SS Green Forest/WMBE

Central Gulf Steamship Co.

New Orleans, La.

When offered the relief job on the SS Green Forest I was employed at Coastal Station WSL. I only needed a few more weeks of sea time to become eligible for full membership in the American Radio Assoc., AFL-CIO, so I jumped at the chance, abruptly resigning my job at ITT.

S. Viet Nam

click on these 3 pics for larger view

At Camranh bay          Passing Saigon

I joined the Green Forest in Baltimore, MD I think. The Green Forest was loading general cargo for South Viet Nam. We made coastal stops at Norfolk, New York and Jacksonville before heading for the Panama Canal and Viet Nam. I remember passing through the San Bernardino Straits (Philippines) on the day the astronauts landed on the moon. I believe it was June 28, 1969? We made arrival at Cape St. Jacques. We  laid at anchor for a few days discharging into barges. I remember watching the "Puff the Magic Dragon" planes spraying green and red tracers far off in the Delta. It was very eerie. We left the anchorage and went up the Long Tau River to Saigon where we docked in the Newport section of the city and unloaded general cargo at the dock. I remember leaving the ship for a stroll in town and as I passed thru the gates to the port two small boys tried to grab my glasses off my face. Since there was a war going on nearby and these children were purported to be "friendly", I decided it would be best to return to the safety of the ship I had no spare glasses with me.

Deck of  the SS Green Forest with 3 landing craft on #3 hatch bound for Saigon.

Jim in 1969

We were on our way back from Okinawa when we found ourselves getting close to a typhoon. Some of our deck cargo consisted of old anchor chain being shipped back to the United States. I think we also had a damaged Navy fighter jet on deck. Somewhere near the island of Yap (in the vicinity of Guam) we got involved with this Typhoon. We had a very unstable Captain this trip. I am not sure if he was more affected by alcohol or fear, anyway we got caught up in this storm the ship took some very very heavy rolls and some of the anchor chain broke loose and hung over the side of the ship. We feared that it might get caught in the propeller and cause us to lose our maneuverability. There is nothing more scary to a seaman to lose his steering in a hurricane. I got out the rosary beads and did my thing. I am sure others did too. We made it ok. The captain was removed in Honolulu. He went down the gangway ranting and raving. He was truly a real danger to his ship and his crew.

01/05/2002