Sunday, March 25

Dear Dad,

Well, I think about everything has happened to us now - except to sink - and I don't think we will ever get a chance to do that now. Three days ago the LSM beached alongside us, pulled off the beach, got fouled in our stern anchor cable, and pulled us sideways onto the beach. We have been broached on the beach ever since, trying to get off, with this surf pounding the hell out of us. It's just lucky we are on a sand bottom. We have worked night and day for three days now but nothing has gone right for us yet. We get a cable over to a tug (which takes 4-5 hours), take a strain and shortly she parts - and we start all over again. Hey tug got caught in one of these cables and she was washed up on the beach also. Before she was able to get off, six of her men were washed overboard, two of them were killed two in the hospital. We have been lucky so far.

I think our ship is beyond hope now. We might get her off the beach, but there is probably too much damage. Our engine room, boiler room, shaft alleys, after steering, after magazine, are all flooded. Many more compartments have holes, but we are able to pump out as fast as it comes in. Our freshwater tanks all have holes and salt water has gotten in - so we have no fresh water to drink, let alone wash. Our flushing system is filled with sand, so none of the heads work. But then I am constipated, thank heavens. Our hull and keel are beat and sprung. Our own pumps won't work so we had to get some small electrical ones from shore.

I guess that's enough to say about it. It's like a nightmare - first one thing and then another. All we need now is a bombing attack - which I can't understand why we haven't gotten.

I was ashore the other day - which seems like a year ago - and aTank ran over a land mine 100 yards from me, killing two men.

If they do try to repair this ship, it will be another couple of months in drydock and so again we have missed out on this next invasion. It's going to be the biggest thing so far, but I imagine by the time you get this you will have heard all about it.

Well, I had best try to get this mailed as I think we are going to get it off in a few minutes. The weather is cool up here - in fact it has been cold. I wish they would keep this war down in the tropics. 

Write soon and give all my love,

Jerry