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500 of us were put into the #2 hold of the Liberty ship SS George Davies, with bunks up to seven high. We joined a 98 ship convoy on the 24th of January 1944 headed for we knew not where. We did get three meals a day, but had little room for much else. I remember nothing about the eating or latrine facilities, but we were not allowed aft of the bridge of the ship. We were allowed on deck at any time, although at night there was NO SMOKING. Any lights showing at night invited drastic action like a gunshot to put the light out. Our ship was the last ship in the 2nd column from the right, but there was no ship beside us in the first column.
Because of no other ship being in the next column, we tended to wander about a bit. One of our escorts came alongside and told us by blinker "to get back in column and stay there". Since our ship had made two trips into Naples Harbor and had shot down 5 German planes they really didn't care and proceeded to tell the escort to "bug off and leave us alone". The escort ran back up to the Commodore of the convoy and told the boss what we said. We were told off and all the officers on the Bridge did was laugh about it. The only light showing on the ships at night was a dim 'Blue light' on the stern. I went up on deck one night and went up to the bow in time to see that blue light about 50 feet away. Panic Time. There were about four LOs (Landing Craft Infantry) in our convoy and most of the time they looked like submarines, being more under water than above. We were at sea for 21 days as we zigzagged all over the Atlantic Ocean. Our first clue as to location was when we saw the Rock of Gibraltar.

Because of no other ship being in the next column, we tended to wander about a bit. One of our escorts came alongside and told us by blinker "to get back in column and stay there". Since our ship had made two trips into Naples Harbor and had shot down 5 German planes they really didn't care and proceeded to tell the escort to "bug off and leave us alone". The escort ran back up to the Commodore of the convoy and told the boss what we said. We were told off and all the officers on the Bridge did was laugh about it.

LOL. I can just imagine.