"A Tin Can's 'Habitability'" and "A Destroyer".

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Author: Andolsek, Thumas G.

(See J. K. Parker, pp. 30-31, and J. Steinbeck, pp. 16-17. February 2006 Naval History)

• I was pleasantly surprised to see my ship, USS Mervinc (DD-489/DMS-31), in the magazine. I was disappointed only in the tact that it was never mentioned that we were also engaged in the same area-North Africa invasion in November 1942, Sicily in July 1943-as the USS Knight and that we helped rescue hundreds of survivors from the SS Santa Elena and a Dutch ship. At one time we had a correspondent on board (not John Steinbeck), who was from Liberty magazine. Our ship also took part in launching the USS Missouri (BB-63) on 29 December 1944. We handled lines at New York's Pier 35.

With all due respect to Mr. Steinbeck, he no doubt slept in the chief's quarters and ate officer chow. No V.I.P. ever bunked with the lowly swabs that I know of nor stood on the lookout bridge in the freezing cold of the North Atlantic.

PHOTO (BLACK & WHITE): The Mervine (DD-489) wore a mottled camouflage scheme in June 1942.

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By Thumas G. Andolsek