panama Canal, saw much of the world and served our country. He is proud to have done his duty and we are proud of him.
Respectfully submitted,
Jerome K. Freedman