Jewels from Jane, Jan. 13

Thursday, January 13, 1944

"Last night did not disappoint our expectations. We now know all the Permanente can give us in the way of activity - pitch, roll, toss, and then pitch, roll and toss again. At ten o'clock we were awakened by a blast from our own whistle, but since nothing happened, decided one of our convoy members must have come too close and was being warned away. In spite of the strong wind we kept the cabin door open. With six persons in such a very small space we need all the air possible. We dress as quickly as we can so that the door doesn't have to be closed too long for comfort. We still continue to keep well, rough weather notwithstanding. In fact, the other Sisters and some of the secular passengers are commenting on our good health. We attribute it to our activity -- we pace the deck rapidly and vigorously after each meal.

"Our cabin boy, Cecil Uhruh, is very solicitous for our comfort. He confessed today to aspirations to a literary career. He lent us some of his books - Ruskin, Lamb, Popular Science magazines.

"We had a bit of excitement in the middle of the afternoon. The alarm sounded, everyone dashed into a life jacket and out on deck. We were then informed the signal was for gun practice, so we hastened forward to watch the men in the gun turrets. The object of their interest was a ship south of us just visible at the horizon line. Soon word was circulating about that it was an American cruiser, so all relaxed again.

"There was no moon, but there were plenty of stars last night, and phosphorus in the water. Three cheers - the plumbing failed only once today."

Memories of Sister Mary Aloysia Dugger, (Sister Virginia) of the St. Louis Province of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet. She was one of the four Sisters missioned to Hawaii during the war in 1944.

Jewels from Jane, January 10

January 10, 1944

"For the benefit of posterity (at the suggestion of Reverend Mother Mary Pius [Neenan])we now propose to set down an accurate account of our Sisters' first trip to Honolulu during war time. We hereby dedicate this journal to our dear Reverend Mother who hastened to San Francisco to bid us farewell. On August eleventh, 1943, Sisters Gabriel Joseph [Gussin] and Aloysia [Dugger] left St. Louis for Los Angeles to join Sisters Raymond and Evelyn Joseph. After a series of inoculations the Sisters set out for San Francisco on September thirteenth. For four months we enjoyed the generous hospitality of Mother Agnes Marie and the Sisters of Star of the Sea Convent. On the third of January we received official notice to report to the Navy Department for sailing instructions. After signing numerous official documents and receiving warnings of the necessity for absolute secrecy in the matter, we took possession of the coveted priority ratings - permission to buy our tickets. With the tickets came the notice to report at 1:30 P.M. on January tenth at Pier 42. At 1:00 P.M. we said a last goodbye to Reverend Mother, Mother William, Mother Killian, Mother Agnes Marie and all Star of the Sea Community. With Father Lenone we then honked down the street. Until Father stopped to fix the offending horn, we sounded like a bridal party. With our arrival at the Pier came our first worry - two trunks were missing! After a diligent search we located the wandering luggage and once more breathed freely. By three-thirty the baggage inspection was finished to our satisfaction - nothing was confiscated. Soon after came the moment for which we have waited with eager anticipation. We walked up the gangplank of the S.S. Permanente! Now, let all who have sailed the ocean in times of peace, or who have any pre-conceived ideas of ocean travel, harken to this. There are about three-hundred fifty passengers aboard this ship - originally a freighter. Among the group are four Maryknoll priests, twenty-one Maryknoll Sisters, three Franciscan Sisters and we four. Six Sisters are assigned to each cabin. We four are disappointed to find two seculars appointed to fill out our number. The young ladies seemed as distressed as we at first, but we are all making the best of it, realizing that in war time such things can't be helped. Our cabin contains six narrow bunks, three deep, or three high, a sink with running water, cold only, and one dim light. There are no chairs, no tables. In fact, the only time we sit comfortably is at meals since there are no deck chairs, and too little space between for one to sit up in, or even on the edge of, the bunks.

We were assigned to the first sitting at table; therefore we will eat (when able) at 7:30, 11:30 and 4:30. Our first dinner was delicious. When we finished we were fortunate enough to find a small bench at the stern of the ship where we watched preparations to cast off. At 6:15 we said, 'Dear native land, farewell!' The joke was on us - at 8:00 P.M. we turned in, anchored in the middle of San Francisco Bay. Getting ready for bed proved very interesting and entertaining. We worked in two's since the floor space is very limited. A 9x12 rug would have to be cut down to fit; that includes the space occupied by the bunks. It took a bit of ingenuity to find a place for all the details of our clothing, but at length we were all tucked in, with the alarm set for five o'clock."

Written by Sister Mary Aloysia Dugger, [Sister Virginia] of the St. Louis Province of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet - one of four sisters missioned to Hawaii during the war, 1944