William R. Hay

William Hay, U.S. Navy, Ship Navigator

William Hay served in the Panama Canal and the Pacific, and later in Korea

You were telling us about your time on the fleet oil tanker. What was your route?

Yes. Aruba and Curacao in the Netherlands West Indies were controlled by Shell and Standard Oil at that time. They had big refineries there. We would pick up our cargo and go through the Canal to the other side. The Caribbean was a happy hunting ground for submarines at that time. They were taking more ships than were getting through. We had all brass tools because you couldn’t use steel tools because they could generate sparks that would cause an explosion.

Once we got through the Caribbean, we’re in Panama and we would go through the Canal to the other side to drop off our cargo. Then we would take on a load of water for the islands because they did not have sufficient water. We would dump the water off there and then pick up a load of oil and gas again.

How long did that take?

About two weeks, maybe three, for a one-way trip. It is a long voyage and it takes them 24 hours to unload the cargo.

So what did you do while you were waiting?

There wasn’t much to do. We walked around and went to the movies and things like that.

Was there anything like the USO?

Not at that time.

You started in 1942 on the tanker? And you said you made five trips?

Yes. I made five or six, I don’t remember the exact number.

Can you tell us about your job on the ship?

I was the navigator. I used to take morning sights, noon sights and evening sights of the stars and the sun.

Approximately, how many people were on the ship?

Must have been about 300 and the same crew each trip with a few exceptions.

How long were you overseas?

I was in for four years. After Pearl Harbor I was on Reserve duty on some air craft carriers. I was also on some cruisers: Newport News, the original Saratoga and on the new one. I was on a couple attack transports.

You stayed in the Reserves and then they called you up for the Korean War?

Yes. Then I stayed in for twenty years before I retired. I used to go on monthly cruises and a 2-week cruise once a year. Lieutenant was my highest rank, the same as a Captain in the Army.

Can you tell us about going to Pearl Harbor?

The Oklahoma was on her side in the mud. They used blocks and tackles to right her up and filled all the holes. They started to tow her back to the States but she sank in a storm before they made it. The Arizona was sunk all the way down. There were still people inside hitting the side of the ship for about three weeks and then no more. There was about 6 to 8 inches of oil on the whole surface of the harbor. We brought in 144,000 barrels of aviation gas.

You were 21? And where did you do your training?

Yes around there. At Great Lakes and some of it down in Florida.

Back to the Panama Canal, you mentioned the graffiti on the walls. Did you add your own?

No, it was covered completely with it by then. Before the War, the walls were clean. After the War, when we went through the locks there wasn’t one space left. “Kilroy was there” was the favorite cartoon.

And you saw Bob Hope at a USO show?

Yes, also Jerry Colona and a girl but I can’t think of her name.

Were you ever wounded?

No, I was very fortunate. I was sick once with malaria that I could have contracted anywhere on the islands.

Did you keep in touch with anyone?

I kept in touch with my roommate from the Academy. There were reunions at the Academy, but I never went.

I see one note that you won the US Speed Skating Championship?

Yes, in 1941. It was the Roller Skating Championship. I was also the City and State Champion that year too, and the year before. When I got to the Academy, I went out for the track team.