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 are acknowledged, affirmed and commemorated.
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Posted on 01/29/2003 5:37:03 AM PST by SAMWolf
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are acknowledged, affirmed and commemorated.
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Where the Freeper Foxhole introduces a different veteran each Wednesday. The "ordinary" Soldier, Sailor, Airman or Marine who participated in the events in our Country's history. We hope to present events as seen through their eyes. To give you a glimpse into the life of those who sacrificed for all of us - Our Veterans.  To list previous Foxhole Threads or to add The Foxhole to your sidebar Click on the Logo
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and The Ill Fated Convoy PQ 17 The SS Pan Atlantic was a freighter owned by the Waterman Steamship Co. She was a vessel of about 8,000 tons. The Pan Atlantic was one of 48 other ships that made up a convoy of other ships from the U.S., Norway, England, Panama, Russia and Canada. This convoy originated in Halifax, Nova Scotia in June of 1942. The men who manned these ships were not aware of the sufferings and hardships that lay ahead. My ship the SS Pan Atlantic was one of thirty ships or more that left Nova Scotia for Reykjavik, Iceland. On our voyage to Iceland we were harassed by German submarines. We lost a few ships by German submarines on this passage.  After we arrived in Iceland about the latter part of June, we held a lifeboat drill. We lowered the Starboard lifeboat for lifeboat exercise. I was the youngest seaman aboard the SS Pan Atlantic and since I only weighed about 110 pounds the mate in charge of the lifeboat would not let me participate in rowing. But as I watched I could see the men had the spirit in them, because they knew that their lives depended on the lifeboat. We left Iceland on July 3, 1942 with 48 merchant ships and escort vessels of American, British and Canadian. These Navy vessels consisted of Destroyers, Corvettes and Rescue vessels. On July 3, 1942, the convoy spotted German reconnaissance planes. These planes shadowed the convoy out of range of the guns of our escort vessels. On the same day July 4, 1942 all hell broke loose.  Convoy PQ 17 is sighted and photographed on 1 July 1942. The Germans attacked our convoy with torpedo planes, dive bombers and submarines. The ships of the convoy opened up on the attacking planes. The gun fire from the ships did a lot of damage to our men on other ships. All ships were firing on the torpedo planes with everything they had, 4", 50 caliber, 3", 5", 20mm, 50 and 30 caliber guns. Everywhere you looked ships were being blown up, men were in the water screaming. The tankers just disappeared in smoke. The battle finally ceased. But the order came by flag hoist from the convoy Commodore to disperse and proceed to your destination alone. The convoy broke up and each ship that were left from the attack commenced on their own.  The reason why the convoy broke up and each ship proceeded on their own was because the convoy Commodore received word that the German battleship Tirpitz with her escorts were not too far off and were looking for the convoy. On July 6, 1942 two days after the attack on convoy 15 & 17 we spotted a lone German reconnaissance plane. The reconnaissance plane shadowed us for a few hours. The plane disappeared and about three hours later we spotted a German dive bomber. The dive bomber started his attack from the sun. We fired on the plane with our guns but all could see was the sun. All of a sudden the ship just lifted out of the water. I was loading the 4" 50 caliber on the stern. It was no longer than 10 seconds when another explosion broke the ship in half. We found out the second explosion was from a German submarine. I ran to the port lifeboat. Men piled into #2 lifeboat. While #2 lifeboat was being lowered, the forward end was dropped. The men including myself were dumped into the sea. I went down into the water it seemed like a hundred feet.  The Pan Atlantic sank within three minutes after being hit. I finally popped up out of the water and to my luck a life raft had floated from the ship. There were a few men on the raft. One of the Navy gunners pulled me aboard the raft. After floating around on the raft we spotted the lifeboat. The Captain who was Captain Seibert was in the #1 lifeboat. This was the lifeboat that held lifeboat drill in Iceland. We went aboard the lifeboat from the raft. We took all the rations from the raft to the lifeboat. It was the 6th of July but it was cold as hell we were sunk around the Island of Spitzbergen. We were in the lifeboat for around 9 days before being rescued by the HMS Lodus. This was a British Corvette. After being rescued the corvette sank our lifeboat. After being sunk and while in the lifeboat a German submarine surfaced and asked for the Captain. We had the Captain in the bottom of the lifeboat under a blanket. We told the submarine Commander that the Captain was killed on the ship when she was hit. The submarine Commander believed our story. He then told us he was sorry some men were killed and he gave us bread and sausage and told us which way the nearest land was. (Note - This was probably Kapitänleutnant Heino Bohmann - U88, Bergen's 11th U-Flotilla - who had been poised to attack the ship when she was struck by Luftwaffe bombs. It is unclear whether this U-boat, or U703 also stalking the ship, actually fired torpedoes at her). After the corvette Lodus picked us up, we were attacked by German dive bomber. We survived the attack. The next day we arrived in Murmansk, Russia. There we were transferred to a British Destroyer and taken down to Archangelsk, Russia on the White sea. My feet were frost bitten bad and I was put in the hospital for frost bite and nervousness. While we were in Archangelsk the city was dive bombed. We would assist in fighting the fires. We finally left Russia aboard the SS Bellingham owned by Waterman Steamship Co. We had a smooth voyage for a few days, then at dawn we were torpedoed by German submarine (Note - Type VIIC U435, Kapitänleutnant Siegfried Strelow, Bergen's 11th U-Flotilla). The ship commenced to sink immediately. The crew was organized and to my knowledge all hands got off the ship. A British rescue ship picked us up and took us into Johnstone, Scotland.  The people in Scotland treated us very well. After staying in Scotland for about a week all the survivors of the ill fated convoy PQ 17 were taken aboard the Queen Mary for passage to the U.S. We arrived in Boston, Mass. about 3- 1/2 days later. We were told to wear our lifejackets when debarking from the Queen Mary. When we arrived in Boston the news men took movie pictures of the survivors. I arrived to my home in Mobile, Alabama. My parents thought I was killed on the Pan Atlantic. I stayed home for a few weeks then I went down and joined the U.S. Navy. I served on Detroyers, Cruisers, Aircraft Carriers. I worked with Armed Forces special weapons project in Albuquerque, New Mexico. I retired from the Navy and after being home a year I joined the Seafarers International Union in the Port of New Orleans, La. in June 1963. I advised the S.A.B. that I couldn't make this time. Then when the school was opened again I was selected to attend the school. I started school Aug. 6, 1979. While I was attending the school in Piney Point, Maryland I was astonished at what I seen. Piney Point is not only a beautiful piece of real estate, but the trainee program and the upgrading program are of the highest standards. I noticed while at Piney Point everyday was a lifeboat class in effect. One of the main reasons I wrote my memoirs of the ill fated convoy PQ 17 to Murmansk, Russia was to bring the attention to all seafarers that the lifeboat training at Piney Point is that if my brothers had more training in the lifeboat skills my brothers on the SS Pan Atlantic would probably be alive today. So, brothers if you have never received a lifeboat ticket from Piney Point I urge each and everyone of you to get it. Also while you are at Piney Point if it is in anyway feasible get the firefighting ticket and CPR and First Aid. I have heard comments by a few of our brothers taking First Aid at Piney Point complaining that too much First Aid was taught in the course. That they should only be taught what they should know about what shipboard injuries could occur.  5 July 1942: Operation "Rösselsprung" (Knight's Move). German units having assembled in Altafjord preparatory to an offensive against the Allied Murmansk convoys, one of the two battlegroups sets out, with Tirpitz leading the heavy cruisers Admiral Hipper and Admiral Scheer Well, I'll have to disagree with these brothers, because First Aid is essential at home, on the streets, or in the water. The CPR and First Aid instructors at Piney Point are best qualified instructors I have had the pleasure to know and receive the education I have received from these instructors. Brothers, if you have never been to Piney Point for upgrading. I urge each of you to attend this school and apply yourself for a better future and more understanding of how industry work. Then again, brothers, you get to meet some of the brothers you have had the pleasure to sail with. When I first joined the merchant marine I joined the International Seamen Union in 1941. I was 16 years old. After sailing for 38 years, which 20 years was Navy time and so far 18 years S.I.U. time, again I urge you to attend Piney Point and see and learn how the industry works. So, when we aboard ship we can work as a team and take care of any emergency that may arrive. Fraternally yours, Ruel N. Lawrence Ruel Nathan Lawrence died on April 9, 1997, honoured in a formal manner with full military honours at the graveside. The flag was presented to Doris Longworth his sister as well as empty shells from the rifles the soldiers used in the firing. According to a record from the Department of Navy, Nathan's service number was 272 96 53, he was Honorable Discharged June 1, 1950. He had been awarded the Good Conduct Medal, Navy Unit Commendation, China Service Medal, World War II. Victory Medal, Navy Occupation Medal, American Area Campaign, Asiatic Pacific Campaign.
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One man's journey to remember a merchant navy massacre.
By Charlie Morton, Defence Reporter, Plymouth Herald, June 26, 2001.
FOR 59 years the code has been engraved in the minds of every sailor who chanced the waters of the Arctic Circle during World War Two. PQ17.
On June 26, 1942, the largest merchant convoy ever assembled at Reykjavik in Iceland set sail for ports in Russia, loaded with supplies to feed the war effort.
What followed was one of the grimmest tragedies in the history of the merchant navy as, scattered by the threat of a German battleship, the ships were an easy target for U-boat skippers who picked them off one by one, sinking 23 in all.
The horror of the event has haunted retired Lieutenant Commander Gordon Bruty for six decades.
He has sailed from the UK on a journey back to where it all happened, to drop a wreath in the sea in memory of those who died.
In Memory of PQ17 June-July 1942.
Worth repeating.
The cruisers H.M.S. Belfast, H.M.S. Dido and H.M.S. Scylla in heavy seas as an Arctic convoy Ocean Escort during World War Two.
The ice-encrusted 6-inch guns of HMS Belfast during convoy duties in Arctic waters, 1943
The ammunition ship Mary Luckenback explodes during an air attack on Arctic Convoy PQ18, 14 September 1942 (IWM neg a 12271)
Here's the link for the site I got the article from.
Just a note, off topic but still pertinent, about the group called grassfire.net. (Email-alert@grassfire.net)
I received an email from this organization today (this is the group sending the petition to Washington, with the goal of 200,000 signatures, supporting our President and troops) saying that they are fundraising by sending out yard signs that say Support our TROOPS with a picture of the historical flag raising so famous to all of us.
I am sending a check for two. One for my yard, one for my parents' yard. They are the standard yard signs (with metal supporting posts). I loved the idea and sent an email to um requesting that they make bumper stickers, too. Who knows if they will.
Point is-I think it is a great idea, especially when ya consider that many wonderful veterans as well as those who are currently serving our nation will surely be heartened upon seeing um.
Oh well....just thought some folks who love this thread might be especially interested.
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