North Atlantic 1964

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Returning to Charleston, May 1964

The USS Everglades (AD-24), a destroyer tender (repair ship), left her home port, Charleston, South Carolina, in February 1964, headed for Naples, Italy, to serve as the main repair ship for destroyers of the US Sixth Fleet. We were accompanied by several destroyers and minesweepers as well as an oiler and a supply ship. At sea, we highlined with the other ships, trading movies, library books, mail and vital components which were repaired on the Everglades and returned to the other ships. We also sent people to the other ships for repair work there. Crossing time was about two weeks and the North Atlantic was cold, grey and rough at times. We encountered some very heavy seas, somewhat like those seen in Perfect Storm movie. In fact, one of the minesweepers, a much smaller ship than the Everglades, had considerable damage to the superstructure with waves completely over her bridge, i.e. the ship went through the wave. The Everglades, being much larger, simply encountered heavy swells and high seas with waves over the bow. Other times, the weather was great, giving us opportunity to lounge on the decks after our work was done. The attached photos were taken during the crossing.