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Praetorium Honoris

Saturday, October 7, 2023

John Blackshoe Sends: Serendipity History - Une Anniversaire

In the Beginning…

HWAET!  And 392 other words from Lex

Happy Birthday, Lexicans!

Twenty years ago today, at 4:44 PM, a banner was raised on the internet, around which Lexicans eventually rallied.
   Although our leader has been gone for more than half that time, we few, we happy few, rejoice in our acquaintance, and go forth in his memory and spirit, lamenting that which has been lost, but rejoicing that we had it at all.

Carroll Fairfax LeFon, then a 43 year old Navy Captain newly stuck in a staff job, uncertain about what the future might hold, opened his life and thoughts for all to see, with a fig leaf of pseudonymity provided by the nom de plume of “Neptunus Lex.”

Lex arriving home 2 June 2003 as USS CONSTELLATION
completed her final cruise, 125 days before his first post.

The title of his first post, “ HWAET!”  was followed by a bold declaration:

“So.  Today I am a blogger.”  

He piqued our curiosity with a photo of some guy surrounded by bombs in front of an airplane.  

Followed by somber thoughts about his profession of delivering deadly ordnance and insights on the workings of an aircraft carrier. 

He then revealed his mischievous wit and described his decision to embark on a Navy career:

“When I first thought about serving my country, I considered the Air Force, but decided I’d rather be in the military instead.”²

And he concluded that first visit with:

Quote Yeats to me and you’ve won my heart …”  

Lex’s first post was 393 words which introduced the world to a man with uncommon education, unsurpassed skill as a writer, exactly the kind of guy with whom most people would love to share beer or sea stories.  Subsequent posts shared his experiences as husband, poet, father, pilot and more.


Before enjoying that first post reprinted below, his choice of “Hwaet” as a title begs for scrutiny to better understand this unique man.   It was the first of many obscure words he would use, invariably the perfect word for a particular situation.

Lex knew, although most of us did not, that “Hwaet!” was the first word of Beowulf,

“… a heroic poem considered to be the highest achievement of Old English literature and the earliest European vernacular epic.  It deals with events of the early 6th century and was probably composed c. 700–750. It tells the story of the Scandinavian hero Beowulf, who gains fame as a young man by vanquishing the monster Grendel and Grendel’s mother; later, as an aging king, he kills a dragon but dies soon after, honoured and lamented. Beowulf belongs metrically, stylistically, and thematically to the Germanic heroic tradition but shows a distinct Christian influence.” (Source)

But, what the heck does “Hwæt” mean?

 

“Hwæt is a term most famous for being the opening word of the legendary Old English poem, Beowulf. In various translations of the millenia-spanning epic it has been interpreted as "What ho!" , "Hear me!" , "Attend!" , "Indeed!" , [or] "So," … To this day there is much debate over its original meaning, including whether it should even be read as an interjection at all.

Hwæt, then, is a term that suggests something archaic but also something contemporary. Its meaning is not only debated to this day but routinely reimagined. It represents ancient ideas consistently brought forward with time, and the extents to which even the oldest stories can still speak to us on a deep level.” (Source)

There are different, but similar, definitions from other reputable sources. I suspect that Lex might have considered it to be a millennia old precursor of the mariner’s traditional introduction to a sea story: “Listen up, and this is no sh!t.”

So many of Lex’s posts have deeper meaning than they first appear, and are thought provoking, stimulating, educational, and almost always a lot of fun to read.   Even more amazing was the way his invitation to comment, or even “Talk amongst yourselves” engendered his readers (“both of them” as he once self-deprecatingly noted) to join in lively discussions. 

Coming from diverse backgrounds, this motley crew found unity and inspiration from a bold leader, often sharing similar thoughts, and often discussing dissenting views, but invariably with good manners.

Damn, that man could write, and we are blessed to have been able to enjoy his company then, and as reruns since “the internet is forever.”

Lex’s unpublished opus, “Rhythms appeared in serial form with 54 installments bringing alive an aircraft carrier’s crew and their largely unfamiliar and underappreciated work.  Lex’s many contributions to literature in so varied fields deserve greater recognition and readership.

So, dear reader, let’s relive that joyous day two decades ago when Neptunus Lex arrived on the Internet ...¹


So. Today I am a blogger.


This picture is from an aircraft carrier at sea in the Arabian Gulf. March, 2003. Those of you keeping up on current events at the time may realize that the ugly green things in the scarcely more attractive grey jackets behind me are JDAMs - Joint Direct Attack Munitions. They are about to be elevated to the flight deck, for an arranged marriage with FA-18’s and F-14’s. The union will be brief, however - these bombs are destined for the palaces of thuggish, dictatorial regimes, revetted armor formations and sadly, poorly lead, poorly motivated conscripts standing in the way of the Third Infantry Division and First Marine Division, First Marine Expeditionary Force. Ordinarily, we aviators don’t think in terms of people on the receiving end, we talk of targets “serviced.” Except when we’ve got troopers on the ground: some frightened, pimply-faced 19 year old kid from some town in Iowa that we’ll never meet, wearing desert cammies and carrying a rifle - when there are American Soldiers on the ground, then it gets personal. You can spare a thought for the wetware on the receiving end of the machine- the kid has no politics, it’s either this or the plastic shredder… you can feel sorry for him for the bad luck that brought his coordinates to your cockpit, but you can’t dwell. You’ll be back tomorrow.

As for JDAMs, for smart weapons they’re fairly dumb, they don’t know where they’re going yet - but soon they will be told, and they’re going to fall desperately in love with the targets of their affection. A union devoutly to be wished, to be sure - but ultimately a destructive relationship. So it goes…

That was, what? seven months ago. Since I’m a Sailor, and not a Soldier, I’m home now. Pray for the boys over there, they’re doing this for us, they’re doing it for you…

When I first thought about serving my country, I considered the Air Force, but decided I’d rather be in the military instead. My father told me once that in the Army, you’d live like rats and die like gentlemen. In the Navy, you’d live like gentlemen, and die like rats. I rather counted on living, and that has made all the difference.

Quote Yeats to me and you’ve won my heart…


Thank you, Lex for those 393 words, and so many more which followed.   It is hard to realize this man’s wonderful work began exactly twenty years ago, and tragically ended eleven years ago.

Many of Lex’s writings are preserved for public enjoyment at “The Lexicans.”

There are also private groups devoted to Neptunus Lex on Facebook and MeWe, open by invitation only. 



¹ NOTE:  The post is from the archive version here
² Ouch! - OAFS

11 comments:

  1. Time flies. Thanks for the preservation of his works.

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  2. JB: Thank you. Any day touched by Lex's writings is a better day. Any time I need a lift I just reread the sick hunting dog. Anyone who thinks that have a problem will benefit from reading that and knowing it just ain't that bad.

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  3. It's hard to believe that it's been twenty years since Lex started his blog, harder still to believe that he's been gone for eleven out of those twenty.

    His writing inspired me to follow in his footsteps, wide and deep though they may be.

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  4. I bumped into Lex about a month before "graduation" day. That's how I found my brothers here. Some ripples move out a long way. I'm glad he made such a splash. I'd have not know the friendship and brotherhood I enjoy now. Skoal!

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  5. Thanks for the history JB. I am one who was a post-Lex arrival here.

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  6. Brother Blackshoe,
    Thank you for this! T'is timely in the extreme for not only are you sharing our Brownshoe Brother's magnificence -such a bonus!
    But...I came over to thank you for your recommendation of Rick Atkinson's magnificent "The British Are Coming". Abe books delivered my copy this afternoon. I am flying to.borrow and was going to save the space/weight of a hardbound book; but after 13 pages of the Prolgue, it's coming along.
    This site and those drawn to it, enriches my life.
    Boat Guy

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    Replies
    1. BG- Glad to be of service. Thank the Air Force guy for his hosting all us miscreants and misfits where information, whine, recipes gossip, literary reviews, and sea stories are shared.

      If I remember, and am still here, we can all celebrate Sarge's 20th anniversary of the Chant which will be 22 March 2032 at 5:28 PM.
      He started only 16 days after we lost Lex. As a sneak preview, his first post began:
      "THE FIRST STEP
      I decided to get into blogging for one reason: the untimely departure from this veil of tears of CAPT Carroll "Lex" LeFon, USN (Ret), known in the blogosphere as Neptunus Lex. He was a husband, a father, a naval aviator, an outstanding writer and a man I called friend. Though I never met him in person, I mourn his loss as much as if I'd known him all my life. Therefore, I created this here blog for Lex and for all of us who call ourselves Lexians. "

      So, be nice to Sarge, anyone inspired by Lex has got to be all right.
      John Blackshoe

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    2. Well, Brother; I think I have been "nice" to Sarge, at least as far as providing "editing" for Almost a Lifetime. Whether or not Sarge found value in them, I did spend some time trying to assist in the eventual publication of the book. Of course this was not altruism; I want to see that book published!
      As for 2032; God willing. I have no real concerns health-wise of making it that far (we are of "good stock" in that regard) but none of us knows which day will be that day. I do have concerns - lots of them - as far as what those intervening years will bring us; especially reading Atkinson's book. My ancestors were 'there". They survived ( we do also have that "tradition") but if you throw down, you have to be prepared for eventualities.
      Boat Guy

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    3. I can attest to BG's niceness. 😁

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  7. Thanks JB for such a wonderful tribute. I'm honored that my "toast" to Lex was included.

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  8. I don't know how I found his blog, or how I reacted, but I think it might have been something like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3FSFXJmdp8

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

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