Shipwrecked - Part 1

In August, 1942, seventy years ago, our Uncle Jack Scovil was on the USS Lakatoi.  He kept the log for the ship.  This is his account of what happened.

AUGUST 22, 1942.  About 12 o'clock we were steaming along on a course N.N.W magnitude.  Speed about 7 knots, almost full speed.  Strong E.S.E winds, heavy swell and sea.  They looked like mountains.  Ship was rolling and taking on a lot of water about waist deep in port side of main deck.  Position Lat. 19.03' S. Long. 167.40E' wherever that is.
1300.  Ship took on more water on port side, listing about 50 degrees to port.  Getting worried, Provost asked us if she'd turn over and we laughed at him.  Forward end of the port lifeboat carried away.  Had to cut the after falls to release the boat from the ship.  Captain thought she'd right herself.  Borrowed Casey's knife and cut her loose.
1303. ship out of control and turning over on port side.  The Captain, Lt. Comdr. McPherson gave orders to abandon ship, but I never heard him, hardly any of the crew did, but we left just the same.  The ship sank about 25 seconds later.  In about 14 minutes all hands were in lifeboats and two rubber boats.  All well except Connelly who was cut pretty bad about his back and legs.  There were 13 men in life boats and 16 in the two rubber boats.  The sea is very rough and the swells are like mountains.  Somehow we managed to secure the two rubber boats astern of the life boat.  Due to the heavy sea it was necessary to keep four men on the oars to keep her headed into the sea.  Two were bailing while the rest of us prayed like we never prayed before.  The boats were drifting W.N.W at all times, approximately one knot per hour.  It didn't seem like we were going anywhere except up and down.  It was like riding a roller coaster while someone kept throwing buckets of water at you every second or so.  At 2300 last rubber boat overturned.  With a heavy swell and the help of God it was up righted without a casualty, only scared the hell out of us.
AUGUST 23, 1942.  Drifting W. and N. approximately one knot per hour.  At 0800 issued breakfast which consisted of 2 oz. water, hard tack and 2 sq. of chocolate per man (big feed).  The sea still very rough and cold.  To get the feeling, try going to sleep in a bushel basket with someone throwing cold water on you.  At 1500 issued supper which consisted of two oz of tomatoes, hard tack and six malt tablets.  Tablets remind me of all the malted milks I used to drink.
AUGUST 24,1942 Sea and weather the same, drifting West one knot per hour.  At 0800 issued breakfast which consisted of 2 oz water, hard tack and 2 sq. of chocolate.  Swore if I ever got out alive I'd have tomatoes at every meal.  Sighted school of sharks, a little scared but aged about ten years when they kept on following us day and night.  They had a lot of patience and a look in their eyes like a sailor on liberty.
1100. heard and sighted two patrol bombers about 20 miles N. but they soon disappeared in the clouds.  It is very cold but not quite so wet, still drifting West.
AUGUST 25.  Sea has calmed down a little.  We can see the boats ahead more often now.(other crew members in other life boats)  We stepped the mast and rigged the sails setting course S and W, estimated speed is three knots.  The rubber boats being very hard to tow were carrying us to leeward.  We hoped and prayed to hit New Caledonia.  I was thinking of Captain Bly and Mutiny on the Bounty and hoped Captain McPherson knew as much as he did.
Constantly shipping heavy spray making it necessary to bail all the time.  At 1600 issued supper.  No water was issued because there was only a half gallon left for all. 
2000.  wind shifted westward.  We set the course S and E and settled down to a nice night of shivering.  Speed about 2 knots.
AUGUST 26.  Conditions same.  Men are pretty hungry, licking cans with their tongues.
AUGUST 27. 0000. Commenced rowing with two men at oars.  Course S and E.  Weather cold and shipping heavy seas.
0800.  issued breakfast which consisted of 3 slices of peaches.  We all thought that was a big meal.  Wind is very light.  Took in sail and transferred eight men from rubber boat to row in shifts of one hour on and two hours off.  Awful hard work.  Making very little headway.
0900.  tried to condense water, didn't work and our gear caught fire and almost burned up the sail and everything.  We all had to swallow our hearts about four times before we could say a prayer of thanks.  Ceased rowing at 1600.
2100.  set sail on westerly course.
2200.  wind ceased.  Dropped sail and put two men on oars.
AUGUST 28.  0100.  set sail with light S. winds  with four men rowing at all times at half hour shifts.  No sign of sharks today and most hands went swimming.  Sure was great, reminded me of going swimming at Proctor and home.  Funny the things you think about at a time like this, they're not important things - just small ones.  I think I thought of everything I've seen or done out there.
1330.  was saying the Litany of Blessed Virgin praying for a rescue plane.  When I heard the roar of a motor I thought I might be hearing things.  I looked up at the other guys and a couple of them seemed to hear it too.  Then one of them saw it heading for us.  Everybody was excited and started shouting and waving their arms and shirts and stuff.  The captained showed a red flare but the plane passed approximately 1/4 mile astern of us without giving a recognition signal and disappeared over the horizon.  We all expected a rescue party either that night or early next morning.  We could all see ourselves drinking Joe (coffee) aboard a destroyer or some kind of a ship.  At 1345 issued 2 oz of water and ceased rowing .  That was a lot of water.  The reason we got it was we expected a rescue soon.
1600.  issued supper 2 oz of tomatoes and one sq of chocolate.
1800.  took in sail keeping two men on oars throughout the night to prevent drifting the wrong way.  Began to get uneasy feeling when nothing showed up in the way of a rescue ship.
(early next morning)  0800.  issued breakfast.  three slices of peaches.  All hands were kidding themselves about what time a rescue ship would show up.  Began to lose hope in the afternoon.