The Arctic Convoys -the coldest place to be in WW2 ...

[JB White]

Fortunately I taped those conversations and when Dick passed away I gave a copy to his son.

Ken, that was absolutely awesome. Being able to hear his father's voice candidly reminiscing....awesome.

[Clark Howard]

My dear old Dad was in the Merchant Marine during WWII. He worked in the engine room on a Liberty ship, nursing the boiler and engine. I questioned him constantly about the war, and he was always forthcoming about his experiences. When I asked him about the voyages to Murmansk, he paused for a long moment, then said, "Murmansk was bad, the absolute worst". Regards, Clark

[JB White]

My father was on a Great Lakes freighter before going to Korea. He has a few tales about Lake Superior that might rival some North Sea stories.

[Jiminvirginia]

For the other side of the Battle of the Atlantic story I recommend going to uboat.net. Among other things someone went to the trouble of translating to English many of the U-Boat war logs. Thats where I discovered that one of the ships my dad was on was fired at with 4 torpedos. All missed because the u boat commander underestimated the ships speed by 1 knot. I think, not sure, that this occurred about 4 months before my dad was assigned to that ship. Troop transport. Dumping about 5000 soldiers into the Atlantic would have been a real mess.

[Hawk]

My dad was a Naval Armed Guard and did at least on Murmansk run. His convoy lost something like 10 ships. The U-boat Wolf pack post 10 subs.

They weren't allowed to stop and pick up passengers. The escorts would attempt to do that. The U-boats got the ship in front and ship in back of his. He spoke of a ship exploding at night after being torpedoed.
He was also on a liberty ship that made 5 round trip from England to Omaha and Utah beaches at Normandy.

He wanted me to go Navy (subs), but, chose the Marines. Years later, we were working out in the sun. He had forgotten his ball cap and asked me if I had an extra in the truck. I said sure, and handed him bright red USMC ball cap. He put it on grumbling under his breath.....lol when the day was over, he refused to give me th a ball cap back and wore it everyday to work until one day I bought him a WWII veteran ball cap.

[barretcreek]

For you guys whose fathers shipped out or were Armed Guard.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Stephen_Hopkins

Adm. Morison called it 'the last old time sea battle' in History of U.S. Naval Operations in WW II; Vol.1 Battle of the Atlantic. Great description of the fight.