Armstrong – Table of Contents

With inconclusive search results for German submarines in Cuban waters, the
Navy then assigned the Seneca to convoy duty. A new convoy was starting up near
Gibraltar, and the Navy directed the Seneca to join the convoy going from Gibraltar to
South Wales. Armstrong served aboard the Seneca for 23 months; during 17 months of
his sea duty (1917-1918), the Seneca was transferred to the United States Navy and was
engaged in the guarding of convoys of merchant ships on the high seas. The Seneca
became part of the Patrol Squadron based on Gibraltar. Her regular run was between
North African ports, Gibraltar, and Milford Haven, South Wales. This was Armstrong’s
itinerary back and forth until almost the end of World War I. While Armstrong was on
the Seneca, there were 13 separate attacks by German submarines on the convoys that the
ship was trying to protect. Several merchant vessels were lost during these attacks.
Despite the hazard of lurking submarines prowling the waters, the danger that the
protecting ships feared most was the possibility of collision between ships on dark nights;
all ships had to steam with their lights extinguished or be otherwise rendered invisible.
Armstrong felt (10) that his experience at sea was a complete cipher from the
standpoint of gaining further medical experience; however it did provide him
opportunities to visit “interesting places” in Cuba, Europe and Africa. The experience
also helped teach him some of the rudiments of military protocol that he found to be
useful later in the Public Health Service. On board ship he found that his practice
consisted of healthy, young men, pre-examined and found fit for duty in the Coast Guard.
If they became seriously ill, he sent them ashore for treatment since the ship’s infirmary
could not handle major medical or surgical illnesses. The infirmary really functioned
primarily as a first aid station. His main medical chore in port was the examination of