After a lengthy wait he returned and ask me to follow him which took us to the cloak room where he ask the girl for the coat I had tried to borrow. He then took me to a nice restaurant and bought me a great breakfast and gave me some VIP treatment. He loaned me the Pea-coat to use while I was in Chicago but ask me to return it when I was through with it, that had been my intention all along as I knew someone would have to buy a new one. Besides, the coat had a Coastguard insignia on the coat sleeve.

Later, when I was eligible, I took and passed the examination for Petty-officer 1st class and made a passing grade. My Skipper called me into his office and was reviewing my Service Record and told me that he found where I was a Petty-officer 2nd class but couldn't find the promotion particulars and could I explain why!

Of course I told him that the event had taken place on the way to North African Invasion and that the records had no doubt gone down with my ship's sinking.

He gave me a sly grin and extended his arm in congratulations for my promotion.