A Sailor's Journey Across Two War Fronts

Part 1of 2

When World War II started with the bombing of Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, Michael Milochik was attending high school in Aliquippa, Penn. Mike, like most of his classmates, had never heard of Pearl Harbor or Hawaii. He admitted that his main objective in life at that time was chasing girls around the city swimming pool in warmer weather but things were about to change.

With his country now at war, Mike realized that he was ready to leave home and serve his country but he would have to wait until he was 18 years old.

On Jan. 3, 1943, Mike enlisted in the United States Navy and reported to the U.S. Naval Training Station, Sampson, N.Y. He hoped to obtain a new skill in the Navy that would later help him in civilian life.

He chose to become an electrician but after a seven-day leave, the Navy sent him to Gunnery Fire Control School and assigned him to the USS Milwaukee, an Omaha class cruiser, commissioned in 1923. According to Mike, the first time he saw the USS Milwaukee the ship seemed so huge. It did not take long for him to realize just how small it really was compared to the other naval ships.

Aboard the USS Milwaukee, Mike was responsible for the Mark 14 gyroscopic gun sights. He explained that there were no computers in those days but the Mark 14 tracked enemy aircraft and computed the angle and lead for the gun.

Soon after that job, he received an extra $5 a month for operating a Stroud range finder for the ship's larger guns but quickly advanced to become a Gun Captain for the quad 40mm anti-aircraft gun. He and his gun crew practiced shooting at targets being towed by aircraft.

According to Mike, the USS Milwaukee patrolled the South Atlantic Ocean between Africa and Brazil. The only action they saw was stopping a rum runner and searching it for illegal contraband that could be of use to the enemy. None was found and they let the rum runner go.

It was at this point in the interview that I realized 90-year-old Mike Milochik not only had a sense of humor, he was never going to sugar coat anything.

With a large smile, he stated, "The boarding party came back so drunk, they had to be lifted back on our ship."

In December 1943, the USS Milwaukee was ordered to report to the Brooklyn Navy Yard where she was outfitted with winter gear. Upon completion, the ship joined a convoy and crossed the U-boat (German submarine) infested North Atlantic Ocean to Belfast, Northern Ireland where they picked up additional ships and escort vessels. Little did Mike and his crew understand they were about to undertake one of the most dangerous journeys in the history of naval warfare: the Run to Murmansk, Russia.

The Run to Murmansk involved shipping war and raw materials to the Russians under the Lend-Lease program. Guns, tanks, aircraft, ships and food were sent to the Russians to keep them in the war against Germany.

The route to Murmansk took them above the Arctic Circle where the main threat was still U-boats but the Germans also deployed surface warships and aircraft against allied shipping.

Mike explained that the convoy did lose two merchant ships to U-boats. The sad part was that they had orders not to stop to pick up survivors or they would be sunk too.

When the Germans were not trying to sink them, the weather took its toll. Ships ran into each other in the fog and others hit icebergs.

According to Mike, one ship did run into an iceberg but because of the ship's slow speed in the fog, the crew immediately shut down all forward speed and was able to back out with minimal damage.

Mike described reaching Murmansk, "When we arrived in Murmansk, we turned over the USS Milwaukee to the Russians under the Lend-Lease program. Eighty percent of the crew went back. I was asked to stay because I was able to speak a little 'Czech'. The remaining crew and I trained the Russians on how to run the ship and its weapon systems. Nobody spoke 'Czech,' so we used hand signals. It worked."

Just how did the Russians treat the American crew? Mike said the Russians were nice people, and one man gave him a gold chain. When the American crew asked for some Vodka, Mike described it as "some really wicked stuff that would make a beautiful blue flame if you put it in a lighter." He also mentioned that the Russians gave us back the USS Milwaukee after the war.

Coming home, Mike and six others hitched a ride on a British destroyer to Scapa Flow where they were transferred to a British light aircraft carrier. The next stop was Scotland where they boarded a train for Portsmouth, England.

Upon arrival, they were assigned as stevedores to unload ships where he and his shipmates enjoyed passing around gallon cans of fruit cocktail while on the job. He also mentioned going AWOL (absent without leave) to London because, in his words, "nobody had my records yet."

He experienced being under ground while London was being bombed by the Germans. When he got back he discovered that nobody had missed him.

On another train ride, he said a lady frowned at him for throwing away c-rations he didn't want. He quickly gave her all of his food.

Mike and his shipmates became suspicious of why the Navy was using them to unload ships and not return them to sea duty. An even greater suspicion was why these ships were being unloaded and not returning to sea. Then it dawned on them: D-day was rapidly approaching. Another clue was the number of German prisoners being unloaded at Portsmouth. Mike said they marched in stern military precision but you could tell by their smiles, they were happy to be out of the war.

Mike Milochik is one of two World War II veterans still living in the Swan Valley. Jim Johnson is the second. Johnson served in the Merchant Marine during WWII at the age of 16 and served in the U.S. Army Occupation Forces in Germany after the Japanese surrendered.

 

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