stroyer were hit by torpedoes and rocket bombs. One pilot came in so low 

 on the port beam of the Monterey that, to avoid crashing into her side, 

 he had to rise so suddenly that he carried away the antenna between her 

 masts, and then crashed into the sea. The escort commander requested 

 the Monterey to undertake rescue operations for one of the stricken ships, 

 the Grace Line's lovely Santa Elena. The starboard lifeboats of the Mon- 

 terey were lowered away, and survivors were picked up directly from the 

 Santa Elena, from the water, and from temporary refuge aboard a de- 

 stroyer which was also standing by. The lifeboats of the Santa Elena also 

 brought many survivors to the Monterey, and scrambling nets, lines and 

 ladders were lowered to the waiting lifeboats. The injured were brought 

 aboard by tackle and htters at the "E" deck sideports. A total of 1,675 

 were taken aboard: 1,644 Canadians from the Santa Elena and 31 sur- 

 vivors that had been picked up by the destroyer from the other stricken 

 vessel, a Dutch ship. Four men were lost. 



Captain Elis R. Johanson, who joined Matson in 1920 as a ship master 

 and who has had command of the Monterey since 1934 and is still her 

 "old man," received a commendation from the Commander of Destroyer 

 Squadron 16 and was later awarded the Merchant Marine Distinguished 

 Service Medal for this marvelous rescue operation, which lives up to the 

 high traditions of the Matson Line and of the American Merchant 

 Marine. 



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