RECOLLECTIONS

Glen Kitchell 1988

“WACO TEXAS”

Our Chief Commissary Steward Joe Forney was a man of very few words, until he had a “few” and when in that “condition” some one was always asking Joe from whence he came. His standard answer : “WACO TEXAS, well not exactly WACO, 240 miles south east of WACO !!

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“Estimate Defined”

We were going to fuel at sea, and before we started our approach the Division Commander said to me: “What is the distance to that Tanker ?”. I had a Stadimeter in my hand but I looked at the Tanker and said: “I estimate its about 1000 yards.” The Division Commander asked: “Son do you know the definition of an estimate?”. And I replied: “No Sir”. And he stated: “Well it’s a guess of a damned fool. Now what is the distance ?. I picked up the stadimeter an do you know it was only 700 yards !

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“Incentive to De-Ice Ship !”

On another trip in the North Atlantic. Heavy seas and 40 MPH winds, gusting up to 60 MPH, with sea water coming over and the spray freezing on the ship, and the ship rolling port and starboard, sometimes 20 degrees. Ice was building up fast. About 10 AM Captain Kingsley had the word passed: “All hands on deck to de-ice ship !”. We were getting a little top heavy when she rolled 25 degrees, she was slow in getting back midship. About 10 minutes after the word went out to de-ice ship, I looked aft an only a few were chipping ice. I said: “Captain I believe the word should be passed again!” He replied: “Don’t worry, they will be beating ice in a few minutes!” Sure enough in about 5

minutes she rolled to starboard and just stayed there , (seemed to me it was forever!) then to port and stayed there. I happened to look aft and the whole crew was on deck de-icing ship. Captain Kingsley said: “See that last roll brought them all out of those nice WARM QUARTERS!”

R-27