SCI had welcome 56 torpedoed crews to 25 South Street by June 1942. Stories of allied ships sunk by Nazi submarines appeared in the papers on an almost daily basis. Those who survived in lifeboats were picked up and brought to New York City, where they were given temporary shelter at 25 South Street. Most of the men stuck around only long enough to get their next assignment at sea. The NY Herald Tribune provided a lighter story of the seaman at war: “For an all-time coolness under fire, the survivors cited the behavior of Waldemar Semenov, whom they called “the Mad Russian.” While shells were crashing into the ship, he went to his cabin to brush his teeth and put on his best clothes. In the galley he stuffed his pockets with loaves of bread and from the library he picked out a book to while away the hours in a lifeboat. Then he borrowed $2 from a shipmate against the day when he would again be set ashore. With his mind, body and finances provided for, he announces himself ready to quit the ship.”