A torpedo door shield gasket failed, water rushed in and he, another civilian and the crew of 39 were ordered to abandon ship. It was in the middle of night and the seas were rough. An oceanographic research vessel was nearby and came to the rescue, but LaMont said he had to swim about 200 yards and almost did not make it.
“Man, I wore myself out,” he recalled. “I was wondering if I was going to buy the farm. I had serious thoughts about that.”