THIS BOOK IS WRITTEN
IN TRIBUTE
TO THE INSPIRATION IN MY LIFE,
TYYNE ( TIINA ),
THE WONDERFUL WOMAN
WHO CAPTURED MY HEART AND MIND SO COMPLETELY.
THE STORY IS TRUE, AND IS WRITTEN
FROM THE HEART AND MEMORY
OF A NOW OLD TIN CAN SAILOR
AND
FROM LETTERS
WRITTEN BY TWO PEOPLE
IN ANOTHER TIME
LONG AGO AND FAR AWAY.
LETTERS THAT BRIDGED THE DISTANCE
OF TIME AND SPACE
BETWEEN A BOY AND A GIRL
FROM TWO DIFFERENT WORLDS.
A YOUNG HALF-BREED INDIAN
FROM THE AMERICAN DESERT SOUTHWEST,
A SAILOR
ABOARD A US NAVY DESTROYER ON THE HIGH SEAS
DURING THE TIME OF THE
"COLD WAR"
AND
A BEAUTIFUL GIRL,
LIVING IN A FAR AWAY LAND,
NESTLED NEAR THE TOP OF THE WORLD.
HOW
"THE WHEELS OF FATE",
TURNED TO BRING THEM TOGETHER,
LIKE TWO SHIPS
ON
A DARK MOONLESS, STAR STUDDED NIGHT,
ON A COLLISION COURSE WITH EACH OTHER,
IN
"THE LAND OF THE MIDNIGHT SUN".
THE TRUE ACCOUNT
OF
EVENTS THAT TRANSPIRED
IN OUR LIVES .
THE STORY FOLLOWS A
TIME LINE , 5 SEPTEMBER 1931 TO 14 JUNE 1958.
THE STORY WAS INSPIRED
BY THE LONG DISTANCE
INTERNATIONAL PAPER ROMANCE
THAT
BLOSSOMED
FOLLOWING OUR FIRST
AND ONLY BRIEF (ABOUT 3 HOUR) MEETING.
I AUGUST 1955 .
CONDUCTED ENTIRELY
BY HAND WRITTEN LETTERS,
2 AUGUST 1955 TO 5 JUNE 1958.
THE LETTERS
THAT APPEAR IN THIS BOOK
HAVE BEEN TRANSCRIBED
WORD FOR WORD.
THEY
APPEAR
JUST AS THEY WERE WRITTEN,
THE
ACTUAL TEXT OF EACH LETTER
AND FIRST PERSON STATEMENTS
APPEAR IN ITALIC SCRIPT.
THE VINTAGE PHOTOS, MAPS, ETC.
THAT APPEAR
SUPPORT THE WRITTEN TEXT.
ALL ACCOUNTS ARE TRUE
AND ACTUALLY HAPPENED.
"THIS IS A TRUE STORY"
THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED TO:
IN MEMORY OF MY BELOVED TYYNE ( TIINA ) MY BEST FRIEND, MY WIFE. THIS BOOK IS WRITTEN AS A TRIBUTE TO MY BELOVED WIFE, WHO KEPT & SAVED ALL OF THE LETTERS SHE AND I WROTE TO EACH OTHER OVER 55 YEARS AGO, DURING OUR LONG DISTANCE INTERNATIONAL PAPER ROMANCE 2 AUGUST 1955 TO 5 JUNE 1958. WITH OUT HER, THERE WOULD BE NO LOVE STORY TO TELL, SHE IS THE INSPIRATION AND REASON FOR THIS BOOK.
********************************
I also want to acknowledge the contributions and give thanks to the efforts of other people that played a vital part in helping to reunite a young American Tin Can Sailor and a Beautiful Finnish Maiden in "THE LAND OF THE MIDNIGHT SUN," Helsinki, Finland.
********************************
EDMUND BATTELLE TAYLOR, VICE ADMIRAL USN: Commander Destroyer Force Atlantic Fleet, Newport, R.I. Admiral Taylor was instrumental in getting approval from BUPERS ( Bureau Of Naval Personnel ) in Washington, DC to allow me to remain aboard the USS J. K. Taussig DE 1030 and travel to Naples, Italy for discharge. Unheard of in 1958.
**********************************
RICHARD STEWART MOORE Lieutenant Commander ( LCDR ) USN: Commanding Officer (CO) of the newly commissioned Destroyer Escort USS JOSEPH K. TAUSSIG DE-1030. Mr. Moore gave the XO permission to pursue official efforts to keep me aboard the Taussig. LCDR Moore spoke to Admiral Taylor in my behalf, and helped gain approval for me to sail aboard the Taussig to her first Mediterranean Sea Deployment and be discharged in Naples, Italy.
***********************************
ARTHUR JAMES HODDER LT. USN: Executive Officer ( XO ) of the Joseph K. Taussig. It was Mr. Hodder that some how learned about my romance, and my plans to return to Finland, after my 4 year Tour of Active Duty was completed, to marry TIINA, the Finnish Beauty who healed my heart captive in "THE LAND OF THE MIDNIGHT SUN." He started the whole process in late Fall 1957.
***********************************
MR. and MRS. MOODY ( JAY and DORIS ) and their family of 59 Kay St. Newport, Rhode Island. They opened their home and hearts to a stranger, a young Tin Can Sailor thousands of miles away from home. Their sincere friendship and warm hospitality made a great and everlasting impression upon this young Tin Can Sailor. They played a vital part in my being able to remain aboard the Taussig and ride her to the Mediterranean to be discharged in Naples, Italy on 3 June 1958.
**********************************
BILL W. MOODY (CAPTAIN USN RETIRED): Who was instrumental in providing valuable historic information, photo’s etc. about his mom and dad, Newport, Rhode Island, the Naval Base in Newport, and key Naval Personnel.
*******************************
BRUCE WHITNEY, Seaman ( SN ) USN: A friend and USS DALY shipmate, who volunteered to drive me from Newport to the closest Pass Port Office located in Boston, Massachusetts.
*******************************
EDMUND F. PASSARELI ( FT2 ) USN: A friend and shipmate, who contributed some of the great photos that he took while aboard the USS DALY in 1957. They give a glance into the lives of young Tin Can Sailors at sea. I have included them in this book.
*****************************
ONNIE XAVIER GRANADOS: My dear son, who was responsible for setting up my complete Computer System, Printer etc. He helped me put the complete story in the proper written form. Proof reading it etc. He scanned and printed every vintage Photo, Map, Cover, etc. that appears in this book. I could not have put it all together as well, without his vital assistance, literary guidance and personal dedication of countless hours to help me get this tribute to his dear mother into print.
***********************************
I SHALL FOREVER REMAIN GRATEFUL TO CAPTAIN A. J. HODDER USN RETIRED
ARTHUR JAMES HODDER Jr. LIEUTENANT ( LT ) USN, EXECUTIVE OFFICER ( XO ), PLANK OWNER, USS JOSEPH K. TAUSSIG DE-1030. 10 SEPTEMBER 1957. IT WAS MR. HODDER, THAT STARTED THE BALL ROLLING. IT WAS IN LARGE PART, THROUGH THE XO’S PERSONAL EFFORTS AND DETERMINATION TO SUCCEED AGAINST GREAT ODDS IN HELPING THIS YOUNG TIN CAN SAILOR TO BE REUNITED WITH THE BEAUTIFUL GIRL THAT HELD MY HEART AND MIND CAPTIVE IN "THE LAND OF THE MIDNIGHT SUN".
The gracious Moody Family of 59 Kay Street Newport, Rhode Island, who did so much to make me feel welcome in their beautiful home, my "home away from home." Mr. and Mrs. ( Jay and Doris ) Moody played a vital part in helping this young Tin Can Sailor to return to "The Land Of The Midnight Sun "and Tiina.
L to R, Jayne, at the organ, age 17, Curtis, age 15, Stanson age 12, Bill, at the piano, age 20. Doris and Dr. Jay Moody on the love seat.
The Grand and Beautiful Moody Home, 59 Kay Street, Newport, Rhode Island
CONTENTS:
Chapter 1: TYYNE MIRJAMI KASSLIN, "TIINA: IN "THE LAND OF THE MIDNIGHT SUN"
Chapter 2: TIINA’S LONDON EXPERIENCE, 15 AUGUST 1951 – 15 AUGUST 1953
Chapter 3: CELDRIA GRANADOS AND FRANCISCO DIAZ GRANADOS
Chapter 4: JAVIER FRANCISCO GRANADOS "JAVIE" IN THE AMERICAN DESERT SOUTHWEST
Chapter 5: THE BEGINNING OF LIFE AS A SAILOR IN THE US NAVY, 4 JUNE 1954
Chapter 6: TORPEDO SCHOOL, CLASS A, NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND 4 October 1954 – 13 May 1955
Chapter 7: REPORTING TO MY FIRST SEA DUTY ASSIGNMENT THE USS DALY DD-519, NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND 15 MAY 1955
Chapter 8: LIFE ABOARD A TIN CAN, MAY 1955
Chapter 9: TIINA’S AND VIENO’S SUMMER HOLIDAY IN BEAUTIFUL ITALY 18 MAY – 13 JUNE 1955
Chapter 10: USS DALY DD 519 DEPLOYMENT 1955
Chapter 11: LIBERTY CALL, LONDON, ENGLAND JULY 1955
Chapter 12: "COLD WAR" CAT-AND-MOUSE GAME IN THE BALTIC JULY 1955
Chapter 13: "THE LAND OF THE MIDNIGHT SUN," THE MOST NORTHERN PORT OF CALL
Chapter 14: HEADING TO DENMARK 6 AUGUST 1955
Chapter 15: JOURNEY THROUGH THE KIEL CANAL 21-25 AUGUST 1955
Chapter 16: LIBERTY CALL, BREMERHAVEN GERMANY, AUGUST 1955