Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Funny you should mention Pearl Harbor
Imal's Vanity Press ^ | January 11, 2003 | Imal

Posted on 01/11/2003 10:15:14 AM PST by Imal

(This was originally posted in the Iraq Betting Pool thread as part of an exchange between myself and Grampa Dave, both of us salty old dogs. After writing it, I thought I would share it as an article unto itself. -Imal)

Many a year has passed since I last punched holes in the water for Liberty (I was one of Hymie's Boys in Reagan's Navy -- God bless them both), and I can't say I was sorry to rejoin the civilian world, but I'll be damned if we haven't left our Navy in the very best of hands.

Funny you should mention Pearl Harbor, as I used to be based there. Each time our boat passed by Ford Island, on our way to or from "Papa Hotel", we rendered honors to USS Arizona (though it was quite a few hundred yards away from our course), and it was always sobering to remember that the men who went down with that ship were just like my buds on the boat.

Especially poignant for me, being a bubblehead, was the WWII Submarine Memorial at SUBASE, a nice little park with trees and grass, and which had monuments with plaques listing the ratings and names of the officers and crewmen of the 52 submarines lost during the war, "Still On Patrol". I used to go there (it's right down the hill from my old barracks) quite a bit, read the names, think about the men behind them and what it must have been like to go down in one of those pig boats, and I still can't think about it without getting pretty choked up.

My boat also came within a gnat's ass of joining them on one mission (I don't name my boat for security reasons), so I really have an appreciation for what a serious business being a sailor in our Navy is -- despite all the clowning around us squids are known for.

When Stark and Cole got hit, I felt it almost physically, like a wound to my body. The final moments of Thresher and Scorpion, not to mention some close ones on my boat, sometimes haunt my dreams. And I am not blind nor deaf to those who have died in so many "routine" operations over the years, either.

So when I see the clouds of war gathering, I know it ain't all fun and games. Sons and daughters of our great nation will die, and we should never cheapen their sacrifices by sending them forth in vain.

But God help those who wind up on the business end of our guns, missiles and torpedoes, because no one else can once the word is given!

And now, with a man of honor once again as CinC, a man who seems to understand what sea power is all about, knowing what it means to send our best into harm's way, and knowing why we must do so, I feel no compunctions in saying, with profound pride, to those who today carry on the Navy tradition with poise and distinction:

Give Them Hell!



TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; Miscellaneous; Your Opinion/Questions
KEYWORDS: navy; pearlharbor; submarine; war
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-37 next last

1 posted on 01/11/2003 10:15:14 AM PST by Imal
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

DONATE TODAY!!!.
SUPPORT FREE REPUBLIC

Donate Here By Secure Server

Or mail checks to
FreeRepublic , LLC
PO BOX 9771
FRESNO, CA 93794

or you can use

PayPal at Jimrob@psnw.com
STOP BY AND BUMP THE FUNDRAISER THREAD


2 posted on 01/11/2003 10:16:38 AM PST by Anti-Bubba182
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Imal; exnavy
Imal and other previous vintage squids, including me, would like to take this opportunity to salute our current sailors and officers of the US Navy.

What an incredible group of men and women you are! God Bless you and may his spirit be with you as you pursue those who would take away our liberty and deny us the pursuit of our liberty!

We are very proud of you who serve in our great Navy today!

Go Navy and of course our Marines!
3 posted on 01/11/2003 10:25:55 AM PST by Grampa Dave (Support Free Republic. Become a monthly donor ! Taxcuts are for Taxpayers!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Comment #4 Removed by Moderator

To: Imal
When I think about “pig boats”, I think about the old deisels.
5 posted on 01/11/2003 10:34:19 AM PST by johnny7 (ping... ping... ping...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Grampa Dave
Go Navy and of course our Marines!

And ditto that for all you wingnuts, grunts and coasties out there, too.

The U.S. Air Force, Army and Coast Guard. Cross them at your peril!

6 posted on 01/11/2003 10:42:10 AM PST by Imal
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Imal; jamaksin
Timothy Wilford, Pearl Harbor Redefined: USN Radio Intelligence in 1941.
7 posted on 01/11/2003 10:44:24 AM PST by aristeides
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Imal
And when the Marines hit the ground, they will be greated by Seabees because the Seabees 'Can Do'.
8 posted on 01/11/2003 10:50:32 AM PST by Buffalo Head
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: johnny7
When I think about “pig boats”, I think about the old deisels.

Yep, that they were, although I know of a few nuke boats that would probably earn the name, too. ;^)

There are lots of movies about what it was like to be on one of the old pig boats, but none can convey what it really must have been like to have gone for days without showering, breathing in the stifling stench of the diesels, covered with sweat, grease and brine, sleeping in a rack with your nose six inches from the one above you, being packed into that tiny little can with dozens of guys that stank as badly as you did, and not being able to turn your head without smacking it into some valve or another hanging down from the overhead.

Compared to those, my boat was a palace, even though the largest open space in it was smaller than my bedroom is today.

9 posted on 01/11/2003 10:54:06 AM PST by Imal
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: aristeides
Yeah, I know, I know. Please don't make me even think about the rat bastard in supreme command that sat back and let it all happen. Some names deserve to be lost to history, and that one's name can't be forgotten soon enough.

Yeah, he had his reasons, but as far as I'm concerned, there's a special place in hell for scum like him, and I hope he's having a terrible time there.

And may the men he let die be forever pissing down on him from Heaven.

10 posted on 01/11/2003 10:58:55 AM PST by Imal
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Buffalo Head
And when the Marines hit the ground, they will be greated by Seabees because the Seabees 'Can Do'.

Amen! The Seabees are awesome.

Not too many construction workers in this world can build an airstrip while simultaneously giving the enemy a sound arse-kicking!


11 posted on 01/11/2003 11:03:01 AM PST by Imal
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: aristeides; Imal; swarthyguy
Thanks for the ping re the book. If you are into this, go to this link: ( Magic: The Untold Story of U.S. Intelligence and the Evacuation of Japanese Residents from the West Coast during WW II by David D. Lowman link)

Before you buy this book, for some real fun go to your local library and ask one of the politically correct librarians if they have this book or can borrow this book from a lending library.

I did this at our local libray with one of these creatures. At first she/it got really hostile when I showed her the printout telling about the book. Then she went on the computer got even madder and then suddenly changed. She asked how I knew about the author and this book. I said that friend on the internet told me about this book.

This weird interchange went on for about 7 minutes. My wife was watching it from about 25 feet away and came up at the final part. As the clipped hair and now semi friendly librarian, had entered the data for to try and get the book if not available, she would buy it in Feb. if I requested it at that time. As I thanked her, she smiled and asked if I was in the military, and I said a long time ago. She asked what branch and I said Navy. She smiled and said we will let you know if we find the book or need your request to order it.

My wife had watched the changes in her personality and said that on my next trip, I should ask this librarian if she was in the military and what she did. My wife said that if the book came in or I went back to talk to this liberian, she wanted a comfortable seat to watch act 2.

12 posted on 01/11/2003 11:13:20 AM PST by Grampa Dave (Support Free Republic. Become a monthly donor ! Taxcuts are for Taxpayers!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Grampa Dave
Thank you, sir, I'm glad to haved served.
13 posted on 01/11/2003 11:25:07 AM PST by exnavy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Imal
Nice post, I was active during Jimmie Carter's reign. Served on the target ship, USS South Carolina, may she rest in pieces.

Thanks for the insightful observations about Pearl, haven't been there yet, want to go so bad I can taste it. Someday ...

14 posted on 01/11/2003 11:30:57 AM PST by exnavy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Grampa Dave
THanks for the ping.

Hope you enjoy the book.

Funny, even tho' i'm in the Boston area, the library i go to had the book a long time ago, befor 9/11 i believe.

Funny the reaction you got about it.

Ask the librarian if she's read the book next time or knows about its contents. Should raise a nice ruckus.


15 posted on 01/11/2003 11:45:17 AM PST by swarthyguy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: All
For those who may be interested or may have a friend or relative in the Submarine Service during WWII who is still on patrol, here are some links:

The U.S. Submarine Memorials Locator File

Wall of Remembrance

Non sibi sed patria
Not for self, but for country

16 posted on 01/11/2003 11:51:52 AM PST by Imal (Steely-eyed killer of the Deep)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Imal; Grampa Dave
D'u know of this site...

http://www.subguru.com/missions.htm
17 posted on 01/11/2003 11:55:59 AM PST by swarthyguy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: Imal
Amen, Brother.
18 posted on 01/11/2003 11:59:16 AM PST by Lobster 6
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: exnavy
Served on the target ship, USS South Carolina

This one?

"South Carolina, a 1165-ton (burden) iron screw steamship built at Boston, Massachusetts in 1860, was purchased by the Navy in May 1861 for Civil War service. She was commissioned later in that month as USS South Carolina and assigned to the Gulf Blockading Squadron. "

19 posted on 01/11/2003 12:00:58 PM PST by PAR35
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: swarthyguy
I didn't know of the site, but I have played the hell out of the game Sub Command. Just can't get the Dance of the Deep out of my system, I suppose, and besides, I was usually back in engineering splitting nuclei when we were underway, so I didn't often get the chance to go hang out up front in Operations where the fun stuff happened.

Thanks for the link!

20 posted on 01/11/2003 12:20:43 PM PST by Imal (Steely-eyed Killer of the Deep)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-37 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson