My father's cousin Arthur Syvertsen was stationed on a repair ship in the Pacific during WWII. After VJ Day he caught a ride to the States on Belleau Wood. He once told us about a development on that trip which goes as follows. It seems as the ship put in at a port somewhere and many of the guys were granted liberty including Uncle Art. He managed to get quite drunk and while making his way back to the ship, passed out in a grassy area near the dock. He awoke the next morning to the sound of CVL-44 casting off. The gangway had already been taken in and the ship was pulling away when his shipmates saw him running toward the dock. Someone threw him a line and he grabbed it and somehow managed to get aboard. As this was occurring, so many soldiers Marines and crewmen went to the side he was on that the ship listed--which was immediately noted by the Captain who later invited Uncle Art to his quarters for a chat. Uncle Art spent the entire voyage to the States in the brig.

He is 89 now and our family is preparing a surprise party for his 90th on April 5 in Spring Hill FL. I have arranged for a set of dress whites and we intend to roast him with our rendition of what that chat in the old man's quarters might have sounded like.

Is there anyone out there who remembers this incident?

Might someone from your organization be willing to present Art with a certificate making him an honorary crew member or something equally funny?

Is it possible to purchase the patch with the ships name on it commonly worn on the upper sleve?

Does anyone know who the Captain would have been at this time?

Thanks

Dave Eliassen

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