Making a Splash
Retired Naval Reserve Capt. Robert Moxon lives in West Columbia, S.C., with Barbara, his wife of 60 years. He spends most of his time safely on land propagating geraniums.

I grew up with my cousin Lt. j.g. Edward L. “Ned” Kinder, USNR, who was a charming man and had a self-deprecating sense of humor. My adventurous cousin also had a quirky character that led him to do great and dangerous deeds, and he was known for sometimes acting with a rough-and-tumble fearlessness.

I recall many instances in our childhood when he took such risks with disregard for his well-being. My preference for caution, prudence, and safety was eclipsed by Kinder’s zest for life, which often would land him in precarious predicaments—especially where water was concerned. But none of my cousin’s daring exploits compares to his swim in China’s Yangtze River.

In September 1945, a few days after the Japanese signed the official Instrument of Surrender prepared by the War Department, Kinder’s friend, Adm. E.R. “Bud” Zumwalt Jr., USN, then a lieutenant, invited my cousin aboard his ship, the USS Dewey (DLG-14). The Dewey was en route to Scandinavia for its shakedown cruise, and Kinder would be one of two doctors onboard.

One day while the Dewey was anchored off the mouth of the Yangtze River, where the current generally approaches about 8 or 9 knots, Zumwalt, Kinder, and a few other sailors were chatting on the ship’s fantail. At one point during the conversation, one of the sailors asked Kinder what it would take for him to jump overboard into such a current.

My cousin jokingly replied, “about $100.” Smiling, the sailor withdrew a $100 bill from his pocket and without hesitation threw it over the side.

As promised, Kinder dove in after the $100 bill, recovered it, and began swimming powerfully back toward the ship.

The swift current, however, was too strong and started pushing him away from the ship faster than he could move his arms and kick his feet. Zumwalt sounded the man overboard signal, and soon the skipper came running to the bridge to see what the commotion was about.

“What happened?” he asked.

“Someone went over the side after a $100 bill,” Zumwalt replied.

Shaking his head, the skipper said, “He must be crazy. Get the doctor into the life boat.”

“But Captain,” Zumwalt protested, “it was the doctor who jumped over the side!”