Radio Officer a Hero

Michelson's radio officer in 1962 through mid-1963 had once been cited for his efforts in helping save the crew of a sinking Swedish flag freighter. Northeast of Newfoundland on December 27, 1953, MS Oklahoma split in two in heavy seas. The crew radioed for assistance. Somehow, the position given was in error, over 60 miles off. 

Swedish freighter MS Oklahoma broke up and sank NE of Newfoundland in 1953.

Aboard USNS Bluejacket (TAF-51) MSTS radio officer Ted F. Cruze used the radio direction finder to get a bearing on Oklahoma's emergency transmitter, then obtained a second reading from another ship. Working with Bluejacket's second mate, the navigator, Cruze was able to correctly locate the sinking ship, facilitating the rescue of all hands from their lifeboats.

USNS Bluejacket rescued most of Oklahoma's crew while another ship picked up the rest.

Below are two accounts of the rescue. While he should not be confused with the similarly named US senator from Texas, radio officer Ted F. Cruze's proficient use of a now obsolescent technology saved the lives of 42 fellow sailors.

From Brooklyn Daily Eagle, January 22, 1954.

And while adding disclaimers, rescuing ship USNS Bluejacket, a 1941 vintage C2-S-B1 cargo ship, was not to the famous USS Bluejacket, a plywood mock up destroyer once located at the Orlando navy boot camp!