Important Festa in Malta

 

                 How Two American Merchant Marines

                                     Helped Save Malta

                                           By Mr. S.

 

                                                 The Ohio

In the summer of 1942 during WWII, supplies in Malta were running low, very low, hardly enough to survive on. Operation Pedestal was a code name for a convoy to get vital supplies to Malta in August of that year. The supplies were carried by 14 merchant ships, including a fast tanker, the SS Ohio and an American merchant vessel, the SS Santa Elisa, which were accompanied by more than 40 warships, battleships, aircraft carriers and destroyers.

The Maltese celebrate the Feast of Santa Marija on the 15th of August. It’s a public holiday with banks, offices and shops being closed.

But this day has another very special meaning for Malta. During the feast of 1942, thousands cheered as the SS Ohio limped into the Grand Harbour in Valletta with a vital cargo of fuel. This is remembered with a special commemoration at the Grand Harbour every year. Last year, our Maltese friends invited us to accompany them to a very touching service. Allan Shaw, one of the two last surviving crew members of the SS Ohio, cast a wreath and flowers into the dark harbour waters as the sun went down.

Here’s the story of how two American Marines helped save Malta 67 years ago:

On August 13, the SS Santa Elisa was hit by torpedo, with the entire ship catching fire. Orders were given to abandon her and two hours later, the survivors were picked up by a British destroyer which then towed a tanker that had been bombed. It was the SS Ohio.

Soon after the initial attack, dive bombers again attacked the already damaged Ohio. A Ju 88 crashed onto her deck and an Italian dive bomber bounced off the water, crashing into the side of the stricken ship. Although the tanker had avoided mines and torpedoes, she was eventually hit by two bombs and with her boilers ruptured, was left dead in the water. The crew abandoned the ship.

Finally, the tanker was supported by the two destroyers Ledbury and Penn, one lashed on each side, with a minesweeper acting as a stabilizer in the rear. Several American volunteers, Frederick Larsen and Francis Dale and three others --themselves survivors from the sunken American freighter Santa Elisa --boarded the Ohio, repaired and manned the anti-aircraft guns, with Larsen taking the trainer's position, and the gunner's mate and the cadet alternating as pointers

That entire day, wave after wave of German and Italian bombers dove at them, but were beaten off by a heavy barrage. Bombs straddled the destroyers, scoring near misses, but no direct hits were made until noon the next day when the tanker finally received a bomb down her stack which blew out the bottom of her engine room. Though she continued to sink until her decks were awash, the crew fought her through until dusk that day which finally brought them under the protection of the hard-fighting air force of Malta.

On August 15^th, the Ohio was towed into the Grand Harbour by the two destroyers and a set of tugs at 09:30 to cheering crowds and a band playing Rule Britannia. The tanker discharged its cargo onto two tankers, and settled on the bottom of the sea just as the last of the fuel it transported left her holds.

Later, The Merchant Marine Distinguished Service Medal was awarded to Frederick August Larsen, Jr., Junior Third Officer, and to Francis A. Dales, Cadet-Midshipman, US Merchant Marine Academy for “heroism beyond the call of duty."

This year’s service is on the evening of the 14th August, at Customs House, Grand Harbour, starting at 7 pm. I wonder if Allan Shaw will be there this year.

Comments

[Sennuwy (an ancient Egyptian name)]

Grazi, Vicki--Ilene

[Geotacs]

have you tried PBS - i think they have charitable organizations that fund humanitarian documentaries

i just watched one by PBS called Sugihara: Conspiracy of Kindness - he is like the Asian version of Schindler's List

or try History Channel, Nat Geo or Discovery Channels

i'll watch out for it on the cable! :)

[Sennuwy (an ancient Egyptian name)]

Yes, Vicki, I read your excellent blog about writing books for teaching English. Could use some of them at my school--rather than the usual stuff. Most of the time I make up my own material and lessons. See you soon somewhere!---Ilene

[Vicki Hollett]

Ha! Well, it doesn't sound like you're going to be wanting to come back to the US for a good while, so it might have to be a staffroom in Europe or somewhere. And if not, perhaps we'll meet at a conference or something. The world of EFL/ESL is small, so I'll keep my fingers crossed.

[Sennuwy (an ancient Egyptian name)]

Hi Vicky--thanks so much for your kind words. Where's the staffroom?--Ilene

[Vicki Hollett]

Ilene,
I've really enjoyed reading through your blog - all of it! The stories like this - the cultural incidents, the classroom anecdotes - the everyday Maltese life stuff. I'd love to meet you in a staffroom. Thank you!

[Sennuwy (an ancient Egyptian name)]

Dee--Mr. S. conveys his thanks to you.

[Dee Owen]

A lovely story and thank you to Mr.S. So pleased that Allan Shaw returned again to Grand Harbour and hope he is able for more years to come.

[Mr.S]

Thanks for the nice comments .
Allan Shaw did make it to the Grand harbour this year .You can read his side of the story in an article in the TimesofMalta.
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090814/local/crew-wondered-why-there-were-so-many-people

[Sennuwy (an ancient Egyptian name)]

Hi Geo, What a nice thought. I'l convey it to Mr. S. who wrote the story. Know any directors?--Ilene

[Geotacs]

thanks for sharing the story of these two great war heroes...

many owe their lives ot them

somebody ought to make a movie out of this event...

[Sennuwy (an ancient Egyptian name)]

Thanks, Mary, for your compliment. It actually goes to my boyfriend--"Mr.S"--who wrote the story. And thanks for the extra information--Ilene

[Mary Bartolotta]

Ilene,
A beautiful story. Thanks for sharing. The Roman Catholic Church celebrates August 15 as a Holy Day in honor of Mary also. It's called the Feast of the Assumption. The belief is that the Blessed Virgin Mary was assumed, body and soul, into heaven when she died. So, that's the origin of the Holy Mary feast in Malta.