1957-1959 Uruguay

[1dave]

My Uruguayan Mission Preparation

In spite of my third great grandparents Benjamin Johnson and Lovinia Hayes joining Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints AND My third great Grandfather, Robert Gray Crosby joining the church in in Scotland in 1853, I was not born ready to be a missionary.

Mom always took us to church. In fact as WWII started and we were transferred from Air-force Base after Air-force Base she found a group of LDS Airmen to worship with. When the men went off to war the church benches were stored in our garage and meetings were held in our home.

I AM the most important person who ever lived . . . in this body (and also the worst!) but the first time I, as a Deacon, tried to bare my testimony I was so up tight that I fainted. I woke up after someone had picked me up and placed me on a bench. I was surrounded by members worried about me.

The training from giving sacrament gems in Sunday School and Two Minute Talks helped me on my way.
When I advanced to a Teacher, my best friend, Walter Louis Williamson, - a year older and owner of a car - were called to be home teachers to members living on a 32 mile route around Austin Texas.

Shortly after being ordained a Priest, we moved to Wichita Kansas. A couple of weeks after arriving there our Sunday School teacher had his job transferred to another city, and the Bishop called ME to replace him - teaching students of my own age group!
Luckily we subscribed to the Children's Friend that had excellent suggestions for adding interest to the church lesson manuals and I managed to keep the class attention.
My efforts were appreciated and I was called to be a Stake Missionary - which meant I got to accompany the full time missionaries in their activities.

From then on I was always a teacher wherever I went, even becoming the teacher of the Elders Quorum when I was ordained an Elder.

[1dave]

My Uruguayan Mission Part 1

1956 - Attending BYU and working for Johnson Electric
My Grandparents wanted to send me on a mission. My best friend had been called to Germany, so I agreed to go and started studying German.




I was interviewed by my Bishop on Dec. 14, 1956; by my Stake President Dec. 16th, 1956, and on January 24, 1956 by S. Dilworth Young!

On the 4th of February 1957 I received my call . . . to the Uruguayan (Spanish Speaking!) Mission!

My Farewell Testimonial Meeting was held February the 14th and I attended the Mission Home in Provo Utah from March the 6th to March 9th. During that time, on March the 8th, I was set apart by Bruce R McConkie.



March 10th I boarded the U.P. railway and clickity clacked to New York City with a batch of other missionaries headed for South America. The Dome Cars allowed spectacular scenery, but there was too much cigar smoke for us to spend much time there. We did manage to get some sleep, then had to change trains in Chicago at 11 AM on the 11th. Weird!

We arrived in New York at 11 AM on the 12th of March. We did some sight seeing and saw the movie "The 10 Commandments"!

A bit about our ship -

"1928 - 1929



The Pennsylvania was built at Newport News Shipbuilding & Drydock Co., Ltd., in Virginia for passage from New York via the Panama Canal to San Francisco.

Length - 613 feet; Breadth - 80.4 feet; Displacement - 32,816 tons; Turbine - Electric; Twin Screw; Speed - 17.0 to 18.5 knots. First Class Passengers - 184; Tourist Class - 365; Crew - 350.

1937
The ship was sold to U.S. Maritime Commission and refurbished to carry 500 passengers (including removal of one funnel) for passage from New York to Buenos Aires by American Republics Line, operated by Moore & McCormack Lines. To carry out the President's wishes for good will with South America,

the Pennsylvania was renamed the S.S. Argentina, a Good Neighbor ship.

Cargo Space - 450,000 Cubic Feet Bale Capacity; 95,000 Cubic Feet Refrigerated Space. Pre-War Passenger Capacity - 475; Crew Complement - 380.

Transformed!

January 2, 1942
The S.S. Argentina, with 200 passengers, was set to sail at 1 pm on January 3 for South America, but the Navy took over the ship on this day. Cargo was already loaded in the holds and approximately 200 passengers had booked passage when the Navy and the Maritime Commission notified the steamship company to cancel the sailing. Prospective passengers were in the Line's offices at 5 Broadway filling out new baggage declarations which were required of all departing passengers. Passenger agents sent them away and started notifying others by telegram and telephone.

Officials refused to discuss the action. The ship became a United States Army Transport ship ("USAT") for the War Shipping Administration.

July 1-15, 1942
USAT Argentina left New York for Gourock, Scotland, escorted by Naval vessels, with various elements of the 8th Air Force, selected forces of the U.S. Fifth Corps, and all personnel of the 56th Signal Battalion were on board.

December 11-24, 1942
USAT Argentina and her sister, USAT Brazil, departed Fort Dix, New Jersey, arriving at Casablanca, Morocco. Both ships carried units of the 2nd Division.
- - - - - - End of WWII
June 1945
USAT Argentina left Southampton for Newport News, Virginia, transporting some of the 56th Signal Battalion troops back home from War.

July 28, 1945
USAT Argentina arrives in New York City at 2300 hrs. crammed with 5,000 troops of the 454th Bomb Group, along with other units of the 15th Army Air Force. As they got closer to New York they heard their first stateside radio broadcast from New York. "The fog has made visibility zero in New York, and an Army bomber from Sioux Falls, seemingly lost .... With a thunderous crash the twin-engine B-25 Mitchell bomber has slammed into the Empire State Building."

January 26, 1946
The Argentina left Southampton, England, for New York carrying 452 brides, 30 of them pregnant, 173 children, and one war groom. This was the first official war bride contingent. This transport was nicknamed the "Diaper Run," "Operation Mother-in-Law," and "The War Bride Special." Stormy seas whipped the Argentina during her trip to New York and four out of five passengers were seasick. Women collapsed on the decks, fell in passageways, and sat miserably on staircases. Crewmen were kept busy swabbing the decks and corridors. The ship had been so soiled with vomit that an outbreak of disease was feared.
February 4, 1946
The Argentina arrived a day late due to stormy seas but that did not keep the radiant but tired GI brides who came from England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales, and Malta, from crowding the decks of the ship at 3:30 a.m. in 13 degree weather to see the Statue of Liberty. They were met by a band, with cameras rolling and Mayor William O'Dwyer awaiting them along with 200 newsmen. Due to the Argentina being the "first official war bride ship," newsmen and photographers surrounded the passengers. Because of this, the wives were delayed in meeting their husbands who were waiting for them on the dock, some even after 12 hours after spotting the first lights of Manhattan.

During World War II, Moore-McCormack Lines operated more than 150 ships, lost 11 vessels, transported 754,239 troops, and carried 34,410,111 tons of war cargo. USAT Argentina survived the War with only minor mishaps and carried about 200,000 troops, government officials, and war brides.
- - - - - -
January 1, 1948 - 0001 hrs.
S.S. Argentina formally returned to Moore-McCormack Lines by the Maritime Commission to resume operation between New York and the east coast of South America, marking final "separation" for the vessel from military service.

The Argentina is a twin-screw, turbo-electric drive vessel, 613 feet long, has a beam of 80 feet, a rated sea speed in excess of 18-1/2 knots, and a gross tonnage of 20,500 tons. The ship has a cargo space of 450,000 cubic bale feet which includes 95,000 cubic feet for refrigerated cargo.

The ship was completely redecorated with nine basic color schemes to provide variety in her staterooms. Among the contributors to the vessel's reconversion were Donald Deskey Associates, who executed the design of the ship's staterooms and public areas, and the Zalud Marine Corporation, which performed the joiner and interior work.
======================================
We were surrounded by history and didn't have a clue!

NOTE: the next year (1958) the SS Argentina made it's last trip and was sold for scrap.

By 3PM on the 13th of March we were all aboard the S.S. Argentina, including some Brazilians who had finished their missions and were returning home.


Fabulous Food!
As I recall, there were 9 of us headed for South America - 6 for Brazil. and 3 for Uruguay (me, Doug McKay (grandson of President David O. McKay, and Larry McCooms AKA "Blackjack.") They prepared a huge round table and sat us all around it for every meal. Spectacular!

Several days out, one of the missionaries from Texas suggested we try medium rare steak smothered in butter.
Remembering my best friend's father ordering "rare steak" -How rare sir? "Knock off a horn and drag it over!" I gave it a bit of a go.
THAT was supper for the rest of the trip!

We innocents made a bad mistake. We tipped our waiter at every meal. When the ship reached Rio de Janeiro he went ashore and got roaring drunk and was out of commission for several days. The Captain stopped by our table and asked us to please not tip him any more.

On the 19th we stopped at Trinidad and listened to the steel drum bands and watch people dance under the Limbo Sticks! 20th more at Barbados. Some of our missionaries had been interviewed by reporters in Trinidad, and we found their pictures and quotes already in the local papers!

23rd of March we crossed the equator and with all due pomp and ceremony (Whipped cream, spaghetti and cracked ice ) became Shellbacks and Sons of Neptune. We were then ushered into the swimming pool filled with seawater to clean up.



Dirty Bahia on the 26th,



I remember standing on deck looking at the pier about 50-75 feet away. There was a young boy on top of one of the large posts.
People on board were tossing coins into the oil coated water and the boy would dive into the water and after a while come up holding out the coin. The passengers waited for him to laboriously climb back on the post before tossing another coin. People can be jerks!
(I was too sick with tonsillitis to go ashore. The ship's doctor didn't want to operate, just gave me shots.)

Rio de Janeiro on the 28th, Santos on the 30th.
- - - - -
Arrived at the Montevideo Mission Headquarters on April 2, 1957.

[Admin]

My Uruguayan Mission Part 2

Montevideo is in sight!

2 April 1957 - My Uruguayan Mission Finally Begins

Passports baggage, getting off ship . . . Finally meeting President Parry, Elder Gibbons, Sister Armstrong and we made it to the Mission Home in time for a wonderful lunch. Then we were given our district assignments. I'm to leave by myself at 3AM on a bus for Rivera 9 hours away in the far north. NOTE: I still didn't know any Spanish!

Got to bed at 10pm, up at 2 AM, On the bus at 3. I sat by myself on an isle seat. The bus was half full, those nearest me are gauchos. 3:15 AM the bus pulled over to pick up a beautiful girl about my age. She chose the window seat next to me and soon fell asleep on my shoulder while the surrounding gauchos started making boisterous comments.
The bus stopped from time to time to take on passengers or to let them off. I never knew if I had time to go to the bathroom or get something to eat or not. Several officials shouted and waived their arms until I figured out they wanted to see my passport. Somehow I survived and was put off the bus by the driver in Rivera.





I stood there for some time, suitcase in hand, and nowhere to go. Finally a young boy came over and took my hand and led me to an ornate looking building and tried to open the door.


(I'm amazed that after 60+ years it still exists AND I was able to find it with Google Earth!)

It was locked. He knocked loudly with the door knocker, but no one was there.





After a few minutes, he went to a window, forced it open, went in and came around and opened the front door and motioned me inside. He smiled waved goodby, and left. it was around noon.

As it was getting dark the missionaries returned. "You here already? We thought your were due tomorrow."
The building was the Branch Chapel (up front) and we missionary lived out back. My Companion was the District President, Elder Ralph Alonzo Christian.

We were up at 6AM. My companion wrote a brief prayer in Spanish, then had me read it over and over, correcting my pronunciation until he was satisfied that it would be understood and we headed out the door.
Usually you don't knock on doors in Uruguay. You clap your hands. We were usually invited in. He would jabber away, then turn to me and say
"Read it." He had made a fold-up flannel-board and cut-out figures for 12 different lessons he kept in separate envelopes. He would say a closing prayer and we would go and clap in front of another home.
Morning, noon, and evening study time was me reading the scriptures in Spanish, with him correcting my pronunciation. He wrote out a few more prayers and introduction statements for me to learn and use.

Suddenly after a couple of weeks I understood what i was saying! I made mistakes and drew quite a few laughs . . . How much did that raincoat cost you? "Algunos dolores no mas." ( a few pains no more.)
'Quero huevos y habon." (I want eggs and soap)
"Presiso un escobadiente." (I need a tooth broom)
But los Uruguyos are fun loving and forgiving people.



As my companion was the District President, And Artigas was in our district, in a few weeks we had to make the trip. a gimps at the map I've attached shows by far the shortest road distance between the two towns is through Brazil.
We walked across the border to the town of Livramento and boarded the remains of a bus made in the early thirties along with pigs, goats and chickens. hard wooden slats for seats, metal bars to hold onto and stay somewhere in the area of your seat, it was a rough trip!
Half way there the bus stopped at the only structure we had seen along the way to exchange passengers.

I had to relieve myself and found the quarto de banyo.
an 8 inch hole in the concrete floor with raised foot pads on each side. a roll of almost waxed paper hung nearby.
Miraculously the bus got us there and back to Rivera.

While in Artigas we saw beautiful amethyst Quarts crystal clusters being used for door stops! I was given one that I photographed and posted on Mindat.
Long ago this area was attached to Africa and was a huge sand desert with a huge aquifer beneath. As the continents split apart 100 foot thick layers of basalt raced across the sands for hundreds of miles.
The water heated, turned into steam, and bubbled up into the basalt to be trapped as the basalt hardened. On cooling the steam reverted to a little water and a lot of vacuum.1 the hollows later filled with agate and we know them as Geodes. In nearby Brazil some of those bubbles became towers up to nine feet tall. They are known as "
Cathedral Agate." Around Artigas those bubbles became huge - car size! I've attached a photo of the basalt layer they are dug from and one batch of them. Radioactivity transformed minute iron particles into the amethyst color. If you heat the crystals above 400 degrees C they will turn to yellow citrine.

[Admin]

Time is a funny thing in emergencies.

I had to ride a horse once while in Uruguay.




My companion, sure I was a rider, took off. When I finally got on board, he was far ahead, and I discovered I was on a sluggard.

When I finally got him going we came to a small stream that crossed the road. Way behind, this was no time to slow down, so I galloped thru ... almost.

The horses front hooves came down ... and down ... and down ...

And I was looking down at the horses head and time was going very slow.

My right foot was caught in the stirrup, so I kicked it out.

The horse slipped behind me and the ground was coming up. It might be a good idea to put my hands out so I don't land on my nose. I did that.

I slowly began walking with my hands, pushing harder and harder to keep my nose out of the dirt.

My nose got within an inch of the dirt, and I was traveling north.

I noticed my watch was stretching away from my wrist. I started expanding my fingers out to keep from breaking my watch.

Now it's time to walk on my toes to keep from hurting my knees.

Within seconds I was back on the horse, but it seemed as if an hour had passed.