Thank you for running Paul Seamans’ story about life in the “splinter fleet” during WWII. Reading his story, I could envision what it must have been like in such cramped quarters on the rolling sea. I’m sure I’m not the only one who, in reading his story, learned about submarine chasers and the way they and other smaller ships made up a “screen” for big destroyers. It’s too bad his captain got chewed out by a superior after a three-day typhoon. As Mr. Seamans noted, “most captains of combat ships meant and did well.”
I appreciate the chance to learn about the history of our country from a person who actually lived it. In an age where newspapers are struggling for survival, we need trained, well compensated reporters to cover the news of the day — as well as citizen journalists like Mr. Seamans.
Kate Maletz Snyder
Buckland