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encore Missing Out T


When the XO of the USS Newport News (CA-148) has to pass on his duty of escorting a special guest on a tour of the ship, the crew fi nds every opportunity to remind him of what he’s missing.


The USS Newport News (CA-148) served as a fl agship for the Sixth Fleet on eight occasions during her early years. From 1962 until her retirement, the ship was Second Fleet fl agship, hosting a three-star admiral and his staff . The fl eet commander wore a second hat as commander of NATO’s Striking Fleet Atlantic. This responsibility included an annual NATO exercise with port visits in each of the participating countries. There was always a great deal of pomp and cer- emony during these visits, with embassy receptions and tours of the ship by local military and civilian dignitaries. During the 1973 NATO cruise, the New-


port News visited Oslo, Norway, on the Oct. 13 birthday of the U.S. Navy. Events celebrating the day included a promo- tion and cake-cutting ceremony aboard the ship and a luncheon at the embassy. Among the guests invited to the ship that morning was the reigning Miss Norway, who was to remain aboard after the cer- emony for a tour of the ship and lunch in the wardroom. The XO normally would host dignitar- ies visiting the wardroom, but he had to attend the luncheon at the embassy, so he reluctantly assigned me the duty of escorting Miss Norway during her visit. Once the other wardroom members learned of these arrangements, no one passed up any opportunity to remind the XO that while he would be at a stuff y em- bassy luncheon, the rest of us would be


84 MILITARY OFFICER FEBRUARY 2012


enjoying the company of an international beauty queen. Miss Norway’s visit went well. She seemed to enjoy the tour of the ship, lunch, and the company of the wardroom mem- bers. At the conclusion of her visit, she asked to use the restroom. Ships of this vintage had no facilities for women, so it was customary for female visitors to use the private bathroom in the XO’s state- room. I escorted her to the stateroom, stood guard at the doorway until she emerged, and then escorted her off the ship. With


the XO due back aboard any minute, I had little time to think of one fi nal way to remind him of what he had missed. Armed with a roll of masking tape and a felt-tip marker, I quickly ran to his state- room. When he returned, he found a banner across the seat of his toilet with the bold in- scription “Miss Norway sat here.”


MO


— Chip Lovett is a retired Navy commander. He lives in Oceanside, Calif. For submission in- formation, see page 20.


Tell Your Story Submit your service- related adventures (or mishaps) of 450 to 500 words by email 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: TOM COCOTOS


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