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Letters From the Editor We served on Spinax in different years and different eras, and the rates we carried so proudly on our arms were different shapes. But one thing we had in common, outside of our love for the old gal, was standing watches. Underway we all headed for our respective dens, tinkered with engines, threw sticks around in maneuvering, sat reading a book in the Forward room, crawled over batteries, and if you were a junior rate, you popped up through the Conning tower with binoculars in hand. Once in port though, we settled into a routine of topside and below decks watches. Being a non-qual puke and not rated, I started out on topside watches. This consisted of wandering the deck with a 45 strapped to your hip, smoking cigarettes, making small talk with the watch on the next boat, and occasionally looking for enemy divers trying to stick a bomb on the hull. Once my body got over the shock of being dragged out of my bunk in the middle of the night, I rather enjoyed pacing the deck. It was rather peaceful in a sleep deprived sort of way. It was also fun , especially on the midwatch, to watch your liberty-blessed shipmates stagger and crawl back to their respective hole in the deck like a bunch of dizzy rats. Sometimes you had to help pour them down the hatch and make sure the below decks watch caught them. Can't complain, I was one of those myself a time or two. It wasn't fun was when it was colder than a Witch's nose, and/or when the rain was trying its best to wash you off the deck. I can remember wearing so many layers of clothes that I could hardly move, and still shiver the watch away. I was happy when I finally qualified and made rate so I could join the elite standing the below decks watch. |
You still got dragged out of your bunk at ungodly hours, but had the luxury of the warmth and comfort of the Control room. There was a lot more responsibility of course, Heck, the sub was yours to watch over. All those snoring lumps depended on you to make sure the bilges didn't flood, that there were no strange fires, and to make sure the sanitary tanks were respectfully blown. It was also your job to make sure that the freezing topside watch got an occasional black and bitter, and to wake his relief. I can remember lying sleepily in my bunk and hearing the clunk of the below decks watch as he entered the forward room, check-off list in hand making sure I was safe in dreamland (unless it was Sam Powell, who delighted in rattling my bunk, just kidding, Sam). Ah, memories! Pecos
C'mon guys, send in and share
your memories and stories. It's fun...really! |
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Reunion News
Friday Aug. 26th to Tuesday Aug. 30th, 2005 Hotel Map and Information: KC Crown Center map:
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