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Potomac Currents POTOMACFranklin D. Roosevelt’s “FloatingCURRENTS White House” Oakland, California 2006 Volume 3 Number 2 DOCENTS, GUIDES, FROM WHITE HOUSE TO B-24s – 1941-1945 EDUCATORS and more… TECH SGT. GEORGE FRASER’S STORY By Ron Arrants By Angie Papastefan Tech Sgt. George Fraser thought he had died and gone to heaven when he awoke in a hospital in There was a great turnout for the Potomac Foggia, Italy. The year was 1944 and – no – it was not a hallucination. Standing beside his bed was Association’s annual docent training! Fifty-sev- a beautiful blonde vision in the form of Madeleine Carroll. For the younger folk: Madeleine Carroll en volunteers got an overview about safety re- was one of the top movie stars of the period, and was there as a Red Cross worker. sponsibilities, basics of giving tours to passen- gers and ongoing student cruises. This training That was only one of the many experiences related by the former Tech Sgt. during our Oral His- along with dedicated commitment are the key tory Program on March 11. Should George Fraser ever write a book about his life’s journey, per- reasons Potomac docents are a competent and haps he might use the following chapter titles caring group of individuals. Another major rea- (we have included only some of the highlights son is that they are also committed to the USS of what we heard). POTOMAC and its history. …From Head Usher in a DC Movie The- A warm “Welcome Aboard” was extended ater to Eleanor Roosevelt’s White House to our new docents who have stepped up to be Office. While working as an usher in a movie part of a great team. They will begin by shadow- theatre, he heard about an opening he could ap- ing the “seasoned” docents and then be off on ply for in the Treasury Department. He took their own, giving tours both at dockside and on the test and passed, going from $10.00 a week cruises. Each orientation/training session brings to a job at $100.00 a month. Next came an op- eight to ten new docents into the Potomac fam- portunity for transfer to Mrs. Roosevelt’s White ily. House office. Docents are an integral part of the opera- … From White House to Air Cadet Pro- tion of the USS Potomac. They prepare the ship gram. Here he would tell us that on December by setting out chairs and soft drinks, checking 7, 1941, he was attending a football game during for safety and cleanliness, and guiding tours which announcements broke in relaying orders for more than 2,500 passengers during the year. to various high level military men to report to Dockside docents will give tours to about 2,000 their offices or units immediately. After a few guests. Our free student cruises will reach more of those, George realized something big was than 1,300 school children and hopefully, with happening. Then the devastating news came: the help of our docents, instill in them a curios- PEARL HARBOR HAD BEEN ATTACKED. ity about the FDR era and the Potomac’s role in He could go on to describe his decision to enlist that history. in the Air Cadet Program to become a pilot and the strict regimen he placed himself on in order Photograph by Bill Hodges This is the embodiment of our mission - to to pass the physical. keep alive the history of the FDR era. …From Pilot Training to Radioman. George’s dream of becoming a pilot almost came true. Although he made pilot classification, when it came to training it was discovered that he had some- thing called claustrophobia (whenever he put goggles on) – not a commonly known affliction at ✮✮✮✮✮ the time. He had trained in Nashville, Albany (Georgia), Biloxi, and now was reassigned to be an Cont. on Page 3 Page 2 LAGNIAPPE Marti’s Musings Cajun- A little something extra The USS Potomac, like any lady of quality, endeavors to Here are some quotes to ponder. maintain her appearance in the best possible light. After ten years of excellent and dedicated service, she was in need of The only limit to our realization of tomor- a bit of a make-over and some new “clothes.” In the last 18 row will be our doubts of today. Let us move months the Potomac has experienced a myriad of visible and forward with strong and active faith. not-so-visible improvements. Franklin D. Roosevelt The most important improvements have been the not-so If we adhere faithfully to the Charter of the -visible enhancements to the operation and safety of the ship. United Nations and walk forward in sedate and They include: a new state of the art Furuno Radar system; a sober strength, seeking no one’s land or trea- comprehensive overhaul of an engine cylinder liner and new sure, seeking to lay no arbitrary control upon gaskets on all cylinder head covers, a thorough diagnostic the thoughts of men, if all British moral and check of her main engines, (thanks to Advanced Engine Tech- material forces and convictions are joined with nologies); relining of all the watertight doors with new rubber your own in fraternal association, the high roads gaskets; a new fire-pump engine; a dry docking, and lots of of the future will be clear, not only for us but small “tweaks” and gadgets to make certain that our 72-year for all, not only for our time but for a century -old Grande Dame runs safely and well. to come. Winston Churchill, 1946 The more visible improvements include the replacement of numerous worn and faded ships’ furnishings and accoutre- Life in the twentieth century is like a para- ments. These are: new canvas on the main deck fantail, main deck and boat deck railings; covers chute jump; you have to get it right the first for the life boats; new window curtains throughout the ship; new vinyl and foam padding on the time. fantail couch; a new “period” dining table and chairs, and a cleaned and rebound oriental carpet in *Margaret Mead the Saloon; new hand-crafted wooden frames for some of our historic photos; a framed status board and a beautiful table for the Pilot House (thank you, Ron Gamman); and upgraded brass fittings on It is often easier to fight for one’s principles the light switches and lamp holders (in keeping with the historic photos). Most recently we have than to live up to them. added 50 new folding chairs for the boat deck. Adlai Stevenson This “Lady’s” legion of caretakers (and admirers), also known as the Ship Keeper, and the twenty I am glad to see that men are getting their or so volunteer Maintenance Crew, have labored long and hard on her behalf. She is fresh, revital- rights, but I want women to get theirs, and while ized, impeccably dressed and awaits your pleasure for the upcoming cruise season. Do come join the water is stirring I will step into the pool. us for a sail on the Bay. Sojourner Truth Let us never negotiate out of fear, but let us never fear to negotiate. John F. Kennedy NOW HEAR THIS *What would she say about the twenty-first Words from the mouths of some can convey hope, or the opposite. Words, such as those spoken century? by FDR and Winston Churchill, can and did inspire. Roosevelt spoke a language that we could understand and yet he was eloquent in expressing profound thoughts with very few words. He was also witty and, from what little I have read, without malice. Churchill, on the other hand, was also very quick with the comeback but one would not want to be his target. Nevertheless, he did have a way with words and the following, gleaned from The Churchill Centre in Washington, D.C., caught ELEANOR ROOSEVELT my eye. Ahead of Her Time After receiving a Minute issued by a priggish civil servant, An important ingredient for the politician is the objecting to the ending of a sentence with a preposition ability to attract and draw people to him. All and the use of a dangling participle in official documents, political action is filtered through other human Churchill red pencilled in the margin: “This is the sort of beings. pedantry up with which I will not put.” Politics is the participation of the citizen in his Many thanks to all who have contributed story ideas and government. The kind of government he has other information for use in POTOMAC CURRENTS. They depends entirely on the quality of that partici- are always welcome. Very special thanks to Dorothy M. pation. Frye for her additional editing suggestions in preparing this issue of our newsletter. A good public servant becomes so at a high cost of personal sacrifice. We need such men: when Angie Papastefan, Editor we find them we owe them our gratitude and, [email protected] above all, our respect. Page 3 Fraser cont. from Page 1 RICK ANDERSON – A LEADER IN THE SHIPWRIGHTS aircraft radio operator with training in Chicago. UNION TALKS TEAK……………….. One of his many pleasant memories was that We asked Rick Anderson, longtime member of the Potomac Board of Governors, Commander in living quarters were in the somewhat luxurious Chief level supporter, career shipwright and master carpenter, to tell the story of the beautiful teak Stevens Hotel overlooking Lake Michigan. He decks onboard the Presidential Yacht Potomac. There is no better source for this story, as Rick was learned to take Morse code and type at the same the man who almost single-handedly designed and laid the decks.
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