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Memories of Chuck Kennedy

  Here's SM1c Frank Romito and I at the commissioning of the Bergall, June, 1944.

I had joined the Navy on Oct. 10, 1941.   I put the USS Muskallunge, SS 262, in commission right out of sub school.   We were the first sub to fire the electric MK. 18 on a war patrol off of Palau Island.   Our 2nd run was off of Truk.   Both were very exciting runs.   We were the 10th boat in the squadron to have Hoover Owens Renschler diesels (HORS).   All the boats made 2 runs and then went back to Mare Island for 4 new engines.   That is when I went on leave and was flying home on a DC3.   I flew on it in 1944 from Oakland (I think) to Detroit then I got kicked off because I was a "low priority" even though I had leave papers that read "this sailor has just returned from serving on a submarine in the Pacific and will return to the Pacific upon termination from leave".   In a way I got revenge, while I was home I got a telegram to return ASAP as I was being transferred to new construction, the Bergall.   I was an EM2c when assigned to the Bergall.   Frank was transferred one month later to SUBAD, Mare Island, FFT, SUBSPACEFOR, FFA.

In July of '44, when we were heading for the war front and on our way to Panama when, on a trim dive, we had an auxiliary throw the wrong switch and we lost power to the main controls during our dive.   Having read the "Wrong Switch" page   ......   That was a new slant on the story but from someone that was up forward.  I stand by my version, I received no orders, verbal or otherwise.   I knew that we were heading down and no orders were coming to take corrective action.   I backed the boat out of the depths on my own volition. But now I know why I never received any recognition for saving the boat, the CO may have given the order to back down but I never received it from anyone or any means. I am not looking for anything, just saying that's what happened back aft.

Here's a recent picture from a Bergall reunion at Nags Head with me and my bride to the right of our battle flag with Don and Rosemary Small on the other!

Here's my convention vest, along with Allen Cook and Ted Drought at my side in St. Louis, 2001.

I recently was able to help arrange a very nice tour of the new Swedish submarine down in San Diego...  HMS GOTLAND

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