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There has been a long tradition of seafaring in my family and in the village where I grew up (Rosses Point), so it was inevitable that I would spend some time at sea. Despite some resistance from my parents I sailed in the merchant navy for almost 3 years. The reason that my parents resisted me going to sea was the fact that my uncle Tommy Joe was lost at sea when his ship the SS Stanleigh succumbed to a German air attack in the Irish sea in March, 1941. My first ship was the TSS Duke of Rothesay, a British Railways passenger ferry plying the route from Belfast in Northern Ireland to Heysham in Lancashire. I had an enjoyable time on that ship, but after a year I yearned for something more exotic. Myself and a shipmate headed for London where we both signed on to the Royal Mail Lines ship the RML Aragon. This ship also plied a regular route, departing from London and calling on ports in Europe and South America. We carried emigrant and cruise passengers and also cargo. The cargo on the return journey was always beef from Argentina. I also enjoyed my time on this ship but after about a year wanted something different. This time I signed on to the Shell UK tanker, the SS Hastula. I joined the Hastula in Singapore and spent about 9 months on trips throughout the Far East, including 2 trips to South Vietnam to deliver aviation fuel for the US forces. I had a very enjoyable time on board this ship and was sad when the crew was rotated back to the UK. During my holiday ashore I met a very nice girl, so I decided that I would spend the summer ashore and go back to sea in the winter. In the meantime I took a job in the motor trade (another family tradition). The work turned out to be very satisfying and as my relationship was getting serious (Margaret and I got married 2 years later), I never did get back to sea. I have retained my love for ships and the sea and will always remember my short time as a merchant seaman. Some of my favourite places to visit are the Port of Long Beach and the Port of Los Angeles. I also like to visit the Maritime Museum at San Pedro whenever the opportunity arises.
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