| Summary: | Richard Williams, pp. 5-6 Commander David Canham, pp. 9, 17-18 Prince Rainier, pp. 13 Grace Kelley, pp. 13 Howard Wessbecher, pp. 13 Lieutenant Tuck, pp. 13 Chaplain John Condit, pp. 17-18 Doctor Taylor, pp. 19 Charlie Bevilacqua, pp. 27-28 Mr. Grisez begins his interview with a discussion of the Navy and his reasons for joining, including learning a trade and seeing the world. He moves quickly to a discussion of Operation Deep Freeze and the selection process he went through to be included as a machinist mate, which entailed the service and operation of auxiliary engines, deck winches, and auxiliary diesel engines. Grisez describes the trip to Antarctica, including a stop in Panama and New Zealand. He discusses issues that the crew had to face upon arrival, including the offloading of the ships and the creation of landing strips for the ski planes used to photographically map the Antarctic continent. The camp was eventually located at Hut Point and the members used icebreakers to transport supplies from more open water. Grisez spent time driving a D-2 caterpillar to haul goods to the base area. He describes the establishment of a Pole Base and the rush to complete construction ahead of the Russian group. He also describes the activities taking place during the build-up of the McMurdo Station, including the construction of buildings and the use of snow as a water source. Grisez became involved in the clearing of snow for runway construction in order to facilitate the building of the South Pole Base Station. The group working on the South Pole project consisted of 13 officers, 78 enlisted men, and two civilians, including Army, Navy, and Marine personnel. Between 20 and 30 of them worked on the runway construction project with Grisez, 12 hour shifts, seven days a week. Once a month the men had a day off and the resident chaplain organized a ‘variety’ show in the barracks. In 1956, the show consisted of a mock wedding for Prince Rainier and Grace Kelley. Prince Rainier was played by Howard Wessbecher and Grace Kelley was played by Lieutenant Tuck, who wore a wedding gown made from a parachute! Grisez discusses the men’s experiences with ‘big eye’ which was the name given to insomnia as a result of 24 hour darkness. Grisez discusses the importance of the ham radio at the base, particularly in terms of morale. Through a phone patch, ham radio operators in the US were able to connect the men with their families at home. He also discusses the effect of the first light of the year on the men. Grisez spends a good amount of time discussing Commander Canham and his role as the leader of their camp and his transition of the inter-personal relationships from a strict military style to a more relaxed camaraderie. He also describes the use of alcohol for medicinal purposes and the lack of alcoholism among the men, despite the easy availability of supply. Grisez goes on to describe the continued relationships he maintains with many of the Seabees from that time and the reunions they hold on a regular basis. He reminisces about young Seabees who were not trained to be at sea and the problems they encountered. During Grisez’s trip to Antarctica, he was assigned to the communication room on the icebreaker. He discusses how this benefited him later on, when the officers were trying to figure out the point of inaccessibility (the place on the continent that is the farthest from the sea). His method of measurement involved finding three points on the circumference of a circle using a flashlight held over the map in a darkened room. These points were then connected and that was the point of inaccessibility. Grisez discusses the equipment and clothing that they were allotted and the benefits of the first thermal boots. In 1995, Grisez began working for ASA (Antarctic Support Associates), a civilian corporation under contract with the National Science Foundation to maintain the bases in Antarctica. He discusses the changes that had taken place at McMurdo and the Pole Base in the intervening 40 years after his first trip. He also talks about the relationship between the ASA workers and the scientists, whom they refer to as beakers. Grisez concludes the interview with a discussion of his life after leaving the Navy in 1958. Major Topic The establishment of McMurdo Station and a South Pole Base Seabees and their involvement in Operation Deep Freeze The construction of an ice runway for supply delivery Activities and pastimes of men in Antarctica during Operation Deep Freeze ASA (Antarctic Support Associates) Leadership and staff relations during wintering over in Antarctica Machinery and equipment used in Antarctica during Operation Deep Freeze and in the mid-1990s Funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation.
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