MIKE WHITEHEAD -- The Harbor Column

Mike Whitehead

Ahoy.

A heartwarming luncheon was held Thursday at the Lido Yacht Expo

honoring the survivors of the U.S.S. Indianapolis, which was sunk by

Japanese submarine just days before the end of World War II. As we enter

the war on terrorism, it was overwhelming to hear what these men endured

as part of their duty to the U.S. back in World War II. The Indianapolis

was a ship that was on a top-secret mission to deliver the key components

of the first atom bomb that ended the war. The ship was on its final

voyage from Guam to Leyte in the Philippines in 1945 when disaster struck

in the form of two torpedoes.

Not having a destroyer escort, the Indianapolis was hit by the two

torpedoes launched by the Japanese sub I-58 on July 30. The ship sunk in

about 12 minutes. Of the 1,196 aboard, only 317 survived the

shark-infested waters and the attack from the torpedoes, and the ship was

never declared missing until spotted by a Navy aircraft four days later

in the ocean. There are only a small number of survivors still alive, as

most would be in their 70s and 80s. The ones who were able to attend this

special ceremony were presented awards from the Newport Navy League, of

which I am a proud member.

These were the men who told us of their ordeal and how some held onto

orange crates until rescue. Jacob Greenwald, Verne Foster, Lyle

Unemhoffer, William Quealy, Verlin Fortin, Salvador Maldonado, Harold

Bray, Ed Brown, John White and Joe Klaus were able to attend the

luncheon. They talked about what occurred and how some continued with

military service and how others went on with their civilian lives upon

returning home.

As a side note, the ship’s captain, Charles McVay III, was

court-martialed for hazard to the ship by failing to zigzag. McVay was

exonerated in July for the sinking of the Indianapolis and the lives of

those who perished in the incident.

***

October is here, which signifies the start of local lobster season and

soon the end of the hurricane season. As a result, boater insurance rates

decease to travel south of the border.

First, I cannot wait to taste the local lobster off our coastline

again, and from what I have heard from my sources, this should be a good

year. Now, if you lobster fishermen know otherwise, please let me know

how your season is progressing with your catches this year compared with

those over the last few years. Plus, let me know how the taste compares.

Just south of us along Baja California is Hurricane Juliette, which

has sustained winds near 75 mph (120 km/hr). It’s experiencing higher

gusts, causing severe flooding and will be causing swells in our area,

plus an alert for those of you who will be traveling south. By the time

you read this column, hopefully Juliette will have weakened to a tropical

storm, but that still is a problem for boating. I will be off our coast

all day today, and I hope that the effects will not cause me to wear a

kidney belt from the pounding.

***

On a final note, I hope that the U.S. government, specifically

Congress, does not overlook the maritime loss of jobs when it plans to

help the airline industry with relief funds. The boating industry has

been deeply affected by the current economic downturn. It reminds me of

how the luxury tax on yachts crippled and closed boating manufactures and

brokers in the past. If relief funding is available, how do we get the

help to those most in need like the captains, crew, dealers, cooks and

the like who have to make their rent or mortgage payments?

***

Tip for the week: Have you checked your zinc for electrolysis and hot

spots? The zincs are the sacrificial anodes that will help slow down --

not prevent -- electrolysis aboard your boat. Make sure the zinc is still

in a usefulness stage, and that all bonding and grounding wires are

properly attached to make a good electrical conduction throughout the

boat. Too many times, I have noticed the effects of electrolysis and have

found a bad zinc, or a bad connection, or no connection at all. It is

your money, pay now or pay later, but also help to protect the

environment as a bonus.

Safe voyages.

* MIKE WHITEHEAD is the Pilot’s boating and harbor columnist. Send him

your harbor and marine-related thoughts and story suggestions via e-mail

to o7 [email protected] or o7 https://www.BoathouseTV.comf7 .