FMSAA
News From Fort Schuyler
August 16, 2000 - Volume 4, No. 25
ONE HAND FOR TIM - Maritime's traditional call for assistance has been put out on behalf of TIM FARLEY, Class of 1984, who faces protracted treatment and recovery from promyelocytic leukemia. A note from DC Chapter President of the Alumni Association, JOHN J.HANNON, Class of 1977, writes that "...if there are Federal employees among our alumni ranks that want to donate excess leave time to Tim they can help him out. Tim was our Washington DC Chapter Treasurer for many years and greatly assisted the chapter, a job he always did without complaint." Contact John for details at: (202) 267-0492.
REFUGEE SHIP - "Your article about the role of the HENRY GIBBINS bringing Jewish refugees to the United States from Italy and their stay at an internment camp in Oswego, NY [NFFS 4:24] brought back some memories," writes CARL FISHER. "I graduated from SUNY Maritime College in 1965 and made my training cruises on the Training Ship EMPIRE STATE IV (formerly the HENRY GIBBINS.)"
"During my career in NOAA, I worked for a while with a Jewish scientist who knew about these refugees and their voyage on the Troop Transport HENRY GIBBINS. He also knew I came from upstate New York and went to SUNY Maritime College. He brought to my attention a book written about these refugees and their voyage. The book, [Haven, by Ruth Gruber] was written by a lady on Secretary Ickes staff during World War II. At her urging, he took an interest in these refugees and made arrangements for their transport to the U.S. There was a lot of controversy concerning the admittance of these refugees to the U.S. at the time. President Truman eventually granted them citizenship. According to my friend, many of the children attended Syracuse University and other colleges in New York."
"Because of the author's Jewish background and language skills she was sent to Europe to accompany the refugees during the voyage....There were also some neat photos of the HENRY GIBBINS in the book.
Some showed many refugees on deck, especially on the hatch covers."
[Note: A paperback version of Ruth Gruber's book, Haven, was published in June 2000. Interestingly enough, one reviewer also noted that: "Gruber's involving story may offer evidence that literary skill is inherited: its introduction is provided by Gruber's niece, Dava Sobel, author of Longitude..." ]
HOMECOMING SOON - The Luce Library will be rocking at Homecoming. There will be a Homecoming Book Sale on Saturday, September 16 from 9:30 to 4:00. Then the Class of 1965 will celebrate its 35th Reunion in the Luce Library Reading Room, commencing at 1900. Classmates can contact Alan Rowan at rowenalan@aol.com
UNDER HIS AEGIS - As Project Manager, Systems Acquisitions Program, PEO Theater Surface Combatants, I have been pleasantly surprised to find that so many of my associates are alumni of SUNY Maritime College. I was complimenting a fellow alumni yesterday, PETER HSU, Class of 1965, for the outstanding engineering work he does in support of this organization. Peter is also an extremely talented artist and plays a very unique part in our Aegis Destroyer launching ceremonies. Peter's drawings of Aegis destroyers combined with the ship's namesake, are presented by a senior member of this organization to the ship's sponsors. ...Peter's drawings consistently receive the highest compliments."
[Several of Peter's framed drawings are featured here at Fort Schuyler in the naval section on the second floor of the Maritime Industry Museum, including one of the Ticonderoga Class Aegis cruiser, USS YORKTOWN (CG48) and a portrait of her first captain, CARL ANDERSON, USN (ret.), Class of 1959.]
CHANGE YOUR BOOKMARK - The Maritime Industry Museum has a new, updated web presence at http://www.maritimeindustrymuseum.org. According to Executive Director, Captain ALLAN J. LONSCHEIN, Class of 1946, this new Internet address will make it easier for the museum to keep its pages up-to-date.
KNOT STABLE (CONT'D) - "Two years of my naval duty were spent on the USS FAIRBAULT (AK 179), writes OTTO LIEPIN, Class of October 1946. "She was a C1-AV1 with a 1750 HP Nordberg diesel with three general cargo holds forward and a reefer hold aft. We were supplying every island activity between Midway and Truk in the Carolines. The ship had a draft of around 17 feet fully loaded and with careful ship handling, we were able to get in and out of most of the atoll ship channels during high tide."
"The ship was quite stable and I'm sure that the weight of the diesel was helping with her stability. In fact, as I can recall during heavy Pacific swells, she would take a good roll and then 'snap' back. The size of the ship might not have been a 'money maker' for shipping companies, but they were a perfect design for the use that the Navy required. We would carry out general cargo to supply the islands and then haul back all sort of military junk to Pearl Harbor, including old ammo from Midway and Kwajalein. On occasion we would spot floating mines and then spend half a day trying to sink them with one of our 20mm guns - our gunnery mate was not too 'swift' in this exercise."
RECOMMENDED READING - Check the June 2000 issue of Sea Technology magazine for an article written by JOHN RINGELBERG, Class of 1961 and two of his associates at JMS Naval Architects and Salvage Engineers, titled, "U.S. Oceanographic RVs & International Safety Management Code." According to Captain ED DANGLER, Class of 1949, "It is very well written and even for those without interest in Research Vessels application, the article gives a very fine summary overview of the ISM system as it applies to all vessels."
SCOUT BOAT GETS A TRIM - According to JACK HAYES, Class of 1947, Sea Scout Ship 210, the 37' Beneteau, LONO KAI, continues to garner support from the maritime community. His latest report notes that her battery problem has been solved with the donation of four new golf-cart batteries, three-year's worth of "long and luxurious" marine growth on her bottom is now gone and the hull has been painted with anti-fouling paint, and the main engine shaft bearing has been replaced. All this work was provided to this new scout unit by a number of public-spirited businesses so that Beaufort-area teenaged boys and girls learn how to sail.
LINK TO LINKS - An open golf tournament which traditionally supports scholarships at Fort Schuyler takes place September 27. Go to the college home page ( http://www.sunymaritime.edu ) for more information. The 7th Annual Recovery Forum Open takes place at the South Shore Country Club, Staten Island. Go for it.