Posted on 03/24/2005 5:51:27 AM PST by esryle
Well said.
No, I'm just making that up - based on many, many ears of catching topside watches playing with their weapons.
Way back when, during Sub School, I had the 8-midnight watch at the Badge and Pass office at New London. When it slowed down, I was back talking to the Duty Officer when we heard a shot from just outside. Two Marines were playing quick-draw in the guard shack, and one shot the other at point-blank range. The bullet scrambled his insides, and never came out. The shooter was convicted at Court-Martial (I assume voluntary manslaughter).
Marine guards. Man, that *was* a long time ago. I don't remember any accidental discharges on any of my boats (since the weapons were unloaded), but I do remember them falling into the river with alarming consistency along with the occasional lost shell.
My guess is that the sailor was having trouble of some sort -- girl, financial, or both -- and killed himself over it. (It's not all that uncommon.)
Lost shells, lost springs, and other misc parts, mostly unintentional. Yeah, I remember.
Wouldn't be the first time a Topside watch commited suicide either.
No it wouldn't, especially when the Below Decks won't bring up and coffee.
Please Freepmail me if you want on or off my infrequent Connecticut ping list.
This is so sad----prayers for his family.
I must admit, tho, I laughed right out loud at your post. I sure did need a bit of levity today...
Submariners perfected gallows humor. Most who post on this thread will understand. Some won't.
The son of the Wichita serial killer, Dennis Rader, has been uder suicide watch up there in Groton.
I wonder if this is related?
Would this be the same Dennis Rader?
http://www.beliefnet.com/story/161/story_16162.html
Yea, but it will be a NCIS TV episode next season. "Ripped from the Headlines"
Hey, I like NCIS! It's a good show!
Seriously, though, prayers to his family.
Could be -either accidental or suicide. It has happened before...
Yuppers, that's him. The Lutheran serial killer, president (former) of the church council at Christ Lutheran in Park City, KA.
"Submarine life is stressful. I was there in Norfolk for 1986 to 1990. It was hard for us not to shoot our Senior Chief but we were adults."
I don't know how the Submariners do it! Many more years ago that I like to remember, I went on a "Dependants" cruise shortly after the commissioning of the Mariano G. Vallejo, a nuclear sub homeported in Vallejo, CA. I was stir crazy by the end of the 12 hr. tour, and was amazed that guys could live on them for months at a time!!
We all have those kinda stories! But I kinda wish I had listened to some of the more hardnosed chiefs, they were just trying to adjust my attitude for the better!
Abby and Ducky are on the job.....
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