'I wanted to be of service'

I was born in Arkansas City, Kan., (on) July 25, 1923, and moved to Tulsa ... with my parents in 1929. I attended Tulsa schools and graduated from Central High School, attended Tulsa University and left there to work at McDonnell-Douglas bomber plant bolting on the outer wings of the B-24 Liberator bombers.

I wanted to be of service to help our country more and tried to enlist in the Marines, Navy and Air Force, but was not accepted. The Navy recruiter said the Merchant Marine Service needed men. I signed up with my buddy, Everette Brown, who lived across the street from me. ... We rode the train to New York on July 26, 1943. ... Our physical trainer was Tony Galento, a professional prize fighter. ...

I got my papers and signed on to serve as a wiper on the S.S. Francis L. Lee, and we sailed out of Norfolk, Va., on Oct. 2, 1943. On our way, the 3rd engineer let the water run over into the fire box and killed the engine. A destroyer circled us and told us to get out of there right away.

Our first port was at Oran, North Africa, arriving on Oct. 30, 1943. Then we went to Bari, Italy, and had a turkey dinner Nov. 11, 1943, at the Imperial Hotel. Our captain and crew saw a German reconnaissance plane flying over, and we hurried to leave without any ballast. That was a rough ride, but our lives were saved.

Bari Harbor became the second Pearl Harbor when German planes flew in and bombed it on Dec. 2, 1943. The S.S. John Harvey secretly carried deadly mustard gas bombs, which exploded. Seventeen ships were destroyed, and more than a thousand civilians, Navy sailors and Merchant Mariners were killed and injured. ...

I was a messman on my second ship, the S.S. Alcoa Guard ... (and) my third ship was the S.S. John Blair, and I served as a utility man. ... I boarded my fourth ship, the S.S. Walker Taylor, in Philadelphia on July 11, 1944, and was a messman. ... I boarded my fifth and last ship, the S.S. Algic, on Feb. 17, 1945.

Went from Philadelphia to Antwerp, Belgium, but on the way, we were rammed on our bow and sailed on into Antwerp for repairs. In our off-duty time, we waded in mud up to our waists to board a deserted German mine sweeper and picked up various papers, letters and a nameplate: “Atlas-Werke, Aktiengesallschaft, Bremen, No. 45393.” We visited Antwerp, and I bought a Belgian hare coat for my fiance. ...

One other time in the Atlantic, we were also rammed in the fog off the Grand Banks of Nova Scotia. While on watch, we saw a Norwegian fast ship coming and yelled the alarm. The ship turned, and it knocked off our running lights and fog buoy. We sailed into Halifax, Nova Scotia, for repairs. The people were very nice, giving us warm coats and feeding us in their homes.

Submitted by Karl K. Kinney, 84, of Sperry

Cover illustration for the postcard sent out by Just Compensation Committee. P.O. Box 1705 Santa Rosa, CA 95402. Karl Kinney wrote, 'The picture shows a Liberty ship with guns manned by the Armed Guard.' " Illustration artist unknown. Original undated.