Overseas Dinny/KYMW 1968-1969

Maritime Overseas Corp.

511 Fifth Ave., New York, NY

My next assignment was another Rust Bucket Named Overseas Dinny She was the ex Waterman SS vessel built in 1943 as the SS Warrior   She was C-2 type cargo vessel. My room leaked badly as I found out in a Typhoon off Yap in the Western Pacific one night.

My time on the "Dinny" was not the best. There was no Air-conditioning at all on this old ship. The ship had more cockroaches than on any other ship in my career and the food was lousy. We Loaded Bombs for the War in Viet Nam at a Godforsaken place called Sunny Point, NC, proceeded thru the Panama canal then on to Guam. The bombs we carried were unfused 250 and 500 pounders I think. The ship's captain was a old Dane named Harold Rasmussen. After spending several days unloading at Guam a typhoon approached forcing us to get underway. We found while were were in the midst of riding out that storm that the remaining cargo had not been stowed properly. As the seas built up we could hear the bombs rolling around down in the cargo hold. You can bet I had the old rosary beads out that night!

We safely returned to Apra harbor where we found destruction everywhere. Eventually we got back alongside the dock and began discharging again. However once again another typhoon approached and this time I had second thoughts about returning to my job. The bombs were properly stowed this time and we resumed cargo normally on our return. Finally the day came to leave Guam. We proceeded directly back to Los Angeles where I got off the ship and decided I wanted to go home by rail. I had my first long trip in a train via the Union Pacific RR from Los Angeles to Chicago via Salt Lake City Green River, Cheyenne and Omaha etc. By the time I reached Chicago I was ready to take an airplane. I found Train travel fun up to a point.

01/09/2002

01/09/2002