After Japan capitulated and the world war was finally over, GI's all over the world wanted one thing... to return to the USA.

To expedite the return of Army and Marine personnel from all the countless Pacific atolls, the Navy initiated the "Magic Carpet" exercise. This consisted of using Navy warships to transport the troops from the atolls to mainland USA in addition to using regular troop transports.

As a result, the Salt Lake City was assigned to proceed to some forsaken atoll to load army troops. As we approached the atoll the anti-submarine net was opened to allow us to enter. Mooring practice in all atolls was similar. The ship did not drop anchor but tied up to a buoy in the middle of the atoll in deep water.

As the ship was maneuvering to bring her bow next to the buoy, landing craft loaded with army troops followed astern in our wake. It was almost a pitiful sight only slightly exceeded by their joy in seeing their passage home in front of them.

Somehow the ship managed to accommodate approximately 500 troops and all their gear and souvenirs on our already crowded ship. They and their gear were stowed in gangways, between decks, etc. As luck would have it, as we followed a great circle course on our return to Astoria, Washington for Navy Day, a storm followed us eastward across the Pacific.

All went relatively well until we approached the coast of Washington State. We were to proceed up the Columbia River and discharge our passengers at dockside in Astoria. The Columbia is a wide might river with a strong current that carries miles into the Pacific. A pilot was required on the bridge to navigate the ship up the river.

I had just come off the 4 a.m. - 8 a.m. watch and was taking a shower when the Columbia's force hit the ship broadside. Over the months one becomes accustomed to the rolling and pitching of the particular ship and when that rhythm is broken an alarm bell goes off in your head. Our ship rolled over to port further than normal.....almost to the critical capsize angle and did not immediately recover with a roll to starboard... it just seemed to remain in a port list for an eternity.

By the time I had dressed and reached the weather deck the pilot had corrected his error and the ship was on an even keel once more. But the damage caused by our rapid heeling over was evident. The chairs in the wardroom had all flown through the air and ended up against the port bulkhead.

The Army troops gear and souvenirs, all brought to the weather deck preparatory to disembarking had gone over the side. Fortunately no personnel Navy or Army had been lost.

To compound the error, the pilot took us up the Columbia at excess speed. Our four screws created enough wake to destroy and wash away buildings on the banks of the river. Everyone was relieved when we finally tied up at a dock in Astoria.