The Bergall was sent to Philly and Norris to Norfolk as they were the yards with available Dry Docks. It took about a day to get to Philly. The Bergall left for the Med in mid Nov 1955. I threw off the Bow line from the dock as I was detached that day to be discharged from the Navy.

As for getting credit for a War Patrol for that Murmansk cruise, I think the Navy couldn't do that as it was probably considered a BLACK OPERATION. The hull No was painted over and the rescue buoys were welded to the deck. The depth charge sleeves and hatches were installed in the After Battery. I don't remember if we did the same in the After Engine Room.  We were also entitled to have our bow painted Blue. because we had to have crossed the Arctic circle. I would consider it a privilege and an honor to be allowed to wear a Patrol badge under my Dolphins.

Some time in early 1955 on one of Bergall's deployments this happened. Our Corpsman Doc Webber and SCC Garrison insisted that we remove canned goods from cartons and remove labels from cans and mark the contents with china markers. This was done as a deterrent against roaches and mice. After several weeks at sea Ski Majchrzak, one of our better cooks, decided to make some Blueberry pies as a reward for some lousy event that escapes me. He went aft to get his ingredients out of the converted # 7 MBT (main ballast tank). The blueberries were the unsweetened kind and the cans were not marked as sweetened or unsweetened. SKI made several pies and served them as a special treat. The pies smelled and looked great. We couldn't wait for supper and desert that night. Needless to say they were a resounding flop and a source of ridicule of Skis' skill as a Baker. Doc Weber, who had a great sense of humor and was also a very good cartoonist and calligrapher and made an award on paper that he made to look like parchment adorned with a neckerchief . In his best penmanship he proceeded to create the " Magic Chef Award". It read as follows: (as best as I can remember) 'The Magic Chef award is bestowed upon E. Majchrzak for creative baking in that he has mastered the ability to turn good food into shit without passing it through the human body .'

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(editor note, as a followup, a few guys have spoke up from off the DDE Norris and further commented on by Bergall family:)

My name is Lloyd Johnson and I was the petty officer of the watch when we hit you. We had lost contact for about 30 minutes and I set up the dead reckoning to locate the Bergall and as you know we found you. In combat we felt a thud and we all looked at each other kind of in a shock and saying did we hit her. I stepped out on the deck and there was a rush of bodies coming out of the forward sleeping compartment. As you can  imagine being asleep and steel against steel you can under stand the panic.  Later, at sun rise, we could see the damage with the sun in the back ground.  

I was not popular after that for setting up the dead reckoning and giving the bearing to the bridge. The reason was the ship went into Norfolk and not to Boston. I left the ship and  went back to Boston and was discharged a week later. It's been 54 years and I can remember it like it was yesterday. I just found this info in the last few months. I found E-mail address to couple of other members of your crew. I don't know if they are still with us for I did not hear anything back.
If you get this or any one else that might see this it would be nice to hear from you.

Lloyd Johnson ljohnson@nwinfo.net
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I'm Roger Bavoux.   Abe, Believe it or not -- it was pretty scary topside as well. Just nodded off after my watch in the aft ship-fitter's area. Next thing I knew -- I was on the deck with the upper two bunks on top of me (with my shipmates still in them) and the emergency "GQ" claxton screaming in the pitch black compartment. All the kids (me too) screaming for life jackets as we (like you guys had no clue what had elapsed). We finally mustered to our respective damage control lockers when they passed the word re: the collision and were looking for volunteers to swim into the flooded compartments to secure the lower hatches to isolate the breached areas. Five months later we experienced another heavy thud; but it was daytime --  we hit a large Right whale and damaged one of the screws (quite a jolt from a mere fish) -- back in the yards again for another month or so. To this day, I have not learned what caused the SUB accident or who was at fault -- lots of speculation only.

Abe, this not to minimize your experience -- but just to give you Bergallites the topside perspective.  Nice to chat with you, sailor -- glad we both survived and can discuss some 54-years later.
Best Regards,
Roger Bavoux  studillac@comcast.net
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Abe adds:
I do recall from the guys that went topside after we surfaced saying  that the Norris was down by the bow and asking us if we needed help. Our periscope ripped a gash along her bottom from the chain locker  aft to a chiefs qtrs. That I believe should be well over 20'. The Norris was in a lot worse shape than we were. The depth of the cut on our Sail would indicate that the Norris came darn close to ramming the conning tower. Would that have holed and flooded the Conning Tower?

The Key Guys are; Moose,  Bob Anderson, Kenny Johnson, Tony Porazzo, Stern Planesman (?) the late Doc Weber. Chief of the watch (?), A ganger(?).
The Angler escorted us to Philly. That's the same Angler who escorted the Bergall to Australia after being holed by the Jap Cruiser in WWll.
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And our Norm Dineen adds:
I was there and remember it as if it was yesterday.  Fortunately I was in the bottom bunk because when the Bergall rolled I was thrown out onto the deck. I jumped up to close the watertight door to the forward engine room but  those outstanding enginemen (like Abe Kern) had it dogged down.  I then then laid back in my bunk and said every prayer I knew.  Being only 19 years old I thought maybe I would never see 20 but I will be 74 my next birthday so the good lord is keeping me around for something.  I remember many more details but will not bore you with them.
Regards
Norm Dineen
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From: Mrs Betty A. Travisano <travb2050@sbcglobal.net>

Dear Abe,
I remember that day like it was today. I was busy taking care of our 2 little girls. Too busy to watch TV, but my neighbor, Rose Webber, (Doc's wife) heard the news and kept it a secret from me.  As I turned on the 6 o'clock evening news, she came over to tell me of the accident.   I'm sure that other wives can recall that day as well.  What a relief to hear that you were all okay!   I remember the cook Eddie Marchjrak telling the story that he had baked loaves of bread and was going down the ladder when that happened. His loaves of bread were scattered. but he was okay.   Thanks for sharing that story with us.
Take good care.
Love, Betty and Ben Travisano
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Dear Betty;
After the ramming we heard that a rumor from Base Radio Command at New London put out the word that a Submarine was sunk in the area where we were operating. People assumed that it was the Bergall. We couldn't wait until we got to Philly to call wives and families that we were alive and well. When I called my wife she hadn't heard a word from any body. Did you know the truth prior to Ben calling you from Philly?

Ski Marchjrak was the closest to a casualty we suffered. He was making donuts and the hot grease spilled and somehow missed his lower body. A pitcher of water was in the hatch combing of the lower Conning Tower hatch and it spilled on Tony Porazzo who was on the Bow Planes at the time. That got his attention. Other than, after we set sail for Philly, we were amused by the whole incident.
Abe
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