As I remember, about 30 men hit the water that October day, but it wasn't too long a time before the ship drifted away from them. Swimmers started tiring out and things started going from bad to worse.

The Captain's Gig was lowered and we eventually had to heave out a 3/4" line. Swimmers were trying to get to the line just to stay afloat. If it had not been for a few good swimmers, I believe the Mansfield would have lost some shipmates that day.

I've always credited SM3 Craig Cass with saving some lives that day, along with one or two of the good swimmers that were in the water with him.