I was in my cabin on board the Coast Guard Cutter Calypso (WPC-104) at 0400 one morning in January 1942, studying plots of German submarine positions prior to sailing with a convoy out of New York. Our ship’s cook knocked on the door and entered with a bundle under his arm. Out of the bundle appeared two big brown eyes and a pink nose—a puppy.
“Permission, Sir?”
“Where did you get him?”
“At the Owl Bar. He was hungry. Can he go with us?”
“Sure.”
We sailed before dawn, 66 ships in the convoy and the convoy escorts. Coast Guard cutters Nike (WPC-112), Nemesis (WPC-111), Pandora (WPC- 113), Calypso, and the USS Plymouth (PG-57), escort commander.
Several days out at sea in the submarine attack zone, with about a State 6 sea running, a shout came up to me on the bridge—Man Overboard!
“Where?”
“Port Quarter.”
“All ahead full—left full rudder.”
“Who was it?”
“Salty, Sir.”
“Sound General Quarters.”
The Plymouth had seen us move off station. “Have you sighted a sub? Are you under attack?” “Negative, Sir. This is a drill.”
“Are you crazy—in front of the convoy—you could get chewed up!”
“This is a drill. Don’t worry.”
The boatswain’s mate showed on deck, complete with wire harness, lifejacket, crash pads, and a net.
“Listen, Boats, I will only be able to make one pass to pick up Salty before the convoy is on us so make sure you get him. I will put you within 2 feet with no backwash. Remember only one pass.”
I called the engine room and said this would be the only time I would give him the through bell, but when I did I wanted everything his engines had in reverse.
Twenty yards short of Salty I rang off all engines, slid quietly alongside the puppy in quiet water (no backwash)—and then he was back on board.
I rang up the engine room, “All engines standard,” and instructed the quartermaster to return to station and secure from general quarters.
The cook came up to the bridge a few minutes later with Salty.
I said, “Cookie, did you ever think I wouldn’t turn back for him?”
“Sir, every member of your crew knew you would turn back. We thank you.”