Ahoy - Mac's Web Log

An Interesting Link via Google led me to your site

I thought that you might be interested in this community of Live Journal, where I ran across a beautiful photograph that was remarkable for the sinister attraction of the ship, and the location in which the photograph was taken. Via Google imaging, I found the photograph in your article, and I have posted a link to your site. It looks very, very interesting, and most enjoyable, including your critique of the demeanor of gunnery officers. I would wonder about the effect of repeated concussion from the gunfire close by.

<http://community.livejournal.com/ww2_photographs/236230.html?nc=2&style=mine>

Thank you.

Laurence Lewin, M.D.
Santa Ana

Dear Dr Lewin,

Thank you for your kind comments about AHOY. 

Graf Spee was indeed a beautiful looking ship, destroyed by the madness of war.

Regarding the effect of repeated concussion via gunfire, I served at sea throughout the entire WW2, and mostly in heavy cruisers mounting 8 inch guns, in the Pacific war we were often involved in ship to shore barrages prior to and after landings on enemy held Islands and territories.

In the case of the Borneo landings in 1945 we kept up a constant firing of the 8 inch turrets, 24 hours a day.

Post war, as a consequence of all the gunnery noise and my close proximity to it, I developed tinnittus, which never actually stops, and has continued for many many years. Although I have tended to live with this malady, at times my ears shriek with a high frequency whine, and it becomes almost unbearable. But I guess that is a small price to pay for actual survival in WW2.

Again, I appreciate your taking the time to write, and best wishes from Australia.

Mackenzie Gregory

I just wanted to tell you how much I respect the veterans of your generation who put their lives on the line for their countries and the survival of the democracies of the world. The world has changed so dramatically and the political issues seem to have grayed to the extent that warfare seems to be a particularly foolish response to differences in world view or disparity in wealth.

Having been born in 1936, so being a school boy during the war, and never facing the threat of occupation or any of the horrors of war, close up, I take whatever opportunity I can to thank those who faced the dangers and prevailed. The link from one generation to the next is by the story told, preferably by those who experienced it, or from their records. I thank you for helping to preserve the history, and for participating in a war that was a necessary response to a threatening tyranny. 

Should you ever be in Southern California, do look me up. I found a link to war injury via the American Tinnitus Association <http://www.ata.org/action_alliance/action_alliance_veterans.php> which may be of some interest to you. Probably, the resources in Australia are world class, and you have probably explored possible solutions. The House Ear Institute in Los Angeles is affiliated with U.S.C., the school I attended, and has a world renowned facility, in any case.

Best wishes,
Larry

Larry,

Thank you for that.

Best regards.
Mac.

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