Dear Mark,

While the McDougal was HARDLY a frigate, I've not been able to get any "traffic" through to it's listed Email site.

If possible, could you forward the following to it's site, as my Uncle Hank served on her, PRIOR to the beginning of WW-II. He was on-board, when she escorted, then President Roosevelt to his mid-ocean meeting with Prime Minister Churchill, and recalls vividly the Sunday morning church service, with all men singing hymns, and he gets wet eyes, when he recalls that most of those brave British seamen lost their lives, only weeks later, when the Japanese sunk the Repulse and Prince of Wales.

He has also related stories of watching the torps' going UNDER the ship, and hitting the tankers and cargo freighters, who drew a deeper draft. THAT's WHY I'd like to put him in touch with a buddy or two, as not many of these guys are left, ya' know.

Me?

I was a Radioman, and remember those poor fellows coming alongside our Reefer (USS VEGA AF-59), to get chow and supplies... we'd always stuff as many cartons of milk as we could get into the message-pouch, that traveled over, via the phone-and-distance line, so that at least a few of you guys would have some fresh milk, for a change. The expression on the bridge was that "The guys on the Foc'sle get "sub pay", and the guys in the fantail, get "flight skins"!"

My Uncle:

Henry J. Smatla
Route 1
Meriden, Kansas 66512
Phone: (785) 484-3443

From: Terri Stanley [email protected]
Date: 97-11-03 00:50:05 EST

There is a group of McDougal crewmembers who plan an annual reunion.1997 was in San Diego, information on 1998 would be available fromRobert Hango, 13751 SE 128th Avenue, Clackamas, OR 97015. Submitted byformer crewmember Roy K. Smith, crewmember 1940 and 1941.

Thank you.