Transmission 31: Craig Peter Kleber

Courtesy of Louis Kleber. Overall, I remember excitement. Magic. A giant ship and a very small boy. The big chairs. The round dining tables. Our cabin with cozy beds. I think I made a castle out of all the pillows.It was my first birthday. I, of course, cannot remember anything directly, but I was told a lot about the trip by my parents. My father, Louis C. Kleber, worked as an executive with U.S. Lines in the London office, 50 Pall Mall. Our chief steward for the crossing was a lovely older gentleman named Cornelius who made an extra effort to make me feel special. Our table was full of U.S. Lines red balloons and a big cake with one candle. All the passengers and crew sang Happy Birthday to me, and I was very happy.I sailed on the SS United States again, and on other ships, but surely the highlight of all the travel in my life must be my first birthday on the SS United States.-- Craig Peter Kleber, former passenger, who celebrated his first birthday aboard the SS United States in 1967