Sunday, October 4, 2009
Log of the USS BLESSMAN 21 June 1944
The next day she was under way again for New York, arriving there 21 June 1944. On 2 July 1944, the BLESSMAN commenced her sixth and last Atlantic cruise. Again she escorted a troop convoy to the British Isles, arriving in Londonderry, on 11 July 1944. She departed for New York on 17 July with a returning convoy of transports loaded with men wounded in the fighting in Normandy. Enroute home, the BLESSMAN received word that she was to be converted to a destroyer-transport. This spelled the end of her Atlantic duty.
Log of the USS BLESSMAN 7 June 1944
While the Army was struggling for a foothold, the Navy so completely dominated the English Channel, that the BLESSMAN's task was comparatively easy. Only the vast German-laid mine fields presented any real hazard, and considerable, it was too, for the BLESSMAN's sister ship USS RICH was mined and sunk. The BLESSMAN herself on 7 June 1944 came alongside the USS SUSAN B. ANTHONY, mined and on fire. Although the ANTHONY was sinking rapidly, The BLESSMAN stayed along side and removed six Officers and thirty eight enlisted men. As the sinking transport became engulfed in flames, the ANTHONY's commanding officer ordered the BLESSMAN away, the last ship to leave as the stricken ANTHONY sank below the surface.
Coments:
The SUSAN B ANTHONY had her cargo nets over the side so the wounded who could still use their arms and legs could climb down into our waiting boats. Many had to be lowered on streachers. The evacuation had to be done quickly because she was sinking fast.
In less than sixty minutes the BLESSMAN was on another errand of mercy. This time she cam alongside another transport, the USS FRANCIS C. HARRINGTON, which had also struck a mine. The crippled ship, which was in danger of sinking, had twenty six seriously wounded men in desperate need of medical attention. The BLESSMAN quickly effected their transfer and delivered them to a hospital LST for treatment. this ended her active participation in the invasion. Several days and several enemy air attach and E-boat attacks later, the BLESSMAN was detached and returned to Plymouth on 12 June 1944.
Comments:
The streacher bound wounded from the USS FRANCES C. HARRINGTON were lined up on the deck of the BLESSMAN and lowered into our life boats and transfered to the hospital LST for treatment.
Log of the USS BLESSMAN 3 June 1944
ON 3 June 1944, the BLESSMAN departed Belfast for Bale de la Seine, France, as escort for the Bombardment group of the European Assault Force. As the task force entered the English Channel, it was met by the heavy weather which turned them back and postponed D-Day. Twelve hours latter, however, General Eisenhower gave the "go ahead signal" and all ships again turned their bows towards France. Off Portsmith, the BLESSMAN was assigned to screen the USS ANCON on which were embarked the commanding generals and admirals who were directing the invasion, and proceeded to the Normandy beaches. The surrounding channel waters swarmed with the thousands of ships, large and small, which were carrying the men who were to liberate Nazi dominated Europe. Off Portsmouth, the BLESSMAN was assigned to screen the USS ANCON on which were embarked the commanding generals and admirals who where directing the invasions, and proceeded to the Normandy beaches. The surrounding channel waters swarmed with the thousands of ships, large and small, which were carrying the men who where to liberate Nazi dominated Europe. Overhead droned flight after flight of bombers on there way to soften to up the enemy for the foot soldier. The dawn of D-Day, 6 June 1944, found the invasion successfully begun and the BLESSMAN assigned to the anti-submarine, E -Boat screen to seaward.
Log of the USS BLESSMAN 12 May 1944
The 5th Atlantic c
ruise of the BLESSMAN was her longest and most eventful. She departed New York, 12 May 1944, on what appeared to be another routine escort assignment and arrived at the other end of the "milk run", Londonderry, on May 23, 1944. On 27, May she arrived in Belfast Harbor with her sister ships, RICH, BATES and AMESBURY. Here, at anchor, was the major part of the United Nations naval power available in the Atlantic. Ships of all types from the United States, Great Britain, France, Norway and the Netherlands were present. When the BLESSMAN joined this armada, all hands knew that they were to take part in the invasion of Western
We were used to looking out and seeing open water and maybe a ship or twoThe Harbor was full of ships all manned and ready to sail. We were in the mddle of the largest navel operation in the history of warfare at sea. It was an exciting occasion.
ruise of the BLESSMAN was her longest and most eventful. She departed New York, 12 May 1944, on what appeared to be another routine escort assignment and arrived at the other end of the "milk run", Londonderry, on May 23, 1944. On 27, May she arrived in Belfast Harbor with her sister ships, RICH, BATES and AMESBURY. Here, at anchor, was the major part of the United Nations naval power available in the Atlantic. Ships of all types from the United States, Great Britain, France, Norway and the Netherlands were present. When the BLESSMAN joined this armada, all hands knew that they were to take part in the invasion of WesternWe were used to looking out and seeing open water and maybe a ship or twoThe Harbor was full of ships all manned and ready to sail. We were in the mddle of the largest navel operation in the history of warfare at sea. It was an exciting occasion.
Log of the USS BLESSMAN 9 January 1944
LOG:
There followed three more such trips during which no BLESSMAN convoy ship was molested by the German U-Boat packs which were then out in full force in the Atlantic.
A chronological summary of these cruises follows:
The second cruise departed New York, 9 January 1944, arrived Belfast, Northern Ireland, 19 January, departed Belfast 27 January 1944, and arrived in New York, 8 February 1944.
The third cruise departed New York, 28 January 1944, arrived Swanson Wales, 9 March 1944, departed Swanson, March, 13 March 1944, and arrived New York, 26 March 1944.
The fourth cruise departed New York, 6 April 1944, arrived Londonderry, Northern Ireland, 15 April 1944, departing Londonderry 22 April 1944, arrived New York 26 April , arrived New York, 1, May 1944.
MY COMMENTS:
We were seasoned sailors by now and always looked forward to tying up at some port for liberty ashore. Londonderry was a friendly place with lots of girls, lots of whiskey and a dance on Saturday evenings. The houses were small with no central heating. The houses I was invited into were neat and clean. In the evening the open fireplaces were the part of the house everyone gathered, because the rest of the house was cold.
At the Londonderry dock, where six of seven DEs were tied one to the other each ship had a deck watch, where upon returning to our ship, we would be required to salute and request permission to board, cross the deck of that ship and repeat the salute and request at the next ship. Eventually we found our ship and our bunk where we could dream of our next liberty and the Londonderry girls we left behind.
On one cruise we were lucky enough to be the first ship tied to the Londonderry Dock. One of my shipmates, George, seaman first class, had bought an unopened bottle of vodka that he hoped to smuggle past the desk watch. He asked me for my help. The plan was for me to go aboard first, walk to a part of the deck where we would be out of sight of the watch and he would throw me the bottle from the dock. He threw short and the bottle smashed into many pieces against the side of the ship. We cried over the loss of the Vodka. We climbed into our bunks complaining that war was hell.
There followed three more such trips during which no BLESSMAN convoy ship was molested by the German U-Boat packs which were then out in full force in the Atlantic.
A chronological summary of these cruises follows:
The second cruise departed New York, 9 January 1944, arrived Belfast, Northern Ireland, 19 January, departed Belfast 27 January 1944, and arrived in New York, 8 February 1944.
The third cruise departed New York, 28 January 1944, arrived Swanson Wales, 9 March 1944, departed Swanson, March, 13 March 1944, and arrived New York, 26 March 1944.
The fourth cruise departed New York, 6 April 1944, arrived Londonderry, Northern Ireland, 15 April 1944, departing Londonderry 22 April 1944, arrived New York 26 April , arrived New York, 1, May 1944.
MY COMMENTS:
We were seasoned sailors by now and always looked forward to tying up at some port for liberty ashore. Londonderry was a friendly place with lots of girls, lots of whiskey and a dance on Saturday evenings. The houses were small with no central heating. The houses I was invited into were neat and clean. In the evening the open fireplaces were the part of the house everyone gathered, because the rest of the house was cold.
At the Londonderry dock, where six of seven DEs were tied one to the other each ship had a deck watch, where upon returning to our ship, we would be required to salute and request permission to board, cross the deck of that ship and repeat the salute and request at the next ship. Eventually we found our ship and our bunk where we could dream of our next liberty and the Londonderry girls we left behind.
On one cruise we were lucky enough to be the first ship tied to the Londonderry Dock. One of my shipmates, George, seaman first class, had bought an unopened bottle of vodka that he hoped to smuggle past the desk watch. He asked me for my help. The plan was for me to go aboard first, walk to a part of the deck where we would be out of sight of the watch and he would throw me the bottle from the dock. He threw short and the bottle smashed into many pieces against the side of the ship. We cried over the loss of the Vodka. We climbed into our bunks complaining that war was hell.
Log of the USS BLESSMAN 8 November 1943
LOG:
On 8 November the BLESSMAN returned to the Boston Navy Yard for post shakedown repairs which were completed on 15 November when she departed for New York. She arrived in the New York Navy Yard the next day to await her first assignment. On 20 November 1943, she sailed from New York as part of Escort Division 19, to escort a fast troop convoy to the United Kingdom. Ten days later after having guided the Convoy to the Irish Sea, the BLESSMAN tied up at the USS Naval operating Base, Londonderry, Northern Ireland. On 8 December she departed Londoner to escort another fast transport group to the United States, arriving in New York 20 December 1943.
MY COMMENTS:
We were really in rough seas during our shake down cruise in the north Atlantic. After we set sail from Bermuda, most of the green crew was sea sick. There was no way all the sick sailors could be excused from duty because the ship had to be manned one way of another. After a couple of days at sea we began to feel a little bit better. However, one of the 3rd class firemen didn't get over his sea sickness. He stood his watch carrying a coffee can to puke in and when he wasn't moving, he sat on the can. As long as he was at sea, he was miserably sick. They made him take one more trip to make sure he wasn't faking and then gave him a job on dry land for the duration. Even our chief Machinist Mate was sick for a couple of days, but his problem could have been a hang over. As the ship was put through its maneuvers, the crew gradually began to work together as a unit and there was much less shouting. We had come aboard as land lubbers and were now genuine sailors. We began to take pride in being a sailor of our ship, the USS BLESSMAN.
On 8 November the BLESSMAN returned to the Boston Navy Yard for post shakedown repairs which were completed on 15 November when she departed for New York. She arrived in the New York Navy Yard the next day to await her first assignment. On 20 November 1943, she sailed from New York as part of Escort Division 19, to escort a fast troop convoy to the United Kingdom. Ten days later after having guided the Convoy to the Irish Sea, the BLESSMAN tied up at the USS Naval operating Base, Londonderry, Northern Ireland. On 8 December she departed Londoner to escort another fast transport group to the United States, arriving in New York 20 December 1943.
MY COMMENTS:
We were really in rough seas during our shake down cruise in the north Atlantic. After we set sail from Bermuda, most of the green crew was sea sick. There was no way all the sick sailors could be excused from duty because the ship had to be manned one way of another. After a couple of days at sea we began to feel a little bit better. However, one of the 3rd class firemen didn't get over his sea sickness. He stood his watch carrying a coffee can to puke in and when he wasn't moving, he sat on the can. As long as he was at sea, he was miserably sick. They made him take one more trip to make sure he wasn't faking and then gave him a job on dry land for the duration. Even our chief Machinist Mate was sick for a couple of days, but his problem could have been a hang over. As the ship was put through its maneuvers, the crew gradually began to work together as a unit and there was much less shouting. We had come aboard as land lubbers and were now genuine sailors. We began to take pride in being a sailor of our ship, the USS BLESSMAN.
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Log of the USS BLESSMAN 19 September 1943
LOG:
The USS Blessman [DE 69-APD 48], Destroyer transport, was built and commissioned as a destroyer escort, DE 69, at the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Yards in Hingham, Massachusetts at 1500 on 19 September 1943. The ship was placed in commission by Admiral H T Smith, USN, and delivered to Lieutenant Commander Joseph A. Gillis, USNR, the ships first commanding officer, who had as his executive officer, Lt,[jg] Philip Leboutillier, Jr. USNR.
Lieutenant Edward Martin Blessman USN, class of 1931, gave his life to his country and his name to the vessel. Lieutenant Blessman was serving aboard the USS Marblehead as naval aviator when he was killed in action during the battle of the Java Sea in action against Japanese forces. His wife, Helen Malloy Blessman, was the sponsor for the ship which bears his name.
After fitting out at the Boston Navy Yard and successfully completing her acceptance trials in Massachusetts Bay, the BLESSMAN was ready for her shakedown cruise. On 9 October 1943, the BLESSMAN departed Boston for Bermuda and arrived 11 October. Then began the intensive shakedown training which was to whip the ship into fighting shape. Days of gunnery, anti-submarine, engineering and seamanship exercises were necessary to transform the eighty percent green crew into an efficient operating unit. This period ended when the BLESSMAN successfully passed a departure inspection and shoved off for Boston on 5 November.
MY COMMENTS:
The BLESSMAN was still under construction still on her skids when I was assigned to her. In the shipyards she was lined up with several DEs in various stages of completion. I had just completed refrigeration school at Syracuse, New York, and with my new rating of Machinist Mate 1st class, I would be in charge of the refrigeration system on the BLESSMAN after she was commissioned. I was a dry land sailor who had never been on an ocean going boat. My training so far had been boot camp at the Great Lakes Training Station and machinist mate school in Lawrence Kansas. I didn't have any idea if I would be sea sick on a rolling ship at sea.
Boston in the summertime is a beautiful city with many historic sights. I bunked in a building in Boston and reported to the BLESSMAN every morning to stand my watch. There wasn't much to do but stand fire watch for the welders and watch how the craftsmen did their work. I stood by while the refrigeration equipment was installed and the two meat and vegetable rooms were lined with metal sheathing. All the joints of the metal sheathing were soldered to prevent leakage of cold air. The motors and compressors were tested and any problems taken care of. The craftsmen were competent and did their work well. As the time for completion of the work neared, the sense of urgency increased and the ship was crawling with workmen. Finally we were ready for inspection and were slid off the skids into Boston Harbor. Most of the crew, including myself, had never been to sea before. I was in charge of #1 engine room with 4 of 5 men under me. We were all green seamen and had to learn what we were doing by trial and error. We steamed around in the harbor, got used to the rolling decks and gradually learned to keep our balance.
The USS Blessman [DE 69-APD 48], Destroyer transport, was built and commissioned as a destroyer escort, DE 69, at the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Yards in Hingham, Massachusetts at 1500 on 19 September 1943. The ship was placed in commission by Admiral H T Smith, USN, and delivered to Lieutenant Commander Joseph A. Gillis, USNR, the ships first commanding officer, who had as his executive officer, Lt,[jg] Philip Leboutillier, Jr. USNR.
Lieutenant Edward Martin Blessman USN, class of 1931, gave his life to his country and his name to the vessel. Lieutenant Blessman was serving aboard the USS Marblehead as naval aviator when he was killed in action during the battle of the Java Sea in action against Japanese forces. His wife, Helen Malloy Blessman, was the sponsor for the ship which bears his name.
After fitting out at the Boston Navy Yard and successfully completing her acceptance trials in Massachusetts Bay, the BLESSMAN was ready for her shakedown cruise. On 9 October 1943, the BLESSMAN departed Boston for Bermuda and arrived 11 October. Then began the intensive shakedown training which was to whip the ship into fighting shape. Days of gunnery, anti-submarine, engineering and seamanship exercises were necessary to transform the eighty percent green crew into an efficient operating unit. This period ended when the BLESSMAN successfully passed a departure inspection and shoved off for Boston on 5 November.
MY COMMENTS:
The BLESSMAN was still under construction still on her skids when I was assigned to her. In the shipyards she was lined up with several DEs in various stages of completion. I had just completed refrigeration school at Syracuse, New York, and with my new rating of Machinist Mate 1st class, I would be in charge of the refrigeration system on the BLESSMAN after she was commissioned. I was a dry land sailor who had never been on an ocean going boat. My training so far had been boot camp at the Great Lakes Training Station and machinist mate school in Lawrence Kansas. I didn't have any idea if I would be sea sick on a rolling ship at sea.
Boston in the summertime is a beautiful city with many historic sights. I bunked in a building in Boston and reported to the BLESSMAN every morning to stand my watch. There wasn't much to do but stand fire watch for the welders and watch how the craftsmen did their work. I stood by while the refrigeration equipment was installed and the two meat and vegetable rooms were lined with metal sheathing. All the joints of the metal sheathing were soldered to prevent leakage of cold air. The motors and compressors were tested and any problems taken care of. The craftsmen were competent and did their work well. As the time for completion of the work neared, the sense of urgency increased and the ship was crawling with workmen. Finally we were ready for inspection and were slid off the skids into Boston Harbor. Most of the crew, including myself, had never been to sea before. I was in charge of #1 engine room with 4 of 5 men under me. We were all green seamen and had to learn what we were doing by trial and error. We steamed around in the harbor, got used to the rolling decks and gradually learned to keep our balance.
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