Sent: Thursday, October 22, 2009 4:38 PM
Subject: DD251 vet George WHITNEY
Do you ever hear from vets from the old four stacker? I served on her from
Jan 43 to July 43. I still have fond memories of my time on her. At the
time, I could hardly wait to get off and go to new construction. In July of
43, about five or six of us were sent to NY to put the USS Colahan DD658 in
commission. I served on her until Jul 46. Geo Whitney
you can contact me at dmhugs AT gmail DOT com
-- sent by
Donna M. Hughes
I will be sure to follow the web page in the future.
I went aboard the 251 in Jan. 43 as a seaman 2/c. Ift was quite late a
night, and the OD sent me aft to find a bunk. There were only top bunks on
the outboard sides of the compartment. It took awhile for me to figure out
why?
There is one thing that I vividly remember is that I was very well treated
by all of the old hands. There was very, very little razzing involved. I was
just one more of the crew.
I had just left signal school, and so the next morning at muster, the chief
signalman showed up looking for me and sent me to the bridge. That was to be
my first day as a striker. There too, I was well received by the bridge
gang. I was as green as grass, but everyone was patient and informative as I
slowly learned the ropes.
Shortly after I was settled in, we left Norfolk for Argentia, Newfoundland
which was a base for convoy escorts. Soon, we were on our way to meet my
first convoy. We were part of the USS Bogue's "hunter killer" group. She
took her place in the middle of the convoy, and we took ours as part of the
anti-sub screen. Call it winter in the No. Atlantic. george
P.S. I didn't forget about that top bunk part of the story. More later.....george
S2/c.