In March of 2015, I received correspondence and an inquiry from Arne Hansen of Herfølge, Roskilde, Denmark. Mr Hansen was interested in information related to STORIS and her involvement with a rescue in August 1947. Though the exact dates in August aren't readily available, since it was generally this time 69 years ago, I want to share this amazing information now as I work to catch up on things…
“My father left Denmark in the year 1947, as a young man to work in East Greenland (Scorebysund). He went to Greenland in August 1947 with an old schooner (Elizabeth). “Elizabeth” got an engine failure on its way from Iceland and was detected (by) “Storis” and was taken in tow back to Iceland. I got this photo from the meeting and maybe someone from the crew at that time can remember this event and can contribute with some more informations?”
The photograph is amazing and, when sharing it with others to inquire about this incident, also apparently quite rare.
Some additional information from other correspondence with Mr. Hansen:
“… But as far I know Elizabeth probably left Copenhagen August 1947. Until Juli/August it is also still not possible, due to the ice, to travel by ship to Scoresbysund. The city still only get supplies by ship 2 times a year in these months.
By the way, Elizabeth were (scrapped) in 1958 after a fire in the engineroom...”
Mr. Hansen noted in one of his messages that his father showed admiration and respect for STORIS that such a ship existed and was operating in those waters.
While looking for information related to Mr. Hansen’s request, I sent a note to Dr. Peter Capelotti of Penn State - Abingdon. Dr. Capelotti is a world renowned expert on Arctic exploration and a retired USCG MCPO from CG Public Affairs who wrote the commemorative Northwest Passage brochure for the 50th anniversary of the 1957 Northwest Passage Transit. The brochure was an important part of STORIS’ decommissioning acknowledgements. Dr. Capelotti indicated that he did not have any information and finding crew members from that time period would likely be difficult as the most junior crew members would be well into their 90s by now. Dr. Capelotti recommended that I send inquiries to Dr Robert Browning, U.S. Coast Guard Historian. Dr. Browning, in turn, referred me to a junior historian in the office. While the CG officials were interested in the information, a check of their files did not find anything related to the ELIZABETH rescue.
The producer of the excellent STORIS documentary, Damon Stuebner of Juneau, did have some information in his files related to this incident. He sent a copy of a New York Times story related to an award given to the STORIS’ CO, as well as a press release and accompanying photo from the CG. A letter with additional information was also included. Mr. Hansen is one of the signatories. The text of this letter is as follows:
“My father Kay Jensen has often told us about how he was rescued by the CGC “Storis” in September 1947. As you se on the photo his ship was a wood-Barkentine, “Elisabeth” of Marstal, build in 1919 on the island of Aeroe (danish; Ærø)
In August 1947 it was loaded in Aalborg Denmark with goods for the Danish arctic expedition of Eigil Knuth. As my father Kay tells: “Many of the dock labourers said it was plain suicide to go to East Greenland at that time of the year, because of the ice! Thus warned Elisabeth sailed as scheduled to East Greenland, destination Scoresbysund and Angmarsalik. The ship was caught in the ice in The Arctic Ocean... “Then we had a breakdown of the engine, - the antenna was already iced over and demolished. Here we sat waiting to be either crushed by the ice masses or saved by accident”.
After three or four weeks an American B-17 bomber, Punchboard spotted Elisabeth, The B-17 circled and signaled that they had been seen. The Danes waved and were very happy. Two or three days later the Coast Guard Cutter “Storis” found them.
Within a week the engine was repaired by the technicians of The “Storis”. The antenna was also fixed. My father Kay tells: “The crew of Storis looked at us and our ship as if we were something from the Stone Ages...but they were so kind and very helpful.... “and the American Mess - it was like Christmas eve, - for at hole week we were invited to eat onboard The Storis, my God, we ate the most delicious American meals, we only could dream of at that time in Denmark, were food still was rationed because of the war”
We hereby thank the 1947 Commander and the crew of CGC “Storis” for rescuing us!
We would be thrilled to know if there still is seamen from the “Storis” who remember the Danish ship Elisabeth, or maybe took photographs of us in 1947. Is it possible to find something in the log book of “Storis”?
Best wishes and thank you for a very fine homepage Pens. Sailor Kay Jensen and son, Navy Chaplain Martin Corfix pens. Carpenter Boe “Jonas” Hansen and son, product manager Arne Hansen Seeland, Denmark
(The context of the letter seems to indicate it was a post made to a Web site related to STORIS. I can’t seem to find any postings similar to this, so it’s possible that it could be the now-defunct site that was run by STORIS Veteran Lt. Galen Varon. I’d like to acknowledge that as a possible source, knowing how much STORIS meant to Galen with all the work he did with his sites and writings.)
So while efforts to find additional information related to the rescue were unsuccessful at that point – barring any new information or sources coming to light – it was amazing to see these photos and accounts shared with us.
Midwife Thora Katchatag holds newborn Playdon Storis Milligrock in the ship’s armory immediately following the baby’s birth. From the collection of RM Cliff Wright, who is believed to be the crewman standing with his hand on the door. The identity of the officer and kneeling crewman are unknown.
Then-Lt. Shawn Decker and LCDR Joseph Vojvodich (now RADM) with Lincoln and Emily Milligrock on STORIS’ bridge.
Playdon Storis Milligrock, from a photo shared by his sister, Sylvia.
While on a Bering Sea Patrol on August 11, 1954, STORIS was moored at Unalakleet in the Nome Census Area. The doctor was ashore tending to medical appointments in town while the dentist for the BSP was seeing Alaska Natives aboard the ship. Then an urgent SAR call came in concerning a downed plane. STORIS’ crew couldn’t wait to recall all those who were ashore so they cast off and headed off to the last known position of the missing aircraft. With her went 21 Natives on an unplanned outing.
The SAR and missing plane report was ultimately cancelled. While STORIS was headed back to the dock, Mrs. Emily Milligrock went into labor. With her on STORIS was her midwife, Thora Katchatag. The midwife and dentist together delivered a 7 pound baby boy in STORIS’ armory at 0748 local time. Lincoln Milligrock was waiting at the dock when the ship moored and he was able to joyfully greet his wife and newborn. So grateful were Lincoln and Emily that they named their son after the CO, George Playdon, and the ship. So Playdon Storis Milligrock came into the world on this day in 1954.
Sadly, Playdon died as a result of an accident in October 1975. But he is loved and remembered today by his family, including his sister, Sylvia, who is a frequent visitor to this page and a good friend of STORIS. She, too, has a son named after the ship…
In 1997, when STORIS was in the area, Lincoln and Emily were able to go aboard and visit with the crew for dinner.
Today, we remember Playdon Storis Milligrock on his birthday while we also remember the USCGC STORIS and the many lives she saved and touched over her decades of service.
Story in the Port Huron (MI) Times-Herald about the reunion to commemorate the 59th anniversary of the successful 1957 transit of the Northwest Passage. The gentleman in the photo is Master Chief Jim Hiller, who made the trip on STORIS.
http://www.thetimesherald.com/story/news/local/boating/2016/07/29/old-coasties-recall-arctic-mission-aboard-bramble/87435888/
From Great Lakes Echo: Duluth North Pier light -- 19 July Facebook post
Just ran across this story about three Great Lakes lighthouses being listed on the National Register.
The so-called Coast Guard Historian quoted, Dr Daniel Koski-Karell, is the official from the Coast Guard who (supposedly) hand-carried the NR nomination for STORIS through the process once California' Office of Historic Preservation passed it from the state to the federal level. Last I heard, he was a specialist in the CG Environmental Management Division. It's interesting to recognize the contrast and contradiction of his comments in the importance of preserving lighthouses versus the CG's position and actual course of action related to STORIS which ultimately led to the destruction of the ship.
From what is written, the CG is concerned with the preservation of lighthouses, to see them listed on the National Register of Historic Places to help facilitate their transfer to nonprofits. Why was STORIS, listed as nationally significant on the National Register of Historic Places, not afforded this priority?
http://greatlakesecho.org/2016/07/19/shining-lights-on-great-lakes-history/
16 July Coast Guard update re: FOIA Appeal
Still watching things grind slowly along in Washington, DC. Last Friday I got a note that the Fischer-Booker MARAD Reauthorization Bill cleared the Senate. This was done at the last minute. If they hadn't passed the language, it would not likely have been a factor in the NDAA. With it's passage, however, we will hopefully see component language of the STORIS Act incorporated into the NDAA.
https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/s2829/BILLS-114s2829es.pdf
This came out this morning...
THE WEEK AHEAD ON CAPITOL HILL: Both the House and Senate return to Washington this week for a two-week sprint ahead of the long summer recess through Labor Day. And there's potential action in both chambers on the defense front. The House is expected to vote to form a conference committee with the Senate to reconcile their versions of the National Defense Authorization Act. The House Rules Committee meets Wednesday afternoon to set up the process will use the Senate-passed bill as a vehicle for the final agreement.
So we cross our fingers as we move ever so slowly forward.
Unfortunately, with the situation with Queen Hillary avoiding criminal charges for her email server issues and associated malfeasance, it's pretty clear that the corrupt Federal government has no repercussions for those who are unethical and break the rules. We'll keep trying to get what we can for what happened to STORIS.
Posted July 5, 2016 on Facebook
Still watching things grind slowly along in Washington, DC. Last Friday I got a note that the Fischer-Booker MARAD Reauthorization Bill cleared the Senate. This was done at the last minute. If they hadn't passed the language, it would not likely have been a factor in the NDAA. With it's passage, however, we will hopefully see component language of the STORIS Act incorporated into the NDAA.
https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/s2829/BILLS-114s2829es.pdf
This came out this morning...
THE WEEK AHEAD ON CAPITOL HILL: Both the House and Senate return to Washington this week for a two-week sprint ahead of the long summer recess through Labor Day. And there's potential action in both chambers on the defense front. The House is expected to vote to form a conference committee with the Senate to reconcile their versions of the National Defense Authorization Act. The House Rules Committee meets Wednesday afternoon to set up the process will use the Senate-passed bill as a vehicle for the final agreement.
So we cross our fingers as we move ever so slowly forward.
Unfortunately, with the situation with Queen Hillary avoiding criminal charges for her email server issues and associated malfeasance, it's pretty clear that the corrupt Federal government has no repercussions for those who are unethical and break the rules. We'll keep trying to get what we can for what happened to STORIS.
While reading through the volumes of material that has been posted recently about the former Secretary of State and her various scandals, I ran across this 2009 posting from the White House that outlined the Obama Administration’s claims for transparency. In retrospect, when held against the actions of the various agencies that we are dealing with in relation to STORIS and her destruction as well as the current situation related to H.R.C., the statement would be laughable if it wasn’t such a reflection of how utterly and truly corrupt and broken is our Federal Government. Most transparent administration in history…hardly. And I’ve spoken with several former military members who served with security clearance and all have said the same thing, that if they had committed just a small fraction of what the former SoS is accused of having done (see OIG report), they’d have been stripped of their clearance and sent to federal prison. Just more examples of how the government does what they want with no fear of accountability. Rules and ethics are for little people.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/remarks-president-welcoming-senior-staff-and-cabinet-secretaries-white-house
