Am in the process of reading your book re Liberty ships; I was part of two crews who collected a new one in 1943 but from the west coast, was fortunate that I stayed in New York for six weeks, many of us had temporary jobs, then over two Frisco for two weeks and then down to a small ship yard just south of LA and collected the SAMPAN on behalf of the Union Castle Line. From there we went through the Pacific, Hobart, Indian coast and then home through the Med; trip was ten months and the only damage suffered was in the Aussi Bight having a split under the bridge; repaired in Bombay and the to Calcutta, etc.
At that time I was an O.S.but through hard work and plenty of studding I manage to get my tickets ending up as Master. I am a member of the Project Liberty Ship, being the John Brown based in Baltimore; in 1999 I went over for nine days and crew this ship but now approaching 86 years am not fit enough to travel that far. You appreciate this is not the full story.
Arthur J.Harvey R235941.