50 Yrs Ago Today, Mullinnix Departed Mitilini
Excerpt from “The Last Gun Ship - History of USS Mullinnix DD-944” - A Historical Novel By Frank A. Wood)
Mullinnix departed Mitilini the morning of 20 October under clouds crackling with thunder that gave no rain. The crew felt that Mullinnix was moving, but at that moment it was as if the clouds were in motion and Mullinnix was still and waiting. A number of the crew took the motor whale boat to the USS Laffey to function as engineering drill observers. The party included ENS Max Downham, ENS Gary Smith, ENS Charles Garverick, SFP2 Taylor, DC1 Williams, EM3 Ross, BT2 Jacobs, MM1 Tansey and MM2 Alterio.
The engineering spaces of these older cans left something to be desired. Their smell was like a mix of salt and rot. The rust had freshly painted surfaces on the run. Williams, Jacobs, and Tansey knew what they were in for as all had served on older cans before being assigned to Mullinnix. The biggest trouble they saw wasn’t the Laffey, rather pulling duty with three ensigns. Ensigns – all were college jocks, most were arrogant, no work ethic nor people skills, and all lacked simple humility.
Ensigns Downham, Smith, and Garverick had troubles on their minds as well. Tin cans had always been insular places, protective of their traditions, virtually incestuous in their shipmate relationships and attitudes toward other sailors. Ensigns weren’t consider sailors – a tradition ensigns simply weren’t apart of and never would be.
However, they were the leaders of this little expectation. The problem they faced was with leading sailors. They never were quite sure if the enlisted men were following or chasing them.
Mullinnix, as with the other ships, continued to do her share to bring the good will of the American people to Europe. While conducting operations in the Aegean Sea, she received a message that a local man, E. E. Staypol, was seriously ill on Irakia Island and desperately needed transportation to a hospital in Athens. In a matter of minutes, the private affliction of one man became the concern of the entire ship’s company. As the Muxmen fired up the boilers, the temperature rose and the steam drove the dual shafts faster and faster, forcing the steel of the bow to knife through the water that lay between them and the stricken man. When Mullinnix arrived at the tiny fishing village of Ayios Kirikos, Commodore Kelly himself went ashore to supervise the removal of the man from the island to the ship.
Once aboard, the EOT rang full speed. As the ship sped towards Athens, Chief Hospital Corpsman Sumners administered treatment to ease the man’s suffering from his post-operative complications. Steaming all night at 25 knots on 1A and 2B boilers, Mullinnix entered the harbor of Athens at 0508. With the aid of civilian pilot Captain Ben, Mullinnix moored port side to Custom House pier in Kentrikos harbor, Piraeus. The rising sun made the water look like hammered copper. After delivering their patient to an awaiting ambulance, Mullinnix’ crew was underway at 0617, speeding back to fleet operations.
To be continued...
Cheers,
Woody
Mullinnix departed Mitilini the morning of 20 October under clouds crackling with thunder that gave no rain. The crew felt that Mullinnix was moving, but at that moment it was as if the clouds were in motion and Mullinnix was still and waiting. A number of the crew took the motor whale boat to the USS Laffey to function as engineering drill observers. The party included ENS Max Downham, ENS Gary Smith, ENS Charles Garverick, SFP2 Taylor, DC1 Williams, EM3 Ross, BT2 Jacobs, MM1 Tansey and MM2 Alterio.
The engineering spaces of these older cans left something to be desired. Their smell was like a mix of salt and rot. The rust had freshly painted surfaces on the run. Williams, Jacobs, and Tansey knew what they were in for as all had served on older cans before being assigned to Mullinnix. The biggest trouble they saw wasn’t the Laffey, rather pulling duty with three ensigns. Ensigns – all were college jocks, most were arrogant, no work ethic nor people skills, and all lacked simple humility.
Ensigns Downham, Smith, and Garverick had troubles on their minds as well. Tin cans had always been insular places, protective of their traditions, virtually incestuous in their shipmate relationships and attitudes toward other sailors. Ensigns weren’t consider sailors – a tradition ensigns simply weren’t apart of and never would be.
However, they were the leaders of this little expectation. The problem they faced was with leading sailors. They never were quite sure if the enlisted men were following or chasing them.
Mullinnix, as with the other ships, continued to do her share to bring the good will of the American people to Europe. While conducting operations in the Aegean Sea, she received a message that a local man, E. E. Staypol, was seriously ill on Irakia Island and desperately needed transportation to a hospital in Athens. In a matter of minutes, the private affliction of one man became the concern of the entire ship’s company. As the Muxmen fired up the boilers, the temperature rose and the steam drove the dual shafts faster and faster, forcing the steel of the bow to knife through the water that lay between them and the stricken man. When Mullinnix arrived at the tiny fishing village of Ayios Kirikos, Commodore Kelly himself went ashore to supervise the removal of the man from the island to the ship.
Once aboard, the EOT rang full speed. As the ship sped towards Athens, Chief Hospital Corpsman Sumners administered treatment to ease the man’s suffering from his post-operative complications. Steaming all night at 25 knots on 1A and 2B boilers, Mullinnix entered the harbor of Athens at 0508. With the aid of civilian pilot Captain Ben, Mullinnix moored port side to Custom House pier in Kentrikos harbor, Piraeus. The rising sun made the water look like hammered copper. After delivering their patient to an awaiting ambulance, Mullinnix’ crew was underway at 0617, speeding back to fleet operations.
To be continued...
Cheers,
Woody
posted by Frank A. Wood at 07:37
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