Posted by Al Burnham on February 6, 2009, 3:47 am
67.72.98.45

Thanks Roy for writing this book. All Navy Armed Guard and Merchant Marine personal can relate to this book. I could not put it down and read it through the first day. Then I read it again as it was like stepping back in time or something like that. Its hard to explain. As I was reading this I saw the battle you were in Aug.1st.1944 in the Mediterranean. And this hit home as this date and place was my first trip and first combat. I was the pointer on #5 20mm which is on the bridge and my loader was a signalman. Thanks to Rick I was able to use the Ports Database and get the Alexander Martin's ( my ship) database for that area. It was Convoy UGS-48 from Hampton Rds. July 14,1944. Aug.2nd. I was in the part of the convoy that continued on towards Pt. Said. At 2312 on Aug.4th, 1944 without warnng we were attacked again. We were on condition 11 and I was in my gun tub on the bridge when they came gliding in and then a big roar as they hit the engines. Then a big explosion as the ship in coffin corner was hit with torpedoes. We had just moved out of that position. And the rumor was they were carrying posionous gas and thats why they moved us. And they moved in. In both battles Aug.1st and Aug.4th this ship used up a lot of ammo. And forever on general quarters and condition 11 through out the Mediterrean. Thanks again Roy for doing this book. And thanks Rick for sharing your knowledge of finding data. Al

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