We were on our way to Guam or Chichi Jima from Hawaii in 1960 westpac run.

It was hot and I was standing watch in the after engineroom. As usaul we were running on the surface on four engines doing a Standard Bell. Someone had taken the plate off of the intake in the middle of the room between the engines. I was there trying to keep cool. It was night and the Officer of the Deck on the bridge was a new young ensign. Being Italian I liked to sing. And on this night I was singing some song while standing under the intake. Have to sing loudly so you can hear yourself over the rumble of the engines.

All of a sudden we get all stop. Shutdown the engines and start running on the battery. The guys on the bridge are listening for what they thought were cries for help. After about a half hour of quiet searching, It was decided to continue. I didn't find out what had happened until later. Needless to say I didn't sing anymore on watch.

A couple of nights later the same young ensign had the bridge and we came to all stop. Captain to the bridge. Seems he saw flares dead ahead of the boat. We reduced speed and approached with caution. Looking for survivors. Finally someone asked the lookouts if they saw anything. One of them said he saw what looked like a falling star or meteor. Well our young ensign soon got the blunt of the crews fun. Every time one of us walked by him we sang or whistled "Catch a Falling Star and Put it in Your Pocket".

Same westpac XO, ENG, and WO came back from the beach after some heavy drinking. I had the topside watch. We were moored alongside pier in Hong Kong.

This was in 1960 and the water in the harbor was really stinking and poluted. The XO with his usual pick and span Spinax complained about a rag left on deck by someone. He bent over to pick it up and the Eng drop kicked him over the side. I immediately throw the ring over and pass the word "Man Overboard", word comes up from the OD. "Who is it?" I say the XO, next thing I hear is "Quick pull back the ring." XO was LCDR Zecon. Not many liked him. I think because he ate raw onions like most people ate apples. Every time I went to talk to him I ended up crying.

Tony Aversano