Friday, October 13, 2017

242 Years

Continental Sloop Providence (1775-1779) - W. Nowland Van Powell
(Source)
Resolved, That a swift sailing vessel, to carry ten carriage guns, and a proportionable number of swivels, with eighty men, be fitted, with all possible despatch, for a cruise of three months, and that the commander be instructed to cruize eastward, for intercepting such transports as may be laden with warlike stores and other supplies for our enemies, and for such other purposes as the Congress shall direct.

That a Committee of three be appointed to prepare an estimate of the expence, and lay the same before the Congress, and to contract with proper persons to fit out the vessel.

Resolved, that another vessel be fitted out for the same purposes, and that the said committee report their opinion of a proper vessel, and also an estimate of the expence. (Source)
As I am a retired Air Force Master Sergeant I'm sure there were one or two of you wondering why I did not commemorate the Air Force's 70th birthday back in September. Well, there are a number of reasons for that, some of which will no doubt have Buck fuming over his beer and cigar in the afterlife. Sorry my old comrade but our old service has lost its way. Some say that the new kids in charge will make it better. Let's just say, I'll believe it when I see it.

More importantly, I now feel very connected to the Naval Service for any number of reasons.  All three of the progeny wore the uniform of our nation's Navy. My son-in-law is still on active duty (filthy hinge though he be) and The Nuke herself remains in the Navy Reserve. (She's also a lieutenant commander but I won't call her "hinge," truth be told, I'm told that's more of an aviation "term of endearment" than a term used by the shoes, er, I mean Professional Surface Warfare Officers. And she scares me, she's tough as nails and salty as Hell. If'n you get my drift. Why she's scared senior chiefs right off the ship! Yup, I'm awfully proud of her. All of 'em to tell the truth. But, you guessed it, I digress.)

I retired from Uncle Sam's Aerial Forces in 1999, after 24 years of service. Reported for work at the current job two months after I hung up the blues. Now I've been with my current employer (who we affectionately refer to as "Uncle Ray") for a shade over 18 years. Most of that time working on projects for the United States Navy. I work with quite a few veterans, most of whom wore sailor suits for their time in the service.

(Source)
Uh, no, wrong graphic. (Damn it Schmuckatelli! Where's the picture I asked for?)

(Source)
Yeah, that one.

I've been to sea on two aircraft carriers and been aboard a bunch of other ships, both old and new. Heck, I even speak a little "Navy" lingo. (Have to in my line of work!) In fact, there are a number of ships I consider "mine." You can read about that here.

The family has been associated with the United States Navy since The Naviguesser received his commission back in '01. (Yes, I would pronounce that "ought one," never as "oh one." Because ought one is a year, oh one is an ensign, or 2nd looey depending on one's service.) So while I am a retired Air Force guy, I'm really a Navy Dad.

And don't you ever forget it!

Happy Birthday Navy!
Non sibi sed patriae.

(Source)

You can read more about the birth of the Navy here.

32 comments:

  1. Welcome aboard Sarge! (and Navy Dad!) When I left active duty at the end of my second hitch for the navy Reserve, I went to work as a civilian mechanic for the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard and spent the next thirteen years working on ships.
    I was fortunate to be involved in the Navy for almost all of my working life.

    Very good post.

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    1. It's good to be associated with the finest Navy on the planet.

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  2. The Navy also seems to have lost its way, at least in the Pacific Fleet. I spent time in both Atlantic/Mediterranean & the Pacific, but in an earlier era. There's a certificate in my desk awarded to active duty sailors on the occasion of the 200th birthday. Of course, we had 630-some ships, and 600,000 sailors, then. But thank you for noticing. :)

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    1. Op tempo has to account for some of the problems in all the services.

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  3. Thanks for the post. Naval service is the one branch I missed. My connection to it is having a Marine for a son.

    Paul L. Quandt

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    1. I did not know your son was a Marine. Semper fi!

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  4. Hoppy Barfday, Naval Forces!

    May we have reached the apogee of all our services, and begin to ascend to greater things.

    I miss the Air Force of my sainted father's time.

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    Replies
    1. Er, oh, crap, scratch previous statement and please please may our armed services have reached the perigee, the rock bottom, the lowest point, and only get better.

      Gaaah, I knew I should have washed my brain this morning. Moar Caffination!!!!

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    2. I understand the need for caffeine. I often suffer from that malady!

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    3. Maybe, just maybe, if we change the uniforms back to those of the '60's, except for front-line troops, and get away with everyone wearing BDU's (I mean, Dress BDU's, WTF?) there might be a chance to turn the rot away.

      Squids should look like squids, Grunts like grunts, jarheads like jarheads, and Airheads like whatever they're supposed to look like.

      It's a bad day when the Coasties look more spiffy than the 'real' services.

      'Aquaflage' for sea service? Great, let's look like water in case we fall in.

      Or the AF's wonderful camouflage that glows in the dark.

      YIKES!

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    4. Aquaflage is on the way out. The CNO has spoken!

      Finally.

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  5. OFF TOPIC:

    In response to reading a letter from the Superintendent of West Point, I called his office and talked with a Major who answered the phone. I expressed my displeasure with regards to that newly minted 2nd LT who has been in the news of late. The Major was very nice and said that he would pass along my comments. I don't know that this will have any impact on what goes on there, but if enough people call, if may.

    Thanks for allowing me to post this comment and thanks for your post today.

    Paul L. Quandt

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    1. I assume you've also read this letter which goes a long way to explaining HOW the "newly minted 2nd LT" got commissioned. Made me sick it did.

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    2. Yes, I did.

      I was writing a detailed reply when I hit the wrong key and lost what I was writing. DRAT!

      Paul

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    3. That's a story I'm waiting for the dust to settle before writing about. In a perfect world we'd be seeing some courts martial in the near future.

      Pissed I am.

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    4. Preferably the Commander in Chief walking the whole lot of them (staff, teachers and most of the students) out the gates of that hallowed institution and saying the magic words... "You're Fired!"

      That is, of course, if the rot and corruption is as deep as it seems to be.

      Or, just send in "Knife Hands" Mattis to... talk, yeah, talk to the whole lot of them. I can see it now, him sitting down with the Admin, teachers and students and saying, "I come in peace. I didn't bring artillery. But I’m pleading with you, with tears in my eyes: If you f* with me, I’ll kill you all."

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    5. Love it. "I come in peace, I didn't bring artillery."

      Hahaha!

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    6. The academies, all of them, should have faded into history by now and I say that as the son and grandson of West Point graduates who went on to long distinguished Army careers. It is impossible to achieve now what was so common 60 and 85 years ago. I also question the wisdom of even trying to maintain the standards of a long gone time and environment because making the attempt marks one as totally and completely out of touch with reality. If you want to see what you can get at a fraction of the cost and a thousand times more in tune with the desired goal, check out the PLC and USMC Boot Camp.

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  6. "I now feel very connected to the Naval Service for any number of reasons." One of which is the fact that one of your employees is retired Navy and his c/s is on the Masthead!

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    1. I'm not retired Navy! Who you talking about, Willis!?

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    2. Me, I'm selfish that way. You get your happy b-day next October!

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    3. Wait a durn minute.
      My name is Willis and I said absolutely nothing.
      So don't go dragging me into this conversation.
      I am perfectly capable of overtalking without any help or co-conspirators.

      Delete
  7. First of all, "What? The Navy has airplanes?"
    Then thankful for all the folks who reside and write here to keep me abreast of the fact that there are folks who really care about their service and mourn the condition of most of the military today. Not the men and women, their leadership and the abrogation of their oath.

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  8. From one Navy dad to another happy birthday a little late. Though I celebrated in fine fashion two weeks ago!!

    Hooyah Sarge!!

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    Replies
    1. I had to pull you out of moderation, a fate much undeserved Wharf Rat. But the spammers love old posts, so I have moderation turned on for posts older than a week.

      But you've been rescued, something which has probably happened before, neh?

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  9. Wharf Rat = Brian Skon. Call sign you know. Accurate too. Heh!

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Just be polite... that's all I ask. (For Buck)
Can't be nice, go somewhere else...

NOTE: Comments on posts over 5 days old go into moderation, automatically.