Death of a Wooden Shoe - U.S. Coast Guard

procedures were fact or fiction is unknown to me. It is obvious the procedure
would have merit at least under some circumstances.
Ashore for a few beers with Pete.
June 30, Tuesday; Nanok.
I can't imagine why I did it, but from the Nanok I phoned Peggy just to say hello.
She sounded quite excited and insisted that I come to visit immediately. I told
myself it was just the home cooking that beckoned me. Even as I spoke to her, I
heard some of the crew were being sent to a place called "Price’s neck" near
Newport, Rhode Island, for gunnery practice. It was to be on 20mm anti-aircraft
and 50 caliber machine guns and other such weapons. I also heard I was in the
first group to go. Peggy reluctantly excused me. Bos'n Robbins, Schafer, Charlie
Rolston, "Guns" Owens, Petrenko and I received our pay, caught the train to
Newport, then by open truck to Price’s Neck.
July 1942
There are no longer any doubts. Rumor is now fact. We are bound for
Greenland!
July 1, Wednesday; Price’s Neck.
Schafer is a Radioman 1/c. He is of medium height, slender, rather dark-skinned,
near bald. A very nervous, excitable and introverted individual. He reminds me of
a cowed dog being kicked into a corner. I am very surprised when he begins one
of his very rare conversations with me. He suggested just he and I go into town in
the evening for a few drinks. He strikes me as being lonesome as hell and in
need of someone to talk to. Not many of the crew pay any attention to him or
converse with him. Probably because he makes no attempt to be friendly. I tell
him "OK," I would join him later in the day.
Spent first half of day assembling and disassembling 20mm guns until we were
able to do so in total darkness. A very useful talent we are told.
Second half of day is spent firing the guns. The pilot of a small, slow-flying
military aircraft tows a very large, cigar-shaped air sock, tethered to the rear of
his plane with a very long line. He flies from left to right for a very long distance,
then reverses his course and passes before us from right to left. We all fire away
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