''The Elsie item'' - USS Landing Craft Infantry National Association

As the rocket launchet bounced off the well deck and started tomake its way over the side of the ship, Buchanan managed to"capture" it; however, in the next instant, Buchanan and the rocketlauncher both took an unauthorized absence from the ship.Upon racing to the side of the ship, I could see Buchanan hadindeed regained control of the rocket launcher, except that heand the rocket launcher were both several feet below the oceansurface and neither of then were wearing a life jacket!"Roberts, that was quick thinking and proper action from you.For that you are going to be a Seaman, First Class."I went from thinking I was going to be the object of anotherCaptain's Mast to a promotion! And I can tell you Jack Buchananfelt differently about wearing his life jacket after that day!I immediately ran to the gun deck and retrieved Jack Musselman'slife jacket and heaved it as far as I could toward Buchanan. Hehad, by this time, let go of the rocket launcher and surfaced agood distance from the steaming 450. Buchanan might not havebeen much of a rocket launcher dancing partner, but he couldcertainly swim!I knew he could make his way to the life jacket and I also knewhe would be darned sure it did not escape his hold! I then yelledto the Control Tower, Buchanan was "Man Overboard" and theMAN OVERBOARD flag was unfurled.Our ship was in a convoy and could not immediately break offfor Buchanan without receipt of orders. In a very short timefrom when I threw out the life jacket, Buchanan swam to it,retrieved it, then "perched" himself atop the floating jacket asone very tired and scared young seaman. He waved to us as westeamed out of sight, only to tell us later, "that sure was lonelyseeing the old 450 sail out of sight, with me holding tight to thelife jacket."I do not recall or even know how, but "Captain" Kennedy wasable to obtain pennission to break out of convoy fonnation andreturn to get Jack;. When we finally made our way back to retrieveJack, I believe Ross and Smidt went into the water withrope in hand to secure him. Needless to say, Jack was mosthappy to see the 450 return, but he was physically spent and inno shape to help much at all with his rescue.With the assistance of six or maybe eight more sailors we wereable to haul him aboard over the fantail. I can tell you that hewas in absolutely no physical state whatsoever to "dance-a-jig"at that time. I believed both Jack and I would be on the"Old Man's S_ List" for sure for being the culprits in the incident,but "Captain" Kennedy was as elated as the rest of us forgetting Jack safely back aboard ship. In fact, instead of admonishmentor punishment, "Captain" Kennedy said to me,13