Barge Dog: Virginia Coast, 1942 is the story of Snowball, the little white, fluffy pup who served on the barge, Ontario, at the beginning of World War II as the Barge Mascot. He was a "coastwise barge dog" meaning that he lived on barges traveling up and down the Atlantic coast of the United States. Barges towed by tugs carried much needed supplies and materials up and down the Atlantic seaboard. The story begins with Snowball being adopted by his human guardian. It describes how he learned to adapt to life on a barge being towed on the Atlantic. Much loved by his human guardian, Orris P. Riggin, Snowball faced danger and adventure in the early days of U.S. entry into World War II. The attack on the tug, Menominee, and her three barges, the Allegheny, the Barnegat and the Ontario, on the night of March 31, 1942 by a German U-boat about nine miles off the coast of Virginia was one of those dangers. For readers who like maneuvers at sea, the attack of the German sub and the attempt to escape and save his tug by Captain Leslie Haynie of the Menominee will prove fascinating. The actions of the seamen on the barges that night make for a good read. This attack resulted in the loss of the lives of sixteen Merchant Mariners. It also showed the courage and devotion of this little white dog. Declassified government records as well as newspaper accounts will show the reader the veracity of this little known piece of maritime American history. While being an enjoyable story about a much loved little dog, this account also provides the reader with some very interesting events and policies at the time of WWII.
