 Alfred Lind was the actual Commander of the convoy (NY 119) in which  the USS Mason experienced that massive storm in mid October 1944.  Commander Lind, as with most of the veterans of WWII, didnt speak  of his experiences from the war. His family learned of these  recommendations after Mary Pat Kelly had written her book. His real  name was used in the movie, after some good timing when a grandson  discovered the existence of the book, then attempted to contact Mary  Pat Kelly.