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During the month of October, 1951, eight transport ships and 12 cargo ships carried the 43d Division from the United States to Bremerhaven, Germany as part of the NATO PACT European forces.
The following are a few of the transports and 43d Units that they carried. More ships will be listed.

*US Army Transport Gen. R.M. Blatchford - 43d Division Artillery HQ.
*US Army Transport Gen. Henry W. Butner.
*US Army Transport Gen. M.L. Hersey - 118th Engineer Bt, 43d Quartermaster Co, 43 Signal Co, and
the 43d Reconnaissance Co.
The Argentine passenger liner "Maipu" after being rammed on November 5,1951
Courtesy of Chester Ambruso - 192nd FA
The Gen. M.L. Hersey sailed from Hamton Roads Port of Embarkation, VA on October 26,1951.  It was due into Bremerhaven, Germany at 10:00 am on November 5,1951.  A dense fog had settled into the area during the early morning making visability non-existent.  As the ship steamed on towards port, fog horns bellowed into the mist.

At 7:30 am, about three hours out and just off the Frisian Islands, another ship's fog horn rang out from just off the starboard side of the Hersey.  There, coming out of the fog just 100 yards forward, was the Argentine passenger liner Maipu, carrying 250 crew and passengers.

The Captain of the Hersey veered sharply to starboard in an attempt to cut inside the liner's path, but it was too late.  A crushing noise echoed throughout both ships. The Hersey rammed the Maipu on her port side at a 45 degree angle and tore her nearly midway to stern.  As the Hersey reversed engines and backed away, the Maipu listed immediately to port. Both ships had life boats in the water within minutes, and all crew and passengers aboard the Maipu were rescued by 1:00 pm.

Capt. Joseph J. Sagan of B Company saw the collision from port side on C deck.  Capt. Sagan was also aboard the U.S.S. President Coolidge when it hit two friendly mines and sank while coming into port at Espiritu Santo in World War II.  "My first thoughts were 'here we go again',"

Cpl. Peter Pimental was standing on deck at the Hersey's bow when the Maipu suddenly appeared through the fog.  "I wheeled around and took a dive, right back as far as I could."

Cpl. Alfred Costa noted that one woman from the Maipu came aboard the Hersey "all decked out," with a fur coat and a corsage, another women was wearing a fur,  "and that was about all."
The Gen. M.L. Hersey steamed into Bremerhaven, Germany at 4:00pm.