After my 14 days leave I was to report to US Naval Station Midway Island, I had my ticket for my first airplane ride in my paperwork. I went to The airport in San Diego, and boarded a flight for Honolulu Hawaii. Once in Hawaii I was transferred to Hickam AFB for a military contract flight to Midway. The flight from Diego to Hono was great, pretty stewardesses, nice seats, everything I expected. Then We saw the plane we would fly to Midway on. It looked like something out of Skyking. An old DC-3 from Northwest Orient Airlines, Propeller driven. And when they started the motors, the belched smoke and fire and shook real bad. We boarded our "luxury Flight" and were taxing to the runway when the pilot announced we had to turn around and go back to change aircraft because ours had engine problems. Very reassuring to all of us already nervous passengers. Well we got our other aircraft and made the flight to Midway safely. It was new Years Eve 1969-70.
Midway Island lies in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, The main Island of 2 is Sand Island, approximately 1250 acres. Famous for a turning point in WWII, There is not much there. But it was home to a couple of thousand Sailors, Seabees, and US Air force personnel in 1968. Mostly it is home to thousands and thousands of Laysan Albatross, fondly referred to as "Gooney Birds". These Birds are very beautiful and graceful in flight, but when they land it is a comedy of errors. With most making a three point landing every time. Take off is better but requires a long run before getting airborne. They spend part of the year on Midway for breeding and the rest I am not sure where, but on the Island they are thick and they have the right of way. There are a few stories about these birds so remember them.
As I mentioned earlier I arrived on Midway on New Years Eve. After checking in at the transit barracks, I went to explore my new home. I walked down to an area where we had deep water piers, It was beautiful. The water around us was so blue, white sand and even where the largest ships docked to unload supplies, the water was so clear you could see the bottom of the ocean. A bunch of people were fishing there, and I noticed a lot of activity near the corner of the pier so I walked over to check it out. There you could see a small octopus on the bottom, and about 3 guys were trying to catch it. They would cast their bait out and drag it near or over the octopus but it would not react in any way.
I watched for a bit and then walked to the other side of the pier and saw a fishing line hanging there, I pulled it up and on the end was a dead eel. I took it over to the others, and we cut the body off and left just the head. I threw it out and dragged it past the octopus and the octopus moved, I threw it a second time and the octopus grabbed it. I started pulling, and the others assisted and we got the octopus up on the dock. I remember someone was filming this with an old movie camera, and have always wished I had a copy of it. We kept the octopus on shore for a few minutes, prodding it with sticks, and admiring my catch, then used boards to push It back into the ocean. When it hit the water It took off leaving a thick cloud of black ink behind it. Very exciting day for my first day to say the least.
The Enlisted Men's Club or "EM" Club on Midway was the center of our off duty life. That evening I ventured to the "EM" Club, as the drinking age on station was 18 for beer, and 21 for hard liquor. I still had my tropical white uniform on and I heard a couple of guys say "Hey Keys!" the insignia for Storekeeper was crossed keys, and asked them whats up. They told me they were from the supply department and we would probably be working around each other and invited me to have a beer with them. Soon there was a large group of "Keys" gathered and I was meeting my shipmates for the next year.
Midway was a refueling stop for Navy Ships back then, and that evening 4 Destroyers (AKA Tin Cans) docked for refueling and to celebrate the new year. Well on Midway we wore civilian clothes when off duty, so it was fairly simple to see who was Midway, and who was "Fleet" except for me cause I was still in uniform. The drinks flowed and at some point the Fleet sailors, got into a disagreement with some Sea Bees, and next thing everyone was fighting. Fleet against Midway sailors. I held my own and managed to escape before the MP's got there, but the next day when i passed the club it was a mess, broken chairs and tables. Man glad I didn't have to clean that up. I had my first real hangover and felt like crap!!!
Friday, July 29, 2011
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Leave and SK "A" School
While I was in Boot, I was offered a chance to go to any school the Navy offered, I choose Storekeeper School. I was going to learn Warehousing and to operate Forklifts, and things. Why I choose SK School is still a bit of a mystery, but I wanted to operate equipment like my dad and this was a start.
In September 1967 I graduated from Naval Training Center, Recruit Training Command, San Diego CA. I remember putting on those Dress Blues and waiting for My family to come pick me up. Saying good bye to those I had been through a rough 12 weeks with was hard, I still remember many of the guys. Cavey from Alaska, Deason from Saugus CA, Moffet from Minnesota, Andrews, the first Black friend I ever had. and the Twins. But in the Navy you say your goodbyes and move on to the next station.
I had 14 days of Boot Leave, I headed back to Holtville to see old friends and show off my Uniform. I visited with friends and family and prepared to return to Navy life. Holtville was just a small town, I really hadn't heard about "Hippies and Protesters" at this point, and everyone was Proud of me. A lot of my friends had been drafted or joined since I went to Boot camp. and the 2 weeks went fast.
In Late September I reported to Storekeeper Class "A" School at Naval Training Center Annex, 32nd Street Naval Station San Diego CA. Some of my Friends from Boot had also gotten Order to NTC Schools, and 4 of us met the weekend before reporting at my sister Pat's house in Santee near San Diego for a quick week end of fun. She loaned me her car and we went to the Beach and had a great time. Also drank a few beers while at the house. It was a great weekend
I had received a promotion when I graduated so i was now an E-2, Storekeeper Seamen Apprentice, or SKSA. School was basically like a trade school, 5 days a week with weekends off unless you had the duty. Also you had Liberty every evening unless you had the duty. I was your typical Sailor, ready to hit the beach every day after school but in the Navy "Hit the Beach" does not always mean sand and surf. LOL It is a term used to mean leave the base and go on Liberty. In this case the streets of San Diego. I was too young to drink but did manage to get into a couple of Bars, mostly though I went to the Titty Bars that only served "Near Beer" and you could get into at 18. They had dancers but always had at least "Pasties" covering their breast. It wasn't until Hawaii a year later I saw my first "Nude" Dancer. I did spend sometime in the local Adult Novelty shops watched some very X-Rated movies and even seen a couple of "Live Models" you would go into a room and be separated by glass and put quarters in the slot to raise the blind and the girl would dance for you. Needed lots of quarters though LMAO. week-ends would find me mostly at Pat & Sam's place, where sometimes I would take some friends and we would Play cards and Drink Beer. Jim Hunnicutt and Bill King were the usual gang.
Memories of SK "A" School with out a time line are, Guys smoking "Catnip" to try to get a buzz cause they couldn't get Weed. My first introduction to Drugs other than Alcohol A friend Named Bailey was the instigator, also dried Banana peels called "Mellow Yellow" I tried neither by the way.
I remember going to the mess hall seeing all the Ships and wondering if I would be on one of these. I did visit a ship though, a Friend from Boot was on a Tin Can at the Naval Station and I was invited aboard for supper and to visit him. Who knew that would be my longest tour of "Sea Duty" while I was in the Navy LOL
While there we had a visit from two recent graduates of SK "A" School that had gotten order to Vietnam, they had been to "SERE" School in Warner Springs and were bruised and tired looking.
I hoped that when my orders came in it would not be Vietnam. I was among the last to receive orders, and when the instructor, said "SKSA Dickey, US Naval Station Midway Island" I was relieved.
I had requested the USS New Jersey that was being reactivated but that's why they call it a dream sheet. Some of my friends laughed because Midway is a small island in the middle of the Pacific and I was going to spend a year with the Gooney Birds, but it turned out that Midway was beautiful and there was lots of Beach time. fishing swimming snorkeling and such. Jim Hunnicutt laughed also but then the instructor read "SKSA Hunnicutt US Naval Station Adak Alaska!" The laugh was on him I had sunny beaches in a tropical setting and he had a year in the deep freeze. Before Christmas I was given 14 more days leave for the holidays. I had been in the 7 months and already used 28 days of leave.
In September 1967 I graduated from Naval Training Center, Recruit Training Command, San Diego CA. I remember putting on those Dress Blues and waiting for My family to come pick me up. Saying good bye to those I had been through a rough 12 weeks with was hard, I still remember many of the guys. Cavey from Alaska, Deason from Saugus CA, Moffet from Minnesota, Andrews, the first Black friend I ever had. and the Twins. But in the Navy you say your goodbyes and move on to the next station.
I had 14 days of Boot Leave, I headed back to Holtville to see old friends and show off my Uniform. I visited with friends and family and prepared to return to Navy life. Holtville was just a small town, I really hadn't heard about "Hippies and Protesters" at this point, and everyone was Proud of me. A lot of my friends had been drafted or joined since I went to Boot camp. and the 2 weeks went fast.
In Late September I reported to Storekeeper Class "A" School at Naval Training Center Annex, 32nd Street Naval Station San Diego CA. Some of my Friends from Boot had also gotten Order to NTC Schools, and 4 of us met the weekend before reporting at my sister Pat's house in Santee near San Diego for a quick week end of fun. She loaned me her car and we went to the Beach and had a great time. Also drank a few beers while at the house. It was a great weekend
I had received a promotion when I graduated so i was now an E-2, Storekeeper Seamen Apprentice, or SKSA. School was basically like a trade school, 5 days a week with weekends off unless you had the duty. Also you had Liberty every evening unless you had the duty. I was your typical Sailor, ready to hit the beach every day after school but in the Navy "Hit the Beach" does not always mean sand and surf. LOL It is a term used to mean leave the base and go on Liberty. In this case the streets of San Diego. I was too young to drink but did manage to get into a couple of Bars, mostly though I went to the Titty Bars that only served "Near Beer" and you could get into at 18. They had dancers but always had at least "Pasties" covering their breast. It wasn't until Hawaii a year later I saw my first "Nude" Dancer. I did spend sometime in the local Adult Novelty shops watched some very X-Rated movies and even seen a couple of "Live Models" you would go into a room and be separated by glass and put quarters in the slot to raise the blind and the girl would dance for you. Needed lots of quarters though LMAO. week-ends would find me mostly at Pat & Sam's place, where sometimes I would take some friends and we would Play cards and Drink Beer. Jim Hunnicutt and Bill King were the usual gang.
Memories of SK "A" School with out a time line are, Guys smoking "Catnip" to try to get a buzz cause they couldn't get Weed. My first introduction to Drugs other than Alcohol A friend Named Bailey was the instigator, also dried Banana peels called "Mellow Yellow" I tried neither by the way.
I remember going to the mess hall seeing all the Ships and wondering if I would be on one of these. I did visit a ship though, a Friend from Boot was on a Tin Can at the Naval Station and I was invited aboard for supper and to visit him. Who knew that would be my longest tour of "Sea Duty" while I was in the Navy LOL
While there we had a visit from two recent graduates of SK "A" School that had gotten order to Vietnam, they had been to "SERE" School in Warner Springs and were bruised and tired looking.
I hoped that when my orders came in it would not be Vietnam. I was among the last to receive orders, and when the instructor, said "SKSA Dickey, US Naval Station Midway Island" I was relieved.
I had requested the USS New Jersey that was being reactivated but that's why they call it a dream sheet. Some of my friends laughed because Midway is a small island in the middle of the Pacific and I was going to spend a year with the Gooney Birds, but it turned out that Midway was beautiful and there was lots of Beach time. fishing swimming snorkeling and such. Jim Hunnicutt laughed also but then the instructor read "SKSA Hunnicutt US Naval Station Adak Alaska!" The laugh was on him I had sunny beaches in a tropical setting and he had a year in the deep freeze. Before Christmas I was given 14 more days leave for the holidays. I had been in the 7 months and already used 28 days of leave.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
More Boot Camp Ramblings
As we get older our memories get jumbled. I remember things that happened, but not the chronological order they were in. This is basically the rest of my Boot Camp memories but not necessarily in the order they happened. Lets start with the Weideman Twins.
As mentioned earlier I first met the Weideman Twins when reporting for active duty. We shared a bathroom at the Hotel the night before processing at AFEES. I want to start by saying that the twins were special guys, they had hearts of gold. They were some of my best friends in Boot Camp, and they looked up to me to help them as a squad leader and friend. And they needed all the help they could get. I guess during Vietnam recruiters were meeting quotas with warm bodies to fill billets. During Boot, we dealt with several men that I do not believe should have been recruited. Among this group were the Weidemen Twins. Do not get me wrong, Rob & Rick tried very hard to become good sailors, and I hope that after boot camp they were able to survive the fleet. Young Sailors was cruel, and the Navy was an extension of High School. If you were different , or not with the in crowd you were heckled and picked on. The twins were not "stupid" by any means, but they did have difficulties learning how to adapt to navy life. Both were probably like the rest of us in the 17-19 year old range, but had led a "sheltered" life. Their family while I do not know that they were "rich", lived in a well to do area of San Diego. Money was not a problem for sure, and they were not "street-wise" . They were innocents, never had girlfriends, never had booze, never been in trouble to speak of. While most of the rest of the company were partiers, Jocks, players, and pretty wild guys.
Everybody liked the twins, and we looked out for them like their big brothers. We took every chance to teach them what they needed to know. We would fold their clothes for them, sit and explain how to tie knots and work with them. On one occasion, they had both gotten gigged on inspection, neither had got
ten a good shave. I had them both in my squad so I had to counsel them on shaving. I came up with a plan!! I told them Rob tomorrow you give Rick a shave, and Rick you shave Rob. That way you can see what you are doing better. Whew problem solved!! I THOUGHT!! The next morning I walked into the head and noticed a small crowd gathering laughing loudly, I looked and there were my twins, Rick & Rob arms intertwined, shaving each other at the same time. It was quite a sight. I stop them, and explained, OK Rob you shave Rick, Rick you stand still and do not move until he is done, and then trade places!!!!!!!
I hope I taught them something, I know I tried, and at times they tried my patience. But I refused to give up and later in boot camp when we were allowed to have visitors, they invited me to meet their parents one evening. They told their folks how much I had done for them and how much the liked me. The parents told me about the twins writing home and bragging on me as their squad leader and friend.
As I look back on that evening it is a great memory. In the end the Twins graduated Boot camp with the rest of the company, and had received orders to the USS Enterprise!! THE BIG "E", l often wonder how they did in the fleet. Did they make it 4 years, heck did they make a career out of it?
I am hoping they both had good lives and somewhere sit and remember me today. Their Friend and Squad Leader...
As mentioned earlier I first met the Weideman Twins when reporting for active duty. We shared a bathroom at the Hotel the night before processing at AFEES. I want to start by saying that the twins were special guys, they had hearts of gold. They were some of my best friends in Boot Camp, and they looked up to me to help them as a squad leader and friend. And they needed all the help they could get. I guess during Vietnam recruiters were meeting quotas with warm bodies to fill billets. During Boot, we dealt with several men that I do not believe should have been recruited. Among this group were the Weidemen Twins. Do not get me wrong, Rob & Rick tried very hard to become good sailors, and I hope that after boot camp they were able to survive the fleet. Young Sailors was cruel, and the Navy was an extension of High School. If you were different , or not with the in crowd you were heckled and picked on. The twins were not "stupid" by any means, but they did have difficulties learning how to adapt to navy life. Both were probably like the rest of us in the 17-19 year old range, but had led a "sheltered" life. Their family while I do not know that they were "rich", lived in a well to do area of San Diego. Money was not a problem for sure, and they were not "street-wise" . They were innocents, never had girlfriends, never had booze, never been in trouble to speak of. While most of the rest of the company were partiers, Jocks, players, and pretty wild guys.
Everybody liked the twins, and we looked out for them like their big brothers. We took every chance to teach them what they needed to know. We would fold their clothes for them, sit and explain how to tie knots and work with them. On one occasion, they had both gotten gigged on inspection, neither had got
ten a good shave. I had them both in my squad so I had to counsel them on shaving. I came up with a plan!! I told them Rob tomorrow you give Rick a shave, and Rick you shave Rob. That way you can see what you are doing better. Whew problem solved!! I THOUGHT!! The next morning I walked into the head and noticed a small crowd gathering laughing loudly, I looked and there were my twins, Rick & Rob arms intertwined, shaving each other at the same time. It was quite a sight. I stop them, and explained, OK Rob you shave Rick, Rick you stand still and do not move until he is done, and then trade places!!!!!!!
I hope I taught them something, I know I tried, and at times they tried my patience. But I refused to give up and later in boot camp when we were allowed to have visitors, they invited me to meet their parents one evening. They told their folks how much I had done for them and how much the liked me. The parents told me about the twins writing home and bragging on me as their squad leader and friend.
As I look back on that evening it is a great memory. In the end the Twins graduated Boot camp with the rest of the company, and had received orders to the USS Enterprise!! THE BIG "E", l often wonder how they did in the fleet. Did they make it 4 years, heck did they make a career out of it?
I am hoping they both had good lives and somewhere sit and remember me today. Their Friend and Squad Leader...
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Confrontation with RCPO Lyons
RCPO Lyons and I had a problem with each other from day one. He thought because he had a bit of Academy training he was better than the rest of us. His position as head of the company went to his head.
He was forever giving orders, and expecting respect he did not earn. We for the most part felt we had to respect the position but not the man. As I had mentioned earlier, our company was mainly composed of laid back guys. We wanted to survive boot camp and get into the fleet. We were also a group of jokers and pranksters. Often while marching in formation, one of the squad leaders would quietly give a command like "Right turn Harch!" or "Company Halt!" Leaving Lyons marching to his own drummer until he realized he didn't have a company following him. Well one afternoon as we were marching back from a class, one of the Squad Leaders gave the command, "COMPANY, HALF STEP........MARCH!!" Well we went to half-step, and Lyons kept going until hes was a good 75 feet in front of the company! He looked and seen what was going on and returned to us saying "Company....HALT!!" which we did. Well he walked right up to me and said, "I KNOW YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS!!!!!", and pulled my dixie cup of my head and slapped me across the face with it. WHOA NELLIE, Well instinct took over and I grabbed him by the throat, and pushed him up against a wall with his feet dangling and was ready to open a big can O' Whup AZZ on him when the guys started yelling "DICKEY NO!!! Look Up!!" Well I looked up and across the passageway and there were all the guards in Unit 4050 looking out their window. I let Lyons fall to the ground, and walked back to the company and shouted "COMPANY.... FORWARD, ....mar CH!!" quite loudly leaving Lyons lying there until he regained composure and followed us back to the barracks.
ell needless to say Lyons went to the Company Commander and reported my part of the incident, and I found my self in the office. I explained to him about the White Hat part of the story, and he gave it some thought. He did not blame me for what I had done, but he was in a position where a member of his company had assaulted a senior member of the company and he had to "Punish me" for assault on a senior Petty Officer" He also counseled and gave Lyons some small punishment. Your basic punishment in Boot Camp, other than 4050, was a "Marching Party". An afternoon of punishment by exercising for 2 hours and they pushed you hard. You had to wear your sweater and black watch camp to go to the marching party so everyone would know you were in trouble. My punishment was 2 marching parties. But he explained I was to dress for the Marching Party and report there but I would be released and would go to the snack bar until time to return back to my company. He felt I was right in my reaction but I had put him in a bad position, I should have just reported the incident to him.
I went along with it, cussed him for giving me marching parties, and told Lyons He better never hit me again.He avoided any other confrontations with me, and I heard after boot leave that 4 members of the company had caught him in the head at the airport and worked him over pretty good. I do know that after our graduation, while waiting for the go home day, a bunch of US me included threw him into the big empty dumpster locked the doors, and beat the dumpster with anything we had to hit with... Paybacks are a BIT&%
He was forever giving orders, and expecting respect he did not earn. We for the most part felt we had to respect the position but not the man. As I had mentioned earlier, our company was mainly composed of laid back guys. We wanted to survive boot camp and get into the fleet. We were also a group of jokers and pranksters. Often while marching in formation, one of the squad leaders would quietly give a command like "Right turn Harch!" or "Company Halt!" Leaving Lyons marching to his own drummer until he realized he didn't have a company following him. Well one afternoon as we were marching back from a class, one of the Squad Leaders gave the command, "COMPANY, HALF STEP........MARCH!!" Well we went to half-step, and Lyons kept going until hes was a good 75 feet in front of the company! He looked and seen what was going on and returned to us saying "Company....HALT!!" which we did. Well he walked right up to me and said, "I KNOW YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS!!!!!", and pulled my dixie cup of my head and slapped me across the face with it. WHOA NELLIE, Well instinct took over and I grabbed him by the throat, and pushed him up against a wall with his feet dangling and was ready to open a big can O' Whup AZZ on him when the guys started yelling "DICKEY NO!!! Look Up!!" Well I looked up and across the passageway and there were all the guards in Unit 4050 looking out their window. I let Lyons fall to the ground, and walked back to the company and shouted "COMPANY.... FORWARD, ....mar CH!!" quite loudly leaving Lyons lying there until he regained composure and followed us back to the barracks.
ell needless to say Lyons went to the Company Commander and reported my part of the incident, and I found my self in the office. I explained to him about the White Hat part of the story, and he gave it some thought. He did not blame me for what I had done, but he was in a position where a member of his company had assaulted a senior member of the company and he had to "Punish me" for assault on a senior Petty Officer" He also counseled and gave Lyons some small punishment. Your basic punishment in Boot Camp, other than 4050, was a "Marching Party". An afternoon of punishment by exercising for 2 hours and they pushed you hard. You had to wear your sweater and black watch camp to go to the marching party so everyone would know you were in trouble. My punishment was 2 marching parties. But he explained I was to dress for the Marching Party and report there but I would be released and would go to the snack bar until time to return back to my company. He felt I was right in my reaction but I had put him in a bad position, I should have just reported the incident to him.
I went along with it, cussed him for giving me marching parties, and told Lyons He better never hit me again.He avoided any other confrontations with me, and I heard after boot leave that 4 members of the company had caught him in the head at the airport and worked him over pretty good. I do know that after our graduation, while waiting for the go home day, a bunch of US me included threw him into the big empty dumpster locked the doors, and beat the dumpster with anything we had to hit with... Paybacks are a BIT&%
Friday, June 17, 2011
Off to secondary training.
The rest of primary training was pretty uneventful. We studied, practiced marching, got further checkups, and got to know each other. Friendships were made that I can still remember, many of us started writing our shipmates sisters. I wrote to Mike Deason's sister in Sagus Ca, and to Bruce Mosslett's sister in Minnesota. It was great to get mail at mail call. I never did get to meet either girl in person, but enjoyed my time corresponding with them. I think about them often and wonder what they are doing today. I also made friends with the many Filipino guys in our company, they were on their way to be cooks or stewards mates, the only ratings they were allowed to take at the time. Once in the fleet they could "cross rate" and many of them became things other than cooks and servants lol. Many of them spoke only broken English, and it was interesting to learn of their culture. There were also a couple of guys from the Island of Guam. and I did some corresponding with one of their sisters as well.
I do not remember how long primary lasted, maybe 4 weeks, and then we went over the bridge to secondary training. We had made it this far, were issued our White uniforms, and the Sailors Badge of Honor, or "White Hat" also know affectionately as our "Dixie Cup". We were no longer classified as "Squirrels" . We packed our Sea Bags, and marched to our new barracks closer to the classrooms and the mess hall. Our training continued, and although I cannot say for sure the timeline many things happened on the secondary training side of the bridge. Lyons kept his better than thou- I am in charge attitude, and made many enemies. We exchanged shaving cream wars with company 343. Seems they attacked our Company commanders office with shaving cream grenades, so we returned the favor. But instead of hitting the small office we tossed multiple shaving cream grenades through the open windows of their barracks. LOL made a huge mess.
One day while waiting for lunch, our company yeoman approached me and asked "Hey Dickey does Rice's smell offend you too?" It seems our APO1 was not the cleanest sailor in the fleet. His lack of hygiene did not go unnoticed, and I told Steve I would call a squad leaders meeting that evening to discuss it. Steve attended the meeting and a plan was formed. The next day was Rice's turn to report for company muster in the evening, reporting to brigade that all were present and accounted for. While he was gone, my squad took 4 galvanized trash cans into the shower and filled them with cold water. The Squad leaders sat on the steps to the barracks waiting for him to return from muster. As he came up the stairs, we all six grabbed him and carried him to the shower, taking anything that would get damaged out of his pockets and removing his shoes. We entered the gang shower with all shower heads spraying full force, and took our scrub brushes that we used to wash our clothes, and began his cleaning. We scrubbed his clothes, and removed them down to his scivvies, and scrubbed his body as well. The guys with the trash cans full of cold water dumped them over the pack, and we gave him a good shower. After it was over we told him it would happen again if he refused to take care of himself. No one reported this to the Company Commander and life was good..
I do not remember how long primary lasted, maybe 4 weeks, and then we went over the bridge to secondary training. We had made it this far, were issued our White uniforms, and the Sailors Badge of Honor, or "White Hat" also know affectionately as our "Dixie Cup". We were no longer classified as "Squirrels" . We packed our Sea Bags, and marched to our new barracks closer to the classrooms and the mess hall. Our training continued, and although I cannot say for sure the timeline many things happened on the secondary training side of the bridge. Lyons kept his better than thou- I am in charge attitude, and made many enemies. We exchanged shaving cream wars with company 343. Seems they attacked our Company commanders office with shaving cream grenades, so we returned the favor. But instead of hitting the small office we tossed multiple shaving cream grenades through the open windows of their barracks. LOL made a huge mess.
One day while waiting for lunch, our company yeoman approached me and asked "Hey Dickey does Rice's smell offend you too?" It seems our APO1 was not the cleanest sailor in the fleet. His lack of hygiene did not go unnoticed, and I told Steve I would call a squad leaders meeting that evening to discuss it. Steve attended the meeting and a plan was formed. The next day was Rice's turn to report for company muster in the evening, reporting to brigade that all were present and accounted for. While he was gone, my squad took 4 galvanized trash cans into the shower and filled them with cold water. The Squad leaders sat on the steps to the barracks waiting for him to return from muster. As he came up the stairs, we all six grabbed him and carried him to the shower, taking anything that would get damaged out of his pockets and removing his shoes. We entered the gang shower with all shower heads spraying full force, and took our scrub brushes that we used to wash our clothes, and began his cleaning. We scrubbed his clothes, and removed them down to his scivvies, and scrubbed his body as well. The guys with the trash cans full of cold water dumped them over the pack, and we gave him a good shower. After it was over we told him it would happen again if he refused to take care of himself. No one reported this to the Company Commander and life was good..
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Boot Camp Primary Side.
Once we had gotten our checkups, haircuts, and uniforms. We had taken our GCT, and formed into a basic company. And we had been introduced to our Company Commander, Commisaryman First Class, Pippen, Company petty officers were chosen. First Recruit Chief Petty Officer. CS1 Pippen asked if anyone had had prior Naval service, and Recruit Lyons stepped forward, he had been a midshipman at the Naval Academy but failed academically and was dropped, because of this "prior service" Recruit Lyons became RCPO Lyons. The RCPO was responsible for the entire company and right below the Company Commander in rank. Lyons was a short chubby rosy cheeked young man, and took his position seriously. The next position was RPO1, 2nd in command, and a guy named Rice was chosen for this position. Then the Guidon carrier and company Yeoman (Secretary) The only Black man in the company was chosen to be guidon bearer, Herbert Andrews from Florida, he was a great choice, and a fine gentleman. He and I became good friends. Steve Harabedian was chosen Yeoman. Then the 6 squad leaders were chosen. Steve was also a great guy and we became good friends during boot camp..
I had not volunteered nor been asked to take a position and was fine to be just a member of the company. But that would change shortly. We were moved to our barracks on the Primary Training side of the base, across the channel from the secondary and advanced training area. We started attending classes on Naval History, Rank and recognition, knot tying, and other aspects of Naval Life to prepare us for the Fleet. We were issued or rifles, and each morning after breakfast we were taken to the grinder and given physical training and learned to march and workout with our rifles. We learned the 9 count and 16 count rifle drills, and basically trained for our graduation parade. Our company was not the greatest at marching and drill. Almost every morning as we passed in review in front of the grandstand we would hear the call "Company 341 bring 'em around again" which meant we hadn't done very well and needed more practice. I do not believe a day passed without hearing that at least once.
After being released from the grinder, we commenced the days classes. some classroom and some on the grinder learning basic marching orders, Right Turn, company mark time, half-step, double time, things of that nature.
Maybe a week or so into primary training, my life would change. Our first squad leader had decided he wasn't cut out for the Navy and tried to desert. He snuck out of the barracks, and swam the channel to escape, but the other side of that channel was secondary training and the Shore Patrol was there waiting to arrest him when he crawled ashore. He was taken to the Recruit Brig, Unit 4050, and eventually given a mental discharge. We ran across him for a short time during his stay at 4050, as they were marched from place to place, they were forced to wear Pink sailor hats and had Prisoner stenciled on their shirts. They also had to stomp their left foot as they marched and were given hard labor chores to do. Unit 4050 will be mentioned again in the course of my boot camp story.
At this point, CS1 Pippen came to me to discuss my GCT test scores and mention that he felt I would make a good replacement for the First squad leader. I reluctantly agreed to assume the position, and their I was front left corner of the company, right behind Steve, and responsible for the training of of up to 9 other recruits. Including the Weideman Twins. It is with the greatest respect that I say The twins were great guys, I still love them to death, but to put it nicely they were not the brightest bulbs in the pack. They were proud to be sailors, and wanted to do everything right but they had a few problems. LOL and I was to make sure they graduated with the rest of us. And they did!!!!!
Primary companies were distinguished from secondary companies by the fact that we wore our blue utility ball caps, and they wore the Official "US Navy Dixie Cup" it was a mark of honor when we were issued our white hats, we had made it halfway to graduation. And with primary companies you would hear them called "squirrels" quite often. As they would still be learning to stand still in formation, and wiggling around a lot.
We had many inspections, first at company level, then at muster where brigade would inspect us. It was during one of these inspections that I started losing respect for RCPO Lyons. I was being inspected and the inspector decided my ears were dirty, he called Lyons over and said look at that you could grow a potato in there. Lyons being the kiss ass he was replied "Yes Sir a good Irish Potato Sir. Lyons let his position go to his head, actually thought it made him better than the rest of us, which would cause him problems later. As squad leaders myself and 5 others were responsible for making sure our squads were prepared for inspection One day the entire company failed, CS1 Pippen was not happy and decided to punish the squad leaders for their failure. I am sure he thought "piss the leaders off and they will get tough on their squads" Well the entire company was formed at the foot of our bunks, and the squad leaders asked to step forward. The rest of the company was then allowed to sit and rest while we were made to tie 2 rifles together butt to muzzle, this became an 18 pound workout tool. We stood in the middle of the barracks doing our workout by the count, 1. Rifles across our chest, 2 straight out fully extending our arms and holding it until the count of 3 rifles back across the chest 4. 5 rifles above our heads arms straight , 6 back to chest, 7 arms extended to the right, 8 back to chest, 9 arms fully extended to the left, and start over . This went on for a good 30-45 minutes. And his plan had worked for the moment we were not happy and were ready to chew butt on our squads. But we all got to thinking and had a squad leaders only meeting. We discussed the events of the day and came to the conclusion we were being "Brainwashed" lol We decided to take a different approach and just talk to our squads and explain to them we had to do good for 12 weeks and it would be better "In The Fleet" Instead of getting pushy with those that would be our shipmates in the future, we talked them through it. This worked and we were soon passing inspections regularly. It turns out that our company was "different" than the others, ours mostly just wanted to get boot over with, while the others strived to be the "BEST" We strived to survive, not to gain ribbons, special flags, or streamers on our company flag. We graduated right along with the "meatball" companies but our guidon was bare except for the 2 silver diamonds that represented the entire company had bought US Savings Bonds. LOL We won no competitions, physical or mental, we just did our job and survived boot camp. And we had a great time doing it.
I had not volunteered nor been asked to take a position and was fine to be just a member of the company. But that would change shortly. We were moved to our barracks on the Primary Training side of the base, across the channel from the secondary and advanced training area. We started attending classes on Naval History, Rank and recognition, knot tying, and other aspects of Naval Life to prepare us for the Fleet. We were issued or rifles, and each morning after breakfast we were taken to the grinder and given physical training and learned to march and workout with our rifles. We learned the 9 count and 16 count rifle drills, and basically trained for our graduation parade. Our company was not the greatest at marching and drill. Almost every morning as we passed in review in front of the grandstand we would hear the call "Company 341 bring 'em around again" which meant we hadn't done very well and needed more practice. I do not believe a day passed without hearing that at least once.
After being released from the grinder, we commenced the days classes. some classroom and some on the grinder learning basic marching orders, Right Turn, company mark time, half-step, double time, things of that nature.
Maybe a week or so into primary training, my life would change. Our first squad leader had decided he wasn't cut out for the Navy and tried to desert. He snuck out of the barracks, and swam the channel to escape, but the other side of that channel was secondary training and the Shore Patrol was there waiting to arrest him when he crawled ashore. He was taken to the Recruit Brig, Unit 4050, and eventually given a mental discharge. We ran across him for a short time during his stay at 4050, as they were marched from place to place, they were forced to wear Pink sailor hats and had Prisoner stenciled on their shirts. They also had to stomp their left foot as they marched and were given hard labor chores to do. Unit 4050 will be mentioned again in the course of my boot camp story.
At this point, CS1 Pippen came to me to discuss my GCT test scores and mention that he felt I would make a good replacement for the First squad leader. I reluctantly agreed to assume the position, and their I was front left corner of the company, right behind Steve, and responsible for the training of of up to 9 other recruits. Including the Weideman Twins. It is with the greatest respect that I say The twins were great guys, I still love them to death, but to put it nicely they were not the brightest bulbs in the pack. They were proud to be sailors, and wanted to do everything right but they had a few problems. LOL and I was to make sure they graduated with the rest of us. And they did!!!!!
Primary companies were distinguished from secondary companies by the fact that we wore our blue utility ball caps, and they wore the Official "US Navy Dixie Cup" it was a mark of honor when we were issued our white hats, we had made it halfway to graduation. And with primary companies you would hear them called "squirrels" quite often. As they would still be learning to stand still in formation, and wiggling around a lot.
We had many inspections, first at company level, then at muster where brigade would inspect us. It was during one of these inspections that I started losing respect for RCPO Lyons. I was being inspected and the inspector decided my ears were dirty, he called Lyons over and said look at that you could grow a potato in there. Lyons being the kiss ass he was replied "Yes Sir a good Irish Potato Sir. Lyons let his position go to his head, actually thought it made him better than the rest of us, which would cause him problems later. As squad leaders myself and 5 others were responsible for making sure our squads were prepared for inspection One day the entire company failed, CS1 Pippen was not happy and decided to punish the squad leaders for their failure. I am sure he thought "piss the leaders off and they will get tough on their squads" Well the entire company was formed at the foot of our bunks, and the squad leaders asked to step forward. The rest of the company was then allowed to sit and rest while we were made to tie 2 rifles together butt to muzzle, this became an 18 pound workout tool. We stood in the middle of the barracks doing our workout by the count, 1. Rifles across our chest, 2 straight out fully extending our arms and holding it until the count of 3 rifles back across the chest 4. 5 rifles above our heads arms straight , 6 back to chest, 7 arms extended to the right, 8 back to chest, 9 arms fully extended to the left, and start over . This went on for a good 30-45 minutes. And his plan had worked for the moment we were not happy and were ready to chew butt on our squads. But we all got to thinking and had a squad leaders only meeting. We discussed the events of the day and came to the conclusion we were being "Brainwashed" lol We decided to take a different approach and just talk to our squads and explain to them we had to do good for 12 weeks and it would be better "In The Fleet" Instead of getting pushy with those that would be our shipmates in the future, we talked them through it. This worked and we were soon passing inspections regularly. It turns out that our company was "different" than the others, ours mostly just wanted to get boot over with, while the others strived to be the "BEST" We strived to survive, not to gain ribbons, special flags, or streamers on our company flag. We graduated right along with the "meatball" companies but our guidon was bare except for the 2 silver diamonds that represented the entire company had bought US Savings Bonds. LOL We won no competitions, physical or mental, we just did our job and survived boot camp. And we had a great time doing it.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Boot Camp, Recieving and Outftting.
The first morning of boot camp was something out of an old movie, a cross between a war movie and a horror movie LOL... It began around 4 AM, people came rushing in with night sticks, pounding on trash cans and screaming get your AZZEZ out of bed, let's go NOW. we all came flying out of bed, and dressed and assembled outside, all the time people yelling and rushing us.. Man what had I done? They formed us into an assemlance of ranks, and started barking commands. Left Face!! Your other left Squirrel!! Stand Straight!!! Now you bunch of Squirrels we are going to Take you to Breakfast, see if you can keep up!!!!! FORWARD MARCH!! we crossed the base and were placed on the blacktop parking lot in front of the chow hall. Excuse me the "MESS HALL" in Navy talk.. and the blacktop was the “Grinder” a proper name for the practice parade grounds to be sure. Many of use were afraid to move and made the mistake of locking our legs and started to feel faint. They took us and sit us down with our heads between our knees, I was wondering if I should kiss my butt goodbye while I had the chance. After Chow, we were taken to what they called Receiving and Outfitting! "R&O". Here we were given our first haircuts, and yes they took it all off. They particularly liked getting the long haired guys in there. LOL I had been warned so I had a regular haircut when I reported. In R&O They also gave us our first shots and did check ups and issued us our first uniforms. And we took our General Classification Tests. These were our utilities or "Dungarees" Blue chambray shirts, and Blue denim pants, and our military issue underwear..
Our civilian clothes were packed and shipped home and we became official US Navy Seaman Recruits. Between checkups and clothes issues we began our indoctrination into Naval Service.
I do not remember how many days we were in R&O, but it was a few. I do remember we had started to make friends before our first haircut which I think was day 3, and after with our shaven heads we had to re introduce ourselves, we all looked so different. We were now Recruit Training Company 67-341, and there beside me in the ranks were the Weideman Twins, Richard and Robert. They were great guys, although a bit different, and we became good friends through boot camp. After R&O, we were formed up and taken to Primary Training, across the bridge. By this time we had the basic formation down and could look like something of a company while marching. But we were still called squirrels constantly because we still moved around in ranks, chatting and looking around!! This is where we had our Recruit Chief Petty Officer, Assistant Company Petty Officer ,Squad Leaders Yeoman, Guidon Bearer, and other company leaders assigned. I felt I was lucky because I was just another recruit.
I had no desire to be a company leader. I wanted to get Boot over with and get to the Fleet, board a ship and see the world!! Exotic places called my name, and most of all I wanted to do my service and return to my little corner of the world. I had never given a career in the Navy much thought, just wanted to serve my time and return to being a civilian.
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