Home from the sea, and the hunter is home from the hills:
The Phuket thing fell through, alas. His government sponsored passport didn’t come through in time. A disappointment, to be sure, but not the first. It isn’t all beer and skittles, is it? I cannot tell you how many “round the world cruises” I sailed out on that ended up stalled in the North Arabian Sea.
So, a frigate out of San Diego, heading back up to Everett, WA. The sixty-man berthing, and all that goes with it. Some of the mids shirked, but not my boy-o: In port, he spent the day with his division until they were done. If there was paint to be chipped, he chipped it, a head to be swabbed, he swabbed it down. Getting underway he tended to his lines, and at sea he stood his watches.
It’s little enough to ask: There’s a give and take in the enlisted mess, and from what I can tell he gave as well as he took, while being respectful all the time – this was his time to experience “life before the mast,” and from now on he’ll see it not through the eyes of a Sailor, but through the eyes of an officer. It’s very important for those who would lead to know who it is that he is leading. I told him once that it was very likely that any Sailor he’d every meet was as good a man as he was, and that some would be a good sight better. Not all of them have grown up with the same opportunities, and not all of them had the same expectation set. But they’d kill themselves for you, or to get the mission done, even if not always graciously. It’s important for a prospective officer to understand how they live, what they think, what they dream of. That their dreams are just as real as his.
His division officer wasn’t around much, and he noticed it. Couldn’t help but notice it. I’d also told him about that – I told him that the people who would work for him were the salt of the earth, who would work twice as hard as he would for half the pay. And I also mentioned to him that it can be a hard service at times, so the only way that a young seaman or airman can be guaranteed one hot meal a day, four hours uninterrupted sleep or a wisp of curtain on his rack to stand for privacy is if he’s got an officer he works for that gives a shit about him.
When his department head came around and asked for his division officer, he saw how the Sailors responded, “We have a division officer?” And he knew what they meant.
This is how we teach them. This is how they learn.
Yes. That’s a broomstick in his left hand. It’s Sweepers.
Awesome Lex. And you gotta love that smile.
Lex- You raised him right, and he learned well. His astute observations and attention to doing the right thing will be good for him, his men (and women nowdays, too), and our Navy. In this ancient mariner’s experience many USNA mids tended to have few notable virtues, but others were stellar (and now deservedly wear stars). Service before the mast does indeed produce fine officers, and most of my best had done some enlisted time. I would gladly serve with, or for, your son…or his dad!
A fine looking youngster. He will make a fine officer. And a Leader of Men.
Subsunk
Too bad you guys can’t compare notes about Thailand…
Do they still issue the evil dixie cup with the blue band?
HA! It seems only yesterday I was in Panama with USS First Cruise. I felt just like SNO looks in those pictures. Happy as a clam! Loved it. Period Ended. And just like him, I did my fare share sweeping, swabing, and lifting heavy objects. I have never been to Thailand. Yet. BUT! I can say with a fair amount of certainty that Panama might compare some if the stories I’ve heard are true. I had a BLAST doing and seeing things that were a little different than I thought I would see and do on liberty.Those pictures really bring back those recent memories of that cruise. I asked A LOT of questions. I talked to seamen and I talked with the Captain and officers and enlisted men everywhere in between. I worked hard. Sometimes. I was on the bridge and in CIC ALL the time asking, doing, and learning all the time.I was in the galley for meals(sometimes all 4 of them), sneakin’ in the ward room for a midnight snack and fresh coffee (One of the officers brought starbucks on board for the wardroom coffee machine as well. The rest of the time, what little there was left was spent in my rack the rest of the time(in a 60+ man berthing). We went about and did our business. I swear it was the coolest 3 weeks of my life. I learned SOOOO much. I told my boss I wished the Navy would send me back to sea again this summer. And for longer. But alas, it was not meant to be as my presance is demanded elsewhere for what both the Navy and I consider to be more important. I would not trade the chance to do what I do and have done for the world. I simply can’t see myself doing anything else.
A fine looking young man. Here’s the point, though Captain… I mean no disrespect to Canoe U. or any of the other vo/tech schools but – it is absolutely apparent to me that this young man already had the makings of a fine officer before he ever left home. The keel was laid in a true and fine manner, many a year ago.
Congratulations, Sir – it’s a man.
Wow Lex – he looks like he’s doing exactly what he WANTS to be doing. As Old Retired Chief indicated, he certainly got the best start at home. But you can’t stick a smile like THAT one on your face, unless you are precisely where you want to be.
Congrats Cap’n – on one fantastic family. Kat graduation from 6th grade, SNO’s first deployment. And the Biscuit – being a teenager no doubt…
Amen to the OldRetiredChief.
Any father would be proud.
Navy grandfathers even more, of you both.
Skipper -
You have every reason to be button-popping proud.
As for me, there is no better classroom than the sea, no better teacher.
Good luck to this young man.
A valuable experience, before the mast. You should be extremely proud. What he’s seen and experienced on this training stint will last a lifetime, in or out of the Navy.
When he gets his fleet seat in JSF (just kidding-Hornets) he’ll appreciate it all the more and for all the right reasons.
B2
That is SO cool. He may have pulled hard duty, compared to Phuket, but he seems to be taking it in stride. I love that you, as an officer and his father, have told him to pay attention to the enlisteds below him. This tour proved how important a good relationship between officers and enlisteds can be.
Totally awesome, Lex.
Wow, did those pic’s pop memories of my 3rd class cruise out of my attic. And I too was wondering if 3rd-class mids still have to don that blue-banded dixie cup.
Looks & sounds like SNO got the most that he could out of that opportunity – an excellent indication that he’s off to a good start.
Good on him – Thailand will come soon enough.
Slept a bit easier too, knowing WA was the destination, huh Lex?
Brian
“Taught to be a gentleman before it was required of me”…sound familiar? Your bio. The school, the cruise = mechanical skills, his heart comes from his family. Seeing that he chose military, NAVY, I say well done Mom and Dad.
Congrats to SNO, and congrats to you, too, Lex! I fully appreciate the pride you’re feeling, having watched both adult sons progress from the enlisted ranks to become career officers.
I still wonder about the Navy boy, though.
Welcome home SNO…
Father Lex, you’ve a fine looking young man there, and from your account of his performance, he’ll be one of the good ones…
Someday, if the blood holds true, he’ll announce that he is going into harm’s way, and a legion of us enlisted folks will answer:
“Hang on, Skipper. Let me get my gear and I’ll go with you.” (and all it entails…)
Here’s hoping that his CPOs are “Old Tars”, and teach him well…
My best to a brace of derned fine Navy men!
Cap’n,
I heartily echo all of the well-deserved praises. Would that I had the pleasure of showing this young man life below-decks.
Of course the DO wasn’t around. That’s why we have Chiefs.
A young man to make a father proud, Lex.
There is nothing better in this world, and very little that comes close, ever.