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I sat next to him in that small dining room the size of a New York apartment dining room, with a blank piece of white paper in my left hand and a ballpoint pen in the other. I looked into his leathery, shiny eyes. I could see that he was ready. Ready to tell his grandson his story of one of the greatest victories and yet one of the biggest tragedies that ever existed in World War II history. With a humble tone I initiated the conversation and asked him, "Grandpa, what in your life has changed the most since the incident at sea, what lessons did you learn from these changes, and what did these changes and lessons teach you over the years?" He responded, "Well, Mike, to answer the question I have to conclude that what I've learned the most was how to think wiser and faster. When you're in a life or death situation like that, M you have to think fast, but at the same time you have to be certain that that is the smartest decision to make. For example, when Mr. Ensign Blum and I made our way down to the ship's deck from our fire control station we ended up standing on the deck deciding when to jump off into the dark swells of the oily water. I said to him, "Blum we have to wait until the water rises about three feet from us and then we can jump safely into the water." It was a good thing that he listened to me, because if we had jumped off sooner we would have probably skimmed the ship's main deck and hit the gun mounds 20 feet below on the deck, which would have instantly killed us. An experience with Douglas O. French, FC3, also taught me to value good judgment. Frenchy (nickname for French) was with me for most of the four days in the water, which includes the fourth day when the B-17 Bomber flew over our heads and dropped a whaleboat for us. The second the boat hit the water the men began to swim after it like a bunch of starving children after a lone slice of bread. Frenchy gave me his proposition, "Come on Berney, we can make it. Let's go! It's les than 100 yards away!" i urged him not to go. I begged, "Frenchy we're too exhausted. If we try to leave the floating line that has kept our necks above water for four days we risk our one chance at surviving. We were told that we would be rescued sometime tonight, so it is best for us to stay here, afloat." Without knowing the impact of his consequences he left the floating line and joined the other men. He didn't listen, nor did he survive. So now when I watch my children and their children grow and mold into individuals, I always advise all of you to be aware of your surroundings and to use your best judgment when your personal safety or life depends on it." It was astonishing to hear my grandfather speak about these events in this context. I never knew until now how he survived, what decisions he made for himself and the advice he gave to his fellow shipmates, which in part is the same advice he gives my cousins and I today. With a deep breath, I proceeded to ask him, "Grandpa, what more have you learned since then?" He responded, " I appreciate life much more than now. When the USS Bassett picked me up I knew that very instant that all my prayers had been answered. Prayers that I said when Father Conway said to us, "let us pray." This further helped me value my judgment even more knowing that if I were to make wrong decisions, like drinking the ocean's saltwater or swimming after the whaleboat, my chances of survival would diminish like so many men amongst us. I prayed to God to spare my life so I could be there with my wife, whom I had only been married to for one month before our ship departed for the last time. That was the hardest thing for me to face. I could not spare the thought of my wife being alone as a result of my death. One thing I can say is that since this experience, I have also learned how to keep a strong will. I became determined to live my life to it's fullest to see my children grow up and have their children, to watch my grandchildren graduate from high school and eventually graduate from college. His wife replied, "I do have to agree with him. Two years after that war ended your grandfather went to the doctor's office because of some chest pains he had been having. The doctor asked him if he smoked cigarettes. He replied that he did smoke regularly. The doctor quoted, 'young man, if you want to live to be a grandfather I strongly suggest you quit smoking.' The second after the doctor said that, he never smoked a cigarette again. My grandfather replied, "Your grandma is right." I thought that was incredible. I know that millions of people around the world are told everyday to quit smoking or they will live a very short life, however rarely do they ever find the will to just suddenly quit. Only there was a deeper layer to this situation, something beyond the boundaries of just being told the consequences of smoking. This man had been a part of something. Something very special, that only a few people could ever be able to overcome, the obstacles of survival, to beat the odds lingering below one's feet in the shadows of tiger sharks. At that moment I had never felt prouder
to have the name: Bernacil, to be a citizen of this country surrounded by so
many heroes such as the New York City Fire Department and the crew of the USS
Indianapolis, both living and deceased. With that in mind I said thank you to my
grandfather for taking the time to answer my questions, and I left their house
and returned to college. |
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