She Lives Rent-Free on an Old World War II Cargo Ship 

Would you live here?

Thats my homie. She took me aboard this ship years ago, way before she was living on it. I still have the picture too. She helped me get over a breakup, she let me shoot a music video at her house, and she gave my first daughter her first book. Love you Desiree, you’re a legend

Thanks guys for the views! I think this is such a wonderful piece of History & Im so lucky to be a part of it.

What a personality. The perfect individual to share historical artifacts with. How lucky the museum is to have the commitment.

"I want my book to be full" Outstanding words from someone clearly able and driven to do just that. Best wishes Desiree, on what surely will be a long and wonderful adventure!

With the cost of housing in San Francisco, this is an amazing deal.

This lady is so lucky. I've lived on an ex Royal Navy ship in dock, it's so cool. I get exactly what she means about hot weather, they heat up like a metal pan, and take hours and hours to cool down afterwards. Listening to the lapping of the water on the hull at night is so soothing.

I admire people that has figured it out. She has. She knows what to do from when she wakes up until she goes to sleep. Bravo!

Rosie the Riveter! Great job taking care of our war heritage.

Spent a whole lotta time on the Red Oak. I was there when she was still up in the Suisun Bay. Parked with 8 or 9 other Victory ships in the ghost fleet. Got to go up a few times to help "pick parts" for her. And after arrival at her new home in Richmond I spent a lot of time chipping paint, applying primer and battleship grey paint! I would often volunteer for some of the jobs the older gentleman could not do. Best experience on the ship? Hanging out with and sharing stories with the older men that actually served on and operated these ships. The volunteer merchant marines. Including Bill Jackson. What an amazing man. Sadly, most of them are gone now. With their stories and experiences. I used to love just roaming the ship by myself. And taking it all in. My favorite places on the ship? Walking shaft alley! The engine room. Engineers stations. The chart room. And bridge. And funny enough the galley. Where I cooked a few times. Of course, back in my time volunteering on the Red Oak there was no running water. And no working toilets! I moved away to Reno, NV. And my time volunteering on the Red Oak ended. I sure miss her. If I was in the Bay Area I would chip paint on her any day! ;) A never ending task. :) My late Mother in Law was Lois Boyle. She got me involved on the Red Oak. Experiences I will never forget! :) What makes an old ship like that alive are the people who built her, sailed her, crewed her, worked on her. In the 40's, 50's, 60,s 70's! And today working to save and preserve her! Would love to walk her decks again next time I get to the bay area. Have my own great stories about her! Excellent video. Thank you for sharing. Jim Gillespie. Reno, NV.

Desiree is a national treasure; truly an amazing woman! My face hurts from smiling through this video.

I’m not even halfway done with the video and I must say, she is such an AWESOME lady who’s also loved an AMAZING life. Her zest and passion for life just jumps off the screen. My jaw hurts from smiling so much ☺️

the ship is so blessed to have her. I cannot imagine anyone else loving it as much as her.

We need the video all about her time at the lighthouse!!

You go girl! Proud of you for following your divine path in life. As a living historian, re-enactor and wandering soul, I'm with you. My father was on an APA troop/supply ship (USS Braxton) in the Pacific during WW2. Great video! Namaste. From a Vietnam Era Marine Corps veteran.

Very cool lady. I was an engineer/ coxswain in the USCG, then transitioned to U. S. Merchant Marine and ran / built / converted vessels to USCG certified passenger carrying vessels. I bought the captains launch that was onboard the second USS Mount Hood ( ammunition ship) and converted it for passenger service, ultimately selling it to Mystic Seaport in CT. The first USS Mount Hood was vaporized in the Pacific Islands after a lucky shot by the Japanese . The explosion was so intense, lots of ships around it were sunk. Definitely worth Googling the ships history. I enjoyed your story and video. Keep the props turning. Take care. Capt. Keith Lane

She seems like the coolest person. All of the lighthouse content and can't wait to see the unedited tour.

Great video. US Navy 74 to 78. Lived on 3 ships. Now they are all gone. It's good to see ships like this as the love for that time iny life can be visited. 😊

Desiree - It's a joy to see gems like you plucked from the most unlikely places. Keep being authentically you and contributing to the greater good.

My grandfather was a merchant marine during WW2 all the way through Vietnam and he lived in SF. Its so cool seeing a ship like the ones he probably shipped out on.

It’s not rent free. She works hard on that ship.

She took that old 40's poster of the female workers to the next level...

She is living her best life. 😊

She is the definition of Grateful ❤❤❤🙏🏾🙏🏾

What a cool lady, I love the way you see the world, "nothing is forever, enjoy it now" I really would love to see that but it is exactly half around the world unfortunately.....

She's awesome, this was a very good episode.

Unbelievable! People are so determined, creative and downright awesome cuz I could NEVER! I love these kinds of stories. ❤

It is not 'rent free'. She is working for it, being responsible, helping preserve an historic treasure.

The title of the story is somewhat misleading. She may not pay money for rent but as a volunteer she has many duties and services she gives that they would have to pay someone to do. he article only mentions a few. As a volunteer on a museum ship I know work is never finished and there is always a lot to do. In fact you could say she saves them a lot of money by living there. BZ to a fine lady and thank you for your service to the ship.

She is the perfect person for that job she has so much passion about that work and place she has

My dad was on two Liberty ships and one victory ship in WWII in the US Navy. He was in the Armed Guard of the navy. Since his death in 1992 I have visited both a Liberty ship and the larger version, the Victory ship. I was so grateful to be able to do this and see how he lived, ate, and slept as a very young man stationed in the Pacific during the war. I only wished he could have been alive when I made my journey of discovery. There was an alumni group of the men who had been in the same assignment. They provided me with little facts about what it was like to serve in that capacity. Thank you so much for sharing this video and keeping the memory of this time and their sacrifices alive!

This lady is awesome and amazing. God bless her. 😊

Just wow, never met/seen another with the same sort of wonder and desire to learn and preserve history. My fascination lay in my grandparents generation pre WW2 and during that time, harder work yet simpler time, people shared stronger more sincere connections then. Just my own naive thoughts.

Very cool. I cant say such an arrangement would be my ideal living situation, but she seems to be making it work

As founder of the WWII Historical Re-enactment Society, Inc., I am amazed. I started collecting WWII memorabilia during my junior high days, moved up to WWII vehicles. I thought owning a WWII airplane beyond my capabilities, but thought I might just be able to own a tank. Then I walked aboard the SS Jeramiah O'Brien while it was in Portsmouth, England during the 50th anniversary of D-day. WOW! A whole ship that runs. The O'Brien sits across the bay and take day trips. I try to visit any WWII ship possible during my travels. :) Let us not overlook the SS Lane Victory in Tampa Florida. I took a cruise on the John W. Brown based in Baltimore.

Desiree made me smile from ear to ear. She is living that unconventional life of wonder with a little bit of magic and mystery thrown in for good measure.

just saw a bit of this, girl, your not weird , your living your life, i think it and you are amazing :)

Im glad they are able to preserve the ship. Im glad she cares so much about the ship. Theyre lucky to have Desiree. Theyre lucky to have other volunteers too.

Love this! My mom was a Rosie the Riveter and worked repairing warships. My dad was Navy and on the USS Pennsylvania when it was torpedoed in August 1945.

So glad for her. She was open to the possibilities, rather than trying to force a "safer" outcome.

I just heard her call a helm a wheel. I lived rent free on a Victory ship in the early 80s and got paid for it!With the MSC!Who else had those antiques?

At one time in the 1970's, the USS John Brown, a liberty ship if I recall, had been tied up in the NYC on the Hudson River, and was used as a training ship for cadets. She was a beautiful ship!

I would really like to know more about Desiree's exciting life, I want to live vicariously through her journeys. YOU GO GIRL!!

I work right next to that ship at AWC its the big lot with all the cars in the beginning. I park next to thus ship everyday. That's dope to see a video randomly on my feed.

Great work, you never know where you can go ,being open to change the world is your back yard, thank you cheers mate 👍

Very cool gig she has, I would love this job. I smiled watching her go down the ladders backwards.

I grow up in central Richmond!!!..& to hear a story like this is fascinating!!!!..kudos to ole girl keepin that ship in shape & live in it!!!

Born in Berkeley and lived in Richmond till I got married and moved to Napa. Class of 87 Pinole Valley and went to Contra Costa College then worked for Napa Pipe and hired with Santa Fe Railroad in 95 . I live in Texas now but I'll never forget the Bay Area and I'll always call it home.

More power to you 👍 Visited the Red Oak a few times while living in the Bay area back in 2015. Loved the whole vibe of that old shipyard where she was berthed. My dad was Merchant Marine in WWII and made three winter North Atlantic crossings in ‘44 and ‘45 on Liberty Ships. Red Oak came later but still great piece of history.

What a wonderful gal and way to live! Her passion for this great ship is so obvious. Loved this video ❤

this woman is so full of life, I love it

A little side trivia for the those who don't know why the bathroom is called the "Head". The reason is in sailing days ships had sails and those sails were driven by the wind from the Aft of the ship. When people had to go number two they didn't have bathrooms fro the whole crew. So the crew would go and sit on the nets at the front "Head" of the ship where the Lady Mascot was at, then go number two. That way the smell would blow away from the ship. Hence when modern ship got bathrooms the term for going to the bathroom, which was; "I'm going to the Head" as a Naval term continued. Thanks for sharing loved it. Best Wishes & Blessings. Keith Noneya AT1 USN/USNR-TAR Retired

What a lovely lady, full of positive energy. I can't help but think, maybe the ship needs a cat like HMS Belfast has here in London

I had wanted to be on a ship, but never will happen for me. Living on a ship would be way cool. I totally enjoyed this video! Thanks!

Desiree surely knows how to seize the day. What a unique blessing to live on such a historic piece. Thank you for sharing it.

She is an absolute gem!

>>> You mentioned a problem with hot showers. If you could have one of your team install a hot water recirculating pump between the hot and cold water lines in the head you use, you could have instant hot water. These can be set on a timer for when you might want water or you could have it set up on a switch that you could turn on a bit before your shower. The pumps are rather simple to install and not too expensive..

That’s great you’re caretaking that Liberty Victory ship at Kaiser Shipyards, Richmond, CA. I remember when a lot of them were mothballed in Suisun bay. Your stay at East Brother Light Station must have been great.😊❤

Love her appreciation of the essence of the experience of what she gets to be

This video is the first time I came across your content, and Desiree's story, and how you allow her to to tell it, and your narration has me subbed. Good work, thanks!

The Victory ships are my favorite ships. I would rather have a Victory ship than a modern yacht, I'll keep dreaming.

Kudos and congratulations to this woman who lives on the ship. That's got to be the coolest thing I've ever seen in the past 20 years. And I would enjoy a visit there. And it would be much more enjoyable to live on a ship than would a sub

She is literally Rosie the Riveter, thank you for your volunteer service 🫡

Desiree Heveroh, a woman who lives rent free aboard the SS Red Oak.....l think she is AMAZING.....An thanks Nuance for this awesome video 👍 Old F-4 Shoe🇺🇸

The anti-aircraft guns they showed are 20mm Oerlikons that probably had a rate of fire of about 450 rounds a minute. As far are cleaning the rust off and they would be ready to go idea, that is a 100% No. Any guns you see on a Museum ship, anywhere are rendered permanently inoperable, all of the internal parts were removed and all remaining parts were welded together. It's for looks only The Navy still use newer versions of this gun and the radar-aimed CWIS 20MM Gatlin cannon with a fire rate of 4500 rounds a minute. Just about all of fighter planes that the U.S. has, use an M61A1 or 2 20mm, 6 barreled Vulcan Gatlin Cannon.

This 20 min video was awesome. I honestly couldn’t see a better candidate than her to watch those boats. Pure appreciation and devotion to what she loves and cares for! True iconic spirit of “Yes we can!” 🫡❤️

Amazing work with this Jonathan!!

As a Korean War Destroyer sailor, I live on this ship in a heart beat. Good video.

To all the commenters that served our Country, I'd like to thank you for your Service. ❤

We need a video of Desiree and the Lighthouse!

Fun- cute little insight into life outside of our little boxes-

That’s awesome! She seems amazing and keeping the ship’s history alive for people to visit. Now I’ll add to bucket list.

My grandpa was stationed in the Philippines in WWII. He possibly saw or was on this ship! This is a great video, thank you for all the fascinating information!

Living on board in exchange for caretaker duties is not rent free.

spent a year on a active liberty ship during Viet Nam war USS Tutuila ARG-4 ship was decommissioned in 1974 and sold to Taiwan Navy.

Just 5 mins into the video, I'm already inspired. Thank you. You go girl.

That is so cool props to her. My parents live in the UK and they remember when the local ship breakers brought 3 of these to get broken up. I came over from Japan to have one last look at them, they were a sight to see. And kind of upsetting as it was history being destroyed. But I’m glad to see she is a historian who loves her job

I’m not sure how it’s possible that someone in her position wouldn’t be aware of the other Victory ships that are still not only existing but maintained and seaworthy. The Lane Victory was mored in San Pedro California near my old marina. I know that there are others as well. The Lane was also a museum but it was fully functional.

you are sooooooo blessed....enjoy your cool career !!! I am soooo happy for you !!!!

Great to see this blog and see her enjoying the life style that is different from the normal and yes I can understand her pleasure as I live in a Victorian railway station in England that's still active and I loved the past 20 years here quirky places to live I say and great fun ❤

This is so awesome to see this! An awesome place in my backyard! Thank you for helping keep history alive...I got to volunteer with Kris & Heidi on the Hornet in Alameda, several years ago and absolutely loved every minute of it!

Would love to see and hear more from her!

Yes, Queen!!! I love this for her!!!❤

Coolest house AND coolest job. She looks happy, healthy and content with her life like no other😇

Sounds like the ship needs a dry dock. I know it's not cheap as Texas and New Jersey both have had it done recently. I hope you get to stay a float and continue educating.

Loved this video❤Desire is certainly living her dream, and it shows❤

What an incredible woman! I found her so inspirational! And the ship is AMAZING!

I prefer the word QUIRKY over the word weird 😂😂😂

Pretty Cool life story!! It's that call of the unconventional life that only a certain type of person thrives in. Hope you are thriving, Desiree!! Where does she vacation to get a break?? St. Helena or Ascension Island, I imagine! Movie suggestions for Hold 3... Operation Petticoat, Ensign Pulver, Best Ship in the Army...

Amazing! Thank you for sharing!⚓️

So excited about the history of places like these, thanks for bringing them alive.

Needs some Boatswain Mates to paint it.

good for u!

What a great lesson in living in the moment! Also looking for, and then taking, every opportunity to live your best life! She’s wonderful!

We used this ship as reference while making the videogame "Man of Medan"- although that ship ended up being quite different and significantly larger for gameplay purposes! But it was a lot of a fun studying and replicating these Liberty ships.

This is So Sad !!!! We can afford to send Millions to other countries but can't afford to pay for the upkeep of this historical ship. ?

Why am I getting a "Rosie the Riveter" vibe?

Desiree I love your passion and your boldness to pursue what makes you alive and happy. Thank you for your labor of love and service on the Red Oak. 😊

What a cool person! She's exactly why I love people in the east bay

She should be paid.