A North Atlantic Convoy Survivor
by
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We went uptown to the bars and saw some of the shows and they were rough, rough, rough! I purchased a small parrot and took him back to the ship. Then we sailed for Venezuela. Oh, I also got a small tattoo. That shows how smart I was.
We anchored offshore and picked up a submerged line. I don't know how we survived that. We were a sitting duck anchored there but God was good to us and we did not get hit.
We sailed to the Dutch Caribbean colony of Aruba to an Esso oil refinery. We discharged black oil and loaded with another product. (I don't know what) for the return trip to Norfolk
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About the Book
A North Atlantic Convoy Survivor is the fascinating life of Captain Ray Hurst in his own words, a personal window on maritime history. Cap'n Ray tells of his nautical youth in the busy port of Norfolk, his love for boats, and his adventures as a Merchant Marine. Along the way he saw the world and fought through two wars. Seriously injured in adolescence, Ray's WWII duty included repeated convoys across the U-boat infested, lethal North Atlantic. Then after decades as a commercial mariner Ray served in Vietnam twice. He later cleared the Suez Canal after the 1973 War and was instrumental in building Hampton Roads' majestic Monitor-Merrimac Bridge- Tunnel. Ray's autobiography is a worthwhile read in an easy style by the man who lived the adventure.
About the Author
Captain Ray Hurst learned seamanship from his father and from his grandfather.
At age 11 Ray suffered a severe injury that prevented him from serving in the Army or the Navy during World War II so his father arranged for him to serve the country in the Merchant Marines. Cap'n Ray loves steam engines and motors. He got his first motor boat license at age 18. He went to work learning to be a machinist and ran a lathe at a cork plant. Ray also loved to race stock cars in Norfolk, Virginia where he once raced against Dale Jarrett's father Ned.
After WWII Ray's mother sent him to Hemphill Diesel School. When he graduated with exam scores of 100% he was offered a two-year scholarship at University of Houston (Texas) to learn to be a diesel technician.
Instead Ray went to Baltimore School of Navigation where he passed the exam for his Ship's Master license. His chosen career served his family and him well. In 1982 he established his own tugboat and pile-driver business which he sold in 1998.
Cap'n Ray was appointed a Commissioner of the Virginia Port Authority by Governor Allen and re- appointed by Governor Gilmore. State Senator Randy Forbes ushered a bill through the Virginia legislature to award honorary high school diplomas to servicemen who went to war rather than finish high school. Thanks to Senator Forbes, Captain Ray Hurst received his high school diploma in 2002.