FOR THOSE WHO LOVE, TIME IS NOT

CONTENTS

Introduction

I. Annapolis 1930-31
II. Duty in Pacific Waters 1931-38
III. Duty in Icelandic and North African Waters 1941-42
IV. Warfare in the Mediterranean Theater 1943

Action Report: Operation "HUSKY" -- The Invasion of Sicily

Action Report: Sinking of Italian Submarine, Argento, by U.S.S. Buck (DD-420)

Postscript

Appendices

Commanding Officer's Instructions for Officers on U.S.S. Buck, 24 March 1943
"Three Men on a Raft" in The Stars and Stripes Weekly, 6 November 1943
Letters from Survivors of the Sinking of the Buck, 1943-44
Letter from Captain of German U-Boat (U-616), 7 September 1999

Letter dated May 11, 1931 from Midshipman M.J. "Mike" Klein to Jacqueline Coleman:
Nothing exists which could destroy this love and faith which I have in you, and it has become part of my life, accepted as God's gift, in answer to my dreams and prayers.

Letter dated June 27, 1931 from Ensign M.J. "Mike" Klein to Jacqueline Coleman:
Somehow those words of yours, "For us time is not," "Carry on," have been so comforting, the most comforting I have ever known. During the day when I'm missing you so and at night when I'm dreaming too, I just think of those words and imagine seeing your dear sweet self telling them to me. Then my soul is quiet, and I am resolved to indeed carry on as best I can, even though we are separated by such a distance. . . .

Letter dated November 9, 1941 from Jacqueline to her husband, Mike, on convoy duty in North Atlantic:
I knew I loved you the first time I kissed you that cold November day back in 1930 in Mrs. Lietch's front parlor [Annapolis], and that knowledge has never left me; yet it is only in separation that love knows its own depth. . . .

Letter dated December 7, 1941 from Jacqueline to Mike:
My Darling,
The awful news of Japan's attack came over the radio to me at 2:30 P.M. I was sitting here sewing, and I thought I must be hearing things. When I heard it again, I still could hardly believe it. The news just came over that the island of Oahu was attacked at 8 A.M., and a bomb hit on barracks at Hickam Field killed 304. . . . It's all so strange--I feel I'm dreaming some horrible nightmare. So now it is a world war. . . .

Action Report dated August 4, 1943 from Lt. Comdr. M.J. Klein, Commanding Officer of U.S.S. Buck (DD-420), on the sinking of Italian submarine Argento:
CONFIDENTIAL
U.S.S. Buck
DD420/A16-3/SS
Serial: 184.
4 August, 1943

From: Commanding Officer, U.S.S. Buck (DD420).
To: The Admiralty (Director of Submarine Warfare).
Via: Commandant Naval Operating Base, Oran, Algeria.
Subject: Destruction of Italian Submarine, R.SMG. Argento-Report of.

Enclosure:
(A) Track Chart showing the action.
(B) List of survivors.
(C) Action report form "Anti-Submarine Action by Surface Ships" showing detailed data on the three depth charge attacks.

1. I take pleasure in reporting the destruction of the Italian submarine R.SMG. Argento by U.S.S. Buck at about 0030B August 3, 1943, in position Latitude 36' deg.-52.2' North, Longitude 12' deg.-08' East. This submarine was of 600 tons standard displacement and was about 200 feet in length. One survivor stated he thought other ships in Argento's Squadron are Bronzo, Nichelio, Aciato, and Arco. The armament consisted of six torpedo tubes, a 100MM cannon on main deck and also mounted two double barrelled twin mount guns (12MM). Eight torpedoes were carried, both electric and air, and were either of German or Italian manufacture or both. . . . [cont.]

Last letter dated September 22, 1943 from Mike to Jacqueline:
My Darling,
Today we have been married nine glorious years. It seems only yesterday. How I wish I could be with you on this day, even more than any other, to tell you that I love you even more than I did nine years ago. I have learned what real love is, and the greatest thrill of my life was the day we were married. . . .

Letter dated October 6, 1943 from Jacqueline to Mike:
There aren't enough roses grown in all the world that mean as much to me as this dear, lovely letter telling me your thoughts and love for me. That's the most wonderful anniversary present you could have sent, and I shall treasure it through the years and show it to my grandchildren to tell them how much their grandfather loves me all through the happy years. I know God is going to see you through this frightful war, Michael, for your safety and nearness mean so much to me and our little ones--and it is something right to pray for--that I know He will see that you are restored to us in a world of peace for which you have so valiantly fought. . . . For I do love you, my one and only love, I do, I do, I do! I kiss you Good night, dearest, across the many miles between us and ask God's angels to hover near that bridge always.

Letter from Lt. D.T. Hedges, survivor of the sinking of U.S.S. Buck on October 9, 1943:
I got to the bridge about five minutes after G.Q. [General Quarters] sounded. I went to the starboard wing of the bridge, and Captain Klein was already there. I heard one his talkers give him a range on the target (surface) which had caused him to order G.Q. Then the Captain ordered the depth charges set and the searchlight manned. The target was still some distance away, and finding myself somewhat engulfed in the confusion normally attending a night G.Q., I then left the starboard wing and walked around to the port wing. I had not been there more than three minutes when we were hit. . . . [cont.]

Letter dated September 1, 1999 from Kay Brigham to the captain of the German U-boat that sank the Buck:
Dear Dr. Koitschka: I am the daughter of Lt. Cmdr. M.J. "Mike" Klein who was the commanding officer of the destroyer U.S.S. Buck. In 1998 a new book, Hitler's U-Boat War, by Clay Blair revealed that you were the commanding officer of the German submarine U-616 which torpedoed and sunk U.S.S. Buck on 9 October 1943 in the Tyrrhenian Sea off Salerno, Italy. U-616 was sunk east of Cartagena, Spain on 17 May 1944, and you and your crew were saved and taken aboard two American destroyers, U.S.S. Rodman and U.S.S. Ellyson. . . . [cont.]

Letter dated September 7, 1999 from Siegfried Koitschka living in Germany:
[Read this amazing letter from the German U-boat captain who gives his perspective on the sinking of the U.S.S. Buck.]

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