Читать книгу My 1102 Days of W.W. II - Ernest Lyle Secrest - Страница 6
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III. ISLAND X HERE WE COME
On 4–30-43, our battalion of approximately 1000, along with several other outfits, the C. B. Battalion, the V.M.B. 312 Unit and the Argus 14 Unit, a total of 3500 troops went aboard a troop transport ship, the MORMACPORT.
That afternoon we pulled anchor and headed for parts unknown. We were cautioned not to fall overboard, because the ship would not stop to pick us up, for fear of enemy submarine.
When I woke up the next morning I had to head for the "rail" along with alot of other men and try to empty my stomach, (even though it was already empty). After that I had no problem of being seasick.
Very few people on the ship knew where we were going, the rest of us had no idea, but from the scuttlebutt that went on, you could pick any island in the Pacific.
After being at sea for a few days someone spotted the Southern Cross just above the horizon. As we continued to watch this each night it would be a little higher in the sky. This told us we were going south as well as west.
It was very hot below deck, particularly in the day time, and a half way decent seat on deck of the ship was always at a premium. One day "Utah" Johnson and I had good ones in the shade, so George Miller walks up in a hurry and said, "Johnson, you are wanted at the OD's Office" (Officer of the Day). Away he went, but he was back shortly and calling Miller names I can't print here. Of course, Miller wanted his seat.
After ten days at sea, as we were about to cross the Equator, the honorable "King Neptune" came aboard. He is King of the ship while there and no one dares cross his path. The majority of us not having crossed the Equator before were known as Polliwogs. As Polliwogs we had to go through the initiation ceremony performed by the more experienced voyagers, known as Shellbacks, that had been through this initiation before. Going through this ordeal we were well aware that you had officially become a Shellback.
On 5–12-43, a Tuesday, we went to bed and surprisingly the next morning when we arose, it was Thursday. Going west we had crossed the International Date Line during the night, which caused us to lose a day.
For the long and lonely two weeks we were traveling at about 22 knotts, and our speed was our only defense against submarines. Sitting on deck at night we could tell by the position of the stars that we were on a zig-zag course, to keep from being tracked by enemy submarines. During this time we saw only two other ships, (friendly). Water, water, water.
