Memories of Those who served on the USS Fox | |
Story of "The Bonny Dick" | |
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Ahoy mates, the tale you are about to hear is true the names of the perpetrators have been change to protect the guilty. After commissioning May of 66 the ship Fox was placed in dry dock at the Long Beach Naval Shipyard for whatever who knows by BurNav. It was a time of fire watches, dockside security, painting and repainting, and unauthorized modification additions to the ship. There among the crew were special scavengers who would con the coins off of his dead mothers eyes to say the least in securing non appropriation projects for the betterment of the ship say least of the Navy. Yea mates still wet behind the ears the plank owners made the FOX what she is "a mean fighting machine but with comforts". I, the narrator can confirm the following omitting the adventures of the Signal Deck and those of the below deck, hey competition makes it jolly quest. Up in radio where a newly cumshaw pile of perforated aluminum sheet required modification for usage within the radio shack. A certain RM1 requested a certain RM3 to take the aluminum sheeting to the pier (fabrication factory) to have it bent to specification. This RM3 explained to the RM1 he only operated at night and did not know of anyone on the day shift. Competition with others of the ship during the day was high thus the night shift was saying the least FUN! Anyway borrowing someone forklift (never leave the keys in the ignition) and set sail to the fabrication facility. Wondering around inside a White hat (now at other times you stay clear of them) and ask him if I could get some sheeting bend. White Hats have access to your ships manifests which ID's what can and cannot be acquired. He asked what ship the project was for and the reply was "the Bonny Dick" was said. Well blow me over this white hat went off like a cannon saying that he was not going to do anything for the Bonny Dick as someone had stole his 32 cup coffee pot from their office on the Dick. Now RM3's are pretty good at their task asked the white hat if he was given a new coffee pot would he have the sheet, yes he said but make it back before noon. Like a sea gull after French fry the RM3 not yet knowing how to pull this off had a vision as low and behold there down the dock sat the Dick. Rationalizing, the Dick caused the issue the Dick will make restitution! Never have been aboard a carrier the RM3 observed the flow of movement on and off the ship from the rear gangway where in minutes he came aboard the ship. Entering on the main desk the sky open up and behold a prefab enclosure was directly across the gangway. Low and behold there seeing through the door way sitting on a makeshift table was a 32 cup coffee pot for the taking. Get the picture. Later approaching the White Hat with a brand new 32 cup coffee pot the RM3 returned to the radio shack with the bend material which was used in the radio shack and in the RM section of the berthing compartment. The moral to this tale is " Quid pro quo is the tool of a sailor but not a President as it could get you impeached." |
