I was a Radio Operator on board a heavy cruiser, the USS Northampton (CA-26) that was operating from Pearl Harbor as a part of a Task Force (16) supporting the USS Enterprise at the onset of WW2. Our missions took us to a good portion of the Pacific Ocean area including time in the South Pacific. I had just turned 18 years of age and was still developing physically. I had a series of severe nosebleeds that the MD's attributed to the tropics and high temperatures aboard our ship. Shortly after the Battle of Midway I was transferred to the USA for reassignment to a cooler climate.

The cooler climate turned out to be duty on board the USS HL Scott at some ship yard in New Jersey. We soon commissioned the ship in the USN as an Amphibious Transport, it was over twenty years old and had been a prior luxury liner. The conversion of the ship to navy specifications was not a complete redo job due to it's urgent need for the invasion of North Africa. My berthing was in Suite 202 along with 15 others in the Communications Division. Our location was one deck below the Conning Bridge and had easy access to the Radio Room which still contained a lot of the original commercial radio equipment and a false wooden overhead (ceiling) to conceal cable and wiring.

We soon sailed to Newport News, Virginia where we loaded cargo and Army troops and shortly thereafter joined a Convoy headed for the landings at Fedelah, Morocco. Many members of our crew had never been to sea prior to this sailing and some of the men had served in the Reserves and had limited ship board experience. Our only training was conducted enroute to Virginia from NY Harbor.

We also had a cargo consisting of Post Exchange supplies, including a hell of a lot of candy bars, gum, Cigarettes, etc. Our Chief Radioman was a high strung, peculiar individual and kind of a loner. Enroute to Africa, the Chief (name is forgotten) for several nights would prowl the cargo holds and swipe candy bars, peanuts, cigarettes and what have you and pry loose boards in the Radio Room overhead and stash them away for future use and had enough for a lifetime supply for quite a few people.