Capt. Douglas O. Greeke

Captain Douglas O. Greeke was born in 1899. He had been a fisherman for 33 years, sailing from Nova Scotia and Massachusetts ports. He took command of Alert in 1944. At the time of his death, he was living in Medford, Massachusetts. He was survived by his wife, Eva, and three daughters: Lucille, Alice, and Elizabeth.

On November 16, 1947, the 51-foot dragger Alert collided with the 455-foot, 7,600-ton freighter Rider Victory 4 miles off the east end of Cape Cod. The dragger sank immediately in 40 feet of water. One crew member, Raymond Levesque, and Captain Douglas O. Greeke were washed overboard and were nearly crushed between the two vessels. Mr. Levesque was fished from the water by men on another dragger. Captain Greeke tried to swim to a buoy but was unable to reach it. He was found floating near the scene of the collision. Mr. Levesque and Captain Greeke were taken on board the dragger Sonny and Joyce. Crew member Arthur F. Pike was rescued after 15 minutes in the water by the crew of the trawler Idlewild II. The men were landed at Sandwich, where attempts to revive Captain Greeke failed.