Before I update the blog for this time, I want to pay respects to a loss in my family. I have, or had two male cousins who were namesakes for my great uncle Billy. Last week I lost one. My cousin Billy who lived outside of Chicago, was only 57 years old, too young to die of a heart attack. These things happen, but it's hard to accept losing people near my own age. Definitely reminds you of the mortality of us all. Godspeed and peace, Billy.

April of 1943 was a very interesting time for Strong. Early on, they sunk one sub and were instrumental in sinking another. Back in port, they had some time for beer, swimming and baseball. Wellings writes on April 19th:

“All is well out here in the Pacific.  Things have been rather quiet the past few days.  We have been in port and have taken advantage of the opportunity to do a million and one things that can’t be done underway.  In addition it has given us an opportunity to send some of our men ashore in the afternoon on recreation parties.  It is the only chance they have to get off the ship.  Believe me they appreciate the opportunity.  A swim – a ball game plus two bottles of beer (rationed) really appeals to the men.  Now they realize how fortunate they were to have had all that time in New York.  However morale is good.  Some of our class who have been out here longer than we have, have made trips to Australia or New Zealand for overhaul and liberty.  The idea being to give the boys a chance to see civilization again and get off the ships – Purely morale.  Apparently the boys have a grand time.  I only hope our turn comes around before I am detached because I would like to see something of Australia or New Zealand- preferably the former, while I am in the Pacific.  Incidentally I have not heard anything from Bev of Personnel.  I should be getting an answer to my letter within a few days.  Mail has slowed down – none arriving during the past four days.”

But all of this togetherness in port has consequences. Some strain of a tropical flu was making the rounds, and in a port where you have men and ships coming in from areas all over the south Pacific, a warm humid environment and all that closeness makes for a great breeding environment. By the time the ship got underway again, the men of Strong were not immune to the illness, as he writes on April 25:

“Happy Easter to my little girls.  Yes, here it is Easter Sunday and guess what – Instead of an Easter parade proceeded by mass here I am propped up in my bunk getting over a cold which gave signs of developing into the flu.

Our three day holiday was only a rest period for me.  I began to cough a little plus a “plugged up” nose about noon of my birthday.  We were conducting exercises outside the harbor and didn’t get secured until 2000 (8 am) when I promptly turned in, in order to avoid a bad cold or the flu – Tem normal yesterday, my sweethearts birthday found your little boy in his bunk all day drinking orange juice all day, taking his favorite APC pills and a good hot brandy prescribed by the doctor before going to sleep temp 100.0.  At least I wrangled a drink out of the doctor and celebrated your birthday in addition to helping me get well.  I have been in the bunk all day today (time 1500) but felt much better.  Temp was normal this morning and the same at noon.  I intend to take things easy and if my temp is normal again tomorrow I will get up for an hour or two.  However I am going to take things easy at least for a few days.  Gosh!  I wish you were here to be my nurse.  Remember what a poor patient I was?  I am not really sick this time, I just thought I would try and prevent a real case of the flu.  Apparently it has worked.

One reason for taking early and adequate precautions is that we have had what almost amount to an epidemic of flu on board during the past two weeks.  Jetton, Hedrick, Trost, Fred Purdy and Wheeler all had mild cases within a period of two-three weeks.  Jetton was in the bunk for a whole week.  Wheeler is still in bed.  He was a very sick boy.  In addition at one time I had 14 of my enlisted men turned in with the flu.  I isolated one of my small compartments, checked and rechecked the sterilization of all dishes and cooking utensils, aired bedding every day and held “field day” every day.  We stopped it from spreading.  We now have only three enlisted men on the sick list – out of 320.  I guess in order to play no favorites it hit the captain.  Incidentally it was the first cold I have had since leaving New York.”

In this letter, my uncle is mentioned by Wellings as one of the poor sufferers. The next time I see his name in anything written by the captain, is when he's written his account of sending Billy and Jetton below to destroy sensitive documents and equipment, and then never seeing either of them again. So I enjoy the references to his life at sea.

Hubby and I will be visiting Gettysburg soon, so it may be a couple weeks until I post again. We've always wanted to go to this historic place, and the time has presented itself. Really looking forward to getting steeped in the history there.

As always I am open to ideas and contributions from the families and others.

Tammi

Not every day in the south Pacific is filled with danger.  There were times in port at Espiritu Santo in the New Hebrides, that there was some fun to be had.  The letter below written on April 14th, 1943 tells about one of those times:

 "First let me say that the Strong is still Strong and getting better each day.  My crew and officers have developed the team work necessary for a good ship.  I now feel that I can take them anywhere and be sure that they can do a good job.  No – we haven’t been through a big battle.  It is just that I notice the way they do their work plus grand performances at the various practices. 
Incidentally and confidentially we are getting a good reputation as a snappy good shooting and alert ship.  I only hope – that when and if the time comes to prove we are good that we will exceed our reputation.

 Life out here never changes.  Every day is the same as far as work is concerned.  We are in port once in a while but there is nothing to do.  We do now have an officers’ club where the boys can get some beer – very seldom do we have hard liquor at the club (transportation problems).  All hands are aboard by 1800.  After dinner we have the movies and then to bed.  Movies of course only when we are in port.  Last night we had "Road to Morocco" – Bing Crosby, Dorothy Lamour, Bob Hope – it was the "nuttiest" show I have ever seen, but funny.

 I must tell you a good story.  The night before we sailed on our last trip,  we received a message from a ship which had just arrived from Al’s home port that they had 30 cases of Ale (qt. bottles) for us.  We thought it was a joke but investigation confirmed the message.  We didn’t know what to do as it was 2200 and we were sailing early in the morning and of course we couldn’t take it aboard.  Sooo – at 0500 we had a big motor launch from the tender with our working party and removed it from the ship to the recreation center (enlisted men) ashore.  They stored it for us.  Yesterday my boys certainly had a party
and today there will be another.

 I still have no idea who sent it or payed for it but I suspect Al very strongly.  I must write to him tonight and include congratulations on again becoming a father.

 Saw Rod Smith ashore yesterday.  His stories were better than ever.  He told a long story about telling you as a new Navy wife about your duties in connection with finding out when and where I would be transferred and the future movements of my (your) ship.  He really was a scream.  His eyes rolled better than ever.  Guess what?!  Charles Wollen came aboard yesterday.  He is assigned to a ship in this area.  We spent all afternoon talking over Wash. – the Navy and the war.  He is doing a splendid job – (a darn important one).  I will see him tomorrow morning when I go to his ship to attend a "bull session" on aviation intelligence."

 The next day on the 15th, he indicates that he's still hoping to get a change-up in duty:

 "I still think I have a good chance of getting home in June although I have not heard from the detail officer.  However you know only too well that there is always a chance of the best of promises going wrong in the Navy – Look at Boot –  he should have been home long ago.  If you and Betty get a chance to get a good place for a couple of months by all means take it.  If I get back in time and get a little leave which I probably will – a good rest or change of scenery in the country or seashore will be most welcomed.

 Talking about getting relieved – I wonder what kind of a job I will get.  Chances are that I will have to put a new destroyer in commission.  I will not relish the job – particularly now that the new boats have even less personnel with experience than I had.  Also I would try to train my executive officer to take over before we go west.  I say this because if I had to do any fighting I
would prefer to do it in the Strong – now that my crew and officers are all well trained.  However I know that due to the terrific expansion I will lose at least 50% of my officers within the next nine months so perhaps it is just as well for me to leave.  Another thing is that command duty spoils you for any other type of duty.  As one officer said "from now on I want to work for myself".

 He's hoping at this point that he'll be able to turn his command over to Fred Purdy, his right hand man. Retirement and reassignment, spending more time with his wife and daughter, those are uppermost in his mind.

 Tammi

On the Memories of Strong page, I've loaded a document that tells you what the Strong was up to this time 70 years ago, including sinking their very first Japanese sub.  Most of this was carried out in the night, so when Captain Wellings wrote this letter home to Dolly, it had not yet happened:

"7 April, 1943

 Sweetheart:
 I see by the news that Guadalcanal area has had an air attack and that one destroyer was damaged – reported lost in another bulletin.   I know my sweetheart will wonder if it is the Strong.  Rest your pretty head and mind to rest.  The Strong is still living up to its name.  In fact we are getting better all the time.  This letter may be a little late in reaching dear old Boston –
but remember as always – no news is good news.

 As I said in my previous letter, Dr. Laughlin’s relief is on board and in a few days the doctor will be homeward bound.  I doubt if he will arrive before the first of May.  However he has sufficient money from me to phone you for more than three minutes and tell you how much I love you and that I am well and happy as anyone can be under these war conditions.

 Incidentally will you please purchase a silver baby cup and send it to Mrs. Laughlin.  If you do not have her address  send it to U.S. Naval Hospital, Bethesda Md. – Have inscribed on it "To Constance Ann from the Captain and officers of the USS Strong."  Let me know what it costs and I will have the mess pay you back – sometime.

 I will be looking forward to receiving mail again.  The mail service is getting better all the time.  However I have never seen any mail buoys at sea.

 How are my two little girls??  Now that this is the 7th of April weather in Boston should be approaching the ideal.  How about a trip to Washington for Easter??  Betsey & Bill & Virginia would be happy to put you up for a few days.  The change in scenery would be good.

 Now as always and forever,

 Your little boy,

 Harold"

I've also added a couple more images of Strong as she leaves berth at the Bath Iron Works in Maine, August of 1942.  Until the next installment of adventures of the USS Strong DD 467.........

Tammi