Biography of John I. Morgan

F2/c, USS Steamer Bay, CVE-87, USN

   I served in the Navy during World War II. My name is John Morgan, but my nickname in the Navy was Halfhitch Morgan. I was on the Escort Carrier U.S.S. Steamer Bay, C.V.E. 87, from August 1944 through May 1946.

   I was a Fireman 2nd Class. Our battle stations were damage control below decks through out the ship. Our normal watch station was the boiler room. As a fireman I stood watch tending the boilers. This was keeping an eye on the water level, meaning keeping the water that went into the boilers at a certain level. I also watched (through a periscope in the stacks) to see that no tell - tale smoke was emitted. We maintained steam pressure to move the screws that moved the ship. We also cleaned the burners, deck plates and wiped up any spills. We kept the "home fires" burning in general.

   The 12 A.M. to 4 A.M. watch "blew the stacks", meaning we turned high pressure steam through them to clear soot etc. to clean them. When in between tasks, we drank a lot of " joe", and shot the breeze. There wasn't much else to do 'cept watch.

   About the only excitement we had was when the "safety valve mal-functioned. The steam blew for 45 minutes before they repaired it. That's about it. I guess every watch every where was the same.

   One day We were in formation minding our own business, when one of the D.E.'s decided that it wanted on the other side of us. Well she came from our starb'd. However they either missed judged their speed or ours She would've hit us mid-ships.As it closed in our whoop whooper sounded off. They steered a hard starb'd, we steered a hard port. Then it happened. We Slid together broadside. All that did to our ship was bang up one of the topside 40 mm gun tubs It damaged her steering gear and she ran in circles for a while.

   We were in dry dock In San Diego when they announced the war was over.

   You wouldn't believe how fast that "hole" cleared out. It was my Mom's birthday and without thinking I sent a Telegram for it . Well they had drive seven miles to get my greeting. I found out later that the news said some thing about being sunk. So I heard they expected the worse all the way over. needless to say there were no tears on the trip home.

   I have a complete list of ships lost in the pacific and the location. It was left on the ship when the passengers left.

----- John "Halfhitch" Morgan F2/C

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LINKS

USS Steamer Bay, CVE-87 Escort Carrier Sailors and Airmen Association

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