{"id":1863,"date":"2020-03-27T08:37:34","date_gmt":"2020-03-27T13:37:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.socpsy.com\/casks\/?p=1863"},"modified":"2023-02-19T06:19:08","modified_gmt":"2023-02-19T12:19:08","slug":"mid-watch-in-verse-uss-caldwell-dd-605","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.socpsy.com\/casks\/mid-watch-in-verse-uss-caldwell-dd-605\/","title":{"rendered":"Mid-Watch in Verse: USS Caldwell (DD-605)"},"content":{"rendered":"

This is a continuation of the Mid-Watch in Verse series. A Deck Log from a US Navy vessel chronicles exacting administrative detail regarding the status of the ship, its location, speed, etc. However, for a four hour period at the beginning of each year, the Officer of the Deck (OOD) is allowed to be creative by writing the Mid-Watch report (0000 \u2013 0400) in verse if they choose to do so. This series highlights examples of this tradition and the officers who posted them. I focus on WWII era deck logs. For a more thorough history of the practice check out this article from the Naval History and Heritage Command<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Midwatch in Verse is now available as a book that features poems from 29 ships during WWII. See the book’s website<\/a> for details.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The USS Caldwell<\/em> (DD-605) was a Benson class destroyer that was commissioned June 10, 1942, and decommissioned on April 24, 1946. During her initial voyages, she provided escort and anti-submarine service in the north Pacific. Caldwell<\/em> contributed to the assaults and re-capture of Attu and Kiska in the Aleutian Islands. In September 1943, Caldwell<\/em> departed for warmer waters to the south Pacific for more escort and anti-submarine duties.<\/p>\n

On December 11, 1944, while just off the coast of Leyte, Philippines, Caldwell<\/em> experienced a couple of near misses by Japanese kamikaze planes only to be hit by a plane the next day on the 12th. Commentary from the action report details what happened when the Caldwell<\/em> was hit. <\/a>Sadly, the result of the attack was 73 casualties (20 KIA, 4 died of wounds after action, 9 MIA, 24 wounded in action, and 16 transferred for treatment and returned to ship). Lists of casualties can be seen here<\/a> and here<\/a>. After repairs, Caldwell<\/em> continued her patrols near the Philippines until the cessation of hostilities in 1945.<\/p>\n

Below is the mid-watch verse for January 1, 1943, entered by LtCmdr. H. A. Lincoln. Click here to see the original deck log<\/a>. Any spelling or grammatical errors are original to the deck log entry.<\/p>\n

00 to 04 \u2013<\/p>\n

With Task Force Eight in the Bering Sea<\/p>\n

At the stroke of midnight, Forty-three,<\/p>\n

Admiral McMorris leadeth the band,<\/p>\n

Task Group Eight point Six his command.<\/p>\n

Four new DD\u2019s of Desron<\/a> Fourteen<\/p>\n

Forming the anti-submarine screen.<\/p>\n

On DETROIT, RALEIGH, INDIANNAPOLIS in column,<\/p>\n

Steaming darkened, sedate and solemn.<\/p>\n

No toot of whistle nor toll of bell<\/p>\n

To mark the old year\u2019s parting knell.<\/p>\n

(For the hullabalu we can scarcely risk a<\/p>\n

League west of Buldir<\/a>, Northwest of Kiska.)<\/p>\n

Fifteen \u2013 Forty-two is our latest plan,<\/p>\n

Admiral Mac will follow as best he can.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve heard rumors of later one, Plan Sixteen,<\/p>\n

It must have been mailed where we just had been.<\/p>\n

For of all the DD\u2019s we\u2019ve seen running most<\/p>\n

The forward our mail to Pelican Post.<\/p>\n

Boilers one and three supply our need<\/p>\n

For steam and juice and a dash of speed.<\/p>\n

Course is three fifty-five, gyro and true,<\/p>\n

Speed fifteen, turns set at one four two.<\/p>\n

The weather is average considering the season;<\/p>\n

It\u2019s been raining, snowing, blowing and freezin\u2019.<\/p>\n

In this northern field we have enemies three:<\/p>\n

The Jap, the cold, and \u201cOl\u2019 Debil Sea.\u201d<\/p>\n

We have felt the cold and have taken a beating<\/p>\n

From \u201cOl\u2019 Debil Sea\u201d at each subsequent meeting.<\/p>\n

But so far no sight of the \u201cRising\u201d sun,<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve cruised, cursed, and batted our brains out for fun.<\/p>\n

So here\u2019s our prayer for the coming year<\/p>\n

That we meet him, defeat him, depart from here.<\/p>\n

H. A. LINCOLN<\/p>\n

Lieut.Comdr., U.S.N.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Midshipman Lincoln, 1930<\/p><\/div>\n

Horatio Alonzo Lincoln was born in 1909 in Grand Forks, North Dakota. He was one of the Lincoln relatives who descended from President Lincoln’s uncle. I have been unable to find much about Lincoln’s early life. He received an appointment to the Naval Academy at Annapolis and graduated with the class of 1930. His Lucky Bag entry<\/a> Indicates that he was small in stature, but strong-willed, bordering on stubbornness.<\/p>\n

Lincoln’s naval career continued until 1960 when he retired at the rank of Captain. During his early years, he served on the following ships:<\/p>\n