Bill,
Those were nice and true words about Capt Reid. I am sorry I will miss seeing him again. Thanks for the words about me as well. I think we worked together fairly well. But whoever would have thought it when I first came
on board to be his XO.
Here I was - a young (basically inexperienced), bachelor, Catholic, yankee (from New York), Naval Academy graduate, just having completed an advanced engineering degree and there was Capt Reid - an elder,experienced Naval Officer, LDO, Protestant, southerner. Should have been oil and water, but as you guys know, it clearly wasn't. Besides that, aside from Lee Doyle and Benson, Cal Lain, Roger Padgett(and maybe you Bill) all we had were fresh caught Ensigns like Johnsen, Stouffer, Van Scotter, Hilstrom,Priest, and McCaughey -who all quickly come to mind - and others whom I will remember as soon as I send this E-Mail.
Just shows you what a ship can become when people work together (work hard-play hard) and set some goals like winning the E and the Ney. I stilll have a picture of our Honor Guard performing when Capt Reid received the E - probably the only AGR that ever had an Honor Guard.
Regret I will not be with you. Regards to all, most especially to Capt Reid.
Your erstwhile XO (which Bruce Johnsen once reminded me was OX backwards when I once restricted him)
Rod Flannery |
