Hello People of USS Euryale

Open Letter from Dwain Grindinger

December, 2004

November 17, 2004

Hello people of the USS Euryale,

Although I never went to sea on AS-22, I did live aboard this ship for two years. I never gave much thought to Euryale history until recently. Now I wish I had made contact with this association a long time ago. I knew nothing of the ships history and was very surprised to find out she was only in commission for about three years.

I was in the Navy from 1959 to 1963. I was assigned to USS Delta, AR-9, and I have been active in that shipmates association for several years now. The Delta was very similar to Euryale, being another one of those ships started as a civilian cargo vessel. Delta still had the outline of a big block letter ‘M’ on her stack, and the name ‘Hawaiian Packer’ on her bows. The ships bell read ‘Hawaiian Packer 1941’.

I was transferred to the Pacific Reserve Fleet in Bremerton, WA in July 1961. At that time Navy personnel were assigned there to maintain the ‘mothballed’ ships. Instead of living in barracks, sailors stationed here lived aboard various of the decommissioned ships over the years. Imagine my surprise when I arrived and saw Euryale for the first time. There on her bow read ‘Hawaiian Merchant’!

All our utilities were supplied by shore power. We used several of the offices and some of the berthing spaces. The galley and mess deck was in operation just as any ‘live’ ship would be. My division used a small berthing compartment located on the starboard side just aft of the mess decks. None of the engineering spaces were used. I’m not certain, but I believe one or two small shops were used. Sorry that I don’t have any pictures to offer. Using a camera in the shipyard was not permitted. I was young and naïve enough then to obey the rules without question. Many times over the years I have wished I had snuck some pictures of all the ships that were there at that time.

Sincerely,

Dwain Grindinger

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