American Valor Quarterly Issue 4 - Autumn 2008 | Page 18

everything is “south.” Like Shep Jenks and his team, I wanted to
be very precise in reporting our exact arrival at the North Pole. I
knew that the disputes still raged regarding the claims of others
to be the first to reach the Pole across the ice or to fly over it with
an airplane. There was no room for controversy over which ship
got there first.
If Shep Jenks took time off to sleep during our transit, I was not
aware of it. His attention to detail and meticulous planning were
a true inspiration to the members of his navigating team, as well
as to me. Later Shep observed, “Our Nav team, by the grace of
God, had individual personalities and gifts that perfectly fit the
challenge we had on each of
the voyages north.”

thought if they could have experienced our seventy-two-degree
comfort, with very little immediate danger, and witnessed this
magnificent crew and our superb, tried-and-true ship. At this
historic moment I wanted to recognize those brave, far-thinking
men, but first I had another thank you to offer.
“All hands, this is the captain,” I said. “We are about to achieve a
goal long sought by men who have sailed the seas – the attainment
by ship of the geographic North Pole. As we approach the Pole,
I suggest we observe a moment of silence dedicated, first, to
Him who has guided us so truly.”
The ship was completely
silent except for the constant
pinging of the sonars,
probing for ice or other
obstacles in our path. I
could feel the emotion of
the men who stood around
me in the control room. I
know there were many
prayers of thanks offered
up at that quiet moment.

Dog gie Rayl was a
perfectionist, and a man
lucky to be alive to make the
trip to the North Pole. Rayl
was a signalman aboard the
battleship USS Arizona (BB39) at Pearl Harbor on
December 7, 1941. He was
sleeping topside to escape
the heat below when the
Japanese attacked. The
explosions blew him
overboard and he managed
to scramble to another ship.
That is how he survived
Arizona’s sinking.

“Let us pause also in tribute
to those who have
preceded us, whether to
victory or failure,” I spoke
into the microphone, “and
in our earnest hope for
world peace.” I glanced at
Captain William R. Anderson on the bridge of the USS Nautilus as it enters the Jenks and took a deep
The other quartermaster,
breath. “Now stand by,
Arctic on its historic mission.
Ronald Kloch, not only was
Ten, nine, eight, seven, six,
good at navigation but also had a sense of humor that could five, four, three, two, one. Mark! 2315 Eastern Daylight Savings
defuse the most tense situation. He liked to pop out a false front Time, August 3, 1958. For the USA and the U.S. Navy – the
tooth and let it hang like a fang. That never failed to crack up North Pole!”
Jenks and the team.
Just that quickly, the first ship in history to be “under way on
Richard Williamson as the steady hand, the one who never got nuclear power” became the first ship in history to reach and cross
excited, and was the best liked of them all. Williamson would go the North Pole. And just that swiftly, we were no longer headed
on to serve as chief of the boat on USS Jack (SSN-605).
north.

Photo by John Krawczyk; Book cover from Thomas Nelson

This diversity and perfect mix of talents and personalities was The bow of USS Nautilus was now
typical of the crew with which I served on Nautilus. Everyone heading away from the Pole, pointed
was absolutely different and a great man in his own right.
due south.
2315 Eastern Daylight Time (1915 Shipboard Time): Passed The Ice Diaries by Captain William R.
Anderson with Don Keith can be purchased
Under Geographical North Pole.

at bookstores nationwide, online outlets,
I made my way deliberately to the ship’s microphone. I intended and from the publisher, Thomas Nelson.

to announce our crossing as we received exact distances to the
Pole, called off to me by Jenks. I could not help but think of
Peary, Cook, Byrd, Amudsen, and all the others who had braved
this inhospitable frontier. I wondered what they would have

AVQ

AMERICAN VALOR QUARTERLY - Autumn 2008 - 18