Originally posted by MotoTweet: Was it the bad weather or bad situational awareness that caused the Mesquite to go aground?
I was not aboard when she grounded but from what I have read from Stonehouse's book "Shipwreck of the Mesquite" it was both. The OOD did not get firm navigational fixes as required in the CO's standing night orders and to further complicate matters there was current and 2-3 foot seas. To make matters worse, a lighted shore aid was extinguished and it was a pitch black night with heavy clouds from an oncoming front.
Hey Tip ... I've been talking with ET1 Gordy Angermeier quite a bit lately. He came to the Mesquite when your Dad was XO from an 82-footer in Vietnam. Tell your Dad he sends his greetings.
