The FReeper Foxhole Remembers Submarine Operations in the Aleutians (1942-1944) - Dec. 9th, 2003

www.chinfo.navy.mil ^ | Edward C. Whitman

[Samwise]

he was assigned to the Aleutians as punishment for not making the D-Day landings

It's interesting to get another's perspective. My Dad always talked about Alaska and the Aleutians with great affection. He thought it was God's country, second only to Kentucky. :^) He never talked about the fighting. But boy did he like to talk about everything else up there. He was able to return in 1992. He was even able to find the hill he learned to ski on.

[Samwise]

Cold is cold

Dad said they never got sick up there. The germs couldn't survive the cold.

[Samwise]

I can't even imagine what it was like to be on a ship in weather and temperatures like that.

Oh, and I can't even imagine being on a submarine. I would be one of those people who goes crazy and tries to escape.

[U S Army EOD]

If you know someone with FS2004 try flying in Alaska, especially the approaches into Dutch Harbor.

[SAMWolf]

Please accept my condolences on the loss of your friend, Dave. I wish I could do something to make you feel better.

I know how you feel, I lost my best frien, Roger, to a heart attack on 12/09/2001. I still miss him but cherish the memories we made in the time we had together.

Dave, United States Marine
Vietnam

To Roger Sigo - The Best Sailor I ever knew.
4/12/1947 - 12/9/2001

A SAILOR’S PRAYER
by Bob Harrison

Oh, Lord, I’m sick and tired and old and my strength is going too,
But ere I leave this earthly shell, I’d like one thing from You.
You know I sailed the seven seas for thirty years or so,
And I’d like to make one more patrol before I have to go.

I’d like to walk the main deck of a Navy fightin’ ship,
And feel the salt spray on me as the bow begins to dip
Beneath the wave of stormy seas, oh, Lord, You caused to be
A peril to seafaring men who go down in ships to sea.

Lord, I want to hear the throb of diesels one more time
And take my turn at standin’ watch and cleanin’ out the slime
From the bilges, as a punishment for failin’ to obey
The Captain’s standin’ orders that were posted for the day.

And, Lord, I’d like to hear the bosun’s whistle once again
As he calls the crew to breakfast, or in the evening when
It’s time for evening movies and the starboard watch is set
And the port side knows by heart the movie that they’ll get!

I’d like to stand on topside and watch the moon upon the sea,
And wonder at the beauty, and how all things came to be,
The morning comes, the sun breaks through, another awesome sight,
To see the shimmer on the waves, like Your Eternal Light.

So when my cruise is over and I soar to heights unknown,
And I kneel before You, Lord, as You sit on Judgement’s Throne,
As You contemplate some small reward that you think applies to me,
Just assign me to Your fastest ship on Your Eternal Sea.



Somehow, I know Roger got that assignment.

I miss you, brother.

[SAMWolf]

My tree does have a US flag on it though, right below the angel.

How did it know it would?

[SAMWolf]

Never being attracted to the sea, I can barely understand how they get people to serve on ships much less a sub.

[SAMWolf]

Evening Phil Dragoo.

IJS Ryujo [Note: Aleutian climate so bitterly cold, it froze the island off this Japanese light carrier]

LOL! The Japanese had some strange arrangement of their Control Islands on some of their carriers. I believe some of them had the exhaust stacks vent to the side of the ship.

[SAMWolf]

I've run in to that too. Different people who react exactly opposite to the places where they were stationed.

I've had friends who visited Vietnam and say it's a beautiful country, there isn't enough money in the world to make me go back. I've run into Korean and WWII vets who feel the same way. Some go back and others don't even want to think about the places.

[SAMWolf]

I can barely fly out of Meigs field in Chicago, in the original FS.

The only time I was in Alaska was for a refueling flight to Vietnam, we flew in and out of Anchorage.

[E.G.C.]

BTTT!!!!!!

[snippy_about_it]

Trteamer, I am sorry to hear of your loss.

It's good to know you shared with Dave the love FReepers have for our veterans and our country and I hope he knew we would thank him for his service.

As SAMWolf's partner at the Foxhole, I want to express to you first our condolences, and second, that we appreciate your post and we are honored you would share the sad news about your friend and one of our veterans here at the Foxhole where we do our best to honor our veterans everyday.

I believe the passing of our Vietnam veterans is especially painful knowing there is no chance to ever welcome them home as they deserved and that the chance is completely lost upon their death.

The very best we can do is to try to honor them by thanking them for their service whenever we meet them, by never forgetting and by making sure their stories are told.

May Dave's son stay in God's care as he also serves our country.

[snippy_about_it]

Thank you Light Speed for sharing your knowledge with us on the Aleutians thread yesterday. I'm a little behind on my posts but catching up this morning. :)

[snippy_about_it]

Thanks Phil. Love the GROWLER patch.

[snippy_about_it]

for Roger

[SAMWolf]

Thank you Snippy. Strange how we were just talking about Roger yesterday.

[snippy_about_it]

Strange how we were just talking about Roger yesterday.

Not at all strange, imo. :)

[Mr. Silverback]

Dave and his son are both heroes proved in liberating strife. God bless them, and condolences to Dave's family and you, Trteamer.

[SAMWolf]

Yeah I guess not, I do mention him a lot.

[snippy_about_it]

He's always around. At least that's what I think, either that or I'm crazy. :)