Remembering Suwannee: U.S.S. Suwannee, Part 2

Eric Musgrove County Historian Last week, we began discussing the World War II escort carrier U.S.S. Suwannee. The article ended with Suwannee’s abbreviated shakedown cruise and orders to enter the war zone at last. We will continue that discussion this week. As Suwannee put to sea from Norfolk, Va., on Oct. 17, 1942, her crew was untried but ready for action. They soon arrived in Bermuda, where they met a large fleet of ships. First reports were that the operation would be an important one, and as they set sail from Bermuda, Captain Joseph J. “Jocko” Clark informed his men that Suwannee would be part of the invasion of North Africa. Casablanca was their specific targe