| Home
What's New!
O.B. Wiseman
Dauntless
Battle of Midway
Commissioning
Muster List
Duty at Sea
Commissioning Photo's
Underway Photo's
Armament Photo's
Equator Photo's
Aboard Ship Photo's
Misc-1 Photo's
Misc-2 Photo's
Crews by Years Index
Last Chapter
Awards
Destroyer Escort's |
|
Korea 1951 Lt. Johnson-Capt. Land-?
Wright-Bergan-Fuqua-Korea 1951
Masan,Korea 1951-H.P. Bergen-Grant-Fuqua
Sea Stories
This occurred aboard the Wiseman in Masan, Korea: One night just after
taps, a Boston Brogue voice came over the P. A. system saying, " now hear this, All
those who have not done so, will do so immediately". I was in Chief Qts and
just poured a hot cup of coffee, mostly down the front of my shirt as I was laughing so
hard. I could hear many bear feet running all over the deck above me. Suddenly
Lt. Smith swung down from Officers Qts. demanding what that word was. I replied,
"Gee I must have missed it". The next day I caught up with Sullivan Qm2
and told him, "Sully don't ever do that again.
My SO3 Henry had the quarter deck watch and apparently was showing off to the
messenger that squeezing the slide on the .45 it was impossible to fire it.
Something slipped the .45 fired and took Henry's whole left hand off. The messenger
came running down to Chief Qts announcing, "Your 3rd class just shot
himself."That was most alarming of course. For years after Korea, I have tried
in vain to locate Henry SO3 without any avail. .
We were not in Masan very long and had no mobile transportation until some bodies in our
crew borrowed an Army Jeep and never gave it back. This caused the jeep to being painted
Navy Grey and used mostly by the Officers (infact when Wiseman returned to San Diego, some
how the jeep came along too.)enlisted men managed to cumshaw a brand new SMC 6 by for 5
gallons of WW2 white enamel paint and the deal included gas refills merely by mentioning
Sgt. McGwires name.The truck was used mostly to haul ball teams and hunting parties about
the area.
We had one very homesick sailor who insisted he was going home even if he had to swim for
it. One day he was back on the fan tail rearranging the shoring which was kept stowed
beneath the depth charge racks , he remarked that he was fixing a diving board. In a few
minutes we heard the report,"MAN OVER BOARD PORT SIDE" True to his word he was
going to swim for it, in water are 30degrees. The motor whale boat was out of service, so
some crew members grabbed2 X 4 s and paddled out after him. When brought aboard he had
turned BLUE in color. Doc Camp called the USMC for a chopper which flew our swimmer to the
Hospital in Pusan. Submitted by Bob Crane
 
Masan,
Korea 1951
USS Wiseman DE 667
Fleet post office
San Francisco, Calif.
Masan, Korea
April 6,1951
USS Wiseman In The Korean War
"USS Kilowatt" nickname of the destroyer escort USS Wiseman DE
667 packed a powerful wallop during the Korean War.
Power in the Wiseman meant two things. First, the fire power of it's
guns, and second , the vital electric power supplied to a port in Korea.
The Wiseman commanded by LT. CMDR Jay W. Land,USN, of Burlington,Wis.
with LT. Richard B. Croslin, USNR, of San Bernardino, Calif. as executive officer, was one
of four ships supplying power too the United Nation's forces and installations in
"The Hermit Kingdom"
Highlight of the Wiseman's Korean operations was the training of the
Republic of KOREA NAVAL personnel. Officer's and men of the Wiseman instructed ROK
sailors in gunnery, seamanship, radar.sonar, and damage control.
Learning by doing things the US Navy way were 80 midshipman from the ROK
Naval Academy at Chinhae, and three groups of forty enlisted men. "Having seen the
greatest Navy in the world in action " explained LT.JG. Sylvester Kosanvish , gunnery
officer." The Korean sailors were eager to learn how American bluejackets operate
ships" Men from the tiny ROK navy and their instructors from the Wiseman celebrated
completion of the course with a party and dance at he Black Cat dance hall in Masan.
No sooner had the Wiseman began distributing power when the ship issued
emergency rations to a unit of the First Marine Division on the dock. Quartered in tents
in bitter cold weather , the battle weary leatherneck were glad to come aboard the Wiseman
to enjoy hot showers, cigarettes,candy, and hot meals.
Three Korean representatives of the South Korea Electric Company act as
interpreters deciding the amount of power to be generated . Because the Yanks and Koreans
cannot understand each other on the telephone, all business must be done in the forward
engine room. After a little comical language difficulty and some lost motion ,both sides
finally arrive at a solution to the power problem.
The Wiseman has steamed about 40 thousand miles moored to the customs
pier in Masan since her arrival. Engineering department personnel have
completely overhauled number one boiler since arriving in Korea , even bending tubes on
the deck to replace blistered tubes in the boiler. Every week a Korean tanker comes along
side to pump required fuel into the ships tanks.
Naval history was made by the Wiseman on April 13, 1945 marking the first
time power had ever been floated a shore from a Navy ship. According to the
engineering officer aboard the Wiseman in 1945, the ship steamed enough miles to carry her
around the world seven times. This was due to the engines turning over continuously for
seven months / supplying power to the City of Manila in the Republic of the Philippines,
and to the dredge USS Harris(YM-25) at Guam for two months.
It is said that "a smart ship is a happy ship" and the Wiseman
was no exception. Soon after the ship's arrival in Korea , the deck division under the
capable leadership Al Garcia , BM1/c began a face lifting job to make the Wiseman the
pride of " The LAND OF THE MORNING CALM"
Because the Wiseman was rushed to Korea ,there was little time to apply
badly needed paint to the sides , decks, and superstructure. Korean laborers tackled the
task of scraping and chipping the sides , and then the seamen turned to painting the
cleaned surfaces.
Supervising the Korean laborers over the side has it's problems according
to Garcia . Some of the Koreans refused to scrape paint from stages," explained the
veteran boatswain's mate"and they were fired . When they saw others go over the side
they rushed back pleading for another chance.
Unable to speak English , the Koreans would point to parts of the body
for personal needs. If a native was hungry, he'd point to his mouth and chatter,
"CHOP CHOP". It's a red letter day when the truck goes to Pusan because all
hands began to expect mail.
Along with the yearning for mail, late magazines and American girls , the
men are continually seeking an answer to the question, when is this ship going back to the
states? Supplies for food and it's preparation were considered excellent in view of all
the difficulties encountered in bringing supplies to an isolated part of Korea. All hands
enjoyed a satisfactory supply of cigarettes , candy, stationery, and other canteen
items, in fact , much better than most ships operating in Korean waters.
Much of the credit for the happy supply situation goes to Lt. Elwood
Growden, the type of officer who believes in getting things done by directing the recipes
of supplies in person on the spot. When the supply truck leaves Lt. Growden is usually
aboard with the working party enduring the bumps and hazards along the rocky road between
Masan and Pusan.
Sailors armed with Thompson sub machine guns and 45 pistols ride along
ready for any surprise attack on the supply convoy by communist guerrillas. On one
occasion the bodies of three South Korean soldiers were found on the road.
"Kyushu Cowboy" broadcast from the Armed Forces Radio
Service in Japan is a favorite program with the bluejackets aboard the Wiseman . One
day a seaman turned off the cowpoke music in the galley. Almost immediately a cook rushed
over putting the "Kyushu Cowboy" back on the air and shouted "Leave my hill
Billy Music alone" I live here.
Musical talent abounds aboard the Wiseman. It is planned to organize a
seven piece ship's band. Meanwhile, a fiddler trio bangs the strings for the "Happy
Hour" aboard the ship, and at beer parties and dances in the "REC Hall".
Composing the popular trio are Willard {Pappy } Reynolds RD 2/c , William
Watson RM 3/c and Harry Moss FN. A bagpipe tooted by Ensign William Nichols damage control
officer, rigged in his Scottish "kilts" costume is always a big hit. Ensign
Nichols Played his bagpipes on the forecastle while the Wiseman backed away from the dock
at Yokosuka.
Ships company has agreed that reading Dick O'Connors popular column
"Around the Ship"is the thing to do. Appearing daily in the ship's paper,
O"Connor's salty scoops are eagerly awaited by the news hungry sailors. One is apt to
find Dick at any hour of the day or night, tuning around on one of the receivers trying to
pick up some stateside information.
Grand opening of the "REC HALL"turned out to be a huge success.
Feature of the gala show was a cast of Korean actors including dancers, acrobats and
magicians. Jitterbug and be-bop was provided by a five piece Korean orchestra. Thirty
Korean lassies who made good dancing partners, joined in the fun.
Master of ceremonies for the occasion was DeWayne Higgins ET 2/c. Snappy
jokes and sea stories were put over by Meri Lead BM 2/c
All hands wanted to drink beer and then dance. But after a little
exhibition by the Captain and the Exec. the men finally caught on and it was a merry
contest to the finish. Every one was filled with cheer and ready to dance all night,but
the current national curfew forbade guest to remain after ten o/clock.
Improvements were made to the club to make it look like a wild
west casino. Maroon curtains were draped on the windows, indirect lighting was installed
overhead by Clifford Gregory EM 1/c and a bevy of Esquire girls pictures on the wall put
the men in a mood for fun. Willard (Pappy) Reynolds, Jim (Nails) Maier, and Paul Fredtell
did the lion's share of work building the club.
The Flag of Arkansas is flying over Korea, thanks to the Little
Rock Chamber of Commerce and the Democrat Printing and Lithograph Co.of Little Rock. It is
flying over Korea because a group of Arkansas sailors from the Wisemam love their state
enough that they are proud to brag about it. The Wiseman bluejackets were given occupation
of a shack in Masan and they cleaned it up for e recreation hall. About 1/2 Americans were
from Texas, so in the usual Texas style the Lone Star State Banner was raised over the
building. That was when the Arkansas boys wrote home about their plight, the Chamber of
Commerce and the printing company joined forces and the Arkansas flag was soon in the
mail.
Richard L Owen TEMl3/c wrote: The dramatic climax, which I am
sorry to say was not recorded by the camera , was the raising of the flag over the Lone
Star banner. She is flying there now and although there have been many bitter words and
threats from Texans aboard , I know that she is there to stay, for all eyes gaze upon and
long may she wave. Navy mailman Owen thanked those who participated in sending them the
flag.
Discovering the Razorback flag flying in the breeze, the loyal
Texans hauled it down and again raised their own colors . Because there were more Texans
aboard ship than any other state the Texas banner waves above the Arkansas flag atop the
REC Hall.
Three pairs of brothers are serving on the Wiseman john A. and
Sammy E. Thomas both seaman apprentices, are serving with their half brother Arthur J.
Graham, seaman. The Thomas's and Graham hail from Los Angeles. Chief Machinist Mate James
H. Gann and William E. Gann Engineman 3/c are from Nashville, Tenn. and work together in
the engineering department. Two , Waco,Texas brothers Bobby E. and Gilbert Williams,
both seaman apprentice , are the third set of brothers on the ship.
Motion pictures of the ship were taken by Captain John Ford
,USNR, Hollywood movie director and his navy combat photo team. Life Magazine cameramen
also took photos of the ship's crew.
Karatus Hotel, Kyushu, Japan will never be forgotten by the men of the
Wiseman. "We never had it so good" is the unanimous verdict of those sailors
lucky enough to spend a few days rehabilitation leave at the fancy seaside resort every
week a group of men made the eagerly awaited rest trip between Korea and Japan.
Fun and relaxation at the hotel was only one activity in a big recreation
program enjoyed by the Wiseman bluejackets, operations permitting every thing from deer
hunting and tug of war, to soccer and volley ball were a few of the many sports
participated in by the crew. The Captain of the ship also competed in athletic contest.
Having heard from the Marines that deer was plentiful in Korea and that no license was
needed for the chase, men from the Wiseman organized a deer hunting expedition . Sailors
armed with M1 rifles , and a jeep comprised the deer hunting party which took place along
the Naktong River near the port of Masan in mountainous terrain.
One of the hunters Syd Wright SN, of Columbus, Wis. said "Deer
hunting is much worse than I've done back home, and it does not take much imagination to
see why the United Nations forces farther north are having such a rugged time
fighting" seaman Wright added that every time anyone shoots some Korean will pop out
of the hillside making noises to let them know that he is not a deer.
Three deer were bagged by Chief Quartermaster Irwin Clark, Jim Hunley EM
3/c and Volney Kelm RD 3/c. the hunters who carried the game over steep hills and through
rice paddies back to the jeep, celebrated by feasting on roast venison with the crew
. Average weight of the deer was 100 lbs. and dressed was 75 lbs.
Compiling a record of 14 wins against only one loss, the Wiseman softball
team managed by Thurlow W. (DOC) Camp HM 1/c, continued to wallop all opposition in South
Korea. The softball squad has been doing a swell job under genial and capable (DOC) Camp,
and with excellent support from the crew has remained in the win column.
Hospital Corpsman Camp, who has taken an active part in the athletics
since his assignment to the ship in San Diego, has organized various teams to compete
against all challengers. To date Wiseman teams have lost only one softball game, no
football game, nor a volley ball game. Much of the credit for the outstanding softball
record goes to the pitchers Rudy Acosta FN and Ross Dickey BT 1/c.
Having made Naval History as the first ship to float electric power from
ship to shore, the Wiseman has also set other records.
Athletes from the ship participated in the first large scale sports
competition that took place in Korea since the out break of war, men from the Masan
Athletic association and the Wiseman competed in baseball, tennis, soccer, basketball and
volleyball.
The soccer game brought out the largest crowd because it is Korea's
national sport. The mayor of Mason and the ships company saw the Masan Soccer team win
three to one, after a hard fought contest. The game was broadcast to the near by towns of
Chinju and Chinhae. The critical shortage of current reading material was solved when the
recreation committee ordered $200 worth of late magazines. All hands passed
magazines around the ship until the "dog eared"pages fell apart. A
punching bag was installed on the port beam for those men men interest in the manly art.
There was little a excitement at taps on Esther Sunday night. It was
first reported that some boats were smuggling in women, according to Dick O'Connor RM2/c
and the Wiseman sprung into action to assist.
Then the report was that it was men and again the ship was on the alert,
this time to halt it. We have enough men in this small town, explained O'Connor. The boat
crew got a chance to earn sea pay and Joe Warren got a chance to light up the subject.
Another record was set by the Wiseman when it copped honors in the March
of Dimes as the destroyer escort contributing the most in the US Pacific Fleet.
Having set a goal of $150, the crew was surprised when the final total was $452.43. Each
division competed against the other. Results of the contest place operations in first
place percentage pre man with a total of 371 % or $122. However, the deck and gunnery
division contributed a larger amount of money $132 or 331 %. As champions of all destroyer
escorts, the Wiseman ranked tenth in the total of money collected in the
Destroyers,Pacific Fleet, and even higher if totaled in overall percentage. All divisions
were considered "Winners"in the contest and a beer party was given in
celebration of the completion of the successful drive.
A permanent reminder of the mission of the power ship could be seen in
the men's belt buckle showing e red electric charge on a blue enamel background, with the
ship's name in upper left corner and South Korea Electric Company in the lower right .
Diamond shaped pins worn on the men's watch caps bore a similar inscription.
With the out break of the Korean War on June 25, 1950 the Wiseman was
taken out of mothballs at San Diego and recommissioned on Sept. 11,1950. Half
the crew was composed of Naval Reservist, and all of the officers were reservist except
the Captain. The ship depart from San Diego after a short training period . the ship
reached Japan in November cruising by way of Pearl Harbor and Midway Island.
From Japan the Wiseman proceeded to " The Hermit Kingdom"the
day after tying up at the customs pier, the Wiseman began supplying power into the lines
of the South Korea Electric Company. However the ship is capable of providing power within
an hour after docking . Masan was the western boundary of the Pusan perimeter.
The Naktong River, a few miles from town, was the scene of bitter combat in the
Korean War and changed hands several times between United Nations forces and the
communist.
A Buckley Class ship, the Wiseman is typical of the 154 turbo electric
powered DE's armed with three inch guns. Noteworthy are the long hull, the boiler crunks,
and the tall square capped stack. The Wiseman has twice the horsepower credited to the
diesel jobs.
Meanwhile the Wiseman continues to spin meters for the South Korea
Electric Company generating power for the victorious United Nation Forces in Korea.
April 6, 1951
The Portable Bar And The Jeep
Korea -1950
Urgent need for electrical power in South Korea demanded the USS Wiseman
be recommissioned promptly, shakedown and proceed to Masan, Korea via Pearl Harbor and
Japan.
After arriving in Pearl it was determined that the Wiseman needed repairs
after the hurried recommissioning . It was put back into dry dock.
While in Pearl, a few sharp eyed members of the Wiseman spotted a
Portable Bar, prefect for the recreational needs of Korea. And as luck would have it, the
Bar was not in use. The crew some how cumshaws the Bar, "Humm", it was
transported and loaded aboard the Wiseman. It was secured aft of the 40 MM gun mount and
covered with canvas.
The crew anticipating the ship being tied to a dock in Korea for long
periods of time was mind boggling. But the sharp minds of these men were thinking over
time. Plans were already being made to have a place on shore where they could go to relax
and have a little fun.
Supplies for the Bar would be obtained from friends at a near by AAF
Base. Maybe a plane ride to Japan or even some medical alcoholic supplies "Humm"
from Pusan might be used.
Arriving in Korea the Wiseman relieved the USS Foss as the power station
ship in Masan, Korea.
On Nov. 27-Dec.1 the Ist Marine Div. fought it's way out of the
Chosin Reservoir.
Dec. 1 The Marines are evacuated from Hungnan to Pusan and on to Masan
via LST's.
Wiseman personal helped pilot the LST's loaded with Marines thorough the
Bay to Masan and establish the 1st Marine Div. Base at that location. The Wiseman supplied
food, with hot coffee to the half frozen Marines.This began a long lasting relationship
with the 1st Marines and the USS Wiseman.
After the Marines were established the Marines presented the Wiseman with
a jeep painted Navy Grey and 667 stenciled in the front and on the sides, the Wiseman crew
was now mobile.
The Korean Boy in The Jeep dressed in a
Navy uniform that was given to him by William Stanley.
A Portable Bar, a Jeep and a relaxed atmosphere did wonders for the
morale of a Navy Fighting Ship steaming at standard, yet tied to a pier and never moving.
It was a long and sometime boring time in Masan, but with great leadership,an
inventive and determined crew accomplished their mission in the fineness of Navy
Tradition.
Finally in Aug. of 1951 the USS Wiseman was relieved of her duties as
power ship for Masan. She then sailed for San Diego carrying with her a Portable Bar and a
Navy Grey Jeep. The Jeep was probably given to the Navy, there was a drawing for the Bar
and it was installed in a home in Coronado.
|
