(Story submitted by the staff of the S.S. Jeremiah O’Brien. Cruise photos courtesy of Allan Grinberg)
The SS Jeremiah O’Brien
Saturday, May 24, 2014, San Francisco Bay: World War II and Korean War veterans were treated to a complimentary 4-hour cruise on the San Francisco Bay on board the SS Jeremiah O’Brien, starting with donuts and coffee when they first boarded. The weather could not have been more perfect: a soft breeze and sunny skies matched the upbeat mood of the Big Band of Rossmoor, directed by Maurice “Mo” Levich, as they entertained the 800 or so passengers with patriotic tunes.
The Color Guard
The Scottish-American Military Society Honor Guard presented colors, opening the O’Brien’s traditional ceremony of laying memorial Hawaiian leis upon the waters outside the Golden Gate Bridge in honor of those who have served their country. The Big Band of Rossmoor concluded the ceremony with “The Navy Hymn” and “Taps.”
Under the Golden Gate Bridge
A picnic lunch of hot dogs and chips was topped off with San Francisco’s famous It’s It ice cream. But the best part of the day was meeting and talking with many of the 70 or so Korean War veterans who shared their personal stories with us. Several veterans recalled being sent overseas on a troop ship, but weren’t always sure if it was a Liberty ship or Victory ship, as both classes served well into the 1950s and are very similar. Several veterans made it down to the engine room to marvel at the triple-expansion steam engine while underway.
The Big Band of Rossmoor
All of us at the O’Brien thoroughly enjoyed having so many wonderful veterans and their friends and families join us for a beautiful day on the Bay. If you missed this cruise, the O’Brien will be out on San Francisco Bay again in honor of Fleet Week, sailing both Saturday and Sunday, October 11th and 12th. If you’re interested, please call (415) 544-0100 for tickets, or visit our website at www.ssjeremiahobrien.org to order online.
The SS Jeremiah O’Brien, named after a ship’s captain in the American Revolution, is a Liberty Ship, a 441-foot veteran of the Normandy Invasion. Fully restored and maintained in her original condition, and operated by an all-volunteer crew, she is as functional today as when she served as a key component of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s “Bridge of Ships” in WWII.
The Engine Room