Our job was to protect the mine-sweepers, protect the Marines on the island and keep the rail knocked out so the North Koreans couldn’t ship supplies to the front line 60 miles below us. This particular morning one of my duties was on the helm. I think I was being trained for helmsman, although my regular duty station was in after steering. I was on the helm when they opened fire. I was given orders right full rudder and all ahead flank. The annunciator, Buddy Wedgeworth, took care of the flank. Captain Kenny went to the open bridge with his binoculars looking for enemy fire and couldn’t locate their position. We moved to put up a smokescreen to bring the mine-sweeper out to safety. She had to cut loose mining gear before she could move out. While this was going on I went to my regular battle station in after steering in the near bottom rear of the ship. All I knew after that was shells hitting and rocking the boat. During the battle I don’t know why but I was not afraid. I stayed calm through it all. I had earphones on watching the gauges. If the bridge gets knocked out, the ship can still be controlled by after steering, which was my job. I thanked God that didn’t happen. Years later, I found out the rest of the story.

The mine-sweeper was able to make it to safe water. The Marines and South Koreans were on the Island. We were out of range for the enemy to fire on us so they turned to the land. The Marines tried to get air support but none came. So we went back in between the island and the mainland to give the Marines protection. Now they are firing at us again. We got to the point of the minefield and were turning toward the mainland we spotted their position, in a cave. Now we could return fire. We fired two tracers to light up the sky. The third or fourth shell hit pay dirt and blew up the cave.

We were lucky; we did not take a hit at all and that was our only battle. In World War II the Taylor had 9 ribbons and 9 battle stars where ours had only 1. Captain Kinney has always been my hero. After reading about his life other than the two years I spent with him he is even more so.

Don Wade / typed by his daughter Donna Key