Katrina Relief and the Waveland Citizens Fund

Ship Island - a days escape

Kathleen Johnson 3/26/07

Sunday, after 18 months in the Gulf Region volunteering without any real time “off” – I finally got away to “see” some of the south. Yes, I took a day off. Jason took some of the long term volunteers from Katrina Relief (Rich, Pat and I) out on the maiden voyage of his new boat - setting in at Gulfport (from the site of the Katrina ravaged Dole Pineapple/Banana warehouse) and headed out to sea not knowing quite where we were headed. Although we did have a map, life vests, water and the mandatory fishing gear for those who know not what they are fishing for. Our understanding of standard navigation rules was raw and we discussed at length if we were to be in on the left or right or those red and green buoys. It was a lively discussion. My prior sailing experience in Australia was of little help in these parts. Here we were not under sail but in the hands of a big kid with a powerful motor on his brand new toy – and he had this enormous grin from the time that motor roared to life. The water was extremely choppy for such a clear afternoon and so we had to experiment with the speed of the boat relative to comfort. At one point Rich and I were discussing keel hauling Jason if and when we did reach land. Jason, of course, was oblivious to this mutiny and played around with the speed and the approaching waves with some glee.

After viewing Cat Island from the sand bar - we veered off for the Fort we could see in the distance on Ship Island. West Ship Island, part of Gulf Islands National Seashore, is located 12 miles south of the Mississippi coastline.

Fort Massachusetts, part of America’s” third system" of coastal defense, was built during the 1860's. Its purpose was to help protect the southern United States from attacks by foreign navies. During the Civil War, Ship Island served in the blockade of Confederate ports and the invasion of New Orleans.

History Source

In 1969 Hurricane Camille cut Ship Island in two, creating East and West Ship Island. Fort Massachusetts is located on West Ship Island. The two islands are part of the Gulf Island National Seashore, protected by the National Park Service.

In 2005 Hurricane Katrina damaged Fort Massachusetts, but it still stands. The fort is shown here with debris left from the hurricane. The replica of the 1886 Ship Island lighthouse on West Ship Island was completely destroyed. Hurricane Katrina put about 67 percent of East Ship under water, widening the Camille Cut about 2 miles.

The most fascinating part of the story of Ship Island is the long term permanent placement of the black soldiers in the 74th USCT during the Civil War era. What a neat part of black history this island is – although the island was considered a hell hole and life was tough on this white barren treeless terrain.

Our arrival, one hundred and fifty years later, to the island was lead by porpoises that were sporting in the afternoon sun all the way from Gulfport. They played in the waters just out the end of the pier apparently oblivious to the numerous boaters and people walking on the pier. Our fishing attempts were futile although you could see large fish toying with us as they lulled about the pylons of the pier. And the only crabs we caught in the crab nets were hermit crabs – large and small. They are such cute little creatures in their adopted second use homes that had similarities to the forlorn hurricane ravaged homes on the mainland.

Damage on ship island after Katrina - all cleaned up at this time on the inside with some work left to be done on the outside including securing the Fort.