Boat 19 June 2020
They get to Guam
CMS goes back to ship
While LEE is coming back from Yap, USS SEEMES arrives at Guam. Ship gets l liberty the day before going back to sea. At sea, they did a slow cruise around Guam, up around Tinian and back to Agana. Officially, she is checking her radars. Unofficially, she is going her , 10,000 foot cable to get very fine grain data. Arrived back at Agana Harbour Guam the day after LEE comes back.
Two days after, CAPT fevides to visit his old Ensign, LT A-P.
They chat, CAPT ask to visitr. LT is nervous. CAPT says "I will wear a Guam shirt, khakis and sandals. Tells A-P about thew CAPT who visited the PT boat.
A-P has total field day sked.. Other CAPT shows up, friendly, brings the BTMC in Rabbi hat and attire. .I
The AMERICA put into Honolulu with the usual fanfare. CAPT Puller had the wisdom to know the harbour bottom changed occasionally and arranged for pilots to attend his ships and every craft in the AMERICA Battle Group. He gave some of the pilots overtime and definitely have all the Skippers the joy of knowing they might not ruin their careers.
LT Anderson-Pierre and his sailors left together, expecting the joys of flying peasant class. Instead, they were handed into First Class Seats. Someone with money to spend had paid for their tickets. (A fleet Admiral can have discretionary funds outsiders never learn about. IT A-P and his people n ever spoke of this...
℅. ¿?
The US S SEEMES was under the command of Commander 7th Fleet, who in turn was under the command of Commander In Chief Pacific Fleet (CINCPAC). She also took orders from Naval Intelligence and did work for the SOSUS (look up meaning).
For two days, the SEEMES loitered at 10 knots while serving as a communications ship for a squadron of 8 Destroyers which were practicing formations and other exercises. A fleet oiler brought up the rest and refused the run came as needed.
The Soviets - and the Destroyer crews - thought this was silly. No one cared what they thought...
Under orders, the SEEMES had all 10,000 feet of her super cable out and was surveying a sparsely known area of ocean water. They may not have needed to be so secret given that computer models could not process the data quickly.
The Oceanographers lived it decades later...
The SERIES made a high speed transit Into Hono, apparently chasing the destroyers. The truth was they needed to prove - to show - this ship was not only dangerous but could get to places where she could be dangerous!
The SEEMES had been in port a week when the LEE returned from her trip to Yap.. CAPT decided the LEE's crew had returned to normal.
CAPT Old got the official phone number from the Harbour Master and called the USA LEE. The phone was answered by a young female voice.
"USS LEE, Petty Officer speaking. This is not a secure line. May I help you Sir or Mame?"
" Good morning, Radioman >. I wish to speak with your Commanding Officer, please. He was once one of my Ensigns. "
"Yes Sir.," Then covering the phone with her hand but not really blocking the sound, she yelled: "Call for you, Sir. Your old Skipper, now on the nuke boat."
" Tell him I'm coming. "
She uncovered the phone. "Sir, my Captain is coming from the 'flying bridge. You said he was an Ensign, Sir?"
" Yes. "
"That was a long time ago, Sir. He is old."
IT Anderson-Pierre arrived, slightly out of breath.
"Good morning, Sir. I just realized you had command of the SEEMES when I read the monthly report of the Top Of The Mar (the Officer's Club situated very close to the Admiral's Quarters). I planned on calling you this afternoon after my Senior Chief gets back from the Chief's Club Meeting. I thought about wrangling an invitation for my Senior Chief and I to visit you."
"I was thinking of a casual drop by. Did you every read about a jay gee (Lieutenant Junior Grade) who commanded a PT Boat? His Father commanded a heavy Cruiser. This Captain arrived at the PT Boat in Dress Blues, medals and ribbons showing. He saluted his way onto the boat and realized that everyone aside from his son - the XO to the lowest ranked sailor - was terrified of him. This would not do for a visit to his son's boat. So, the wise old Captain took his coat off, folded it ad put it on a surface on the stern. He put his hat on top of that."
He paused.
"The story went he looked like every man's Grandfather. The boat's CO understood what had to be said. He went to each of his men and recited each man's name and said 'this is my Father, Mr. whatever. Then his Father was each man's grandfather and it was a wonderful visit. If you invite me, I'll be in a Hawaii shirts and relaxed clothing. I'd like to bring my Master Chief as well.""
"Well then, Sir, when would it be convenient for you to visit?"
"Perhaps tomorrow afternoon?"
"Yes, Sir, tomorrow afternoon it is!"
The phone call ended shortly afterwards.
Making sure the phone was properly hung up, Lt A-P bellowed "Shit!' and for good measure shouted "SHIT!" again.
Senior Chief Scott had gotten back from his Chief's Meeting and was commendably almost sober. He was chatting with the Marines who had guarded his boat at times..
"Bloody Hell," he growled and ran onto the LEE. He ignored the usual boarding protocols, something the Marines noted.
"What is wrong?"
"My first Commanding Officer is going to drop by for a visit tomorrow afternoon and the boat is a mess. We need to hold field day!"
This was something the Marines were familiar with when their Platoon Sergeant sometimes was hit with an unexpected inspection. The junior sergeant commanding this double squad said "lets help with their field day".
The USS LEE was actually in good shape. One of the Marines got extra mops and buckets from their barracks. The Marines and the LEE's sailors only needed three hours to do a nice cleanup. Both the LT and the Senior Chief impressed the Enlisted troops by sweeping and dusting while they waited for the Marine's field day gear to arrive.
But once the gear arrived, the Marine Sergeant walked both the Navy Lieutenant and the Senior Chief outside the cabin and directed them to the folding chairs. Then, quite to his surprise, the Marine Corporal told the Sergeant "when the field day is done, I will inform the Leadership – all y'all - to come inspect. I leave you to whatever conversation Officers have in times like this."
The Corporal briefly braced to attention and then trotted back inside the LEE's deck house.
"That was supposed to be my speech, Sirs," he said in a bemused tone
The three were Combat Vets of the war in 'Nam and were soon intently talking of times past. The crew of the LEE - her Sailors and (unofficially) her Marines - were bemused and puzzled.
===
Aboard the USS RAFFELL SEEMES, CAPT Old, his XO and his Command Master Chief were finishing their afternoon meeting.
"On a different subject, I called my old Ensign, who is now Commanding Officer of the USS ELBERT C LEE I strongly suggested he invite me over to visit tomorrow afternoon. I was thinking of taking Master Chief with me; I'd like your view of how the crew is living together."
"I am already planning on attending with you Skipper. A certain SEAL Senior Chief has already talked with me and asked me to come along. What did you say to them, Sir? I think you scared the poor boys. Well, boys and one girl."
"I just want a quiet visit, with me pretending to be someone's Grandfather."
"Well, good luck with that! I take it you'll be in Island attire then?"
"Yes, I will be."
"Good, I can wear my 'Rabbi on Vacation' clothing. My wife goes out of her way to dress me well. Oh, by the way, we really must congratulate them on how nicely their boat is going to look, I've been told that the LEE's Marine Guard was near the LEE when LT A-P told his crew they needed to pull an emergency field day. His entire crew, including LT A-P his self and his Senior Chief started field day. The Marine Sergeant who commands the LEE's Marine Guard Force - two squads by the way - organized his Marines into a field day force to see the job was done properly. This Sergeant politely walked both Lieutenant and Senior Chief to a table aft of the boat's cabin. He said Senior Officers did not pull field day or something to that effect. He was very surprised when his senior Corporal pulled out a chair for the Sergeant and 'bade him to be seated''. The point being the LEE should look very pretty."
That got a laugh.
"A suggestion," said the XO. "You could take a large cake and ice creamme to this ship visit tomorrow. It would be nice to give our cooks -er- Chefs the chance to show off their cooking ability.
"I will handle this, Gentlemen. First, I need to make a quick phone call."
He took the phone at their table and called the LEE.
"This is the Master Chief. I'd like to speak with Senior Chief Scott, please." There was a short pause. "Senior Chief, this is the Rabbi. We're going to bring cake and ice cream tomorrow. What time are you expecting us and how many servings are needed?" There was a much longer pause. "So, there are 8 people assigned to the LEE and your Marine Sergeant, who is seated across from you, says there are 17 Marines in your guard force. So, we need cake and ice creamme and plates for 25. What time will be good for all y'all?" Brief pause "You say your Skipper and the Marine Sergeant think 1:30 would be good. I'll have to arrange delivery sooner." Another pause. "I look forward to seeing you as well my friend."
It took the Master Chief several minutes to arrange for the cake and vanilla ice creamme. Delivery to the USS LEE happened about 11 am the next morning.
Later that afternoon, Senior Chief Scott got a phone call from the Company Sergeant of the Marine Guard Company.
"Senior Chief, this is Gunny Ringwald. I understand my boys have been invited to a party?"
"They have indeed, Gunny! LT Anderson-Pierre's first Commanding Officer, when he was a fresh caught Ensign, is quite proud of him. He wants to meet his people. Your Marines have become part of the family."
" Indeed. Well, my boys will be well turned out! "
They chatted for a while longer.
LT Anderson-Pierre arrived from the BOQ early and let himself in. All classified material had been removed from the boat with the COMSEC (Communications Security) having been retrieved by the Communications People and the message boards taken to a secure area ashore. There was really nothing worth stealing. There was, of course, the "at sea uniforms" everyone wore. (LT Anderson-Pierre wore a set of cotton khakis so faded as to look almost white. Senior Chief and their captive Soldier wore very faded greens. The remainder of the boat's crew wore somewhat faded but comfortable uniforms as well. Being at sea was not a time for dressing up.)
That time would come later that day...
When Senior Chief Scott arrived, just before 8 am, he found his CO glowing at his immaculate boat and beginning to imagine things wrong. (The LT remembered walking his old CO through his Division spaces in Zone Inspections; he now wondered why he'd ever thought this scary...)
"The boat is perfect Skipper" , the Senior Chief declared. "Have you given any thought for an article about our Yap trip for Proceedings?"
" No, I haven't. Do you think I should? "
"Yes, I do."
"How do we begin?"
Senior Chief Scott had not been serious when he suggested an article. He had been speaking in an attempt to distract his CO. The response told him that A-P had been thinking of an article.
Senior Chief found some more paper and both started outlining the history of the trip from their view point. The remainder of their crew showed up shortly after 8 a.m. and were first amused by this literary activity and shocked when asked to write their recollections of the trip.
Senior Chief Scott gave helpful hints on writing their outlines. Even their taciturn Engineman made some helpful remarks...
To the relief of all but the Senior Chief, the arrival of visitors outside put a brief stop to the literary activity. The ice creamme came in a cooler carried by two sailors and the cake carried by two other cooks from the SEEMES. Then came the plates, the plastic "silver ware" and nice stainless steel cutting and serving tools. These were a gift from the SEEMES' Supply Officer who thought a "Commissioned Ship Of The King" deserves some nice stuff!
It helped his XO had approved this "house warming gift".
After the food etc. was loaded into the LEE's freezer or the table, the Senior Culinary Specialist (cook) gave LT Anderson-Pierre an envelope.
" Something from the Pork Chop, Sir. "
"Thank You", LT A-P replied gravely.
After the cooks left, said "who did he call part of a pig?"
She was surprised when the LT , the Senior Chief and both First Classes all laughed.
"What is so funny?"
" 'Pork Chop' is the slang name for Supply Corp Officers. Our Lieutenant is a 'Line Officer' and wears his railroad tracks on both sides of his collar. A 'Pork Chip' wears a collar device that reminds folks of a pork chop and this is on his left collar. Any questions? " Their Legalman waited calmly.
"Yes, but it can wait," she said.
" Hey, " Bill Nichols said, "don't they call the L T's collar devices 'railroad tracks'"?
She looked thoughtful and looked closely at Anderson-Pierre's collar.
" Oh, I see it now. That's cute. That's funny. "
She wondered off in the direction of the little head at the back of the deck house. When she was out of hearing range, Staff Sergeant said "thank you for sparing her embarrassment".
" I have two little sisters, and I know how, ahhhh, thin skinned they can be. I was a-feared Little Sister could become upset. "
Nichols never learned he had set off events regarding her stability and his as well and that was an example of the "law of unintended consequents"...
Around 11:30 am, his crew took the ship's van bcc back to their various barracks, then hit their mess halls for lunch and mustered in summer whites. SSGT looked particularly impressive with his jump wings, CIB and ribbons. His jump boots were mirror shined. The Chiefs in the Chief Barracks were proud of him; they knew something g he did not know: was on the Sergeant First Class deep select list and would be an "Army Chief" in the coming year...
