MUGFORD Crew Members Rememberances of May 15th. 1943...

Alfred B. Alexander(26k) (Machinist Mate 1st Class)...
was part of the Mugford's Engineer Force and worked in the Auxiliary gang. He was close to his rescue and repair battle station located at the machine shop which was amidships on the main deck. Word came down from the bridge that survivors had been spotted in the water. The entire rescue gang sprang into action. They arrived at the port side main deck which was only eight feet above the water.
The visibility was good. He and the rest of the Rescue crew observed a sea surface littered with debris. An oil slick covered the water. Survivors were huddled on hatch covers; a piece of bulkhead or compartment wall; and other debris.
Alexander helped pull survivors including Sister Savage on board. The scene was hectic. They were all aware that the Mugford, still in the water, was an easy target if any enemy submarine were around. Everyone not helping pull in survivors or administering to their needs was on alert in case the submarine returned.
Alexander remembers the nurse in particular - the survivors wanted her to be first on board. She had been sharing her coat with a man who appeared to be badly burned. The survivors kept calling her "sister" and Alexander thought she was a nun. He also helped pull one survivor on board who was recognized by a friend already rescued. The friend yelled out "Bluey". Alexander thought this a very odd nickname for a friend with red hair!

Alexander retired 1989 as an Electronic Technician - he had worked on the Atlas rockets and helped build cameras to photograph Mars on the Viking '76 mission. He lives in Scituate, MA

Frederick G. Chabot (2nd. class Watertender)...
was on his way to take charge of the No.2 Fireroom watch when he became aware that something was up. Men were running to his side of the ship and pointing off into the distance. Others leaning on the rope rail trained their rifles toward floatsam and other debris quickly coming into view. A shark warning had been given. Chabot could now see survivors in the water. He was witnessing a terrible scene yet he stood spellbound when he realized that among the survivors was a near naked women. She had one leg drawn up near her body, the other straight out in front of her. Chabot described her as looking like a queen on a throne with a small piece of her ship beneath her. It was a stirring sight to see! Here amid all this misery - a woman! The picture was burned forever into his memory. He wanted to stay and watch but duty called. He reluctantly stepped over the hatch covering and started down the airlock to enter the fireroom. He hesitated to take one last look at this magnificent woman and the heroic men who had shared a terrible ordeal.
Later on Chabot talked with crewmates who filled him in on the missing details. The one thing that was mentioned most often was the coolness of this lady - how she called out to identify herself; fellow survivors; their vessel; and when some of the Mugford crew had dropped into the water to assist the survivors she had directed them to the ones most in need of assistance; to the Mugford crew on deck she gave the sense of being totally in control of the situation.

Chabot retired in 1972 as a planner and estimator of ships, U.S. Navy Ship Yard. He lives in Grapevine, Texas

James R. Cofer (26k) Fire Control Striker Seaman 1/c...
May15, 1943 . Cofer was on the bridge as a lookout and able to identify survivors in the water. He reported that he saw and heard a female voice. At the same time Sister Savage reached the deck of the Mugford a jittery lookout yelled "torpedo starboard!" Savage was shivering from exposure. A few more survivors made it safely to the deck. Cofer remembers Capt. Corey yelling "Hard left rudder - full ahead". There were other 'sightings' of torpedoes. In the end they managed to pick up over 60 survivors. Cofer still has the memory of Sister Savage being so cold and her simple statement that "It was horrible".

Cofer left the Mugford in late 1945 as a FCO 1/c. He returned to his job in the textile industry. He resides in Chattanooga, Tennessee

Joseph A. Dodson (26k) (executive officer)...
Had served in submarines for the first 18 months of WWII before being transferred to the Mugford as the executive officer. He was on deck supervising the rescue. He remembers clearly two events associated with the rescue. The first, sighting the raft holding the sister and several others. All appeared to be virtually unclothed as though their clothes had been blown off them. The second event was seeing some of the Mugford crew jumping into the water to give assistance to the survivors.

Dodson is retired as a USN Commander. He resides in Russell, Kentucky

George L. Johnston Metalsmith 2/c... was responsible for hull repair and welding. Johnston was in the machine shop on the main deck. He became aware that something unusual was taking place when the Mugford suddenly changed course. He helped get the survivors onboard and donated dry clothing to meet their comfort.

Johnston resides in Clearlake, California

Philip A. Murray (26k) (USN Lt.)...
spent most of the rescue operation time supervising communication details - visual and radio. He observed the operation from a distance. After the rescue operation when they were heading back to port Murray hurried through the wardroom several times. Each time he observed Sister Savage working hand-in-hand with Lt. Bruce McCampbell (the Mugford M.O). She stayed by his side giving physical and spiritual solace to her injured shipmates. McCampbell had to order her to take a break and receive some care and attention herself.
An amusing incident took place on the return to Port. Murray approached an elderly deck hand of the Centaur. The individual had taken advantage of a shower, a snack and some clean, dry articles of uniform and had gone back up on the main deck aft. He was looking over the side as the wake rushed by. Murray enquired as to how he was faring. He smiled at Murray replying that he was grateful to a good Lord and some good people for being alive. He then asked Murray how fast they were moving. Murray replied that they were making turns for 25 knots. With a toothy grin and an expression of surprise the old salt replied, "(Expletive!)...Twenty five knots? I've never been faster than fifteen knots in all my life."
Murray was impressed with the overall pleasant attitudes and concern that the survivors had for each others well being. They expressed gratitude to their rescuers who had tried to make them comfortable. Murray noted that the most appreciated personal article provided each was a toothbrush - interesting that such a little worldly article could be appreciated so much.

Murray is retired and resides in Vero Beach, Florida

Bill Records (26k) Radioman... May, 1943 - 18 years old.
was an 18 year old sailor on board at the time, and although 50 years have gone by, I still remember the shocking experience from time to time. Deep within me there remains a certain sadness for all of those people, especially the 268 unfortunates who perished in that horrendous explosion. They were all heros, each and every one.
Records wrote a brief description of the rescue and titled it 'The Timely Rescue'. He remembers hearing the pitiful cry "please don't leave us" from an individual among the first group of survivors. He noted that he would hear that pleading voice forever!
The other event took place just as the rescue operation was about to start, a woman's voice pierced the air electrifying the entire MUGFORD crew. In a second of stunned silence, each man was frozen in time wondering what in the world was a women doing out there amongst all of that terrible death and destruction.

Records resides in Kelseyville, California. In 1992 he met Tom Hobdenin San Francisco. Forty-nine years earlier Tom was a Cpl. attached to the Centaur Medical Staff and a non-swimmer! Bill Records was an invited guest at the CENTAUR 50th. anniversary commemoration services at Danger Point, NSW in 1993.

Finch Stowell Firecontrolman 2/c...
was on the Firecontrol Director platform above the bridge, as were all available firecontrolmen. They were particularly concerned that the sub might be loitering in the vicinity of its kill. Stowell retained only fragmentary recollections of the survivors especially their small numbers. He does vividly recollect the presence of many sharks swimming around the area close to people.

Stowell was discharged in 1945 as a Chief Firecontrolman. He attended the University of Illinois and earned a B.Sc in Agricultural Engineering. He worked for the Department of Defense for thirty years retiring in 1979. He resides in Princeville, Illinois

William Bernie Walters Jr. Seaman, Second Class (2/c)...
Walters had just come up from the galley below in search of a friend. A PBY started circling low and signaling a message. Things appeared to happen quickly. The plane returned to the survivors and circled just above them. At the same time the Mugford surged to full speed and headed toward the rescue area. It was not long before they could hear screams then begin to spot survivors "here, there, and everywhere". Walters was only twenty years old and had only come aboard the Mugford in Sydney a month earlier. For the young inexperienced Mugford sailors like Walters the Centaur survivors drove home the reality of the war - "for the very first time (the new recuits) actually saw the horrible effects of war". Walters recalled that "We were simply scared".
During the rescue operation Walters remembers running to get rope and doing exactly what the rescue gang called for. The one thing Walters recalls most clearly is the cat and mouse game that had to be played during the rescue operation. There were rafts, pieces of wood and various things floating around the whole area with survivors clinging on and shouting and pleading for help. All hands were on full alert aboard the Mugford. They rushed from one group to another. When they slowed down and started picking up survivors the sonar would be sweeping on the lookout for the submarine. The lookouts would spot periscopes. The search would be abandoned. When the area appeared secure the Mugford continued its rescue operation.

Walters left the Mugford in April 1945 as a Radarman 3/c. He was employed by North American Aviation which later became Rockwell International. During his 33 year career as an electrical mockup man he got to work on the Apollo Space Craft and all the shuttles including Challenger. He resides in Downey, California.

Oree C. Weller(26k) Third Class (RM3/c)...
was on duty in the main radio room when the bridge lookout announced that a raft with people aboard had been spotted in the water ahead of the Mugford. Weller made his way to the main deck port side to assist in receiving survivors. They came along side a raft with survivors aboard. One was a woman with little or no clothing on. He remembers some of his crewmates jumping into the water to assist the survivors who all appeared dehydrated and emaciated. Many had severe sunburn. The woman had probably the worst sunburn case.
As the survivors made the deck of the Mugford individual American sailors helped them down to the Mess Hall. There they were put in bunks. Weller helped to wash and cleanse two survivors with warm soapy water. It was during this time that various survivors recounted their story however, Weller appeared to be more concerned with whether he was hurting them as he bathed them. The general feeling among the Mugford crew was one of disgust for the Japanese.
After being bathed Weller's two survivors were fed in the Mess Hall. Steak and potatoes was on the menu but he noted that the huge servings were more than their stomachs could handle. The Mugford crew collected a purse for the survivors and Sister Savage expressed greatfulness.

Weller was released to inactive duty in 1945 as a Radioman, First Class, USN (RM1/c). He completed a Civil Engineering Degree at the University of Texas. He was commissioned in the US Naval reserve. From 1951 to 1984 he worked with The Boeing Corporation. He retired as a Lt. Cmdr, Civil Engineering Corps. He presently runs his own Consulting Engineering Firm in Bellevue, Washington.