Fate
Finschhafen fell 2 October, the scouring of the river valleys commenced, and the increase in Allied traffic in Huon Gulf, together with the presence of Japanese submarines, brought Perkins back to escort duty. Reinforcements were escorted to Langemak Bay and to Scarlet Beach east of Satelberg. In November escort duties continued. Then, on 28 November 1943, she departed Milne Bay for Buna, steaming independently. Shortly before 0200 on the 29th a dark image emerged from the blackness and a few minutes later the Australian troopship Duntroon rammed her on the portside, amidships. Splitting in two, Perkins went down and took four of her crew with her to a watery grave approximately 2 miles off Ipoteto Island.
Read more about this topic: USS Perkins (DD-377)
Famous quotes containing the word fate:
“In separation, deadly as poison,
in union, brimming with nectar.
What, did fate make my love
out of both equally?”
—Hla Stavhana (c. 50 A.D.)
“I do not believe in a fate that falls on men however they act; but I do believe in a fate that falls on them unless they act.”
—Gilbert Keith Chesterton (1874–1936)
“So the old flute was doomed and its fate was pathetic,
‘Twas fastened and burned at the stake as heretic,
While the flames roared around it they heard a strange
noise—
‘Twas the old flute still whistling ‘The Protestant Boys’.”
—Unknown. The Old Orange Flute (l. 37–40)