Biography of James Spittel
Sailor, USS Eisner DE 192, US Navy, WWII
James M. Spittel, Sailor, USS Eisner DE 192, US Navy, WWII
NAVAL TOUR
01-11-43
I was inducted into the USNR In Baltimore, Maryland.
01-19-43
I reported to Bainbridge, Md NTS as an AS (apprentice seaman) for Boot Camp.
03-30-43
After boot Camp I was transferred to Fleet Sound School in Key West Florida as S2C (seaman second class) for sonar operator training.
05-09-43
On completion of Sonar School I was transferred to the receiving station at the Brown Shipyard in Houston, Texas as SoM3C (Sonar man third class).
05-12-43
I arrived in Houston Texas. While there, as part of the commissioning crew for the unfinished J. Richard Ward, DE 243, we received orientation to the operation of a DE as well as loading and storing gear as commissioning day neared.
07-05-43
I reported aboard, my new home, the USS J Richard Ward, DE 243 as part of the commissioning crew. The ship went to New Orleans for degaussing, Then went to Charleston, S.C. for outfitting.
Our shakedown cruise was to Bermuda. As a hurricane approached Bermuda all ships at anchor were to set sail and ride out the hurricane while in the vicinity of Bermuda. After shakedown was completed we sailed to Norfolk, Va. to begin our escort duties with a caravan assembling off shore. This was the start for escorting three convoys, One to Gibraltar, one to Casablanca, and one to Morocco as well as three convoys back to the states.
03-02-44
I transferred to the USS Eisner, DE 192 in Brooklyn NY. Our first mission was to escort an Aircraft Carrier to Recife Brazil. While crossing the equator I became a Shellback, (was a pollywog).
We later, as part of TF 63, escorted two convoys to and from Gibraltar, one of which we took to Bizerte, Tunisia on the north coast of Africa. On this only trip into the Mediterranean we laid down smoke as a flight of German aircraft flew overhead to bomb North Africa. We were at General Quarters but ordered not to fire at the planes, so as not to reveal our position.
We then escorted three convoys, one each to ports in the British Isles, Liverpool, Plymouth, and Cardiff and return convoys to the states.
On one of the return convoys we encountered my second hurricane at sea off the coast of New Jersey. The convoy was scattered over 100 miles with some beached on the coast.
06-30-44
I was promoted to SoM2C while on board DE 192.
06-07-45
I was transferred to receiving the station Boston Ma. For further assignment.
07-03-45
I was transferred to the receiving station Washington DC. And was granted 30 days leave plus one travel day to get there.
08-03-45
I was immediately transferred to code school at NTS, Norfolk Va.
08-31-45
Finishing code school I was transferred to Fleet Sonar School in Key West, Fl.
11-07-45
On finishing more training I was transferred to NTS at Shoemaker, Ca. for reassignment.
12-08-45
No reassignment took place and, because I shortly would have enough points for discharge, I was transferred to Bainbridge NTS, Md for discharge.
02-03-46
I was Honorably Discharged.
MEMORIES
Christmas day, 1943, enjoying after dinner relaxation on the fantail in warm, sunny calm air with not a ripple in a sea that stretched as far as the eye could see.
One late summer afternoon after a rain squall, seeing a complete rainbow. At least two of the five or six colors were complete as it hit at the waters edge on the starboard side of the ship.
During the hurricane of 1944 the ship rolled to starboard as I was on watch in the Sonar Shack, holding on to the wheel on the sonar console as unfettered items flew across my lap. I felt that we were not going to recover as we hung there for what seemed a very long time but we did recover and settled down to normal 45 degree rolls. The Quartermaster reported that the inclinometer showed a 72 degree roll.
Celebrating Guy Fawkes Day while visiting a home in Liverpool on Nov. 5th, 1944. At sundown a huge pyre was set on fire and many of the locals held hands as they danced around the fire. I too joined in the dance.
USS J Richard Ward DE 243, 14 May 1944: J. Richard Ward, taken while weighing anchor, off the New York Navy Yard.
USS Eisner, DE 192, 16 January 1944: at sea - Photo by an aircraft from Naval Air Station New York, New York
----- Jim Spittel
Email: jimspittel AT att.net
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