Just saw a local "Evansville, IN" tv report about the anniversary.
Say what you like about Gordon but Edmund Fitzgerald was eery and I'll always remember my grandma humming Sundown with the AM radio station.

 

Can't speak for Canadiens but that might be Neil Young.

 

Pretty interesting article: The Sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald November 10, 1975

According to the article, she bottomed and damaged her ballast tanks. As well, the report states that her Main Deck hatches failed due to the pounding.

Of course, lots has changed since Fitz met her fate. Cargo Ships now must be double bottomed, hatches and any other water tight tight accesses must have preventative maintenance performed on them and their crews must have some damage control training.

I've ridden a variety of Coast Guard Cutters from the Bering Sea to the North Pacific to the North Atlantic and multitudes of Nor'easters and Hurricanes and have never seen a main deck hatch failure or a main deck bulkhead failure.

I rode the "Perfect Storm on the USCGC Bear (WMEC-901), a 270' cutter in Oct of 1991 for three days. 50' seas were crashing over the bridge and the ship was taking 35-40 degree rolls so severe that it felt like she wasn't going to right herself.

Our gun mount split and we were taking on water in the Armory and forward compartments. We lost flight deck netting, our small boats, life rafts, gasoline cans and upon our return to Portsmouth, Va, we looked as though we had gone trough battle.

Of course, these are the differences between a military ship and a commercial mule used for profit.

 

My next kindle purchase:


Can't imagine being on a 300-ft destroyer escort (I believe 3 of them went down with all hands......) in 90-ft seas...........

Even the big battlewagons got scarred-up.........

 

Nope, Stompin' Tom Connors and "The Good Ole Hockey Game ".

 

Yeah, that's got to be a helluva read. And if you're into WWII Naval Reading, pick up Iron Coffins. It goes into detail about the **** U boat campaign.

 

On your recommendation...just ordered it on Flea Bay...slightly used hardcover first edition...$3.97 with free shipping. Can't wait to get it!!!

 

This morning on Brian Thomas' show, he had Peter Collier on. He's the author of the book I provided a link to above. He talked about one of the Medal of Honor recipients in the book today. Unfortunately, I don't remember his name, but he is the first Coast Guard to receive it I believe. This guy rescued approximately 500 Marines I believe off an island in the Pacific. He also said that 2 of the guys rescued later on went and received the medal themselves. Also, did you know that the Coast Guard was responsible for piloting many of the small landing craft used? I didn't. They said that the marines and navy were fine with piloting the big ship, but when it came to the small craft, the relied on the coast guard because that was their area of expertise.

 

That little tid bit history is why the Marines and the Coasties get along so well today and why the Marines and the Navy have such a hate on for each other. Well, not the only reasons but it is brought up in heated discussions.

 

Awwww, c'mon Tim. It ain't THAT bad is it?????

I would have joined the Coast Guard in 1983........Grew up in Carteret County and worked in Morehead City and nice little station right there. Spent some time on a sportfisher too, so by and large (never got into REALLY bad weather at sea) no seasickness issues. I was told they were at that time in a hiring freeze.......(about the time you lateraled-over, wasn't it????). Went into the Marines instead......

At the MEPS station in '84......out of about 80 young 'uns going to their training camps......close to half were army. about a third air force. 10 or 12 navy. And (ding, ding ding..........) a whopping 3 of us poor bass-terds going into the marines. They all looked at us like we were dead men walking or something....lol.

 

^^^^^^^^

I looked into the CG in 1982 before I reenlisted and the CG said no way dude, we're not taking anyone right now. I went back in 1989 and finally got in in Feb 1990. Best move I ever made.

 

That was about the time alright.....

Now I don't feel bad........At first I thought they just didn't want ME!

 

Well, they do have standards,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

The new Mackinaw, was out in the straights the other day pulling buoys. I saw them as I crossed the bridge both ways. Good looking boat! But the old one looked even better.