Organization+of+Convoys+by+the+Allies

Name: Derek Allen

[[image:NavyEmblemlarge.jpg width="259" height="242" align="left"]]
Age: 29

Home Town: Annapolis, Maryland

School Attended: United States Naval Academy

Birthday: May 19, 1917

Zodiac Sign: Taurus

Relationship: Married

Income: $1,886 a year

Occupation: Sailor

I grew up during the great depression. It was a really hard time for me and my family because I had 2 sisters, who were younger than me and my mother was out of work and my father was out as well so we had little money to pay for food. Most of the time my mother would not eat in order for everyone else to eat, so my father did not like that and gave her his food and I felt so bad for him so i gave him some of my food. After the depression my father and I would go to the ocean because it was very close to our house. I really liked that place because I could just go there and think and no one would bother me. This inspired me to join the Navy and we lived in Annapolis and i would go down to the college there and see all the boats and people who were studying there. Two years after I joined the Navy, I got married to my childhood sweetheart, Margaret. The day before I left home Margaret me that we were going to be blessed with a child. I was so disappointed that I had to leave, but it was my duty. By 1943 I had been in the Navy for 3 years and this was when the Allies started organizing cargo ships into convoys (Danzer 570). I had to leave my wife to go and serve for my country.

My part in the Navy was to listen to see if we were coming across any submarines or torpedoes from Germany or any of the opposing countries. Most of the communication was done across the radio so my job was extremely important (Schraff 1). If I had misunderstood something then my ship would have been under a lot of danger. I was a little nervous at first because of all the pressure I was under, but then i manged my feelings into focusing on the task that I had. I never made a mistake and I was never allowed too. The job was very stressful at times and then I thought about my wife and the sooner we were done the sooner I could get back to her. I once heard over the radio that the Germans had destroyed 681 of our ships (Danzer 570). Everyone one on the ship was so depressed because it could have been one of their friends that was on the ship. I also learned that in the US they were making new weapons and many other ships were coming to join us from the allies (Schraff 1). Many U boats were destroying most of our ships so there was a high demand to get more Allied countries to help out. Once they did, there were more allied ships that there were sinking's (Smith 1). With new and improved tracking there was a better sonar system to track down submarines and that mad my job easier because i did not have to listen for coordinates (Danzer 570). Since the US helped out the British Navy, this was the most powerful convoy in the Battle of the Atlantic (Smith 1).

In 1945, my ship returned home. I was very excited to see my wife and my new child. I surprised my wife by coming home, that she was crying because she was glad i was and i was crying because she was healthy and the baby was healthy. She named the baby Michael after my father. I was glad to be home and I was hoping that I could stay home for a while to see my son grow up.

Works Citied

Danzer, Gerald A. et al.__The Americans Reconstruction to the 21st Century__. Illinois: McDougal Littell, 2005.

Smith, Gordon. "Battle of the Atlantic" __The War at Sea__. September 2007. 23 October 2007. http://www.naval-history.net/index.htm

Schraff, Bradley. "The Hunters and the Hunted." __The Mariners' Museum__. 2000. 23 October 2007. http://www.mariner.org/atlantic/aa01.htm

Picture: "Navy Emblem" __Trophy Express Goverment, Military, and Civialan Awards__. 2007. 24 October 2007. http://www.trophyexpress.com/navy/Navyemblarge.html