Swift Boat Commander

I arrived in the Republic of Panama during the Noriega years. The place was in turmoil and it was only a matter of time before the United States took some action. Usually, the Department of State has some plan in place for dealing with rouge leader's of other nations. Naturally, the Department of State has a sword for foreign policy and the U.S. military is its pointy end. Panama was a supposedly friendly nation. We had treaties in place of defense and trade. Everyone liked this peaceful coexistence, with a few exceptions. By the time I reported to my next command in August 1988, the Panamanian Defense Forces (PDF) had begun an adversarial relationship with the U.S. military in the Canal Zone (CZ). The day I took command of the Patrol Craft Fast number 9 (PCF-9) I was briefed that under no circumstances was I allow my craft to be boarded by the PDF. This lead to some very tense moments later on and with much weapons pointing by each side. The above photograph is the PCF-9. Most people call these "Swift Boats". Yes, the same type of boat that John F. Kerry commanded during Viet Nam. I was the Boat Captain and in charge of its maintenance, crew welfare, training, and fighting capability. She was a little hot rod of the river and coastal areas. She was officially a mark II which was an upgrade from the mark I's. This meant that she was a foot longer and 2 knots faster. The PCF-9 could reach 32 knots. She was well armed with a twin 50 caliber machine gun mount over the pilot house (which could spit a lot of death), a single 50 caliber machine gun over a 81mm mortar on the aft deck, two m-60 machine guns mounted port and starboard at just abaft of the deck house, plus two M-79 grenade launchers and some other small arms. She was dealing death and sowing destruction. It was my responsibility! The weight of command would be a heavy load, especially just before, during, and after "Operation Just Cause".

My Fourth Ship...O'bannon

This is my fourth ship, the USS O'bannon (DD-987), and she was a graceful greyhound of the sea. Her long lines where pleasing to view. She was powerful and fast. Her armaments included two 5"/54 caliber naval rifles (one placed forward and the other aft), one 8 tubed Anti-Submarine Rocket launcher (ASROC for short) (placed forward) which could fire conventional anti-submarine torpedoes or nuclear depth charges, one 8 tubed NATO Sea sparrow anti-aircraft missile launcher (placed aft), two 4 tubed Harpoon anti-ship missile launchers (place amid-ship facing port and starboard), and various small arms. Her four gas turbine main engines and 2 variable pitch propellers could bring this ship above 36 knots with ease and in a true emergency flank 3 situation she could touch 40 knots. I reported aboard her in August 1986 as a new Quartermaster First Class (QM1) and I was the Assistant Navigator/Leading Petty Officer. I was the man in charge of the ship's navigation...of a Man-of-War. My navigation team members were very well trained. We went places and did things of lore...and we did them as safely as it could be done. Never once was the ship lost and endanger of running aground. I was informed the day I reported aboard that I had less than 30 days to prepare for a deployment to the Persian Gulf. This meant that I worked almost around the clock to obtain the needed nautical charts and publications, plan the voyage, Lay the plan of intended movement on each chart, and get the whole thing approved by the Navigator and Commanding Officer. All this for some 24 year old young man. What a load. I can tell you that there is more work to this than I outlined. For the next two years this ship was my home. I lived aboard, eat every meal there, and it is where I worked. It was to be a trying experience as well. One that would make me into one of the finest Quartermasters in the Atlantic Fleet. When I departed the ship in June 1988 I had served at sea aboard ships for 8 straight years. I was time to go kick some rump in Panama!

The O'bannon commencing a full power run. She has just past through 22 knots. A lovely lady!

5 inch/ 54 caliber naval rifle...Gun smoke!!!

My Third Ship...Hunley

This is my third ship. She is the USS Hunley (AS-31) and I reported aboard her in August 1984. She was located at Site One, Holy Loch, Scotland. Site One is where the Fleet Ballistic Missile Submarines (SSBN's) started their deterrence patrols from. This was during the bad old days of the cold war and the United States needed to keep the pressure on the Soviets. We did this by arming these submarines with nuclear tipped missiles...scaring the crap out of them because the boats (submarines) would disappear for 90 days and nobody knew where they actually were...not even the U.S. Navy. Now before you start calling on congressman...they were assigned patrol areas off the coast of Russia, but these area were large and the boat tiny, so nobody actually knew where they were. The Hunley was assigned as a tender to the submarines. This meant that she repaired, rearmed, replenished, outfitted, and supplied the boats. I was assigned to the Operations Department as a Quartermaster Second Class (QM2). I corrected the navigational charts and publications. I fixed and maintained navigational equipment. Mostly, I supplied the boats with charts and expertise. You see, I was a recognized leader in celestial navigation and the Quartermasters from the submarines wanted to learn how. It was a good job.

I also loved Scotland! The people were warm and friendly. I met a nice woman and had a son there. Although we never married I have remained in touch. My son, Christopher, lives in Dunoon with his mother, Angela. I like the whole atmosphere...the bagpipes, the public houses, the beer, the fish and chips, and the beauty of the place. I was sad the day I had to leave. I knew the day I was promoted to QM1 that I would be getting orders. In July 1986 I received them and I was to report as the Leading Quartermaster (the boss man) aboard the USS O'Bannon (DD-987).

My Second Ship...Samuel Eliot Morison

After I left the USS Forrestal (CV-59) I received orders to this little beauty. I want to stress little here. The Forrestal was 1,067 feet in length with a 252 feet beam (width) and displaced 81,000 tons. When I reported aboard in January 1983 the USS Samuel Eliot Morison (FFG-13) I found her to be 453 feet in length with a 45 feet beam and displaced 4,100 tons. She was tiny! I soon found she was also a vomit producing machine!!! I can't adequately describe that feeling, but for the ladies it is similar to morning sickness...or any motion sickness. I stood watch on the ship's bridge as helmsman and ship's navigation plotter/recorder. I had to tie a plastic trash bag to my belts for emergency use; and that is not all. It would get so bad that I actually had to lie on the deck between the times that I was required by duty to perform some action. Once, the Commanding Officer cussed at me for being lying down on the job. He had stepped on me as he was looking at the plot (the chart showing the ship's positions and future track) and firmly ordered me to brief him. However, the Captain soon change his mind when he witnessed the employment of the trash bag. I don't want you to think that is the only experience I took from this ship. I would have to say that she had some of the best chow I ever had (plus some of the worst...we ate chicken for nearly every meal for 30 days due to a budget problem. Have you ever had creamed chicken & toast?) and she had some of the nicest berthing spaces (think cruise ship room, but for 60 people). The Morison was quick...as quick as my Mustang is from 0-60 only in ship terms. She could accelerate so fast that you could feel g's. Her official top speed is listed as 29+ knots (knot = 1.15 mph). Well, she produced 41 knots at builders trials before they added the sonar dome. After that she could still push into 38 knots territory if the engineers over rode the shaft torque limiters in "Battle override" mode. She wasn't the first ship that I sailed into "harms way" with, but she was the first that I faced a enemy at close had. The was during "Operation Urgent Fury" off the Island of Grenada in the Caribbean Sea. Apparently the Cubans artillery could reach out and touch us and almost did! I departed the Morison in June 1984 (I was in the middle of the Persian Gulf cruise) after I received orders to the USS Hunley (AS-31).

I will post some photographs of the USS Samuel Eliot Morison (FFG-13) in company with the USS Saratoga (CV-60). We were on our way to the Middle-east during foul weather. I just wanted you to get the sense of the size difference. The Saratoga was the same size as the Forrestal.

We were refueling at sea during these photos. QMSN Langenberg and I were the Master Helmsmen that day. It was very difficult to keep a heading when a huge wave would pick the ship up and set it down 3 to 10 degrees off course...yet as Master Helmsmen we were required to keep the ship within 1/2 of a degree at all times. Yeah...right!

Let us see if any of the ship's Officers can do it!

My First Ship...Forrestal

This week I think I'll do a walk down memory lane. The above is my first ship. She is the USS Forrestal (CV-59). This is how she looked when I left her in December 1982. I remember many things about her, beside being the biggest ship I had ever served on in my naval career. She had a crew of just under 6,000 men. They were divided into ship's company (permanent party) which number around 2,550 men and the embarked air wing (visiting party) with the remainder. She could feed the crew in about 2 hours in 5 different messes and 3 separate ward rooms. Enlisted men eat in the mess and Officer dine in the ward room. The only exception is that Warrant Officers eat in a mess for some strange reason, as they are commissioned Officers...crazy system. The Forrestal was also fast for a big ship. She had 8 boilers which feed 600 lbs. steam into four main turbines producing 250,000 shaft horse power. That is enough to propel the ship over 36 knots. Her true speed is classified, but it is greater than 36 knots. I used to work on the ship's Bridge. It is those top row of windows on the island. I had to wash those by hand as a seaman. That was an adventure all it's own to climb over the railing knowing your about 60 feet above the deck. I visited many wonderful places while stationed on her. If you have questions just leave a comment.

This morning I had to visit the Doctor at the Veterans Affairs Hospital. Everything is about normal. I will soon own a hearing aid for my left ear. I hate it, but I need help hearing. He also wants me to visit the mental health people to discuss some issues pertaining to traumatic events the are service connected.

Tomcat Boogie

I joined the United States Navy while I was in school. I departed for boot camp 3 days after I attended my high school graduation. What a shock! Just watch the movie "Full Metal Jacket" . This will give you a sense of what I went through. My Recruit Company Commander was a chap by the name of Pie...Petty Officer was his first name or MS1 to his friends. This guy could cuss! Every other word was profane and he would string the filthy words together in links of six to eight words. I, for one, was impressed. It is hard to admire some nasty mouth man with a horrible disposition, but I did. He did a good job and the reward for suffering through this was Quartermaster A school in Orlando, Florida. I would finally see Disney World!

Quartermaster A school lasted about 8 weeks. I was so proficient at reading charts and plotting positions that I graduated with honors. This meant that I would be given first choice of a ship from a list. I picked an aircraft carrier...mainly because my father always wanted to go aboard one and look around. Also, I thought about sea sickness a lot back then and this way I was sure I would avoid it's unpleasantness.

The USS Forrestal (CV-59) was America's first super-carrier. Built with an armored angled deck, she could launch and recover aircraft at the same time and the deck could withstand hits from hostile bombs and such. Her length was over 1,000 feet and her width was 252 feet. She carried over 80 aircraft. I was in awe of it all the day I came aboard and for weeks after. The above photo is of a F-14 Tomcat. This is how the aviators flew...on the edge. Honing their skills was a must during that era. Those days seem so distant now, but I can still go back in my mind and smell the jet exhaust and hear hear the roar of those big war birds.