there is a story to this photo . . .
my dad told me he once went overboard - but didn't elaborate. one of his shipmates dragged him home on liberty to meet his sister. a couple years back when my uncle and I were swapping family photos, he saw this and told me the whole story.
the USS Sapelo (AO-11) was an oiler/tanker - they have long low decks with not much free board when loaded. my dad and not-yet-uncle were on the weather deck, having a smoke when a huge wave crashed down the side and washed my father overboard. the next wave rolled down the side of the ship, picked him up, and washed him back aboard. so they took the pix (1940):
I too severed on an Oiler... USS Nantahala AO-60.....
We lost a seaman, Al Canizzio (Sp. ?) over the rail on the main deck... fantail watch saw him go by, threw him a life ring, but by the time we got turned around, we found the ring, but no Al...