PC 1132 NEWSLETTER
JULY 23, 2003--------
Greetings to all shipmates, families and friends:
I recently received a great story from Frank Repko. Our shipmates will remember him as a short stocky radioman who was always going around humming the then hit song "Don't Fence Me In". I have been bugging him for this story for some time and he finally sent it. Because of its length, we are sending it via regular e-mail and blind copies.
Anchors Aweigh Ed Sidebottom
"I was sitting watching a TV police show and memories came back to me of an incident that happened to me when I left the PC-1132 to return the the states for reassignment. This TV story dealt with polygraph testing etc., and I am thoroughly familiar with that type of testing.
I left the 1132 in April of 1945 and returned to San Francisco and awaited for orders of reassignment. I checked into the receiving station at Treasure Island, was assigned quarters and was told that perhaps my orders would come through in three days. With that in mind I called my parents and asked them to send me money via Western Union so that I could prepare and make the necessary ticket purchase etc. While there I became acquainted with a
young sailor who had a special rating, which at this time I cannot recall what it was. I made one night of liberty and then decided I would remain on base until I knew the money had arrived. On the second day I asked the specialist if he was going on liberty, would he check and see if my money had been received at Western Union. The following morning he had informed me that my money was there.
I proceeded to prepare for liberty and left the island and went to Western Union. I spoke to the manager and asked him if my money had arrived, to which he replied that it did, and that it had been paid out to Repko the night before. I showed him my ID and asked him if this was the Repko he paid the money to. He said no but the Repko
that he did pay the money to, did not have an ID, but instead had a pass from Treasure Island with the name Repko on it and that was good enough for him so he paid off the money. Now this pass is a presigned pass and all that is needed is to have the person's name on it and that got him off the base. I about flipped my lid as he told me that he was sorry, but the money was already paid out.
I headed back to Treasure Island, reported the incident to personnel office and they put me in touch with a Lt. JG whose name I do not remember, but he spoke with me and I gave him all the details of the incident along with pointing out that the only other individual who knew I had money at Western Union was the specialist whom I had asked to check whether I had money at Western Union. After our discussion we went to the barracks, picked up the Specialist and had a long conference going over the incident. The Lt. then said that one us was lying and he was going to find out who. Off to Berkeley we head and reported into the main police station. Out came the biggest detective I in my youth had ever seen, and the Lt. then notified us that we were about to take a lie detector test.
Who do think was first. You guessed it was Repko. Well when I heard that I was first, the shaking started, perspiration started, and I was about go under. The first thing that bothered me was being strapped to the machine and then watching those crazy needles going haywire. I must be already caught in a lie, but eventually I settled down. Now you have to picture little short me sitting there shaking and the biggest detective around breathing right in my face. He asked me about twenty or more questions regarding the money and along with whether I had stolen anything etc. In about 15 minutes I was through.
The specialist was called next and in the meantime, the Lt. and I sat there and chatted and of course I was bugging him about getting my money and also concerned on making my trip back home. In about 30 minutes the detective came out and indicated that the Specialist was indeed lying. So off to Treasure Island we go, dropped the Specialist off at security and then proceedd to Western Union. The Lt. asked for the Manager on duty and then went over the case with him and explained that Western Union was in error by paying out the money. It came out the the Specialist had picked up the pre-signed Treasure Island pass, put my name to it, then when he went to Western Union he stated that he left his Navy ID at the barracks and proceeded to show the night manager the Treasure Island pass, so he was paid the money.
I was given my money and thanked the Lt. for doing what he did. To this day, I do not know the Specialist rating was but he certainly wasn't the brightest boy on the block. He could have told me that my money was never at Western Union and I would probably still be fighting the case.
I may or may not have been the first sailor to undergo polygraph testing but let me tell you it sure will make you sweat, because you never know what the questions will be.
As far as the Specialist, I don't what became of him but I am almost certain that he had a beatiful suite at the HOTEL BRIG. That was the last of my memories of things that have happened while serving on the OLD GRAY GHOST, but those memories will live forever.
I finally got my 30 days leave and had the most enjoyable time with my fiance (now my wife Rita) (Blue Eyes-EES) and was reassigned to the Boca Chica Naval Air Station in Key West, Florida and on November the 12th, I was discharged and proudly wore my RUPTURED DUCK (you all know that famous medal)
I know of no more memories, but if one should crop up out of this old head I will certainly write about. To all of you who served on the OLD GRAY GHOST, I was proud to serve with the officers and the crew, YOU WERE THE FINEST."
Frank Repko"