encore Rookie Mistake U
Upon graduation from the Naval ROTC program at Tufts University in Medford, Mass., in early June 1946, I was assigned to the USS Meredith (DD-890). When I arrived at the naval station in Davisville, R.I., I found the Meredith alongside a pier in the nest of six destroyers, which were moored two abreast. The Meredith was inboard alongside the dock. I walked up the gangplank, saluted
the offi cer of the deck, and informed him who I was. He directed me to the XO of the ship. The XO welcomed me and told me the crew was shorthanded that week- end, so I was to relieve the offi cer of the deck and take over his duties right away. Only fi ve minutes aboard a modern
World War II destroyer, and I already was assigned an important function. About 30 minutes into my watch, a sailor climbed the ladder from below deck, exited about 10 yards from me, sa- luted, and said, “Request permission to blow tubes, sir.” I had never heard that expression
before and had no idea what he was re- questing. I assumed it was a routine pro- cedure, so I granted him permission. As he disappeared below decks, I
congratulated myself for handling the strange request. Less than fi ve minutes later, I heard a
very loud whooshing sound. I turned in the direction of the noise and saw very dark smoke and black fl akes spewing
84 MILITARY OFFICER APRIL 2011
A new Navy offi cer has a tough fi rst day on the job after he is ordered to take over offi cer of the deck duties and grants a strange request from another sailor.
from the smoke stack. The black fl akes landed all over the ship and on some of the adjacent ships moored in nest. Worst of all, it was a Friday afternoon, and most of the sailors had washed their white uniforms and hung them over the ship’s railings to dry.
The sailors in the boiler room —
knowing a new, inexperienced offi cer was in charge of the ship — had decided to have some fun at my expense. They certainly succeeded in magnifi cent fashion. Needless to say, the cap-
tain was very angry. He ordered me to spend the next three nights on duty in the boiler room from midnight to 8 a.m., in ad- dition to my regular duties from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. I learned it was stan-
dard procedure for naval ships traveling at sea to blow tubes on a daily basis to purge the boiler fi re tubes of high-pressure air and steam. However, this was supposed to be done after altering course so the wind blew across the narrow width of the ship, allowing the heavy black fl akes to land harmlessly in the sea.
MO
— John J. Shaughnessy is a retired Navy lieutenant junior grade. He lives in Milton, Mass. For submission information, see page 20.
Tell Your Story Share your service- related adventures (or mishaps) by e-mail to
encore@moaa.org or by mail to Encore Editor, 201 N. Washington St., Alexandria, VA 22314. All submissions will be con- sidered for publication.
ILLUSTRATION: ROSE RICHEY
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