Air of Authority

Another story he told that was quite interesting. He said, “One of the greatest displays of authority and power I have ever seen without a word being spoken or a shot being fired was when we were tied to the dock.”

I am not sure which port they were in when this story took place.  Wherever it was there were vendors with their wares spread out on each side of quite a long dock, and evidently they were not supposed to be there.

Illustration Photo

Chuck said, “A policeman stepped up onto the dock, he stood for a few moments looking straight ahead. Then he very slowly and casually began to walk forward toward the end of the dock, with his hands folded behind his back. He never spoke a word nor looked to the right or left, only straight ahead.

Behind him as he continued walking, it was silent pandemonium with vendors scurrying quickly to remove their wares, and disappear off the dock .  When he reached the end of the dock; he just stood there still and silent for a few minutes, gazing out over the water. When he turned around to walk back the dock was completely empty of vendors.”

Chuck was quite impressed by the air of authority carried by this policeman!

One of the really funny stories he told about that happened on another one of the West Pac runs, and I think they were someplace in Japan. The story was about three guys who missed the last launch bringing crew members back to the Boat from being on Liberty on the beach.

I do not even remember their nick names. He said, “We had just turned out for morning colors and roll call on the deck, and we heard somebody yelling, we all looked up and here they come sitting straddle of and paddling a light pole with boards.

Illustration Photo

They were in various stages of dress or should I say un-dress. One was wearing his boxer shorts, one had on a shirt and the other had on just his pants, and nothing else, no shoes, socks, or hats. They were still feeling no pain and they as well as everyone else thought it was hilarious!"

They had been playing strip poker in some joint on the beach, and lost most of their clothes, they were having such great fun time just slipped away, and they missed the last launch and had to make it back to the Boat the best way they could.

The Boat was not tied up to the dock she was anchored out in the harbor.

They were late and of course, and they had to attend a Captain’s Mass and were restricted to the Boat for a period of time. I always loved to hear him tell that story.