"In Transit"  by F.E.(Jim)DeVine

			

	On January 5, 1943, thirteen of us radar guys were trucked 
to the Lejeune train depot to be shipped out with about 1300 other 
Marines to the west coast.  When we arrived, we saw the 1300 other 
guys, but we were kept separately from them. They started climbing 
aboard the troop cattle cars, and we were ordered into the lone 
Pullman car on the end of the train. The 13 of us had a whole Pullman 
car to ourselves with an MP to guard against any of the other troops
entering our car.  What a way to go.  On one side of the car, we kept
our bunks done all the time and on the other side we had our seats 
and tables.  Occasionally we would sneak into the cattle cars to see
how the other guys were doing. Unimagineable contrast.

	It took us 5 days to cross the country via the southern 
route to San Diego where the 1300 guys were destined. Our car was 
unhooked and put onto a civilian train to Frisco.
 
	We were sent to casual company on January 11, 1944, on 
Treasure Island in Frisco Bay. Treasure Island had been built for a 
World's Fair some years prior. While there we had no duties and had 
only to show up each morning at 6:00 AM for rollcall. Each day we had 
fantastic liberty in Frisco.  I was still only 17 years old, but the 
bartenders didn't bother to check us Marines. The Seabees complained 
because they were checked and we weren't.

	On January 22, 1944, 23 of us were taken to LaJolla to be put
aboard the destroyer USS Williamson, which had been a World War 1 
coal-burning four stacker and was converted to an oil-burning two 
stacker. It was nothing like a modern destroyer.  Its gunwhales 
consisted of pipes and chains. I was assigned to the after crews 
quarters which was under the aft head which was under a 5" gun 
platform. Exit from there was up a starboard ladder which led to a 
hatch which opened outward to the starboard "gunwhale".  When the ship
was rolling to starboard, the hatch acted kike a scoop or funnel,
and sea water poured down the ladder.

	The next day we headed past Alcatraz to the Frisco navy yard.
Two tugs came out to berth the ship, but the skipper, who acted like
Captain Queeg, refused the assistance and said he could berth his ship
unaided. We broadsided the corner of a drydock so hard that the midship 
plates opened up and water started coming in.  Down below we had to 
get our rifles and seabags up out of the water.  Pumps were turned on,
and the ship tied up alongside six other destroyers. Great.  Now we get
a few more days of liberty in Frisco.

       Actually, we got one more night of liberty and had to cross six
other 'cans' to get there and back. Coming back with too much beer in 
us was tough.

	On January 25, 1944, we left Frisco under the Golden Gate 
bridge. I sat on the fantail to watch the "States" slowly sink beneath
the horizon at about 5:00 PM.  We were assigned submarine watches, and
I volunteered to take the watch on the highest part of the ship where 
there was a 50 caliber machine gun on which I could brace myself.  A 
fierce storm had come up, and I could see the entire bow go under water
and the spray would come up over me. We could not have seen a submarine 
if it had come up alongside us!

	I got off my second watch about 5:30 AM.  It was still black 
and stormy as hell.  I had no sooner blown up my two tube life belt 
and hit the sack than there was a terrific explosion and the stern 
lifted out of the water and dropped back again.  The general quarters
claxon sounded and a swabbie ran past me shouting, "We caught a fish",
meaning we had been torpedoed.

       Almost immediately there was a second explosion and the ship 
lifted again. STANDBY TO ABANDON SHIP.  STANDBY TO ABANDON SHIP. 
ALL HANDS  ON DECK TO ABANDON SHIP.  We fight our way up the ladder 
where the water is rushing down and onto the black deck.  The sergeant 
musters us for a quick rollcall before we go into the black, stormy 
sea with only our tube life belts.  I'm scared as hell and thinking 
I'm only 17 years old. Just before we go over the side,  the skipper 
announces SECURE THE SHIP. SECURE THE SHIP. We didn't have to go over
the side after all.  Two depth charges had rolled off the racks and 
blew up almost on the surface of the water.

	For the rest of the trip the decks were coated with fuel oil
which was being pushed up by sea water and there was a fire in the 
propeller shaft.

	On January 30, 1944, we arrived at Pearl Harbor.  I stood 
on deck and marveled at the beauty as we passed Diamond Head and 
Honolulu. As we sailed past Pearl Harbor, the ship abruptly made a 
180' turn to port.  All of a sudden the 5" gun fired, and I was 
unknowingly standing under the muzzle. I'm told all ships must fire 
their guns before entering the harbor. I couldn't see or hear, and 
I was black from head to toe. Welcome to Pearl Harbor.

       Jim DeVine, Reading, PA