RECOLLECTION

Chester Hill 1988

“WHAT ARE WE SMOKING THIS MORNING, CHESTER?

In April 1944 we were enroute from Goodenough Island to Tanahmerah Bay, New Guinea. We were officially the only ship of Task Unit 77.1.1 as we were serving as flagship of Task Force 77 and carrying the commander of “Operation Reckless”, Rear Admiral Daniel E. Barbey, and his staff. I was officer of the deck and had just checked the time and radar screen and told the quartermaster to secure from our dawn General Quarters in one more minute, as all was clear and that would be the official time of sunrise. I walked out on the starboard wing of the bridge and lighted a cigarette, inhaling deeply and feeling very pleased at how well this huge operation was progressing. Suddenly a stern voice disturbed my reverie.

“MISTER HILL, IS IT THE CUSTOM IN THIS SHIP TO SMOKE DURING GENERAL QUARTERS AND BEFORE SUNRISE TOPSIDE?” It was the admiral’s flag lieutenant, for whom I had already developed a bit of disdain because of his manner of letting us all know how very important he was. I sort of had a feeling that his mother must have known his congressman well or he wouldn’t be flag lieutenant. Anyway, I knew full well that was wrong, and mumbled a grudging apology as I doused my butt. At that moment Admiral Barbey appeared coming from around behind the pilot house and returned our morning greetings and salutes with a broad smile looked me straight in the face, saying “What are we smoking this morning, Chester?”

At that instant the bullhorn blared the quartermaster’s voice: “NOW SECURE FROM GENERAL QUARTERS. THE SMOKING LAMP IS LIT, etc.”

“Why Admiral, sir, I just happen to have an almost brand new fresh pack of Chesterfields. Would you care for one?” The Admiral looked me squarely in the eye as I lighted both mine and his with one flip of my trusty ZIPPO, and smiled broadly again as the flag lieutenant took the one I then offered him, but let him find his own light.

I finally finished my thirty years of smoking in 1972, but I still treasure the thought that “Uncle Dan” had overheard our brief conversation and enjoyed it.