William Bracey 1996
The Swanson pulled into port, I don’t think it was Norfolk, and we had about 100 to 150 men come aboard from some kind of school. They had a dark band around their white hats. Anyway there was a lot of names paged to report to the quarterdeck. My name was among them. I was assigned 10 or 15 of the men to show about the ship and explain it to them. Naturally I decided to show them all about depth charges, “K” guns, torpedoes and tubes, and the directors on the bridge. I got as far as the torpedo deck and after explaining a simple device four or five times to this one man, I could see that I was losing the attention of the rest of the group. I lost it with him as only a 17 year old that is just away from home and has learned all these “Nifty” new words believing they were so “Salty” can do.
I believe I attacked his mental powers, his genetic background, etc. and then finished up by telling him to stand over there and be Quiet. I would complete our tour then I would draw him a picture book about blueprints and if he didn’t learn anything else he would know how this thing worked!
In about 30 days our new Assistant Ordinance Officer came aboard. Yes! A brand new “full” Ensign—the torpedo officer – my friend from the tour.
I really hadn’t learned about Tact, diplomacy, or finesse and wouldn’t for sometime; but it was on the way. I HOPE!
Things settled
down to kind of a routine for awhile, Mr.________(I can not remember his name.)
would stop by the shop where we were working and ask me two or three questions
and then walk away. The next time he would see me, he would ask me two or three
more questions and walk away. Finally he said I don’t understand it; you are a
striker and I have asked you questions all through the 3rd, 2nd,
and 1st class books. How can this be? So I said, “If you are going
to start with Chief I will need a book; I have been two or three pages ahead of
you. “Not a smart answer!”