News From Fort Schuyler

April 3, 2001 - Volume 5, No. 12

OLD CHAMPIONS - "Your recent article re the upcoming Monomoy races inspired me to dig out my photo of the championship monomoy (whaleboat, lifeboat) crew of 1943," writes STAN LLOYD, Class of January 1944. "The picture is of WARREN, McCRAIN, IMMERMAN, PETO, SHARLAN, MAYNARD, LLOYD, WHITE and DUFF - all Engineers. In 1943 our cruise was on EMPIRE STATE I (Hog Islander) tied to the pier at the Fort. Some of us became attuned to lifeboat drill, which usually sounded sometime after lunch. When it did sound, those of us who preferred the excitement of clambering into and lowering away, as opposed to napping, 'snapped to.' At that time only January 1944 was aboard, so ultimately the race competition came to be between, what else, but deck and engine. As the photo and our yearbook, Eight Bells, will attest, the 'inyeneers' were the champions."

NEW CHAMPIONS - More Student Propeller Club chapter news from Capt. ERIC JOHANSSON, the faculty advisor. "Cadet DAVID UHL, [Class of 2000], a naval architecture deck major, was the recipient of the prestigious Pi Sigma Phi Award. This national award is earned by maintaining a 3.5 GPA or better at graduation and by actively participating in the local chapter. Cadet Uhl was one of only two winners in the year 2000. His award was presented to him at the Annual Kings Point Propeller Club Luncheon held at the Downtown Athletic Club in December."

"In the National Propeller Club Essay Contest, Cadet MATTHEW PARKER [Class of 2003] a Marine Transportation major, took First Prize, winning $1000, and Cadet CONNELLY, a grad license major, received an Honorable Mention."

Eric concludes his report for 2000 by noting that the members of the student chapter, which now numbers 28, attended senior port club events in Manhattan as well as the Connecticut Maritime Association Show.

ALL SCREWED UP - "TSES III, ex-Hospital Ship MERCY, was single screw, not twin screw," notes BILL PULEO, Class of 1962. In addition, writes JERRY NOLAN, Class of 1956, "Only the TSES II was twin screwed. She was an ex-AKA that someone thought would make a great training ship. She would roll on the dew of a blade of grass. Built by Walsh-Keiser in Rhode Island, the USS HYDRUS was an attack transport: twin screwed, turbo-electric drive !"

HYDRUS AT WAR - A timely message from BOB PRESTON, Class of 1947, with the reminder that: "On April 1, 1945, the invasion of Okinawa began." He attached a jpeg of a painting of the USS HYDRUS, AKA 28, under kamikazi attack. Bob notes that in August there will be a reunion of the original HYDRUS crew in Las Vegas which "Scissorbills and other E.S. hands are welcome to attend. For information, e-mail info@danlove.com Dan Love was a plank owner on the HYDRUS and is hosting [the] reunion."

ERRATA PLUS - Regatta Chairman "GARY JOBSON graduated in 1973" [not 1976] writes JOE TARTAGLIA, Class of 1976. Joe continues, "I had the privilege of being on the sailing team with him for one year. It sounds corny, but when he got into a boat it was almost like the boat wrapped itself around him and they became one completely integrated object. Incredible."

ALUMNI SCIENCE FICTION AUTHOR - The item about online publications in the last issue of NFFS prompted GENE MAGEE, Class of 1976, to report that he too has a virtual book on the web. "It's a science fiction novel that is more than just an intergalactic adventure...It took me 8 years to write it on the subway working at it almost every day." Since Gene works for the Maritime Administration it is presumed that the quiet, smooth-riding Washington, DC Metro was the subway he referred to, rather than the Lexington Avenue Line. Titled, "Eyance", this book, which is free of charge as an Adobe Acrobat file, features "characters [who] are real people who meet their challenges realistically within the limits of their ability to manipulate gravity." For a biography, synopsis and text go to http://users.starpower.net/emagee/Eyance/Eyance.htm

SALUTING MARINERS - Another memorable event is planned to mark Maritime Day 2001 on May 18 in San Diego. According to ED DANGLER, Class of 1949, these West Coast festivities begin at noon with a luncheon at the Holiday Inn on the Bay. Keynote speaker is Robert Magee, President and CEO of Totem Ocean Trailer Express (TOTE).The $35 lunch price also includes a complimentary ticket to visit the SS LANE VICTORY.

"The LANE VICTORY, which is a National Historic Landmark, is based in San Pedro and is sailing to San Diego for this Maritime Day Celebration. She was first entered into service in June 1945 during the closing days of WWII. During the Korean conflict, LANE VICTORY participated in the evacuation of civilians and United Nations personnel from Wonson. She carried 7,011 men, women, and children to safety in the south of Korea. The ship was recalled in 1966 for the Vietnam effort and returned to RRF in 1970. The ship is now operated by volunteer members of the Merchant Marine Veterans of WWII and conducts several cruises each year. Call the Propeller Club in San Diego for reservations at (619) 336 - 2220."