NEWS FROM THE CLOVER PATCH *
Here we are again with a little news of this and that. The early part of Nov
ember we prepared for Ship Training Detachment #3, one of several units of the
Coast Guard which visits CG vessels which do not go to Navy Underway Training Com
mands, It had been 2 years since the last visit, so there was much work to be dene.
The detachment, under the command of LT D.L. SHERMAN, arrived Friday, 10 Novem
ber and included an ET1, DCCS, GM1 and S02* Saturday thru Wednesday preliminary
drills and instruction were held in Damage Control Gunnery, ASW.and ADC warfare.
Thursday We got lihdCrway for the final problem* A surface gunnery exercise was
conducted and the shooting of the gun creto Was termed ^outstanding, the best 3"/5Q
I have ever seen"* by LT’S HERMAN. This exercise was followed by a simulated -atomic
attack) with fallout* cracked welds in the hull) fire, rigging of washdown sytem,&
monitoring. It climaxed a tirihg 6 days bdt benefits received were well worth the
effort. r . . * ....
On Tuesday, 5 December we reutn^ed from What Whs probably the Clover's only 2nd
’tall run”. Wednesday, 22 November, I received a long distance call from Mr*Thorn
ton of Reedy and Bates Drilling Cot, in Tulsa, Oklahoma* He advise’d his company
had two tugs with two barges each loaded with oil well drilling equipment up in
Kvichak Bay (east end of'Bristol Bay) which they were trying to beach, but couldnft
because of the ice. He advised he was going to call the District Commander, and 1
would probably hear more later. The morning of 27.November we received a message
directing us to proceed to Kvichak Bay and escort the tugs and barges to Dutch Har=
bor and at IC40 we were underway. At 1600 Wednesday we anchored in Port Moller.The
tugs were , east of. there and maMng, 3-4 knots good toward Dutch Hapbor, We remained
at anchor Thursday, Friday morning, just as we' were making preprations for getting
underway, the master of the tug Donna Foss advised one barge had.trokon loose but
was in no immediate danger. At .1335 we had radar contact with the barge & it soon
became apparent that it was drifting toward the beach. At 1445 it went aground.
Since a no. 5 sea was running with 20 foot swells, it was impossible to get a line
on the barge. There were no persons on board, but the barge was valued at $400,000
and the cargo at ^750,000. It was decided the two tugs would' proceed to Dutch Harbo*
and secure the 3 remaining barges for the winter, then.return to the scene and att
empt to reloat the ,ba.rge. The Donna Foss with one barge reached Dutch Harbor at
1545,, 3 December. We were released from the case when the Craig Foss with two bar
ges reached'Prieat Rock that evening. However, Priest Rock light was burning stead}
ao we moored at City Dock, 'Unalaska for the .night,
Monday morning we talked.with Captain Nickols, the master of the Donna Foss, and
then got underway for Priest Rock, The wind was 30-40 mph but the sea was calm and
we were able to get a party ashore and correct the light. *
We moored at Pier 5, A$ak at 2250, Tuesday, however, it soon became apparent we
would not be able to stay,at the dock without damaging it, so got underway again at
0120. We cruised, over to Great Sitkin Island and back and anchored in.Sweeper Cove
at 0845 Wednesday. At 1402 we moored at Pier 3- During the night we parted 4 moor
ing lines but stayed at the' pier. Thursday morning we refueled and at 1147 were bad
at our regular berth, Pier 8.
The following nen hove reported aboard since the end of October: C.W. MC KELLAR,
ENC, J.T.-FRZER, SA,'B.S. HOLSTEIN, SN, A.O. SALFRANK, SA, G.L. NORBY, SA, J.I.
MUIR, CS;, W.F. MADIGAN,.QM1-P1,A.J. PETERSEN, SA, J.M. SNAY, SN, A.N. GORDON, QM2
Pl, B.L. MISCHOVICH, SN, C.C. TOLLEY, RM3, The following men iiave departed, numbers
'in parens indicate district to which transferred: A.L, GRIMSBY, SN(l3), B. BOLIN,
QM2-P1(12), K.L. PINTO, SN(l2), C.J. MOSS, QM3(l3), R*B; .&ABLE, CS2(9), K.L, BURG,
SN(13), J.A. HEIIMAN, FN(2), W#Af BUTLER, CSl-Pl(l2). F.R. BROCK, RM2, R.M.FAVRO,SN
(13),'W.F. BALLEW, BM3 (13), J.W. RADEMACHER, QM3(l2) & P. ELLIA, RMC(12).The foil**
ing men have been, advanced to the.rates indicated: J.O. VALENTINE, FNDC, K.EfN0RDEN,
FNEN, R.J.- BURKE, GM3, E.L. MOODY, SN, J. D. SUMNER, SN, _.