Report: Marine Day
Philadelphia
by S1/C Tim Kueberth
May 30-June 1, 1997

This log is written at the request of the editor to document the events of the 1997 sailing to Philadelphia. It is being composed from the point of view of a member who does not have access to the bridge, and limited contact with the senior officers aboard. The perspective therefore, is somewhat narrow. After all, I was asked to write a log, not play cub reporter. Hopefully, you the reader will still enjoy what has been laid down here. Please note, however, I am not a novelist and the entries flip around between present and past tense, depending upon when they were written. Let the reader beware. No grammar critics, please.

30 May 1997

1230 hours:

Arrived on board amidst general confusion. As usual, being a lowly seaman, I had no idea what was going on. My shipmates and I of the USN Armed Guard Historical Interpreptation Detail (HID) had arrived later than was our usual habit. Had we realized that there were activities planned that required additional hands for setup, etc., we would have arrived earlier. We found that parking at the dock was full, the ship full of passengers and other guests and our new port side quarters occupied by others. Gathering our wits about us, we were filled in on the scuttlebutt by PO 1 Cochran, who had arrived on board the previous evening. We all settled into the newly refurbished quarters (former head and shower) starboard side, #3 'tween deck.

1330 hours:

Pitched in to get the trash cleared and help the caterer clean up. Lou Rizzo lead three of us over to the pilots' office at Dillon Street, where we left our vehicles. By the time we arrived back on board, the caterers and most of the guests not sailing with us were headed down the gangway.

1500 hours:

Word filters down that we are going to delay shoving off until the chief mate can make the ship. Busied ourselves with odds & ends work until Rick finally arrived from Norfolk after a difficult trip north. We were ready to cast off.

1545 hours:

Finally, we hear the call, "Deck department, stand by fore and aft." George had told Doug, Tom and I that he expected a dock crew to cast off, but to stand by just in case. After a couple of minutes it was quite obvious that no one was dockside. We made our way down the gangway, anticipating another one of our mad dashes once the lines were clear. Doug and Tom went aft while I made my way to the bow lines. In a couple of minutes, Leonard Kulacki joined me and we prepared to cast off. This was not one of our best moves from the pier (then again, it wasn't one of our worst, either). We cast off the head lines and were ordered back on board due to the heavy wind. The decision had been made to back off the spring line. Well, suffice to say after almost pulling the firehose cover off the pier with the spring and almost putting our gangway platform into the harbor, we were soon underway.

1730 hours:

Fire and boat drill. A good time was had by all. (If you believe that, I have a bridge to sell you.)

1800 hours:

As usual, the galley crew outdid themselves on chow. Breaded fish filets, and the works.

1845 hours:

Test fired the guns. Fired two shots from the 3 inch 50 with no problems. The port side 20 mm had a little problem at first but once all settings and been laid in, she fired several bursts without incident. Starboard 20 mm fired clean.

1900 hours:

The weather is fair as we begin our journey. Retired to the galley to begin composing this log. Life is good.

2000 hours:

The after mess galley is secured. Even though I am not making any noise, figured it was best to secure from here and find a new location. The ship has settled down for the journey up the Bay the through the Canal to Philly.

31 May 1997

0355 hours:

We make port. The engine stops and the anchor rattles its way down to the bottom of the Delaware as we wait for dawn and berthing instructions.

0400 hours:

The four to eight crew heads off to the flying bridge to begin its watch. As Jack Wright goes about his work, preparing the ship for berthing, I learn more about the business of a merchant seaman. A light mist is settling in. An iron-hulled, German-made square rigger that had been a restaurant is berthed off the port beam. Jack told me her name but darn if I remember it now. Should have written it down.

0500 hours:

The galley crew is up and working, preparing to feed the ship. Except for the constant chug of the engines, all else is quiet.

0600 hours:

The tug is alongside to move us to the pier. We have a small crew forward to weigh anchor and handle lines. A dock party is waiting for us. Scuttlebutt has it, the merchant marine school ship Empire State is moored where we were supposed to dock. As the tug pushes us towards the dock, the chief mate requests instructions as to whether we will berth forward or aft of her. We see the mate of the Empire State hustle aft as we overlap her by about 15 ft. before the tug maneuvers us in. Maybe he thought we were going to board her, or hit her. I suspect he is the nervous type.

0730 hours:

The crew is fed and final preparations underway to open the ship. Doug, Tom, Glen and I hauled benches on deck from number 2 'tween deck. The weather looks like it might clear.

0845 hours:

I have a few minutes before having to change and begin to head topside for a little R & R. The PA announces the latest change in the day's activities. The ship will open at 0930 instead of the previously reported 1000. So much for a few minutes peace. Time to change into undress blues. What a mistake. Caught flack from just about every crew member so we strike below to change into dress blues. The Purser has assigned Doug to the bridge, Brian to the fair weather deck and Tom to float for a while. I am assigned to help Brownie sell rivets.

0930-1700 hours:

Breaks are few and far between, with only about 20 minutes for chow. It is a fairly successful day, though. We were able to sell 8 rivets and overall, the ship took in around $8000. The weather held clear and the dockside entertainment helped to pass a pleasant day.

1830-2330 hours:

We decide to see the sites in Philly. Our tour was somewhat limited, however, due to fatigue. We determined that pleasant conversation and refreshments with some of the locals was a better option than an extensive walking tour. We were soon joined by the purser and chief steward who also noticed that walking worked up one's thirst.

1 June 1997

0800 hours:

We are all ready to open the ship. Having done all preparations the previous day, there is not much work at present. Orders today are for dress whites. Weather is beautiful. Doug has to head back home. Rod Sauder arrived last night to replace him.

0930 hours:

Ship is open. Not much visitation at first. It is still early on Sunday morning. Most folks probably still in church.

1200 hours:

Visitation has picked up. Sales are slow, however. All agree that the previous day's maritime festival brought in a crowd more sympathetic to our cause.

1700 hours:

Ship is closed. Although we supposedly had around the same number of visitors today as yesterday, we only brought in half the cash. The music on Saturday was much better, however, the late afternoon fashion show did tend to cause a stir. Indeed, I think we had a slight list to port with everyone trying to get a good view.

1730 hours:

We load aboard the equipment for the evening's entertainment. Due to the festival, it has been decided that the concert will go in number 1 'tween deck. Some hatch covers are removed to allow for ventilation.

1830 hours:

Liberty call. After a brief stop at Brownie's Irish Tavern and the Khyber Pass, we head up town for some live entertainment. An Irish band is playing at the place called The Bard, so we grab a taxi and check it out. We spend a pleasant evening listening to good music.

2 June 1997

0500 hours:

Rise and shine. However, not much shine. Weather is chilly and rainy.

0600 hours:

We clear the dock without incident and begin the journey home. After chow we set to work striking benches below and putting the ship back in order.

0800 hours:

Most of the deck work is done for now. The bos'n orders us to hang loose for now. We must leave it to the bridge crew and engineering gang to get us home.

0900 hours:

Sitting in the the crew's mess composing this log. A strong wind is blowing and whitecaps are visible.

1100 hours:

Passed Schaefer's Restaurant. Making good time. Assisted the AG vets with removal of the dummy shells mounted on the 5 inch 38 deck. Rain has stopped for a while.

1430 hours:

Raining again. Decided to watch Guadalcanal Diary. It's amazing how fast the crew mess filled up. I guess anything to watch was worthwhile by that time. Quarters are being cleaned. During noon chow some of the crew were taking bets on an early return to port. We shall see.

1530 hours:

Preparing to dock. Tom, Rod & I stand by the gangway if needed to handle lines ashore. Once we clear the freighter unloading across from our berth at Pier One, however, it is apparent this won't be necessary. Six members of the crew unable to make the trip are standing by on the dock. With all the extra hands on board, we stay out of the way until ordered by the chief mate to release the tug. Once all lines have been secured, everyone has the opportunity to wait in the rain for pictures to be taken. After a bit of good natured grumbling (well, I think it was good natured) the gangway is lowered and the exodus begins.

1630 hours:

All trash has been cleared and our quarters secured, we request permission to go ashore for the last time on this cruise.