55 Years Ago in the Weddell Sea

[Matovichd]

10 Jan, 1957 aboard the USS Wyandot: The Staton Island got back to us about mid-night last night, and tied up to the bow of the Wyandot. There wasn't any use breaking the Wyandot loose because we couldn't have gotten very far no how. The ice ahead just won't give. There is no doubt in our minds now why no other human beings or ships have come this far. This Weddell Sea was never meant for man to enter, but here we are only 300 miles from Cape Adams - our destination, but God can can we make it, and if we did would we ever get out? We don't have the answers, and it's very doubtful if the captains of the 2 ships and our task force commanders know the answers. All we can do now is wait. We don't even know the reason why the waiting except that we can't go forward, and we can't turn because heck, I don't know the answer...except if there even is a slight chance we might get through, we got to chance it. One of the helecopters took off a little while ago, maybe they will bring back some good news...can't never tell. Our nerves are pretty well shot, fights and arguments among the men are getting to be regular, and they don't care. If my writing or what I say gets fouled up in the days to come, just figure my nerves got my thinking off the beaten track, this has just been another day as for work. Chow ain't improved none, thats about it for today...