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Of course, a book could have been written, but wasn't only because I'm too lazy...to be honest...but it would only have been good plain reading, and who wants that?
I must mention the Operations Officer - Lt. Cmdr. Semon, a fellow who held a Merchant Marine Officer's license, and who sailed, I think, with Esso - Exxon today....His permission got me into the Department. I must also mention that the First Lieutenant - the skipper's right hand man...more so than the Exec...also held an MM license, and had sailed as Chief Mate. Both had somehow or other managed "Regular Navy", when at the time many Merchant Marine Officers were only "Reserve", and discharged after the war.
A funny thing, when I left Mobil Oil, and shipped with Grace Line, a Government subsidized outfit, I had to accept a Commission...something I neither needed, nor wanted, and told them so. I held Lt. Jg. for ages...probably still do. Ha.
This just in Oct 11 2008.
Photo of Arneb Officers taken 12-12-53 and submitted by Joseph McGarry whose Dad Cdr Joseph McGarry USAR Ret is shown second in from the right - bottom row. Recognize any of them?
I am sure about the skipper - Capt. J.C. Wylie seated in the center. Wylie relieved Capt. Harry Meeker Stewart Gimber, Jr. about a year before. Wylie went on to make Admiral and wrote a book on Stategy. His daughter - Betsy Wylie made Captain USN, and became Commodore of the Military Sealift Command - Atlantic, and was my boss for a couple of years out of the twenty I was skipper with them...she did alright. On his left and right two new faces presumably XO and Ops Officer replacements for Cmdr Purcell and Lt Cmdr Semon. Two over to the left from the skipper is Lt. Anderson - First Lieutenant. Anderson came from the Merchant Marine and became Regular Navy. He was the skipper's real "right hand man". At the extreme left is then Ensign Niemick - Asst. Navigator. See additional photos of Keimick; Semon; and Purcel in following pages this site. John Hebbe insists Kiemick is Ens. Richards or Richardson from Rochester, N.Y. He also identifies the fellow top far right as a Comms Officer - Tim Branham from Tampa. My thought is that it's Lt (jg) Allen - Navigator. The are some others I recollect but forget their names. In the photo somewhere is Chief Warrant Bosn - Bowman.
Another thing is: did we have this many officers in the ship compliment? It could possibly be the photo includes Naval Reservists on their two-week cruise...we had them at times. We won't know for sure until the individual I.D.s himself...if he's still kickin'. A photo like this is certainly a rare find.
For more photos, and history Click here, or on the Ahead button below to go to the "Bridge Gang".
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