A new concept approach from ARGunners present you with a teaser of one of our favorite books and author, Nick Jacobellis’s – A Special Kind of Hero
BASED ON THE SCREENPLAY WRITTEN BY THE AUTHOR- Nick Jacobellis
ContentsIntroduction ViForeward XiSome Additional Historical BackgroundInformation Xv1 The War Comes Home ToEast Hampton N.y. 12 Like Shooting Fish In A Barrel 93 Turning Point 214 Enemy Agents 405 This Damn War 546 The Homefront 847 Sea Duty 1238 Behind Enemy Lines 1629 It Truly Is A Small World 211Author’s Comment: 260Notes 262vi Nick JacobelisIntroductionA Special Kind of Hero is a slice of Mom, Apple Pie and Chevrolet.This story is best described as an action packed wartime drama, thatembodies all of the fine qualities of Hollywood’s greatest World WarII movies. This story is set in 1942 when the United States was deeplyembroiled in a world war.While the United States prepared to fight on multiple fronts, the lastthing the country needed was to expend its limited resources, protecting merchant shipping along the east coast, from maraudingGermanU-Boats. The threat of enemy agents committing acts of sabotage wasalso of grave concern, for the nation that was serving as the Arsenal ofDemocracy. The threat that was posed by marauding U-Boats was alsoserious enough, for the U.S. Navy to convert privately owned yachtsand other suitable vessels to serve as sub chasers. Once these civilianvessels were drafted into service and equipped with the necessary combatequipment, these “sub chasers” were sent to sea, to help locate and ifnecessary, engage U-Boats.Like every other patriotic American family, the Gundersons aredeeply involved in the war effort. Even 17 year old Danny Gunderson,the youngest member of the clan, works in a boatyard that has a WarA Special Kind of Hero viiDepartment contract, to convert civilian vessels for military applications.Disabled at birth, Danny walks with a slight limp and has a speechimpediment. As such, Danny Gunderson is unfit for military service.With his father, Commander Steve Gunderson, a decorated U.S.Navy destroyer captain, and his two brothers serving as commissionedofficers in the Navy and the Coast Guard, Danny lives in a frustratedworld, where he wants to do more, but he can’t because he’s disabled.As we all know from history, the worst fate to befall any red bloodedAmerican male during World War II, was to be rejected from militaryservice.Danny’s life centers around a small town on the eastern shore ofLong Island, where the local defense industry converts private yachtsand other suitable vessels, for use as patrol craft for the U.S. Navy.While working after school and on weekends, Danny Gunderson isemployed as a janitor at the East Hampton Town Marina, where hespends his time dreaming of the day, when he can engage the forces ofevil in mortal combat.Even though Danny has been deemed unfit to serve in the U.S.and the Canadian Armed Forces,he investigates his limited options anddecides to try and serve in the Merchant Marine. Danny decides toconsider this option, because the Merchant Marine has more flexiblerecruiting standards and is in desperate need of men, who are willingviii Nick Jacobelisto serve on ships in time of war. However, before Danny can try to doso, he needs his father’s approval. This issue becomes a challenge forfather and son, when the destroyer commanded by Commander StevenGunderson USN is sunk by a German U-Boat.As a result, Commander Gunderson finds it hard to allow his youngest son to volunteer to serve, in such a hazardous wartime occupation.Commander Gunderson has good cause to feel this way, because largenumbers of Merchant seamen were dying miserable deaths at sea, aftertheir ships were attacked by German U-Boats.As far as Commander Gunderson is concerned, Danny has a legitimate reason not to serve, because he is physically disabled. Even whenCommander Gunderson tells his youngest son that he is gifted inother ways and that he should take advantage of his scholarship to theMassachusetts Institute of Technology, Danny remains determined toserve in some type of meaningful capacity. Danny Gunderson provesthat he is a resourceful young man, when he develops an alternativeplan, that will enable him to get more directly involved in the war effort.Danny’s Plan B is to join the Civil Air Patrol, also know as the CAP.Danny Gunderon’s character reminds us that it’s possible to live ourdreams in life, as long as we NEVER give up. Danny wasn’t an EagleScout, or the star quarterback on the high school football team. Quitethe contrary, Danny Gunderson is like many of us, different, but veryA Special Kind of Hero ixspecial. Danny’s gift is his intelligence and he used that intelligenceto investigate every possible option, that would allow him to live hisdreams in life.Danny’s character also proves that every human being can make avaluable contribution and that “accepted practices” are meant to bebroken. This story emphasizes the point, that those who are handicapped in any way, shape, or form, can serve in a much wider numberof capacities, if they are allowed to do so.A Special Kind of Hero is a smorgasbord of all of the wholesome valuesthat were once captured on the silver screen, by some of Hollywood’smost successful studios during the Second World War. The plot of goodversus evil transcends time and will always capture the hearts and mindsof the general public. Who other than the crew of a German U-Boatand a team of Nazi spies can best represent the forces of evil? Likewise,who can better represent the “good guys,” than a cast of brave Americanservicemen, a loving mother, a wise grandfather and a handicapped teenager from small town USA? Bracketed between the swing music of the1940s and the classical favorites made popular by the Third Reich, thisstory is a heart rendering, action packed, tear jerker that is reminiscentof the movies that were made in the “good old days.”In order to bolster the authenticity of certain scenes in this story,footnotes are included to site the reference material that was used, tox Nick Jacobelisdescribe the combat actions that took place in 1942 along the east coastof the United States. While the overall story line is fiction, certain scenesare loosely based on the types of events that actually occurred duringWorld War II. Enjoy!A Special Kind of Hero xiForewardWhen you read this book you will step back in time, to a periodin history when the world was at war and the end was in doubt.In early 1942, the United States was woefully unprepared to fight a worldwar. As history documents all too well, the Axis Forces (Germany, Japanand Italy) took advantage of this fact and wasted no time in launchingoffensive operations. In the Pacific, the Japanese continued their reign ofterror, by conquering and occupying one country after another. The Nazirun German war machine was equally as aggressive in Europe and wouldeventually fight alongside the Italians in North Africa.It is also important to note, that before the Japanese attacked PearlHarbor, and Germany declared war on the United States in Decemberof 1941, German submarines were attacking Allied merchant shippingin the Atlantic Ocean. They did so, to prevent Great Britain from receiving aid from other nations. Even when U.S. vessels, including navalescorts, were sunk, the United States refrained from declaring war onGermany. This all changed once formal declarations of war were signedin December of 1941.Once the United States and Germany were officially at war, theGerman Kriegsmarine (Navy) expanded their Atlantic Ocean operations,xii Nick Jacobelisto include the eastern seaboard of North America. The Kriegsmarineaccomplished this, by sending German submarines known as U-Boats tosink merchant shipping in American and Canadian waters. While someof these attacks took place further offshore, the U-Boats were extremelysuccessful in the first few months of the war, when they operated in andaround U.S. coastal waters. In fact, many of the merchant ships thatwere sunk, were transporting passengers and all types of cargo to portsin the United States.The sinking of merchant ships was such a priority, that U-BoatCaptains were ordered to avoid engaging enemy naval vessels (wheneverpossible) and concentrate their limited time on station by attackingfreighters and tankers. This was done, because Germany knew from theirexperience in World War I, that destroying Allied merchant shippingwas critical to achieving victory.The German Navy was emboldened to take such aggressive action atthe outbreak of war, because they knew that the United States in particular, was unprepared to protect its east coast. This made it even easierfor U-Boats to concentrate on sinking merchant ships, without havingto be as concerned, about having an armed encounter with Americanmilitary aircraft, or vessels.U-Boats were able to achieve an initial level of success for severalreasons. The fact that the United States Navy had to prepare for a war inA Special Kind of Hero xiiithe Pacific, prevented more combat vessels from being assigned to protectthe east coast on a permanent basis. In the early months of the war, theUnited States also failed to implement an organized convoy system,that compelled merchant vessels to operate in groups under militaryescort. Instead, merchant vessels traveling alone were easy prey for themarauding U-Boats. Allowing cities and towns along the east coast tokeep their lights on at night, also enabled U-Boat crews to operate withan extra margin of success in U.S. waters. In the early stages of the warthere was also a shortage of military aircraft, that could be used to searchfor and attack German submarines.In order to become more familiar with the above mentioned issues,this story includes various incidents that are based in some way, shape,or form, on actual events that occurred. These incidents include, thesinking of different types of merchant vessels and the valiant effortsthat were made by a small number of U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guardcrews, to challenge the presence of German U-Boats, along the easternseaboard, in the first half of 1942. The numerical designation assigned tothe various U-Boats depicted in this story, includes the actual numbersused by certain submarines, as well as fictitious numbers.While you read this story, that is enhanced by a certain amount ofhistorically accurate information, bear in mind, that the tide of the warwas eventually turned, because of the efforts made by a relatively smallxiv Nick Jacobelisnumber of American military personnel, American and Allied merchantseamen, members of the Civil Air Patrol and defense plant workers.It should also be noted, that even when U.S. military personnel andmerchant sailors had their ships sunk by U-Boats, the bulk of the bravemariners who survived returned to sea duty. Even more amazing, is thefact, that some of these Allied mariners were “torpedoed” on more thanone occasion. This “never give up” attitude is one of the reasons whythe Allies won the war.A Special Kind of Hero xvSome Additional HistoricalBackground InformationI thought it appropriate to include the following information in thisstory, to explain why serving in the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) would bea viable option, for someone who was rejected from “regular” active dutymilitary service. During World War II, the United States Governmentauthorized the formation of the Civil Air Patrol, as an official auxiliaryunit of the U.S. Army Air Corps. Some of the American citizens whoserved in the CAP were unable/unfit to serve in the active duty armedforces for various reasons. Others who served in the CAP, would go onto serve in the regular armed forces later on in the war.As an official auxiliary unit of the U.S. Army Air Corps, all CivilAir Patrol personnel received military ranks, including commissions asofficers and wore the same uniform as U.S. Army Air Corps personnel.(CAP U.S. Army Air Corps uniforms included a small swath of redribbon on the shoulder area of their uniform shirts and jackets.) CAPpersonnel also received a daily monetary per diem that was based ontheir rank.While patrolling the coastline of the United States, as well as thexvi Nick Jacobelisdesignated convoy routes that extended as far as 60 miles out to sea,this volunteer force of citizen soldiers operated a variety of privatelyowned and rented “civilian” aircraft. To show how desperate the WarDepartment was in 1942, even though Civil Air Patrol aircraft were notbuilt to fly combat missions, CAP planes were armed with bombs anddepth charges. In order to drop/release explosive ordnance on a suitabletarget, a very rudimentary “bomb” aiming mechanism was installed inall armed CAP aircraft.During their WWII wartime service, the Civil Air Patrol conducted86,685 missions, that covered 24 million miles. CAP aircrews alsolocated over 363 survivors from sunken ships, 17 enemy floating mines,91 Allied vessels in distress and performed 5,684 special convoy missions for the U.S. Navy. The CAP also reportedly attacked 57 Germansubmarines, dropping 82 bombs on suspected enemy vessels, with twoU-Boats confirmed to be seriously damaged or destroyed. Because ofthe distinctive markings and paint scheme on their planes, GermanU-Boat crews respectfully referred to CAP aircraft as “those damned redand yellow bees.” Historians also document, that CAP aircrews were so
devoted to their duties, they flew missions when regular military pilots
were grounded because of bad weather.CAP personnel were known as “Flying Minutemen” and performed avariety of duties under combat conditions, with very little recognition atA Special Kind of Hero xviigreat personal sacrifice. During the war a total of 90 CAP aircraft werelost, with 26 crewmen killed in action and 7 seriously injured. In 1948,the United States formally recognized the wartime contribution of 824CAP Pilots by awarding them the U.S. Military Air Medal, for theirservice during the war. Fifteen of these medals awarded posthumously.Believe it or not, with all of the war movies that have been made,Hollywood has somehow overlooked the contribution that was madeby the Civil Air Patrol in World War II. This untold story is even morerelevant today, because Americans in the 21st Century also know whatit is like to be attacked at home, by a very determined and elusiveenemy. This is such an important topic, I am seriously consideringconverting the screenplay that I wrote about the CAP during WWII,
into a historical military fiction book.
After the savage attacks on 9/11/01, our first reaction was to challenge the forces of evil that declared war on our nation. Back in late 1941and 1942 there were a number of avenues open for patriotic Americans,who wanted to join the fight and help the war effort. For those whowere too old or unfit for military service the choices were limited. Withwar on the horizon, a new opportunity to serve was created, when thePresident of the United States signed an Executive Order establishing theCivil Air Patrol in December of 1941. Anyone who wanted more actionthan a job in a defense plant could offer, was now able to volunteer andxviii Nick Jacobelisserve in the newly formed Civil Air Patrol. Others joined the merchantmarine and served on freighters, Liberty Ships and tankers.Simply put, the CAP came along at just the right time.During World War II America was literally under siege, by theGerman U-Boats that attacked Allied shipping with impunity. ManyAmericans in the 21st Century have no idea, exactly how unprepared forwar we really were in early 1942. With less than 200 military aircraftand a small number of ships available to patrol the east coast, the UnitedStates Navy and Army Air Corps was forced to rely on a group of civilianpilots, to increase the anti submarine warfare capability of the “Arsenalof Democracy.”The Civil Air Patrol filled the gaps in our national security, while thedefense plants produced enough combat aircraft and naval vessels todo the job and the military could train the men needed to fight. Evenwhen the strength of the U.S. Armed Forces was increased, the CAPcontinued to serve throughout the war.It is also important to note, that censorship during the war kept theexploits of the Civil Air Patrol from being made public. This is onereason why very few people are aware of the contribution made by theCivil Air Patrol during World War II. Clearly, the fact that 800 CAPveterans who survived the war were decorated with Air Medals, whileothers died horrible deaths in plane crashes, should have enabled theA Special Kind of Hero xixCivil Air Patrol to receive more attention than it did.Much like the Minutemen who left their homes and farms to fightduring the War of Independence, those who served in the Civil Air Patrolduring World War II did so because the enemy was operating withinsight of our shores. The fact that CAP aircraft were armed with bombsand depth charges is proof, that what CAP personnel did during theirnational service, was no different than the job performed by regularmilitary personnel. CAP personnel were also registered as combatantswith the Geneva Convention. This was done to provide CAP aircrewswith the same protection as regular military personnel in case they werecaptured by the enemy.As stated above, the threat that was posed by marauding U-Boatswas also serious enough, for the U.S. Navy to convert privately ownedyachts and other suitable vessels, to help deal with the threat posedby German submarines. Once these civilian vessels were drafted intoservice and equipped with the necessary combat equipment, these vesselswere used as sub chasers, for the purpose of locating and if necessary,engaging U-Boats.xx Nick JacobelisDedicationThis book is dedicated to my wife Paula and our son Michael,for due to their encouragement I decided to write the bookversion of this story, based on the screenplay that I wrote overtwenty one years ago.This book is also dedicated to all those who served in theU.S Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, the Royal Navy, the ArmedForces of Canada, the Merchant Marine and the Civil AirPatrol during the early years of World War II, when GermanU-Boats were operating with tremendous success along theeast coast of the United States and Canada. Their individualand combined efforts helped to turn the tide of war in favorof the Allied Forces.A Special Kind of Hero 1CHAPTER 1THE WAR COMES HOME TOEAST HAMPTON N.Y.It was a beautiful sunny day on the eastern shore of Long Island inApril of 1942, when Danny Gunderson rode up to the entrance ofMain Beach on his bicycle. After parking his bike up against the woodenfence, Danny walked onto the beach and stood facing the ocean.As a 17-year-old American teenager Danny was frustrated beyondbelief, because he was unfit for military service in the armed forces ofthe United States. Even though Danny had a birth defect, that causedhim to limp and a speech impediment that caused him to stutter, he wasdetermined to find someway to get directly involved in the war effort.After being turned down by the U.S. Army, the Navy, the Marine Corpsand the U.S. Coast Guard, Danny decided to run away, so he could tryand enlist in a Canadian military organization.In order to try and make himself an acceptable candidate forCanadian military service, Danny tried speaking more slowly. Evenwhen he managed to stutter a bit less, it was virtually impossible to hidethe fact that he walked with a limp. Regardless, Danny was determined2 Nick Jacobelisto try, after all, our Canadian allies had been involved in the war sinceit began and would likely need every available man.With the money that he made working after school, at the EastHampton Town Marina, Danny had enough cash on hand to pay hisexpenses when he carried out his plan. All he needed to do was leave anote for his mother so she wouldn’t worry.After removing a pencil and a notebook from his jacket pocket,Danny sat down in the sand facing the surf and began his note bywriting Dear Mom. Just as Danny ended the letter, Abigail Stratton rodeup to the entrance of Main Beach and parked her bike next to Danny’s.After looking to the right, Abigail turned to the left and spotted Dannysitting by the water’s edge. When Danny heard his schoolmate callinghis name, he turned to his right and waved to the 17 year old girl, whoconsidered herself to be Danny Gunderson’s girlfriend.After passing a large piece of driftwood, the teenage girl known asAbbey spoke as she sat down next to Danny. “When I returned thehistory book that you loaned me to your house, your mom said youwent for a ride on your bike to Main Beach. Your mom also invited meto Sunday dinner and my folks said I could stay, as long as I was homebefore it got dark.”When it appeared that Danny was preoccupied, Abbey remarked,“You haven’t heard a word I said.”A Special Kind of Hero 3If there was anyone in town that Danny trusted with a secret it wasAbigail Stratton. Danny proved that when he turned to his right andsaid, “The the there’s som som something I I wa want to to ta tell u you,A Abbey, ba but it it it’s a a sa secret…wa one tha that yu you ca can’t tatell a anyone a a about.”Ever since they met, Abbey had the kind of feelings for DannyGunderson that was best described by 1942 era standards as one hellof a crush. As a result, Abbey felt honored that Danny would trust herwith any matter that he considered to be a secret.Once Abbey remarked, “This sounds serious,” Danny reaffirmed theneed for Abbey to keep what he was about to tell her between them.Without hesitating Abbey said, “I promise.”Now that Danny knew that Abbey was on board, he continuedexplaining what he planned to do. “I’m I’m ga gonna ga go to to CaCa Canada to to try try an and en enlist in in the the Ca Ca CanadianAr Army, an an if if tha tha they da don’t ta take ma me, a a I’m ga gagonna tra try the the Ca Ca Canadian Na Na Navy an and tha tha AirAir Fa Force.”“But you already tried to enlist here at home,” responded Abbey whoquickly added, “If they won’t let you join our army, navy, marines, orcoast guard, what makes you think the Canadians will let you serve intheir military?”4 Nick JacobelisDanny proved that he was upset when he jumped up and blurtedout, “I I ga ga gotta tra try, Ab Abbey. I I ga gotta ga get in in into thatha this wa war!”Abbey knew Danny ever since they were both kids growing up EastHampton. In all the years they knew each other, Abbey never saw Dannyget this upset, except for when he tried to enlist in every branch ofthe service and was rejected. In addition to being a typical patrioticAmerican teenager, Danny came from a military family, where his fatherand two older brothers were serving as commissioned officers in frontline units. Even Danny’s grandfather was a Retired Marine who wasserving as the Police Chief in East Hampton. As a result, Abbey knewthat Danny of all people felt that he had to serve.When Abbey repeated that she would keep his secret, Dannyremained standing when he continued explaining his plan and what hewanted Abbey to do. “I’m I’m na not a a asking ya you to to la lie, A AAbbey. A a all a a I’m ask asking ya you ta ta do is is na not ta tell a aanyone tha tha that I I wa wa went ta ta to Ca Ca Canada, un un untila a after my my mom fa fa finds tha tha the la la letter I I wa wa will lala leave fa for ha her.”Danny then removed the letter from his jacket pocket and handed itto Abbey to read. After reading the letter, Abbey stood up and handedthe note back to Danny as she said, “Your mom is gonna be worriedA Special Kind of Hero 5sick when she finds this letter.”“I I na know, A A Abbey, ba ba but tha this is is sum sum somethingI I ha ha have ta da do,” responded Danny.Just as Danny finished speaking Abbey looked as if she spotted something and pointed toward the ocean and said, “What’s that?”The moment Danny turned around and he spotted what Abbey saw,he was glad she wore glasses and didn’t have the 20/20 vision that he did,when he spotted what was being tossed around in the surf.No one was more surprised than Abbey, when Danny moved fast,stepped in front of her and instinctively pulled her close to him as hesaid, “Da da don’t la look, Ab.”When Abbey asked what it was, Danny responded as he walked herback to the entrance to Main Beach. “La la listen to to ma me, Ab. I Iwa want yu you ta to ride ha home an and ca call my my gra gra grandfa father at at the the pa police sta station, an and ta tell ha him to toca come qwa quick.”The moment they made it to the entrance to the beach, where theirbikes were parked, Abbey remarked, “Was that what I think it was?Because if it was, I’m glad you did what you did, to keep me from seeinga well you know.”After Danny repeated his previous instructions and Abbey assuredhim that the message would be relayed, she went to get on her bike,but stopped, leaned closer to Danny and kissed him quickly on the leftside of his cheek. Abbey then faced Danny and said, “Only a gentlemanwould do what you did, to keep a girl from seeing what was washingup on the beach.”While Danny held the handlebar on her bike, he said, “Yu you babetter ga go, Ab.”Once Abbey was on her way, Danny returned to the section of thebeach where he and Abbey had their recent conversation. By now thebody had washed up on the beach, along with some debris from amerchant ship that was sunk by a German U-Boat.As Danny knelt down by the water’s edge, he ignored the fact thathe was kneeling in cold ocean water. Fortunately, the body was facedown, for had Danny turned the dead merchant seaman over, he wouldhave seen that part of his face had been eaten by fish and what wasn’tconsumed by the sea, was badly burned.When a piece of flotsam washed up on the beach, Danny retrievedthe wooden plank that was part of a raft, that partially identified thename of the vessel that was sunk. By the time, Danny retrieved severalother pieces of flotsam, the sound of a siren off in the distance meantthat his grandfather was on the way.While Danny stood up and he looked out to sea, he was more determined than ever to find a way to get into this war. The United States wasA Special Kind of Hero 7under attack and every male member of the Gunderson family, excepthim, was serving in uniform.The second Police Chief Pop Gunderson arrived on Main Beach, hewasted no time in joining his grandson by the water’s edge. Once hearrived by Danny’s side, Pop spoke as he sized up the situation. “I cameas soon as Abbey called. She told me what you did. Good work, Danny.This is not something that a young girl should have to see.”When Pop knelt down next to the body, he looked up and said, “Youmight want to step back a bit while I turn him over, to see if I can findsome ID on this sailor.”Under the circumstances, Danny figured that anyone who felt asdetermined as he did to get into this war, should be able to see whata dead man looked like from every angle. “I’m I’m O OK, grandpa.”Of all people, Pop Gunderson knew that his youngest grandsonwas busting at the seams to get himself into this war. As a Retired U.S.Marine, who fought in a number of armed conflicts including in WWI,the man who was now pursuing a career in police work, understoodhow Danny felt. As a result, Pop decided it was time to let his youngestgrandson get a glimpse of the ugly side of war.After Pop slowly turned the dead merchant seaman over and heglanced up at his grandson he said, “You OK?”When Danny responded in the affirmative with a nod of his head,8 Nick JacobelisPop continued as he began searching the deceased for ID, “Let’s keepthis between us, Danny. The less we tell your mother about this thebetter. After all, she already has a lot to worry about with your dad andyour two brothers off to war.”While Danny remained standing over his grandfather, as he searchedthe corpse, he knew he would never forget what his observed on thisday. This incident was proof that the war had come home to Long Islandand in a very small way, Danny Gunderson had a much better idea ofthe cost that this conflict would have on the world.A Special Kind of Hero 9CHAPTER 2LIKE SHOOTING FISH IN ABARRELAfter crossing the Atlantic, U-63 began its war patrol by sinkingan oil tanker off the coast of New York. Twenty four hours later,the crew on U-63 got lucky again, when the German sub headed furthersouth and sunk another tanker. Within seconds of the first torpedostriking the starboard side of the oil tanker, the sky was illuminated bya huge fireball. The intensity of the explosion increased exponentially,when a second torpedo blew the bow off the tanker.As a chain reaction of explosions ravaged the stricken vessel, the crewmembers who survived the attack began to abandon ship. Sadly, manyof the men who jumped overboard landed in a slimy oil covered ocean,that was hard to swim in. The fact that this top layer of oil was catchingon fire, further endangered the survivors and caused a number of them toperish. Those who managed to survive did so, by diving under sectionsof the oil filled sea that was on fire and surfacing in locations that werenot engulfed in flames. The recovery of these men was made possible,by the use of a lifeboat and a single raft, that was lowered and jettisoned10 Nick Jacobelisinto the sea, before the fire engulfed the ship.Due to the time of year, the water in the Atlantic was cold enough tocause hypothermia, for the surviving merchant seamen. Even the menwho managed to get into the lifeboat and onto a raft were not protectedfrom the elements. The situation was especially worse for the oil coveredand burned merchant seamen, who were in need of medical attention.Despite their injuries and overall condition, the survivors in thelifeboat banded together and tossed a line to the men on the raft. Whilethe only surviving officer of the attack manned the tiller, he instructedthe men who made it into the lifeboat, to row hard and pull the menon the raft to safety, as their ship began to sink. As the survivors in thelifeboat used every ounce of strength, to pull the overloaded raft awayfrom the sinking ship, the tanker slipped under the ocean, that was stillfilled with patches of burning oil. When the tanker did so, the sinkingvessel let out an eerie sound, that was more more like a very scaryscream. A split second later, all that could be heard were the moans ofthe wounded and the sound of the waves, that were lapping up againstthe side of the lifeboat and the square shaped wooden raft.Despite the massive size of the Atlantic Ocean, the German U-Boatthat just sunk the tanker, surfaced close enough to a lifeboat, to almostswamp the overloaded vessel. Even the men on a nearby raft had tohold on as best as possible, when the wake produced by the surfacingA Special Kind of Hero 11submarine sent a ripple of water cascading their way. While the unarmedmerchant seamen waited to see what was in store for them, they observedseveral armed German sailors take up positions on the submarine,while their Captain and two other officers remained on the bridge(conning tower).While speaking English with a heavy German accent, the Captain ofU-63 looked down into the lifeboat and addressed the only man wearingan officer’s cap. “The name of your vessel?”As soon as the Merchant Marine Officer relayed the name of histanker, the Captain of U-63 spoke as he looked down through the openhatch and repeated the name to one of his non commissioned officers.After the non commissioned officer quickly flipped through pages of aLloyd’s of London Registry of Ships, he looked up into the open hatchas he called out and said, “I have it, Capitan.” 1Now that the Captain of U-63 confirmed the identify of the tankerand the vessel’s tonnage, he ignored the sight and the cries of the badlyburned oil covered merchant seaman and gave order to prepare to submerge. As soon as the U-Boat Captain and the crewmen vanished fromsight, the ocean around the lifeboat and the raft began to swirl onceagain, as the submarine submerged with no concern for the survivorsof the vessel that they just sank.♦12 Nick JacobelisThe unit known as The Eastern Sea Frontier was based in New YorkCity. This command and control center was established, for the purposeof protecting the east coast of the United States from marauding GermanU-Boats. This was a critical mission that needed to be accomplished, toinsure the safe passage of merchant shipping, that was needed to supplythe United States, as well as Allied nations.After being summoned to report to the Admiral’s Office at 90Church Street in Manhattan, Commander Steve Gunderson arrived afew minutes before the meeting that he was directed to attend. As a U.S.Naval Academy graduate, who saw combat on a destroyer during WorldWar I, Commander Gunderson had experience protecting convoys andattacking German submarines.After being invited into the Admiral’s office, the usual pleasantrieswere exchanged between Commander Gunderson and the commandingofficer, of one of the most demanding and important missions of theSecond World War. As soon as the Admiral told Steve to have a seat,Commander Gunderson sat in front of the large wooden desk andlistened, as his superior officer explained the reason for this late nightmeeting. “When I asked for you and your crew to be assigned to theEastern Sea Frontier, I was told that I could only have you and yourdestroyer on a temporary basis.” Then, after a split second pause, theAdmiral sounded like a veteran naval officer, who was very concernedA Special Kind of Hero 13about the current status of the war, when he continued and said, “We’respread thin, Steve. Thinner than most folks realize. In fact, what I amabout to ask you and your crew to do, will not be an easy mission toaccomplish. I say that because you’ll have to perform this assignmentwith very little, if any, assistance.”“You know what they say, Admiral. Ours is not to reason why,”responded Steve, who sounded more serious when he quickly added,“My crew and I will do whatever needs to be done, Sir. We’re readyto serve.”When the Admiral stood up, Steve did as well, as the Admiralmotioned his guest to join him as he said, “Let’s take a look at yourassigned area of operation.”While Steve stood facing the large map, the Admiral used a woodenpointer to indicate where he wanted Commander Gunderson and hisdestroyer to operate. “After you top off with fuel in Norfolk, I want youto cover this area around Cape Hatteras. According to the work that’sbeen done by Naval Intelligence, the U-Boats seem to remain submergedduring the day along the 100 fathom mark, where the water is deeper,but close enough to the coast, to launch attacks at night. Your orders areto patrol further off the coast during the day and move closer to shore atnight, so you can intercept U-Boats, before they start sinking merchantships. After examining all of the attacks to date, Naval Intelligence also14 Nick Jacobelisbelieves that the U-Boat Captains are setting up their attacks along thelighted buoys that are located all along the coast. The fact that the lightsare on in cities and town along the eastern seaboard is also aiding theU-Boats to navigate and identify targets. As a result, the likelihood exists,that you’ll end up engaging a U-Boat in much more shallow water, thanwhen we protected convoys to Europe in the last war.”2As soon as the Admiral finished speaking Steve spoke up and said,“Just how short handed are we, Sir, and who can I count on for help, ifwe end up tangling with a U-Boat?”Without hesitating, the Admiral responded and said, “In the areawhere you’ll be operating,you’ll have a handful of Coast Guard vesselsthat range in size, with the largest and most formidable being a 165 footCoast Guard Cutter and one of the British trawlers, that was sent overby the Royal Navy to give us a hand.” 3When Commander Gunderson asked about air support, the Admiralremarked, “We’re short on aircraft as well at this time, but we do havea few planes that can respond from time to time, but only duringdaylight hours.”While sounding like a team player, Commander Gunderson took aquick look at the large map before facing the Admiral and saying, “You’llknow where we’ll be if you need us, Sir.”After putting the wooden pointer down, the Admiral walkedA Special Kind of Hero 15Commander Gunderson to the door of his spacious office. As the twomen who served together, during and after World War I, walked to thedoor, the Admiral asked Steve how his wife and sons were doing. “Mary’sstill teaching and plans on working with the Red Cross, once school is
finished for the summer. Peter is flying a fighter off the Yorktown and
Gary graduated the Coast Guard Academy and is an Ensign assignedto the cutter Icarus. Last I heard, he was patrolling off the coast of NewYork and New Jersey.”“Your son Gary doesn’t know it yet, but in early May the Icarus isbeing transferred from its home base on Staten Island to Key West,”responded the Admiral who quickly added, “And your youngest?”While sounding like a proud father, Steve responded and said,“After getting straight A’s in math and science for four years in highschool, Danny got himself a scholarship to study engineering at MITin September.”After complimenting Steve’s son Danny for his scholastic achievement, the Admiral asked about Commander Gunderson’s father. Assoon as the Admiral did so, Steve responded and said, “Pop got himselfpromoted and is serving as the Chief of Police in our hometown outon Long Island.”“When you see that Retired Marine turned Chief of Police tell himI said hi,” said the Admiral.16 Nick Jacobelis“Will do, Sir,” responded Commander Gunderson.As the Admiral extended his hand and the two men shook hands,the Admiral sounded both concerned and dead serious when he said,“Be careful out there, Steve. We’re in one hell of a shooting war andright now the enemy is winning. You and your crew are gonna help buyus the time that we need, to get enough ships, planes, guns and wellequipped men in the field, to take the fight to the enemy. Your sons Peterand Gary are doing the same thing in two different parts of the world.”As Steve saluted the Admiral and the superior officer returned thesalute, Commander Gunderson remarked, “Anchors away, Sir.”♦The third merchant vessel sunk that night by U-63 was a smallfreighter, that was heading north along the North Carolina coast justbeyond Cape Hatteras. Due to the relative small size of this vessel,combined with the fact that there were no other vessels in sight, theCaptain of U-63 ordered his crew to surface the boat and use their deckgun to sink the enemy freighter.As soon as the submarine surfaced, with its bow pointed at thestarboard quarter of the freighter, the deck gun crew came topside andprepared to go into action. Once the deck gun was manned and ready,the Captain of U-63 confirmed the distance to the target and relayed thecommand to commence firing. As soon as he did so, the deck gun crewA Special Kind of Hero 17opened fire and continued to fire round after round into the freighterwith tremendous precision.After inflicting serious damage the stern of the vessel, which forcedthe freighter to come to a stop, the German deck gun crew thendestroyed the wheelhouse with a single shot. Now that the small freighterwas dead in the water, U-63 came to a stop a bit closer to the starboardquarter of the enemy merchant vessel. After making a quick adjustmentto the elevation of the deck gun, the crew continued to engage otherparts of the ship. While doing so, crated cargo on deck was turned intosplinters and a lifeboat that was filled with survivors was destroyed, asit was being lowered into the water. Once the vessel caught on fire, thegun crew went to work along the water line and before long had pumpedan additional dozen shells into the now sinking freighter.As soon as the Captain relayed the order to cease fire, the extremelydisciplined gun crew remained at their post, until they were ordered todo otherwise. While U-63 sailed slowly closer to its prey, the lookoutsscanned the area around their location for any signs of other vessels.Meanwhile, the freighter they just pumped over 30 shells into beganto list to the starboard side, as additional fires broke out and severalexplosions erupted below decks.After glancing around and being satisfied that there were no threatsto his boat in the area, the Captain of U-63 turned to his First Watch18 Nick JacobelisOfficer and remarked, “Once again, the American Navy is nowherein sight.”“Perhaps they are off fighting the Japanese, Sir,” responded U-63’sFirst Watch Officer (IWO).After cracking a devilish grin, the U-Boat Captain patted his IWOon his back as he remarked, “Bring us alongside of those survivors. Iwish to speak to their captain or one of their officers.”Once again, U-63 came along side the survivors of their most recentattack. In this case, two lifeboats survived the shelling. The fact thatboth lifeboats were overloaded was evident, by the presence of severalcrewmen and male passengers holding onto the sides of both lifeboats,from their positions in the cold Atlantic. Even the sight of three womenand two young children in one of the overcrowded lifeboats didn’t phasethe Captain of U-63, when he asked the only merchant marine officerto survive the attack, to identify the name of his vessel and explain whycivilians were on board his freighter.After refusing to identify the name of his ship, the surviving merchant marine officer did relay his vessel’s tonnage and explained that thewomen and children passengers were seeking passage back to a port inCanada. Since German U-Boat Captains were interested in documentingthe tonnage of the ships they sunk, to establish their combat record assub commanders, the Captain of U-63 was satisfied enough with theA Special Kind of Hero 19exchange, to order his deck gun crew to go below in preparation ofgetting underway.While the deck crew secured their gun and the ammunition thatthey had on hand, the Captain ordered all hands to clear the bridge.Once everyone else in his crew made their way into the submarine, theCaptain of U-63 did so as well and secured the hatch. Within a materof seconds the German U-Boat ignored any potential danger to thesurvivors, as the submarine proceeded forward and submerged under awave of foaming salt water.♦While a downtrodden Danny Gunderson sat in a Canadian Navyrecruiting station, the last thing he wanted was for the CanadianPoliceman who was standing nearby to be handed the telephone.“ChiefGunderson…this is Constable Ferring of the RCMP. We located yourgrandson. Yes Chief, he’s fine. He was in the process of trying to enlistin the Canadian Navy, when I received a call from the recruiter afterhe read your flier. It seems that he also tried to enlist in the CanadianArmy as well,” said the policeman.After checking his watch Constable Ferring went on to say, “I’llpersonally see to it that your grandson gets on the noon train to NewYork.”As soon as Police Chief Pop Gunderson thanked the Canadian20 Nick JacobelisPoliceman, the Constable added, “Your grandson is a fine youngman, Chief. It’s our loss that we are unable to use his services in thesetrying times.”After hanging up the phone, Constable Ferring looked down at theyoung man who ran away from home, to try and enlist in two differentbranches of the Canadian Armed Forces and said, “I know how you mustfeel, son, but it’s time we got you on that train to New York.”As the respectful young man who walked with a slight limp andstuttered stood up, he responded and said, “Ya Ya Yes, Sa Sir.”After opening the door to the recruiting station, the recruiterextended his hand and said, “I’m sorry that I had to call the RCMP,but your grandfather was worried about you.”After merely nodding his head, Danny limped out the door followed by the Canadian Policeman. Once the door was closed, the olderrecruiter turned to his assistant and said, “It tore my heart out to tellthat young man that he was unfit to serve in the Canadian Navy. AndI’ll tell you something else. I’d give my right arm to have a hundred
young men with that boy’s enthusiasm walk through this door to enlist.
