Two Happy Warriors

Powell Black

September, 2006

I received an email from the daughter of one of our Euryale shipmates several months ago asking if I could send her a picture of the ship. Her dad had an upcoming birthday and she wanted to surprise him. Naturally, I sent her a copy of the picture I took on a mail run in the Admiralty Islands (Manus). I learned after I retired following thirty-two years of Naval Reserve service that the Navy Department has used that particular picture in several publications. Her dad was pleasantly surprised to receive it. Of course she emailed me her thanks, and I assumed that was the end of the story, as Paul Harvey would say. Wrong ! Just last week another email arrived. It stated,

“Do you remember me writing to you in June about my father being on the USS Euryale and wanting a picture of it?

Well my parents are on their annual trip to the NASCAR races. They are in Bristol, Tennessee right now. They will be leaving there tomorrow and heading to South Carolina. My father was wondering if you would be up to meeting him? My mom thinks they will be in Sumter either late Sunday afternoon or early Monday morning. They would very much like to meet up with you if you have the time or the desire.

My parents are named Bennie and Ginger Vinciguerra. My mom said for you to give them a call if you would or you could e-mail me back and they will be happy to call you. By the way, my dad loved the photos you sent. Thank you very much."--Terri Taylor

Of course, I wanted to meet Bennie and Ginger, and after making the necessary phone calls, Claire and I anxiously awaited their arrival. They finally made it, and we met them for breakfast at the local I-Hop and had a wonderful time getting to know them. Turned out, he had joined the ship in Fremantle and was assigned to the First Division. Actually, he had been a Gunner’s Mate striker but that apparently was forgotten when he reported aboard. Turned out the only personal connection we could make was the fact that I, being the Mail Clerk, had handled any mail he received, just like I did for the entire crew plus the relief crews.

We toured our city (Sumter, S.C.) the next day which took all morning and ended up at the SubStation (local competitor to Subway) as guests of the owner. She is one of Claire's six daughters. Visited Sumter's Swan Lake Gardens, the only place in the entire country that has a breeding pair of the seven species of swans. I think, being a Master Gardener, Claire enjoyed that part of the visit as much as did Ginger, Bennie and I.

You know by now that we had a great time looking at the vast Euryale memorabilia that I have accumulated over the years, including the album that most of you reviewed many times at our reunions. All in all, the four of us had a great time, and if any of you are in this area it will be our pleasure to welcome you here.

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