TO BRISBANE
This is War Correspondent Lt Scruffy reporting from the South Pacific.
THE SEADOG was sailing at full speed on the surface when Ensign Hannah shouted to the Bridge that there was an object floating towards them.
Captain Barnaby looked through his binoculars and saw what Hannah had spotted. It appeared to be a rubber dinghy with two dots in it. The two dots gradually were identified as a woman and a child; obviously survivors of an attack on a vessel in which they had been passengers.
As they drew closer, Barnaby ordered, “All Stop! Rescue party, prepare to pick up survivors!”
He then turned to Lt. Commander Murphy, the ship’s surgeon who was on the bridge with him along with Lt. Kaity, who was Sickbay Nurse.
“Better get the operating room ready, Murph. The mother appears to be badly injured..”
Murphy watched as the rescue party drew near the dinghy, then he suggested that he should get down to the deck so that he could offer assistance immediately. Kaity asked to accompany him.
THE SEADOG was sailing at full speed on the surface when Ensign Hannah shouted to the Bridge that there was an object floating towards them.
Captain Barnaby looked through his binoculars and saw what Hannah had spotted. It appeared to be a rubber dinghy with two dots in it. The two dots gradually were identified as a woman and a child; obviously survivors of an attack on a vessel in which they had been passengers.
As they drew closer, Barnaby ordered, “All Stop! Rescue party, prepare to pick up survivors!”
He then turned to Lt. Commander Murphy, the ship’s surgeon who was on the bridge with him along with Lt. Kaity, who was Sickbay Nurse.
“Better get the operating room ready, Murph. The mother appears to be badly injured..”
Murphy watched as the rescue party drew near the dinghy, then he suggested that he should get down to the deck so that he could offer assistance immediately. Kaity asked to accompany him.
Barnaby nodded in agreement, while his keen eyes searched the skies. He did not feel good about this. After their attack on the enemy, every aircraft would be searching for them.
Hannah and the other Lookouts, Bailey and Keeva, had their binoculars glued to their faces as they scanned the skies in every direction. The Seadog was dreadfully vulnerable as it sat dead in the water, taking on survivors!
The rescue party paddled towards the dinghy and “Q” Dog, Jazzy, Cowboy and Phugie noted the need for haste. There was a toddler and her seriously injured mother in that little water-filled dinghy, and it wouldn’t stay afloat for much longer!
Hannah and the other Lookouts, Bailey and Keeva, had their binoculars glued to their faces as they scanned the skies in every direction. The Seadog was dreadfully vulnerable as it sat dead in the water, taking on survivors!
The rescue party paddled towards the dinghy and “Q” Dog, Jazzy, Cowboy and Phugie noted the need for haste. There was a toddler and her seriously injured mother in that little water-filled dinghy, and it wouldn’t stay afloat for much longer!
They drew alongside and grabbed the child first. She snuggled into Jazzy’s arms for warmth while the others dragged her almost unconscious mother aboard.
“Q”Dog applied a dressing to the mother’s wounded leg, and soon they were alongside the Seadog and Higgins, Wally, Ulises and Tyler were lifting them aboard.
Murphy examined the mother’s wounds and pronounced that she would need immediate surgery as gangrene had set in.
Kaity took the child in her arms and was leaving the deck when she heard gunfire. It was from the deck gun of the Seadog and it was aimed at two zeros that were coming in fast.
The rest happened so quickly that I can only relate it as I saw it.
The first zero crashed into the sea, but the second one was strafing the deck of the Seadog and I saw Kaity fall with the child. Thank goodness Kaity was not hurt, only stunned, but the little girl was screaming with fear.
Murphy ordered Kaity below immediately, and he threw himself over the child as the enemy plane continued its relentless attack.
I heard Admiral Andrew, who had been joined in the conning tower by Lt.Grady, scream out to the gun crew to “GET THAT FILTHY ZERO!”
I have never seen the Admiral so livid with rage.
“Q”Dog applied a dressing to the mother’s wounded leg, and soon they were alongside the Seadog and Higgins, Wally, Ulises and Tyler were lifting them aboard.
Murphy examined the mother’s wounds and pronounced that she would need immediate surgery as gangrene had set in.
Kaity took the child in her arms and was leaving the deck when she heard gunfire. It was from the deck gun of the Seadog and it was aimed at two zeros that were coming in fast.
The rest happened so quickly that I can only relate it as I saw it.
The first zero crashed into the sea, but the second one was strafing the deck of the Seadog and I saw Kaity fall with the child. Thank goodness Kaity was not hurt, only stunned, but the little girl was screaming with fear.
Murphy ordered Kaity below immediately, and he threw himself over the child as the enemy plane continued its relentless attack.
I heard Admiral Andrew, who had been joined in the conning tower by Lt.Grady, scream out to the gun crew to “GET THAT FILTHY ZERO!”
I have never seen the Admiral so livid with rage.
It was the last strafing run the zero would make as the gunners hit its tanks and it exploded in mid air, but it was too late! Murphy felt burning darts enter his back as he lay there sheltering the little girl with his own body. He tried to rise, but could not do so.
Deck hands raced to his side and lifted him off the frightened, but unscathed child. The little girl was taken to sickbay and Murphy was placed on a stretcher and carried gently to the Seadog's operating room.
They cleared the decks and the submarine slipped down to 60 feet.
Lt. Commander Finnegan operated on Murphy, removing all the bullets and doing everything possible for him. He had lost a great deal of blood and the bad news was that one of the bullets had damaged his liver. They needed to get him to Brisbane at top speed if they were to save him. It was a race against time.
When Murphy regained consciousness his first question was about the child and her mother. His face relaxed into a contented smile when he heard that the child was not hurt and the mother was recovering from the surgery on her leg. Finnegan had done a great job!
Murphy knew he was in a serious condition, but his bright personality remained. He allowed the youngsters to visit with him and he never gave up for a minute.
Kaity and Daisy stayed with him constantly, and Bentley, our Chaplain, was never far from his side.
Finnegan made sure that Murphy got enough rest, even though this courageous, big-hearted guy seemed to have time for everyone.
Deck hands raced to his side and lifted him off the frightened, but unscathed child. The little girl was taken to sickbay and Murphy was placed on a stretcher and carried gently to the Seadog's operating room.
They cleared the decks and the submarine slipped down to 60 feet.
Lt. Commander Finnegan operated on Murphy, removing all the bullets and doing everything possible for him. He had lost a great deal of blood and the bad news was that one of the bullets had damaged his liver. They needed to get him to Brisbane at top speed if they were to save him. It was a race against time.
When Murphy regained consciousness his first question was about the child and her mother. His face relaxed into a contented smile when he heard that the child was not hurt and the mother was recovering from the surgery on her leg. Finnegan had done a great job!
Murphy knew he was in a serious condition, but his bright personality remained. He allowed the youngsters to visit with him and he never gave up for a minute.
Kaity and Daisy stayed with him constantly, and Bentley, our Chaplain, was never far from his side.
Finnegan made sure that Murphy got enough rest, even though this courageous, big-hearted guy seemed to have time for everyone.
Tragically, even though the Seadog was charging ahead at Flank speed and remaining on the surface for long periods to make better time, our Murphy was losing his battle. He grew weaker each day and one morning, it was announced that he had died peacefully in his sleep during the night. The whole ship was devastated.
FAREWELL TO A FRIEND
CLICK ON THE PAUSE BUTTON OF THE FIRST TUNE THEN ON THE WHITE ARROW TO HEAR THE NEXT
They lovingly dressed Lt Commander Murphy in his full uniform and the crew assembled on the deck to bid him farewell. He was to be buried at sea.
We saw our shipmate draped in ‘Old Glory’. Pixi played TAPS, and then we said goodbye to our Surgeon and Friend, as Admiral Andrew read a poem which Liam had composed.
Murphy had joined the Company of Heroes!
The Admiral’s voice rang out emotionally:
We saw our shipmate draped in ‘Old Glory’. Pixi played TAPS, and then we said goodbye to our Surgeon and Friend, as Admiral Andrew read a poem which Liam had composed.
Murphy had joined the Company of Heroes!
The Admiral’s voice rang out emotionally:
THE COMPANY OF HEROES
I do not sleep alone, - I am not bowed!
The flag of my Country embraces me,
For "OLD GLORY" is my shroud.
The RED fires my eternal spirit -
The WHITE lights my way -
The BLUE is the promise of the future -
The STRIPES heal my wounds and
The STARS shine forever in my crown!
I am not alone, God knows!
OLD GLORY has received me into the ranks of
Her bravest children, where I rest forever .....
In that glorious Company of Heroes..................!
~ oooOooo ~
The flag of my Country embraces me,
For "OLD GLORY" is my shroud.
The RED fires my eternal spirit -
The WHITE lights my way -
The BLUE is the promise of the future -
The STRIPES heal my wounds and
The STARS shine forever in my crown!
I am not alone, God knows!
OLD GLORY has received me into the ranks of
Her bravest children, where I rest forever .....
In that glorious Company of Heroes..................!
~ oooOooo ~
And on that note our Murphy was laid to rest and the spirits of those gone before received him into their arms.
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The SEADOG carried on to Brisbane, and we all looked forward to some R&R in Australia. We needed it!
When we tied up at Brisbane we were informed that Murphy had been posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honour. Also, it appeared that the child whose life Murphy had saved was an Australian citizen, and also her mother, so the Australian Government had awarded him the George Cross.
Ginger prepared this picture in memory of Murphy, and as a tribute to him by the crew of the USS SEADOG.
This is Lt Scruffy sadly signing off.
When we tied up at Brisbane we were informed that Murphy had been posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honour. Also, it appeared that the child whose life Murphy had saved was an Australian citizen, and also her mother, so the Australian Government had awarded him the George Cross.
Ginger prepared this picture in memory of Murphy, and as a tribute to him by the crew of the USS SEADOG.
This is Lt Scruffy sadly signing off.
AUTHOR'S NOTE
I wish to say that MURPHY died during the writing of this story, and it was the desire of his owners that he should be written out of the adventure in this manner, as a hero.
I also wish to dedicate my poem to all members of th US forces who lost their lives in the Pacific - and while defending my Country, Australia, in WW2.
I wish to say that MURPHY died during the writing of this story, and it was the desire of his owners that he should be written out of the adventure in this manner, as a hero.
I also wish to dedicate my poem to all members of th US forces who lost their lives in the Pacific - and while defending my Country, Australia, in WW2.
CONTINUED IN CHAPTER 6
Copyright - Audrey Plowes - 2010