Now we were ready for the loading dock. Our cargo consisted of everything that an army needed in wartime. All five holds were filled with trucks, battle tanks, equipment in crates, boxes on pallets, pipes in bundles, wires on giant spools, food, and supplies. The main deck was crowded with lashed down Sherman battle tanks ready to run. What a sight – heartening, one might say.
Disquieting were the three empty gun tubs on the bow of our new ship. The largest one was for a three inch anti-aircraft gun. The other two were supposed to hold .50 caliber machine guns. There were not enough guns on hand to complete the armament of every ship; therefore, it was some to all rather than all to some. It was, to us, sad. We had four .50 caliber machine guns, two .30 caliber machine guns – called pop guns by some – and the four inch deck gun on the stern. Every gun proved to be ineffective in battle. The one time the four inch deck gun was fired, it needed a range finder. Our guessing at the range was way off. There was a vague promise of 20 mm guns to replace the .50 calibers.
MAY 1942
The Samuel Chase was ordered to complete loading at a different dock – a special cargo. The last compartment to be loaded was the ‘tween deck in the #1 hold. It was designated for special cargo, explosives.
On the morning we were to load this special cargo, I was the mate on watch under the direction of Chief Mate George Wilson. It was almost 8:00. I stood on deck near the gangway to wait for one gang of longshoremen to come aboard. As I contemplated the cargo of explosives soon to be loaded on board, suddenly a voice from within me spoke 11 clear and strong words: "You shall never be on a ship sunk by enemy action.” Being a Christian by profession of faith, I knew the voice came from the indwelling Holy Spirit of God, who spoke this special message to me.
After I heard God’s message, the longshoremen came on board followed by a tall man in a strange uniform of coarse wool. He wore a visored cap with a wide red band around it. He came to me and introduced himself. "I'm Captain Petrofsky,” (not his real name) “and I’m here to oversee the loading of 50 tons of dynamite consigned to the Soviet Army.” This was the first confirmation that the Samuel Chase was bound for Russia.
Every man on board received a fur collared deep blue corduroy jacket lined with sheep wool, a full-length rubber suit complete with attached boots, and a hood that fitted tightly around the face.
The appearance of the Russian Army officer quieted all the rumors and dispelled all doubts. Not Alaska or Greenland, but Russia was our destination. No one mentioned that summer, soon to come, did not quite fit in with the heavy fur collared mackinaw. Everyone appreciated the rubber suit, because the Arctic waters were always cold, too cold, located near the polar ice cap.
The Russian Army captain and I watched the experienced longshoremen crew carefully hoist the first pallet of dynamite on board. One tier high wooden boxes covered with a tied down net secured the boxes in place in order to minimize the danger. The longshoremen were experienced and careful to minimize the danger.