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WHALEBOAT
Most of us have heard of the legendary “Moonlight Requisitions.” Somewhere in the south seas there was once an ammunition/supply depot that had a motor pool with a jeep needed in picking up supplies. One of our chiefs had to borrow a jeep from the motor pool while we were busy loading supplies and ammo to pick up some things. He was not required to sign anything nor leave his name or ship When he returned to the dock, he came up to the wardroom and gave our skipper some news. He said that there was a surplus jeep on the dock that needed a home. Captain suggested that there might be room in the hold if the boom could swing it aboard. That evening we shoved off with a little less room in the hold but with an almost new jeep. Now, what does a Fleet Tug do with a jeep? In 1944 we had very little use for it. We almost never got to a port with a dock that we could use it. Some months later we were ordered
to go aboard an ammo ship afire that had been hit by Japanese action. Needless
to say the entire crew of the ammunition ship had decided to take a fast
liberty. CINC informed us that the marines needed that ammo ashore and
save the ship if we could.
Smoke was pouring out of the hold upon approach and billowing downwind. Having no alternative but to make our approach down wind, with little or no steerage, we came in too hot and smashed up our motor whaleboat. We boarded and unsuccessfully fought the fire but that is another story. We had a launch for crew and supplies but the Captain had no gig. He complained for months. We put in a requisition but it meant we had to wait our turn. (Which means months - or never, ordinarily, under wartime conditions.) We were anchored in Eniwetok atoll preparing for the next invasion (of Japan) when I spotted a cargo ship standing into the harbor with about a dozen whaleboats on it's deck. I rushed down to tell the skipper. He suggested I send a private signal over and try to let the supply officer know that we had a nice jeep but what we really needed was a whaleboat. I got a signal back shortly form the ship that we should come alongside. We came away with a brand new whaleboat and their ship had a new jeep. We never did know whose requisition was not fulfilled. I do not remember asking this being wartime and all; sometimes the rules were bent a little bit. I remember Lt. Hayes was grinning from ear to ear. He now had an official gig to go to officers club in style. After all, status is status. Leon Emerson
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