tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post1613067768296662491..comments2024-03-18T09:00:31.992-04:00Comments on Doctor Grumpy in the House: December 24, 1944Grumpy, M.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09858110332436246760noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post-9405196213759816182023-04-14T20:02:18.372-04:002023-04-14T20:02:18.372-04:00My father was aboard the Leopoldville on that fate...My father was aboard the Leopoldville on that fateful night. We never knew until I chanced upon a copy of Alan Andrade's book at our public library. Dad said that they were ordered to never tell anyone about the sinking. As for his experience, he was asleep below. The next thing he knew, he awoke in the water. He was later picked out of the water by what he described as a battleship. A large no. of his company perished. He said that the next day, some of the survivors were ordered to recover their dead comrades bodies that had washed ashore.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post-43731366194392477672014-10-14T11:29:34.195-04:002014-10-14T11:29:34.195-04:00The troops of the 66th boarded 2 ships, the Leopol...The troops of the 66th boarded 2 ships, the Leopoldville and the HMS Brilliant. The was no assignment and troops went to whichever ship they wanted so there is no telling who was on either ship. My father was on the Brilliant, or at least I assume so since he told me half his division was sunk and did not say it was him. Sadly my father passed away many years ago and can not elaborate any further. It was a tragic loss. Very preventable and even more sadly, we did not learn from it.<br /><br />Thank you for the posting.Mike LaFleurhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15966384301703303006noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post-39597497885046553092012-01-18T18:10:07.382-05:002012-01-18T18:10:07.382-05:00With the recent catastrophe in Italy - the groundi...With the recent catastrophe in Italy - the grounding of the Costa Concordia with 11 dead and 21 missing - I keep thinking back to the Leopoldville. The alleged incompetence, negligence and indifference of the Italian captain is chillingly similar. The heroic efforts of the Italian coast guard are also paralleled in this story.<br /><br />I understand the difference in scale of these two tragedies, but there are strong similarities.ronstewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11809825961862332106noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post-75981699834312050602011-12-28T01:53:54.882-05:002011-12-28T01:53:54.882-05:00Thanks for sharing.Thanks for sharing.Whiskoffeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10045530061460253342noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post-11675038881935083592011-12-26T21:49:17.017-05:002011-12-26T21:49:17.017-05:00Thank you for the pom Dr Staple. That was chillng,...Thank you for the pom Dr Staple. That was chillng, in a good way.<br /><br />And thank you Dr G. for posting this. I consider myself a bit of a history buff, but even I'd never heard of this one.<br /><br />I just finished "In the heart of the sea", about the Essex. I'd imagine you've read that one.M.Brayfieldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04024253873519266686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post-61810905109821174382011-12-26T04:00:06.501-05:002011-12-26T04:00:06.501-05:00Your asides remind me how we *won* the war, despit...Your asides remind me how we *won* the war, despite ourselves, while all the 'gentlemen' were on leave...cliffintokyonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post-67515890250151780292011-12-25T18:11:12.513-05:002011-12-25T18:11:12.513-05:00Hey Dr. G! I am a long time reader of yours. I a...Hey Dr. G! I am a long time reader of yours. I am an ER doc currently in Afghanistan. I wanted to thank you for writing about the Leopoldville. My grandpa was on that ship and that night haunted him until the day he died. I wanted to share a poem with you that he wrote on Christmas Eve and read to the family a year or 2 before he passed.<br /><br /> <br /><br />Dedicated to Men of the 66th Infantry by Frank A. Sample<br /><br /> <br /><br />It was the night before Christmas in Nineteen and Fourty-Four<br /><br />When twelve hundred soldiers or maybe more were loaded on a ship to go to the fore.<br /><br /> <br /><br />Most of the them 18 19 20 21 all of them their mother’s loving sons<br /><br />The Army had taught them to fight and carry a gun.<br /><br /> <br /><br />They were going to war to preserve our freedom………<br /><br />Little they knew they had seen their last sun.<br /><br />The soldiers were laughing and full of good cheer<br /><br />For you see it was the holiday time of the year!<br /><br /> <br /><br />Some sang carols and some played games<br /><br />There were so many I can’t remember all of their names<br /><br />The night was cold with many stars in the sky<br /><br />Little did they know that soon they would die<br /><br /> <br /><br />Some were writing letters to their families at home<br /><br />Telling them of their friends and that they were not alone<br /><br />Some told their mothers that they were closer than brothers<br /><br /> <br /><br />Then out of the night, there came such a ROAR!<br /><br />A German submarine had just made a score<br /><br />One torpedo had found its mark, a gaping large hole in the ship could be seen in the dark<br /><br /> <br /><br />Our officers and “Non-coms” still held us in order<br /><br />But the ship was sinking or right on the border<br /><br />Then an order was given “EVERY MAN FOR HIMSELF”<br /><br />It was sorta like book ends falling off of a shelf<br /><br /> <br /><br />All of our thoughts were of staying alive<br /><br />So we rushed to the rail to try and survive<br /><br />The water was full of soldiers, some yelling, some crying, and some praying<br /><br />Some so delusional they didn’t know what they were saying<br /><br />I jumped from the ship and went deeper and deeper<br /><br />I thought it was time to meet my keeper<br /><br />Lungs bursting and exhausted, I said to myself, “Why not die?”<br /><br />Then it came in a vision of light from the sky<br /><br /> <br /><br />A vision of my mother screaming when told of my death<br /><br />This vision of my mother seemed to give me a breath<br /><br />With this new breath if air I started to fight<br /><br />And thrashed at the water with all of my might<br /><br /> <br /><br />I reached the top of the water and felt REBORN<br /><br />But the soldiers were still screaming and full of forlorn<br /><br />French tugs and boats of all kinds were all about<br /><br />They were pulling us in and pumping us out<br /><br /> <br /><br />To end this true story is should be know<br /><br />812 were lost 18, 19, 20, 21<br /><br />None of which were to experience again family and home<br /><br /> <br /><br />EIGHT HUNDRED SOLDIERS or maybe more<br /><br />All lost off the coast of a foreign shore<br /><br /> <br /><br />The year now is 1992 and I have three children and six grandchildren and a loving wife<br /><br />That’s why I say, Thank You God for giving me my second life<br /><br />I’m filled with sadness at this time of year<br /><br />And give thanks to my GOD for everyday I am still here.<br /><br /> <br /><br />FOR THOSE YOUNG MEN WHO WERE SHOWN NO GLORY<br /><br />MY THOUGHTS ARE WITH THEM AS I END THIS STORY<br /><br />-- <br />Stephen C. Sample MD, Major, USAF MC<br />Emergency Physician<br />RAF LakenheathSteve Samplenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post-17091419820221124912011-12-25T11:30:01.201-05:002011-12-25T11:30:01.201-05:00I heard of this disaster but did not know about th...I heard of this disaster but did not know about the gross incompetence of so many involved.ERPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15973334581468131595noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post-65295722058499689062011-12-25T08:18:11.983-05:002011-12-25T08:18:11.983-05:00My grandpa was one of the survivors of the Leopold...My grandpa was one of the survivors of the Leopoldville(262D Infantry Regiment 66th Division). Thank you for keeping his memory alive.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post-10136218068008586022011-12-24T22:53:41.998-05:002011-12-24T22:53:41.998-05:00I've missed these. It's good to see them b...I've missed these. It's good to see them back.Dafeenahhttp://www.indiedesignz.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post-39319750123177412972011-12-24T21:13:16.863-05:002011-12-24T21:13:16.863-05:00A fascinating history lesson, as usual.A fascinating history lesson, as usual.History Dochttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17359304564761950649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post-62977938855586523792011-12-24T17:55:15.292-05:002011-12-24T17:55:15.292-05:00My Dad was in the Navy during that awful time and ...My Dad was in the Navy during that awful time and read extensively about the war throughout his life. The one opinion he voiced was that our services were often led by inept and selfish political appointees and that many lives were lost because of "bone headed" decisions. I'm going to check tomorrow to see if he had a book on this event. Thanks for the story.Tianccehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06565813372939332073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post-54438921756460979772011-12-24T17:48:33.393-05:002011-12-24T17:48:33.393-05:00I love your posts on military history!I love your posts on military history!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post-87499342833111476332011-12-24T17:40:57.746-05:002011-12-24T17:40:57.746-05:00The Leopoldville and Indianapolis trade places, de...The Leopoldville and Indianapolis trade places, depending on the sources used.<br /><br />Either way, both were preventable tragedies.<br /><br />The Indianapolis disaster, however, is well-known and taught. I like writing about the ones that are often forgotten.Grumpy, M.D.https://www.blogger.com/profile/09858110332436246760noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post-59627065634378599582011-12-24T17:36:29.271-05:002011-12-24T17:36:29.271-05:00Check the USS Indianapolis disaster - they had 1,1...Check the USS Indianapolis disaster - they had 1,196 on board, with only 316 surviving. Sadly, that's right up there with this one for number of soliders lost at approx. 880. They suffered from exposure, dehydration, and shark attacks.Chrisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post-11557308204374697542011-12-24T17:33:39.239-05:002011-12-24T17:33:39.239-05:00Tracy- the Wikipedia entry on the Leopoldville has...Tracy- the Wikipedia entry on the Leopoldville has some good reference links at the bottom.<br /><br />Also, in "The Sea Hunters", by Clive Cussler, there's an excellent section on the Leopoldville.Grumpy, M.D.https://www.blogger.com/profile/09858110332436246760noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post-57805854460009900122011-12-24T17:26:13.507-05:002011-12-24T17:26:13.507-05:00I absolutely love, love, love your ship stories. I...I absolutely love, love, love your ship stories. I know you've mentioned the books that these stories are in, but I can't remember the names or authors=( would you mind sharing those names out again?Tracyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02728804109252936318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post-86966512641194905482011-12-24T16:10:13.606-05:002011-12-24T16:10:13.606-05:00Yesterday I ended up watching a documentary about ...Yesterday I ended up watching a documentary about the U boat war. I'm not usually a war/naval history buff, but it was fascinating. Did you know that by the end of WWII, the men in the U boats had a 75% casualty rate?Lianahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13354145408658237195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post-24152658413937534052011-12-24T15:26:38.661-05:002011-12-24T15:26:38.661-05:00Thank you Dr G! Brilliant post like all your histo...Thank you Dr G! Brilliant post like all your historical ones. When you compare this with the Christmas "football peace" ...Eileennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post-91257077825268293972011-12-24T13:32:21.771-05:002011-12-24T13:32:21.771-05:00The whole tragedy is just appalling!
Really shows...The whole tragedy is just appalling!<br /><br />Really shows the range of human decency; from enragingly evil to breathtakingly heroic.Perfusion Is Goodnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post-18051805010353134722011-12-24T13:16:16.749-05:002011-12-24T13:16:16.749-05:00I had never heard this story. Thank you for telli...I had never heard this story. Thank you for telling it.Linda Myershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05706455533282204519noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post-376608007575160292011-12-24T12:56:39.759-05:002011-12-24T12:56:39.759-05:00Thank you for sharing this piece of our history.Thank you for sharing this piece of our history.King J's Queenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13448566467460557158noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post-48839632901098215982011-12-24T12:36:59.222-05:002011-12-24T12:36:59.222-05:00:-( not cool...not cool........
~Francine:-( not cool...not cool........<br /><br />~FrancineAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post-56441122122721222002011-12-24T12:10:06.985-05:002011-12-24T12:10:06.985-05:00I tried to think of a comment that would convey my...I tried to think of a comment that would convey my feelings, but I just couldn't come up with one. Thank you, Dr. Grumpy, for bringing stories like this to us. I had no idea.Chrisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5883634615775822475.post-51128402209259533562011-12-24T11:51:45.665-05:002011-12-24T11:51:45.665-05:00I have, for a long time, been fascinated with peop...I have, for a long time, been fascinated with people's behavior during emergencies such as ship sinkings. The Titanic, the Andrea Doria, the Morrow Castle, the Achille Lauro etc. bring out the best and the worst of people. <br /><br />The lack of communication, the bravery of some and the lack of in other raises many questions for me.<br /><br />Thank you for telling us about this.Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12984912401273140073noreply@blogger.com