 Lieutenant commander R. B. Vandervoort, USNRF, "West Gate"s commanding officer, remained on board until he felt sure that the entire crew had departed the sinking ship.When he climbed up on the deckhouse to cut free a life raft and leave the ship, he discovered six men huddled on deck.Vandervoort was able to get the six on the life raft, but the suction caused by "West Gate"s final plunge pulled him away and below the surface.