During war, new bows came quickly

Published 5:02 pm Wednesday, December 12, 2007

While serving aboard the USS St. Louis light cruiser in the South Pacific during the second world war, my ship was in a surface engagement fighting against the Japanese Navy. We were hit by a torpedo from a Japanese destroyer, which blew off our bow. When we returned to the U.S. for repairs at Mare Island, Calif., there was our new bow waiting for us.

After six weeks we were sailing under the Golden Gate Bridge, on our way back to the South Pacific. Shortly after arrival we were hit in the fantail by a Japanese Kamikaze while off the coast of Okinawa. My feeling is this: If a new bow can be put on a cruiser under war conditions, it most certainly can be done in today’s world.

FRED ADRIAN