High (seas) jinks
REMEMBER WHEN
I remember growing up, as a youngster who enjoyed well told stories, I listened with rapt attention as my dad would tell of his exploits in the Army during World War II.
Now, as a veteran of Naval Service, I can tell my own stories.
Just about any job in history has a set number of practical jokes that men and sometimes women play on co-workers. In the Navy we had, if you will pardon the play on words, a boat load of them. My ship, USS Talbot, a Brooke Class Guided Missile Frigate, was tasked with the test and evaluation of the gun mount and fire control system for the then new Oliver Hazard Perry frigates. Doing this meant extended deployments to Roosevelt Roads Naval Station in Puerto Rico.
Just prior to Easter in 1975 we were on our way back to Norfolk and our Easter downtime with families. While in Puerto Rico this time we picked up some new members of our engineering crew. The morning we were to enter the channel and home we thought it might be wise to enlist one of the “newbies” to stand Mail Buoy Watch.
We picked one and outfitted him with battle helmet, Kapok life jacket, boots, gloves, and a boat hook and had him stand next to the port side anchor on the forecastle. Bear in mind that this was in March and the seas, even though it was mid-Atlantic, were still quite rough and we were taking some water over the bow.
The captain, having seen our watch stander, sent the bridge messenger down to see what the guy was doing that far forward in the sea state we were in. When the messenger reported to the bridge, the captain called Main Engine Control and advised the chief engineer that he had a man standing Mail Buoy Watch and could he please order him to stand down.
Some days my ears still ring with the dressing down we got for that one. When the wind comes up and the rain hits the windows I sit in my chair and wistfully remember when…
Guy Woodworth of Presque Isle is a 1973 graduate of Presque Isle High School and a four-year Navy veteran. He and his wife Theresa have two grown sons and five grandchildren. He may be contacted at lightning117_1999@yahoo.com.
