Stars versus Darkness
Somebody said between breaths...”We’re Navy, son...We don’t die...We just get one last...permanent change of duty station.” A few guys chuckled, palid attempts…
(Day 21) Emotional Band-Aids
Some of the best memories I have of being in the service have nothing to do with the actual Navy itself. They have everything to do with the people I was…
Move, Move, Move
0430 Ship Time “Up and at ‘em, runt! This ain’t the Navy for lollygaggers and yard pissers! Move, move, move!!” The words came barked with a suddent burst of…
Valve H34
I was now alone, locked in the bilge. I could hear the water gushing. Main valve H34 was unreachable. I had no tools other than a wrench. I could barely…
Too Icky
It was dusk by the time we reached the docks. The last of the sunset reflected of the low clouds, painting the sky orange and pink behind the darkened…
Guard Duty
As a navy recruit, assigned to the Great Lakes Naval Training Center in 1964, my job was to follow orders unquestioningly and to the best of my ability. Chosen…
Childhood's End
My grandmother believed she could see the future. The future she saw for me, the summer I turned seventeen, was to be shot to death in the jungle in an obscure…
1SQ
Sleep. Needed. Deep. “Set Condition 1SQ” Awake, suddenly alert. “Man Battle Stations Missile for strategic launch” Up, Awake, dive into the poopie suit, run…
Master Chief
The Master Chief would be waiting. He would be standing at the bottom of the ladder, the thick vein of his forehead pulsating like it always did. Master Chief…
A Hole in the Day
1795, US Colonies Kate Senlis was six years hold when her mother was killed and her brother’s kidnapped by natives. She saw it all they say, but it took her…