A CRUISE BACK IN TIME:
History and Reminiscence on the john W Brown by Bradford D. Smith
T
The World War II Liberty ship John W. Brown, looking shipshape and ready far sea duty, on a history cruise earlier this year.
Above left, NMH S trustees Brad Smith (from the left), Warren Leback and H arry Marshall enjoy the festivities and camaraderie. Above, from the left, USMMA recruiting officer Norman Johnsen, NMH S member Walter Botto, and Wilbur Van Tine.from the US Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point.
At left, Stephanie Begley-Smith and the Brown s Third Mate George Maher with the 48-star flag presented to the ship.
A Grumman Wildcat draws cheers from the Brown as it buzzes the ship.
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he World War II Liberty ship SS John W Brown eased away fro m its berth in Cleveland's N orth Coast H arbor. It was 10 AM, Saturday, 29 July 2000; on board were 750 passengers and 150 crew, entertainers, and caterers fo r a six-hour, living history G rear Lakes 2000 cruise on Lake Erie. We gor underway in a mix of hazy sun and light fog rhar co ntinued mos t of the day, with a light shower at midday rhar wet rhe decks bur failed to dampen anyo ne's enthusias m. O f rhe 900 aboard, many were World W ar II veterans with experience on Liberty ships in rhose convoys rhar carried vital military supplies to our troops and our Allies, often thro ugh seas made peri lous by enemy submarines as well as harsh weather. In 1978, rhe National M aritim e Histo rical Society supported rhe establishment of Proj ect Liberty Ship, an organization fo rmed to preserve and restore rhe SS John W Brown, wh ich had long served as a mari time rrade school in Manhattan fo r rhe New York City Board of Education . When rhe school was relocated to a building ashore, N MHS members moved to save rhe ship as a monument to rhe men who sailed and p ro recred rhe merchan t ships rhar supported our troops in borh rhe European and Pacific theaters of war. T he cruise revived many memories for rhe veterans. Jimmy Hughsen, whose father had signed him up fo r rhe Merchant Marin e Service when he was 18 years old, served in engine roo ms of rhe Liberty ships. Jimmy looked ar the smoke coming out of the Brown's stack as the ship maneuvered out of the harbor. "Look at that black smoke, " he said knowi ngly. "T here's too much air in the boiler. " W alter Fox, who had served in the US Naval Armed G uard aboard the ships, looked over the railing and recalled seeing rwo ships in his fi rst co nvoy torpedoed and sun k only a day and a halfour of New York. His fri end Hugh G roseclose reminisced about rhe six ships he served on in five differe nt oceans. W alter and Hugh helped establish the Cleveland Chapter of rhe US Navy Armed G uard, which meets monthly, keeping friendships and memories alive. T h e US M erchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, New York, was well represented among bo th crew and passengers. One, NMH S m ember Walter Botto , USMMA '44 , had served as Second Ma re
SEA HISTORY 95, WINTER 2000- 01