Welcome Aboard
I thought a sea story might be appropriate to my first post here on The Flight Deck.
When I finished my apprenticeship training, I had orders the the Vinson. She was already underway. I proceeded to travel from the US to the Philippines. Was bumped off a flight to Singapore and instead ended up on a flight to Diego Garcia. From there, I was loaded with a few others onto a Greyhound and we flew to the boat.
I was taken to the ships personnel department and there told that I would work for the air department. I was taken to the air department office and there told that I would be working in the V-2 division. I was taken to the V-2 office.
As I stood just inside the doorway of the office, and the various powers that be discussed my work center, one of the officers sitting at a desk looked over and asked, “What do you weigh Peck?” It seemed an odd question but I was so overwhelmed, not to mention unused to speaking with an actual officer that I stuttered back, “180 sir.”
He looked at me with a bit of a frown and said, “180 pounds of mail we could have had on that COD and we got you instead.”
I try to keep that memory fresh – helps keep the old ego in check.
Posted by JR
On April 16th, 2008 under Sea Stories.
Comments: 4
Comments
Comment from craig mclaughlin
Time: April 17, 2008, 6:24 am
Yar. Sounds about right. When I checked onto USS Drum in January 1980 in San Diego my brand duty section leader yanked the black plastic nametag off my SDB’s and threw over the side. “On Drum we know each other’s names. Get your dungarees on and get to work.”
Comment from MaxDamage
Time: April 19, 2008, 1:55 am
No matter how great your accomplishments or how dismal your failures, contemplate that approximately three billion Chinese couldn’t care less.
That’ll give you a sense of perspective.
— Max
Comment from Guy Cannon
Time: April 24, 2008, 10:55 am
Talk about sea stories. Shortly after arriving boot camp in San Diego, we were formed up as a company near the edge of the grinder facing or Company Commander( Guess they call ‘em Red Ropes today). There was another recruit behind our CC about 12-15 feet up a very tall ladder painting the side of a building. Without any warning, he fell off the ladder…paint bucket and all. What a mess! Our CC, named Miller, a laconic ol’ RD1 from Tennessee, asked the poor recruit what did the worm do for an encore. Without missin’ a lick, the recruit jumped to his feet and hollered, “Get up sir”. It was the only time in 90 days that I ever saw Miller flustered.
Comment from JR Peck
Time: April 24, 2008, 11:04 am
That’s awesome. I went through boot camp in San Diego too. I had a very cool experience. My company commanders were Senior Chief Campbell and Master Chief Hedgecock. Master Chief was the new Command Master Chief and wanted to work as a Company Commander so he could see what it was like. Made for some interesting times.
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