Frankly Speaking- April 10, 1972 part 2
As mentioned in the previous installment of Frankly Speaking Admiral Zumwalt (the CNO, Uncle Elmo, the Z) had come aboard the Saratoga without warning and had announced that he would address the ship’s company and the air wing in hanger bay 3.
Three of us began to make our way to hanger bay 3; Ken Casson (aka Killer Ken), Bill Seehorn (aka Chilly Willie) and myself (aka Fearless Frank). We made good time getting there and positioned ourselves next to an aircraft mule (tow tractor to those not familiar with the term). The tow tractor would not block our view, gave us something to lean on and the top was flat and covered with non-skid material. Altogether rather insignificant until Admiral Zumwalt decided that standing on the top of that tractor made him more visible to the assembled mass of humanity. I remember that he never said where we were going. He gave us a pep talk and nothing else. He thanked us for our patriotism and dedication. Then he climbed down off the tractor and came face to face with our little band of brothers. Killer Ken was the senior member of our group and he spoke up saying, “Admiral Zumwalt, I only have one question.” Zumi recognized Ken and took the question from him. “Admiral, when will we come home?” The Admiral’s response was, “I don’t know, but I promise you that when you come home it will be over. This is the last big push, theirs and ours.”
At this point I’ve got to mention an event that occurred 9 months later. We were coming home our mission was complete. It was January 23, 1973 and the U.S.S. Saratoga was rounding Cape Hope, the Southern tip of Africa. A number of us were sunning ourselves on the flight deck and it was quiet. Suddenly the Captain spoke on the ship’s public address systems. “I have two announcements of make. First, we have left operational command of the seventh fleet (the pacific) being transferred back to the second fleet (the atlantic). Second, a peace treaty was initialed last night in Paris that will end the Vietnam conflict.” Not a sound was made by anyone on the flight deck. Funny though, my first thought was of the comment made by Admiral Zumwalt nine months earlier. He called it to the day!
Back to April 10, Admiral Zumwalt departed our presence. As was and probably still is the case, the Navy did not confirm our destination; but we knew.
Well there was nothing left for us to do. We were their, our equipment, clothes and personal effects were loaded and stowed. As they say about military life, “Hurry up and wait”. So it was time to relax and unwind a bit before the Saratoga sailed. You know, Anchors Aweigh, Drink to the Foam, Until we Meet Again… The Miller Brewing Company on hearing of our imminent departure had dispatched a semi loaded with Miller Hi Life to the Carrier Pier at the Mayport Naval Station. I don’t recall that there was any charge for consumption of their product. In short, I think it was free beer for everyone.
I do remember going back aboard the Saratoga that evening. The Junior Officer of the Deck wanted to check my ID. I know I advised him that only an absolute idiot (or something similar) would try to sneak aboard the ship that night. I called it a night.
The next morning the Saratoga set sail. When the coast line disappeared over the horizon the Captain addressed the crew. Surprise, surprise, we had won an all expense paid trip to the Tonkin Gulf. But the next declaration he made changed the mood of everyone on board. “We will be crossing the Equator.” With that declaration everyone was immediately placed in one of two camps, Pollywog or Shellback.
For the next seven days the war that existed was between the pollywogs (4600 strong) and the shellbacks (only 400 of them). Nothing else mattered. The outcome was preordained (the Shellbacks would win) but the pollywogs resisted anyway.
There was a Pollywog Press published daily that detailed the skirmishes that took place between the two camps. Many of those incidents happened in Hang Gar Bay, Sik Bay and Chow Hall.
King Neptune was going to board the ship and test the crew’s sea fairing worthiness. But some among of us wanted to witness how water went down the drain at the equator. Priorities you know. So began our cruise.
Three of us began to make our way to hanger bay 3; Ken Casson (aka Killer Ken), Bill Seehorn (aka Chilly Willie) and myself (aka Fearless Frank). We made good time getting there and positioned ourselves next to an aircraft mule (tow tractor to those not familiar with the term). The tow tractor would not block our view, gave us something to lean on and the top was flat and covered with non-skid material. Altogether rather insignificant until Admiral Zumwalt decided that standing on the top of that tractor made him more visible to the assembled mass of humanity. I remember that he never said where we were going. He gave us a pep talk and nothing else. He thanked us for our patriotism and dedication. Then he climbed down off the tractor and came face to face with our little band of brothers. Killer Ken was the senior member of our group and he spoke up saying, “Admiral Zumwalt, I only have one question.” Zumi recognized Ken and took the question from him. “Admiral, when will we come home?” The Admiral’s response was, “I don’t know, but I promise you that when you come home it will be over. This is the last big push, theirs and ours.”
At this point I’ve got to mention an event that occurred 9 months later. We were coming home our mission was complete. It was January 23, 1973 and the U.S.S. Saratoga was rounding Cape Hope, the Southern tip of Africa. A number of us were sunning ourselves on the flight deck and it was quiet. Suddenly the Captain spoke on the ship’s public address systems. “I have two announcements of make. First, we have left operational command of the seventh fleet (the pacific) being transferred back to the second fleet (the atlantic). Second, a peace treaty was initialed last night in Paris that will end the Vietnam conflict.” Not a sound was made by anyone on the flight deck. Funny though, my first thought was of the comment made by Admiral Zumwalt nine months earlier. He called it to the day!
Back to April 10, Admiral Zumwalt departed our presence. As was and probably still is the case, the Navy did not confirm our destination; but we knew.
Well there was nothing left for us to do. We were their, our equipment, clothes and personal effects were loaded and stowed. As they say about military life, “Hurry up and wait”. So it was time to relax and unwind a bit before the Saratoga sailed. You know, Anchors Aweigh, Drink to the Foam, Until we Meet Again… The Miller Brewing Company on hearing of our imminent departure had dispatched a semi loaded with Miller Hi Life to the Carrier Pier at the Mayport Naval Station. I don’t recall that there was any charge for consumption of their product. In short, I think it was free beer for everyone.
I do remember going back aboard the Saratoga that evening. The Junior Officer of the Deck wanted to check my ID. I know I advised him that only an absolute idiot (or something similar) would try to sneak aboard the ship that night. I called it a night.
The next morning the Saratoga set sail. When the coast line disappeared over the horizon the Captain addressed the crew. Surprise, surprise, we had won an all expense paid trip to the Tonkin Gulf. But the next declaration he made changed the mood of everyone on board. “We will be crossing the Equator.” With that declaration everyone was immediately placed in one of two camps, Pollywog or Shellback.
For the next seven days the war that existed was between the pollywogs (4600 strong) and the shellbacks (only 400 of them). Nothing else mattered. The outcome was preordained (the Shellbacks would win) but the pollywogs resisted anyway.
There was a Pollywog Press published daily that detailed the skirmishes that took place between the two camps. Many of those incidents happened in Hang Gar Bay, Sik Bay and Chow Hall.
King Neptune was going to board the ship and test the crew’s sea fairing worthiness. But some among of us wanted to witness how water went down the drain at the equator. Priorities you know. So began our cruise.
posted by Frank at 11:46 AM
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