Saying Goodbye To A Part Of The Family
Some of you may know, or not, but as a young child I was a passenger on the S.S. United States. I have had a love affair with that ship for over 50 years, and in many ways is a part of me. I know this sounds nuts, but I can form a bond with a rubber band, it’s just the way I am wired. BTW, I love it. And it can be tough everytime I take the trash out. hey some stuff, you just hate. But the S.S.United states is not something I was ever ready to say goodbye to.
Our entire family traveled across the Atlantic on steam ships back in the day. The S.S.America, even the Stockholm, before it hit the Andra Doria. The last voyage was on the SS United States. From Germany to NYC. I clearly recall every second of that journey, including not wanting to leave Germany.
The Wind and salt air in the middle of the Atlantic is a very powerful feeling, The sounds of the man playing the bells through the halls to announce dinner, the Salt water pool, Movies in the movie theatre, Sa the Flim Flam Man there, and Gambling, horse races with wooden horses.
The entire boat had a metal smell. and there was a constant hum, this ship was amazing, and started my love affair with the water and boats. The crew was amazing, I recall wanting a hot dog for dinner and my parents making me have spaghetti, when the meal came, when I cut into the Spaghetti, there was a hot dog burried in there. I will never forget that moment. This was just one small part of the relationship.
Designed this poster and all the materials for the Foundation, logo and all
Later in life I became involved with saving her. Keeping her alive, she had been sent to Turkey and stipped and set adrift, she had been brought back to Philly to at least keep her safe, so my pal Robert Westover had been trying to go to Congress and whomever would or could help. LOTS of plans were explored. You can not imagine the efforts, even Susan Gibbs the daughter of the famous Architect who designed her was involved. She was no ordinary ship, she was in fact a Cold War Battleship, troop transport and the future of modern ships.
Her hull design ws used on many later Air Craft Carrier designs and so on, she could do over 30 knots. And in 24 hrs be converted into a troop transport, her engines generated enough power to power NYC as a generator. She was American ingenuity and power and humanity. She was not just a ship. And now, as of last night, she is a reef.
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I honestly have not been able to watch any of this, because it’s no different than putting the boat out in the front yard and putting plants in it. She deserved more from us. I gave it all I knew how to give, and many others did as well. Like I said, I can get emotional over anything, and in a way, I suppose she does live on. As fish food. Burried at sea, Funny thing, we will save an aircraft carrier, battle ship, and yet, not her, the ship that was named the SS United States.
Sounds like you have great memories of the ship. It was a handsome vessel! It’s always difficult to watch pieces of nautical history pass away. It’s sad, on the Great Lakes, to watch one of the old lake freights being towed away to be cut up for scrap. The thing that confuses me a bit, concerning sinking these ships is, as that we spend so much time trying to clean the ocean and then, dump something this huge in the ocean on purpose. They have their reasons, but they just don’t mesh in my mind. Today was the first time I got to check out the new site format. I don’t like change, but it’s not bad! Have a great day all!
Very sad watching her go down, but at least she wasn’t cut up and scrapped. Great poster you did for the Foundation and I love the hot dog story. Her soul will live on in those, like you, that felt close to her!
OK, that was and is sad. An icon of American greatness. Seems like there were SO many creative possibilities for her continued dock life, with a reef being near the bottom of that list. Hats off to all that worked so hard to try to save her. I guess at least she remains intact. Apparently the top of her is approx 50 ft down for scuba divers to see.
Great memories! As I have told you before you are a Very Lucky Guy! In the days before sat nav, I did the James River from the source to the sea….in increments….when I got to Hampton Roads I steered by the sight of those beautiful raked smoke stacks when she was laid up down there.
Sad….but I had to watch. John in Va