RECOLLECTION

Henry Bishop 1990

“OFFICER’s TURKEY TASTES BETTER!”

I believe we were at sea on Thanksgiving Day in 1945, enroute from San Diego to Panama.

Two of us sailors were leaving the mess hall and as we passed the officer’s pantry; lo and behold sitting there in pantry window were two platters of turkey, begging to be taken! We looked around and no one was in sight, so not being greedy we grabbed only one platter and ran for the bridge where we were to relieve the watch.

The signal gang quickly helped us hide the turkey, and within a few seconds an excited Stewards Mate came pounding up the ladder onto the Signal Bridge, exclaiming that some S.O.B. had stole a platter of turkey! He asked: “Have you seen anyone with a platter of turkey?” Why sure one of the signalmen replied: “Just a few minutes ago a man was running aft on the main deck holding something that looked just like a platter!” The Steward took off in hot pursuit of the scoundrel!

Unknown to the OOD, (who if my memory serves me correctly was Lt. John Lindsay) the bridge watch feasted upon turkey through out the watch! After going off watch we decided to see what was for dessert. The only thing was a platter filled with turkey bones and scraps sitting in the officer’s pantry window. However it was a day for giving thanks. Forbidden fruit and OFFICER’s TURKEY DOES TASTE BETTER!