DECK LOG
LETTERS
As I write, ice armadas move slowly on the winter water outside our windows, on their way south from a hundred miles inland to reach New York City at the rivermouth, where the Hudson meets the sea. Spring gales will soon set whitecaps dancing across the green-banked waterway. And come the Fourth of July this summer, these historic waters, New York's highway to the world, will have still another story to tell as the white-winged ships of Operation Sail, sail training ships from the world's four corners, stream into the great seaport of New York and New Jersey. Leading that fleet will beAmerica's tall ship, the US Coast Guard Barque Eagle. And aboard her will be our NMHS crew of fifty students from every state across America-thanks to your support and interest. These young people will have had a week's rigorous sail training at sea, prior to this marvelous sail-in, and will have had additional training at the New York State Maritime College at Fort Schuyler. Thus they will not come as strangers to their duties aboard Eagle and, as we know from past experience, they will carry home a message to awaken America's heartland to the importance of American seafaring, past, present and future. What better spokesmen could we have than these young people who have met and lived in the grand, deep-seated rhythms of seafaring life and played their part in moving a great ship across the unforgiving sea? In this Sea History we've included an "Introduction to Operation Sail" (following page 24) which gives an idea of how seafarers opened up the world's waterways, the rivers, lakes and seas which make up over two-thirds of our planet. Their sailing ultimately brought all the branches of humanity in touch with each other. This introduction also presents the tall ships of Operation Sail that will touch at eight American ports this spring and summer to honor a nation born of the sea. And it reports what young people discover, sailing in the wake of the old navigators.
Contributions of the Ugly Ducklings It is always refreshing to see the pages of Sea History graced with an article reflecting the heroism of our WWII merchant seamen and "An Ugly Duckling Turns Warrior" did an admirable job. (SH 91, pp. 32-34) While Ensign Kenneth M. Willett received a well-earned Navy Cross for his gallantry in the battle, it should be noted that six merchant seamen of the Hopkins crew were decorated with the US Merchant Marine Distinguished Service Medal, the highest honor of that service: Captain Paul Buck (Posthumous) George S. Cronk-2nd Assistant Engineer (the only surviving officer) Joseph E. Lyman-2nd Officer (Posthumous) Richard Moczkowski-Chief Officer (Posthumous) Edwin]. O'Hara-Cadet midshipman (E) (Posthumous) Ford Stilson (Chief Steward) Capt. Horst Gerlach had had a previous taste of doing battle with Americans when he attacked and sank the Stanvac Calcutta, which put up a courageous fight and which was to become another of the nine Gallant Ships of World War II. IAN A. MILLAR Kernersville, North Carolina
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We look to history as a living resource, as I endeavor to explain in the Envoy to "The Cape Horn Road" in this issue. History shapes us willy-nilly- will we be awake to history, and shape it to what we dream and hope for in our time? This is one of the great questions lined up in the World Marine Millennial Conference, which we co-sponsor with the Peabody Essex Museum this spring. Active seafaring and academic studies, and the informed, challenging, and, as many readers find, refreshing conversation that holds us together and sustains our dialogue with history-these define our work together in NMHS and our discourse in Sea History. A sympathetic observer told me once that these wide-ranging concerns do not fit in any convenient cubbyhole. I do hope that is true! And I hope that it continues to be true throughout the time remaining in my watch on deck here. Thinking outside of the box is vital to our purposes. We thank our supporters who made this possible. Our venture is ever toward far horizons, to bring home the unconfined lessons and joys of voyaging and, perhaps, a little wisdom. PETER STANFORD
President 2
I entered [the US Merchant Marine Academy at] Kings Point in February of 1943 and that summer was a cadet aboard a small-ex-coasrwise-passenger ship. We had one 4" gun aft, similar to that on the Hopkins, plus six 30-caliber machine guns on the bridge. By the time I returned to school, the Main Hall had been re-named "O 'Hara Hall." Everyone knows the story of Edwin O'Hara. What he did was truly amazing. From my own experience with the Armed Guard, those old 4" guns were not easy to operate. HUGH VAUGHAN LEWIS
Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina Although I have gone to sea for 38 years, I had never heard of the Liberty ship Stephen Hopkins or its battle with the German raider Stier, on the 27th of September 1942. At that time, I was second mate aboard the Silver Sword, and we had just left Archangel. She was one of the lucky eleven ships remaining from the heavily attacked convoy PQ-17 to Murmansk. Twenty-two ships
SEA HISTORY 92, SPRING 2000