Document goO3jDE4g2z5GBY91aNer9BL

PUBLISHED BY THE MARINE DEPARTMENT, HUMBLE OIL I REFINING COMPANY Voi 10, No. 14 August 1, 1968 Downed Flyers Rescued in Jig Time by Esso Jamestown Crew It required only 15 minutes for crewmen in the Esso Jamestown to launch a lifeboat, pick up 2 survivors of a ditched airplane and get their boat secured again- Steaming south from New York to Baton Rouge on July 9, the Jamestown observed a twin-engined Beech aircraft crash and sink about 19 miles SW of Settlement Point, Grand Bahama Island. The time was 1248. "At 1250 we stopped vessel and prepared No. 2 lifeboat for launching," Captain Milton L. Frank lin reported. "At 1307 No- 2 boat was launched Esso Jamestown's lifeboat approaching flyers' raft. Returning to the ship. Preparing to hoist the boat aboard. with Chief Mate Arnold A. McBride in charge. Boat was back alongside with the 2 rescued men at 1318 and at 1322, boat was secured. Both men were in good condition, no injuries sustained." While proceeding toward Miami, Captain Franklin notified the Coast Guard of the rescue and requested a boat to transfer the men ashore at Miami Seabuoy. This was done at 1714. The rescued men were Walter G. Culmer, pilot and Peter B. DeGregory, who were on a flight from West End, Bahamas to Fort Lauderdale, Fla- "I wish to commend the crew on their able assistance and especially the boat crew under the command of Chief Mate McBride," Captain Franklin said. "The following men were also in the boat crew: F. E. Stoddard, 2nd Mate A. G- Koppel, Pumpman H. F. DaSilva, MM/2P J. W. Wehman, AB R. Bohnhorst, AB G. W. Young, AB "As you can see, the time involved to launch and secure the boat only took approx. 15 minutes and I am proud to state that I never saw better seamanship." A letter of commendation was sent to Captain Franklin and the crew of the Jamestown by T- J. Back to the boat deck. Rescued men are second and fourth from the right. Photos by OS Robert R. Little -v comi) FROM THE COLLECTIONS IN THE CENTER FOR AMERt THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN Fuson, General Manager of the Marine Dept. "We are very proud of the excellent seamanship performed by your officers and men in launching a lifeboat, rescuing the two men and getting the boat on board in only 15 minutes," Mr. Fuson said. . . . "Please accept my sincere congratula tions to you and your crew." The Esso Jamestown's rescue is the second time in recent years that men in the Humble Fleet have made short work of plucking a downed avia tor 'from the sea. On March 14, 1966 the Esso Lexington, commanded by Captain C. W. Tolfsby (ret. May 1, 1967) saved the pilot of a small plane that ran out of gas in the same general area. The Lexington's lifeboat, commanded by Captain (then Chief Mate) T- A. Johnson, was back SERVICE EMBLEM AWARDS 30 YEARS Benjamin F. Autrey Able Seaman August 7, 1968 Norman D. Martell Fireman-Watertender July 31, 1968 20 YEARS William Motta Chief Engineer November 24, 1965 Thomas J. Royal, Jr. First Asst. Engineer August 28, 1967 in3 Henry W. Smith Second Asst. Engineer May 22, 1968 Joseph R. H. Gauthier Third Mate May 17, 1968 Charles L. Benes Oiler January 25, 1968 Tamesado J. Estrada MM/Utilityman July 15, 1966 Russell S. Wonson Able Seaman July 8, 1968 YEARS Leo J. Grau Able Seaman July 28, 1968 aboard with the rescued man just 18 minutes after the launching started- . More Academy Graduates Join Fleet The following 5 merchant marine academy graduates are now sailing with us, in addition to the 23 officers who joined the Fleet in June and were mentioned in the June 27 issue: Third Mates Robert H. Kenyon John C. Klepper Ernest O. Seddon School MassN.Y. U.S. First Ship Esso Lexington Esso Baltimore Esso Boston Third Asst. Engrs. Duncan D. McCory U.S. James M. Ware U.S. Esso Baltimore Esso Gettysburg New Regular Employees The following temporary seagoing employees have recently qualified for and accepted regular employee status: Charles R. Johnson George R. Rivet Burnice E. Malpass, Jr- Garry S. Smith Herbert R. Widlitz TAFFRAIL TALK We have a compliment for A. C. Horne, who looks after our ships' needs at Charleston and suc ceeded the late William R. Ballentine. Richard E. Lewis, First Asst, in the Esso New York, said that Mr. Horne wras very accommodating, pleas ant, courteous "and anything else you can think of meaning a nice guy." Seems that part of Mr. Lewis' opinion comes from his wife, who was escorted to the dock in the early hours of a recent morning by Mr. Horne. AB Russell S. Wonson. who has been gain fully employed for nearly 40 years, has only worked ashore for 2 weeks. Born in Gloucester, Mass., he went to sea in the fishing boats, served in the Navy in World War II and has 10 years with Humble. He still lives in Gloucester and also has a part interest in a cottage and 20 acres near Groton and Spectacle Pond in central New Hampshire. ESSO FLEET NEWS is published for the seagoing em ployees of the Marine Department, Humble Oil & Refining Co.: T. J. Fuson. General Manager: Sydney Wire. Assistant General Manager. W. E. Gardner, Editor Contributions and suggestions are invited and should he addressed to The Editor, Esso Fleet News, Humble Oil & Refining Co., P. 0. Box 1512, Houston, Texas 77001. '<u "JS V TjSs SO i UJ -X XIfS-. ps Hx U0 xUJ UJ H EXX-MOR-007181 Raymond J. Lapinski, who was in-and-out of the Fleet be tween 1945 and 1953, is with us again (since April 1), pres ently OS in the Esso New York. During one of his periods ashore, Ray graduated from Bill McGowan's baseball umpire school in Cocoa, Fla. and was a professional "imp" in Georgia minor leagues for a few months. He also umpired semi-pro soft ball in his home town, Bayonne, for 15 years. Ray is real happy to be back in the Fleet except for the necessity of being away from his wife Catherine and sons Ray, Jr., 15 and Richard, 6. Alex A. Andreca, who sailed in the Fleet as Purser/Pharmacist's Mate from Dec. 1947 to July 1959, is Asst. Manager of the Timuquana Coun try Club, Jacksonville, Fla. and has become a weekly columnist in the Jacksonville Journal, writing about creative cooking. He has a library of 130 cookbooks and is especially interested in the use of herbs, spices, condiments, sauces and wines. Mr. Andreca is remembered as a maker of exquisite violins, a hobby he still pursues. (With thanks to Second Mate Dan O'Connor for the clipping. --- Ed.) RECENT RETIREMENTS*TMTM* Pumpman Sam Sayetta started cashing annuity checks instead of pay checks July 1, after 24 years, 5 months' credited service in the Fleet He spent several years in Lykes Bros, freighters before sign ing on as Fireman in his first Company vessel, the E. G. Seubert, Nov. 14, 1940. He sailed in 5 ships during World War II, one of which was the Franz Klasen, in A JONES F. DEVLIN AWARD for operating throughout 1966 and 1967 without a lost-time personal injury was presented to the Esso Lexington by T. J. Fuson, General Manager of the Marine Dept., on July 15. The men in the Lexington were well on the way to qualifying for individual safety awards (under the new program announced last issue) when a lost-time acci dent on June 14 cut their record at %ths of the way to the million man-hour mark. which he had his first Pumpman's berth on Jan. 7, 1942. Practically all his assignments from then on were in that rating and he vacates the No. 6 slot in the Pumpman's Seniority List. Sam and his wife Virginia have a new home in Fort Worth, Texas. He intends to play golf, raise flowers and vegetables and "take my wife out to dinner 3 times a week." (Honest, Mrs. Sayetta, that's just what he said. -- Ed.) Chief Cook Vincent R. Talaoc's seagoing career includes 14 years with the Army Transport Service and Atlantic Refining Co in addi tion to his 17 years, 3 months in the Esso Fleet. He joined the Esso Aruba as Second Cook in Nov. 1950 and has had continuous serv ice in Steward's Dept, ratings. He was Chief Cook in the Esso Lima prior to this retirement, July 1. Mr. Talaoc plans to visit his home land, the Philip pines, then come back to the United States and con tinue his studies of the handicappers' choices and long shots. He lives in Philadelphia. Fireman-Watertender John L. Webb had 20 years, 2 months of continuous service in Engine Dept, rat ings when he retired July 1. He started as Storekeeper in the Esso Bayway, March 7, 1948 and has been Wiper, Second Pumpman and, since Oct. 1955, FWT. Mr. Webb is a native New Yorker, born in Jamaica and now living in Islip, L.I., N.Y. Utilityman Jose C. Martinez, born in Puerto Rico and now re siding in the Bronx, N.Y., started his 2414 years in the Fleet with a wartime assignment in the F. H. Bedford, Jr. on April 7, 1942. He shipped out in 7 more vessels dur ing the War and later spent over 6V2 years in the Esso Scranton. His last ship before retiring July 1 was the Esso Gettysburg. In the photo, I. to r., are: Safety Officer A. B. Ran dall; Second Asst. Edward C. Sullivan; Third Mate Lester H. Robinett; Chief Mate Daniel J. Bradley; Sec ond Mate Daniel P. O'Connor; Herman Teller, Baytown Office; Captain Thomas K. Lawton; Mr. Fuson; AB Rolf Hallesen,- AB William E. Stanley; E. C. Fischer, Benefits & Claims Section, Houston; AB Henry Piwetz; First Asst. John T. Murphy,- Repair Inspector Edward J. Porus, and Chief Engr. Francis R. Zeller. u< U54 11 oz zJJ2 *2< itjfcu. C^ t>u H z> uU.'. upI--j * (O k EXX-MOR-007182 Albatrosses are beautiful and graceful in flight and although they have strong wings, they are generally regarded as gliders with great soaring stamina. For their size they are quite light. Our Chief Mate Ed Fellows, AB Bill Tyra and OS Ed Nutter with the bird. Photos by Ihe author u< fEeD<oS Fzxjr. !"af- 25 ax =lru The Strange Case Of the Esso Dallas' Bird By AB BILL E. TYRA One foggy night or hazy morn, a big bird came aboard the Esso Dallas as she rippled the Pacific from the Panama Canal (June 17) to Yokosuka (July 10). He was found lying on the fore deck the next morning with nary a ruffled feather. An Able Seaman, upon discovering the fallen fowl, reported to the Chief Mate that there was a "turkey" on the fore deck. The Mate summoned yours truly and we made a few on-the-spot pic tures of the big bird before it was carried aft and placed on exhibit for all the crew to see. Fortunately for the Company, it was during the coffee break that all operations came to a stand still as the crew flocked around for a gander at the big boid. Several spectators ventured guesses as to what family our feathered friend belonged. One man thought it was a condor, another thought it was a big gull, and someone said it was a "daid" bird- A couple of guys disagreed about the bird being dead and proceeded to give a little artificial respiration (beak-to-beak?--Ed.). When the bird failed to respond, a little cold water was poured on its head but to no avail. Chief Mate Edwin J. Fellows indentified "our" bird as a Laysan Albatross- Mr. Fellows is a vol unteer observer for the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife Migratory Bird Populations Station at Laurel. Md. Birds of North America, a pro fusely illustrated field guide book by Messrs. Rob bins, Bruun, Zim and Singer, has this to say about the Laysan Albatross: "This white-bodied alba tross nests on mid-Pacific islands; occurs far off shore; but regularly in summer, close to Aleu tians; does not follow ships." albatross had a measured wingspread of 72 in. but only weighed 5 lbs. A couple of Blackfooted Albatrosses followed the ship for several days, seemingly paying hom age to a fallen peer. What brought the albatross to the Dallas and what was the cause of his demise? Was he lured by the hypnotic radar "beeps," the eerie fog horn reverberations or the gloomy loom of the ship's lights -- in spite of the fact that his species is not supposed to follow ships or fly near them? Or did his allotted span of life expire just when the Dallas was under him in all the vastness of the Pacific? We'll never know- Teagle Scholarships Awarded John E. Kelly, son of John F. Kelly, First. Asst. Engr- in the Esso Scranton, has received a Walter C. Teagle Foundation Scholarship to attend Tulane University for the 1968-69 aca demic year. He intends to study for a medical degree. Teagle Nursing Scholarships, covering expenses up to $500 plus $25 a month personal allowance for the academic year, have been awarded to: Marjorie A. Plimpton, daughter of Radio Of ficer William N- Plimpton, to attend the Clara Maass Memorial Hospital School of Nursing Belleville, N.J., and Gladys J. Horgen, daughter of Johnny Horgen, Steward in New York Branch Inland Water way vessels, to attend Mount Sinai Hospital School of Nursing, New York, N.Y. JERSEY DIVIDEND for the third quarter is 90q a share, payable Sept. 10 to shareholders of record Aug. 8. This brings dividends so far this year to $2.60 per share, compared with $2,40 for the same 1967 period. EXX-MOR-007183