Sea Stories

Brit Destoyer Vs. Torpedo

2007-07-06T10:36:00.001-07:00

Found this chilling tape on the web.

Operation Unified Assistance - USS Benfold DDG 65 - Tsunami Relief

2006-08-31T09:54:00.000-07:00


"Onward With Valor" Sumatra, Indonesia 02Jan - 05Feb 2005. This video documents the efforts of the crew of the US Navy Destroyer, USS Benfold DDG 65, as they provide tsunami relief to the people of Indonesia after the devastating tsunami hit the region on December 26, 2004.

Rouge Wave and Life

2006-07-28T13:55:00.000-07:00

Aboard the Towers as we pulled into Subic Bay, Phillipines (1985?)

As we were approaching the island that marked the outer reaches of Subic Bay I was working a fresh water washdown hose team on the Port side.

I don’t know what happened. I only know the water was fairly calm. There was only a slight swell and beautiful sunny weather.

I was right behind the guy with the nozzle all of a sudden this huge wave just crashes into the side of the ship knocking all of us down. The wall of water hit me square in the chest and I felt my feet get knocked out from under me.

I was riding the water down the main deck. I could feel the fire hose sliding by under me so I grabbed it.

As the water went away I felt myself hit the deck and the saltwater drained from my face... I couldn't make out what was over me. I let go of the hose and tried to sit up - I hit something.

It was the bottom lifeline. I was literally lying on the edge of the deck facing the opposite direction I was when standing and if the fire hose had not kinked on a cleat, or I had leaned a bit to my left I would have gone overboard.

I was quickly gathered up by those around me - who were all equally as wet - only the guy on the nozzle had the same experience... he ended up by the quarterdeck well inside the lifelines but equally as dazed by the freak wave at the entrance of Subic Bay.

Oops, Sorry Cairns

2006-07-28T13:45:00.000-07:00

USS Towers DDG 9 (1987?) Gettering Underway from Cairns Australia

To this day I'm not sure why or how it happened. But as we were leaving the pier at Cairns, the little underpowered tug had no control over Towers.

I can only guess the typical maneuver to pull away from the pier was executed with the belief that the little tug could do a big tugs job.

It didn't happen.

Towers stern was pulling away and out from the pier, but the bow was swinging toward the pier.

By the time anyone noticed what was happening it was too late.

Towers crushed about half of the city pier in Cairns. Destroyed it. Left it in splinters.

But there's not much you can do from the deck of a US Navy Guided Missile Destroyer, you shrug your shoulders and leave port.

Looking on various Navy web sites - this is actually listed as a Towers "incident".

"Wave Back or do Something"

2006-07-28T13:31:00.000-07:00

Aboard the USS Towers as it leaves the pier in Brisbane Australia (1987?)

We had all been enjoying liberty in Brisbane. But as always it came time to get underway.

It was a cool morning, we were all in dress blues to man the rail. Being in First Division we were lined up along the forecastle standing at parade rest. The lines hit the water and the tug started to pull us away from the pier.

At that moment a red convertable raced up to the pier. Two very nice looking young ladies stepped out. Tossing their blonde hair back they take off on foot to get as close as they can.

Needless to say, everyone has noticed these two. Even the Captain (as I look up to my left) has zeroed in on them.

They start scanning the crew. Obviously they were looking for someone in particular and I swear the entire ship was holding its breath to hear who it would be.

Then came the call, "Chocolate Man!" "Hey Chocolate Man, we love you!" "We love you"

Everyone knew who "Chocolate Man" was. He was SR Jordan, one of my seamen in First Division.

Chief O'Connor grumbled at Jordan, something about the girsl being blind. Jordan shot back something about O'Connor being old and used up.

Meanwhile the ladies kept on and on with the "We love you Chocolate Man" chant. It was funny to start with but they wouldn't shut up!

Finally Commander Burrows leaned over the bridgewing and shouted down to Jordan to, "Wave back please... do something to shut them up!"

Jordan, of course replaied, "Yes sir and stepped up waving back. He shouted something like, "Chocolate Man loves you too!"

It was hillarious at the time. As I write this I can only imagine what Captain Burrows was thinking. After all the pier was croweded with sightseers, local public officials and -of course- the news media.

I guess at least two ladies in Brisbane will never forget the week Towers (and SR Jordan) spent there!

We Didn't Set Out to Steal the Elephant

2006-07-27T19:47:00.000-07:00

This story had fallen victim to my aging memory until I read it on Jeff Edwards web site.
It's a good one from the late 1980's aboard the USS Towers.
Click here to read it.

70 Foot Seas and No Captain Aboard

2006-07-24T22:52:00.000-07:00

Hong Kong Harbor, aboard the USS Towers, 1981

Here's a story from 1981 from the USS Towers. With a typhoon approcahing Hong Kong, the Towers attempts to get underway - without the CO!
Click here to read it.

Bored on Mid-Watch

2006-07-16T08:17:00.000-07:00

Aboard the USS Towers in the Western Pacific 1984-1988

There were several things you could do to pass the time.

If you had the helm and the sea was calm you could literally 'rock the boat'.

If the sea was flat and calm, you could start a rudder swing 5 or 10-degrees to the left followed by 5 or 10-degrees to the right. Do that three to four times you get a 'flow' going.

To rock the boat, you simply have to (while spinning the wheel back to the opposite side) grab and stop the wheel at amidships. If you've done it right the water will slam into the rudders and force the ship to roll to one side - not a lot - but very much noticeable when there isn't a wave in sight!

We're Taking on Water and it's Nothing New

2006-07-16T08:00:00.000-07:00

Aboard the USS Towers in the Pacific 1985

It's not what you think. But we did experience several serious weather events while transiting from point to point in the Western Pacific. Several times Towers expansion joint was stressed to the limit and cracks developed in the area around the joint.

On this one trip the cracks happened pretty early in the storm and as we tossed around slowly getting to where we were going the mess deck continually took on water.

With each roll to port or starboard, seawater would stream into the mess deck.

That meant as the ship rolled back and forth, the water would slosh back and forth on the mess deck as well.
The 'dance' we all got good at was while we ate - we would lift our feet to avoid the rush of water moving from one side to the other.

Then you had to time your departure from the mess deck so you wouldn't encounter the wave as it sloshed back.

On the bright side it was in this kind of weather that being on a destroyer was a lot of fun. You could climb a ladder without much effort, sometimes with no effort - just time the pitch of the ship and step to the next level without ever touching a step.

With 30 foot seas - you get a 60 foot troth in the waves. A destroyer isn't very big so it's like living on (and in) a roller coaster.

My Most Vivid Memory Aboard U.S.S. Towers

2006-07-05T18:42:00.000-07:00

This is the story that bothers me the most. I think of the crew of this E2C Hawkeye at every holiday and sometimes just on an average day.

My last two years aboard Towers I was a PRAWS Swimmer, or Pilot Rescue swimmer.

At the time of this incident, the entire battle group (Alpha) with the USS Midway at its center, was enroute to the North Arabian Sea at a very fast pace - we had to get on station quickly - I didn't know at the time but it was to be in position for the re-flagging of Kuwaiti oil tankers.

We were enroute - I believe someplace in the northern Indian Ocean. It was late at night and we were at plane guard position astern of the USS Midway (CV 41).

It was one of those memorably strange nights at sea. The ocean was glowing green with phosphorescents and it was a little foggy.

I was taking my turn as the rescue swimmer on watch - sitting in the motor-whale boat watching the F-18's come in one after the other. I loved the smell of the jet fuel in the air... It probably wasn't very good to inhale - but it sure added to the experience of seeing these planes come in and land on the pitching deck of the Midway.

I had just been relieved and had gone below when the 1MC announced an aircraft down. I ran to the boat deck. I could see the smoke from a couple of floats tossed probably by Midway personell. I was excited because usually we back-up the rescue choppers - but this time it was the Towers trucking to the rescue. I can only guess that the chopper had either landed to refuel or it was too windy or foggy for them to operate. Either way we were on the aircraft pretty fast.

It was an amazing site. An E2C, from the "Liberty Bells" squadron was floating just ten feet or so from the starboard side. The cockpit windows were just beginning to be covered with water - I noticed right away all the rescue hatches on the aircraft were still closed.

My rescue simmer partner and both realized at the same time, the crew was still inside!

Other Towers crewmen were busy readying rescue gear at the swimmer station. We were ready amazingly fast and my Chief made this request of the bridge, "Request permission to put swimmers in the water for rescue."

"Negative" was the answer. My chief, a Vietnam river gunboat 'tough guy' looked puzzled.

"Request permission to put rescue swimmers in the water." He said again with a little more adrenalin in his voice.

"Negative" was the answer.

The Captain stepped onto the bridge wing and shouted something down about looking for movement - an attempt by the air crew to escape.

We scanned the now sinking aircraft - no sign of movement. Infact, I'm sure we were looking at the flight helmets of the pilot and co-pilot behind the cockpit windows.

I said something to my Chief to the effect of, "We can't just stand here and do nothing." The other rescue swimmer chimed in, "We can at least try to get them out." From behind me I heard the Captain's voice, "I will not loose the two of you trying to get someone out of that thing before it sinks like a rock."

So we stood there. Hoping and praying someone inside would try to get out. Hoping and praying we'd get an opportunity to do something besides watch this thing sink.

But that chance never came. That aircraft went down in minutes. It took probably four or five people with it.

The rest of that night we steamed around slowly, search lights beaming through the fog - looking for some sign of life - perhaps someone had made it out. I remember finding a couple of seamen from my division asleep in the boat locker. I could have ripped their heads off! I blessed them out like I had never done before. Reminding them that someone's son, husband or father had likely died here tonight - but if they're out there alive we may miss them because they were sleeping! (I haven't been that angry in my life).

For the next three or four days we steamed in a search pattern, looking for anything related to the crash.

I swam for part of a helmet - I don't know if it came form the aircraft or not - but it was weired to swim out and grab it I can tell you that.

We did find the raydome pretty much in one piece. We stopped alongside it and asked the Midway what action they wanted us to take. Recover it? Destroy it? The answer was destroy it.

We shot it full of .50 cal machine gun fire and it sat there and continued to float.

The captain grew frustrated and took the Towers on several 'runs' right at the dome. We must have run that thing down four times and in the end it was in a lot of little pieces and a few large chunks that me and the other swimmer were able to get alongside to be hauled aboard Towers.

I guess it was the fourth day after the crash - we were told to rejoin the battle group.

I have searched time and time again for anything related to a crash of an E2C Hawkeye from the USS Midway in 1986 or 1987. So far I can only find one reference that *may* fit.

If you know anything about this incident, please post it here - I'd love to know the rest of the story. But until I know I'll continue to think about that crew - every Veterans Day, Memorial Day, 4th of July, Christmas, Thanksgiving, and birthday...

We probably would not have been able to get anyone out of the plane before it sank, I just wish we had tried.

Royal Australian Navy vs the U.S. Navy

2006-06-26T08:46:00.000-07:00

Aboard the USS Towers DDG 9 in the South China Sea, 1987 - Operating with the Royal Australian Navy DDG the HMAS Perth

I think it was a Sunday, I’m note sure why that’s important but there you go. We’d been conducting joint exercises with the Australian and British Navy for about a week when we found ourselves operating with the HMAS Perth.

I’m not quite sure what we were doing but we ended up with the Perth just a couple hundred yards off our Starboard beam. Both ships seemed to slow and stop, we bobbed around for a little bit. This wasn’t an ordinary thing, so people began to gather on deck to see what was going on. So did the crew on the Perth. In-fact, they began to yell and hold up something in their hands… The aft lookout took a look with the binoculars and reported they were holding up beer cans… and drinking beer.

Of course we started to moan and groan about how we don’t get that privilege in the U.S. Navy (see next story). It was about that time when Captain Burrows made an announcement. While this is not an exact quote it’s close, “Since the HMAS Perth was once an American Adams Class DDG exactly like Towers and the Australians have made many changes to her power plant we were going to conduct a test – not a race – but an ‘acceleration comparison’ of the two ships. All hands not on watch are invited topside to witness the test.”

Cool.

The same announcement was made aboard the Perth. We couldn’t hear it but we certainly heard the yells of the crew that had made their way topside.

The Captain gets on the 1MC again, “We’ve agreed to begin when Towers sounds her whistle”.

The ships horn rang out a few second later and the Towers began to shudder. The entire ship shook and we began to push forward. So did the Perth.

It wasn’t long before both ships –side by side – were kicking along pretty good.

Then it happened.

The Aussies began to pull away…

An entire line of crew on the Perth turned around and “mooned” us. They were pulling away and rubbing it in our faces.

But at that very moment – with their shorts down – the HMAS Perth blew her safeties and all her steam vented out of the stacks! They slowed and slowed, her crew looked shocked – they knew they were out of the race.

Of course we started to laugh and jeer, I’m sure they heard and saw all kinds of things from us in the 20-seconds before Towers caught up and immediately blew her safeties!

Towers, just like the Perth had completely lost power.

There we were, side-by-side, adrift while engineering worked to get the boilers rocking again.

That image always makes me smile. We were sitting there, two powerful Navy Guided Missile Destroyers from two maritime world power nations… adrift without power because we both pushed it just a little too much.

I always wondered what kind of paperwork, if any, reflected that “exercise” of the HMAS Perth and the USS Towers!

How to Get Drunk on Two Beers

2006-06-26T08:22:00.000-07:00

Aboard the USS Towers in the North Arabian Sea and Straights of Hormuz, 1988.

The U.S. Navy is the only one in the world that doesn't allow some alcoholic beverages on board its ships. When I was aboard Towers, the rule was 45 days at sea got each crewmember two beers. Commander Burrows thought it would be better since it was nearly Christmas, to push that number closer to 53 days before opening the secure storage and passing out Milwaukee’s Best!

You'd be amazed, people went to the aft food stores area to peek through any opening they could find to see what kind of beer was onboard. Like it mattered!

Well, the 53rd day finally came. I stood a double watch (2nd &3rd) so someone else could take advantage of the day - in exchange I would get a break overnight. Little did I know I would need it.

I did get my cheeseburger off the grill for lunch but I had to wait until after I got off watch to get and drink the beer.

When 4pm finally came, I wandered down to the mt 52 area and signed for my 24 ounces of brew. A friend of mine had done the same double watch and was with me (although I can not remember who it was).

You don't get to walk off with the beer. You have to drink it right there. So we sat down and talked about how to make the most of it.

I lit a cigarette and it hit me.

I was pretty new at smoking and if I overdid it I would get dizzy and lightheaded. So I said why don't we -quickly- smoke a bunch of cigarettes, guzzle a beer down, and quietly smoke another while we sip the second beer?

Sounded good to my friend (Greg Mrozinski?) so he said, "The whole pack", I thought that was too much - we split the pack and puffed our lungs full of nicotine and whatever else is in those things.

My head was spinning when I reached for that first beer.

I chugged it down.

I couldn’t smoke another - so I just sat there, staring at the afternoon sun shimmering off the waves, sipping that second beer.

Now, I don't believe I was drunk - but it certainly felt like it!

Mission accomplished.

What a Difference a Mile Makes

2006-06-10T07:17:00.000-07:00

Aboard the USS Towers, Luzon Strait, S. China Sea - 1986

We were a day or two out of Hong Kong on our way back to our homeport of Yokosuka, Japan. Steaming solo - without any other US ships. It may have been a Sunday since it seems like things were pretty casual that day. It was time for my watch and I took over as Boatswain's Mate of the Watch on the bridge.

About an hour in the watch, there was a report of a surface contact closing on us at about 25 knots. I went around the tell the lookouts to keep a sharp eye and try to be the first to spot whatever it was...

The activity was increasing when I returned to the bridge, lot's of conversations with CIC (combat Information Center), the Captain arrived on the bridge and started getting briefed by the OOD.

Now an aircraft was in bound. Not good. The inbound ship or plane must have been barking out orders demanding to know who we were.. but in the process, we figured out who they were...

Tha Captain went to the navigator station and was going over things with the NAV Officer. All I remember hearing clearly and LOUDLY, was "I need to know exactly where we are and I need to know now!"

Now, I got to tell you that doesn't sit well in a Third Class Petty Officer's stomach. I figured we were someplace we were not supposed to be and the Chinese Navy is bearing down on us looking for a reason to shoot.

I was half right.

The forward lookout calls down he has black smoke on the horizon off the Port bow.

I hear the Captain's voice... Something about "One F*&%# Mile!"

Seems we had strayed into Taiwanese territorial waters... By one mile. It wasn't the Communist Chinese Navy bearing down on us - it was an old US WWII destroyer, now operated by the Taiwan Navy and I guess they figured we were the Chinese looking for trouble because they had that old bucket doing close to 3o knots!

There were sudden orders to change course, increase speed and send all kinds of radio traffic and even flash some signal on the signal light... We kicked it in gear and got out of there.

A couple Taiwanese Jets flew over us. They looked like old trainer jets... They circled once and left.

I don't know how big of a deal this was or wasn't. I only know as a spectator on the bridge when it all went down... It put a little knott in my stomach - but it was a lot of fun.

I imagine someone took the heat for it. Someone had something placed in their service record that probably kept them from making Captain.

The Navy, it's not just a job, it's an adventure!

Plucky Yank Saves Cop

2006-05-30T13:45:00.000-07:00

While on liberty from the USS Towers in Hong Kong harbor (1985 or 1986?)

That was the headline of the newspaper in Hong Kong the day before we were supposed to leave. A corpsman on the USS Towers happened to be down the street from a shootout as a jewelry store robbery went bad in Kowloon.

The bad guys were surprised to find cops waiting on them as they left the store and they opened fire. One of the cops was hit in the chest. As soon as the shooting stopped this corpsman ran down the street - identified himself to a cop - and started to treat the wounded officer. His life threatening injury was a sucking chest wound. By the time an ambulance arrived, the bleeding was under control and the cigarette/plastic wrap was in use - saving the cops life.

What made it all so funny, was this corpsman was the kind of guy that shared what he thought, even if no one asked... he'd say anything, even to the Captain. So he had a reputation and a bit of a record as a trouble maker, so when the HK Police Chief came aboard to present the corpsman with a medal... The past was forgotten (temporarily)!

The USS Towers got some great press for the US Navy, the cop got his life and the corpsman got a medal and his choice of duty station!

I've looked online for archive versions of that story - but it pre-dates the Hong Kong newspaper's online searches. If someone out there has a copy of that article, I'd love to have it to post here!

"It's a Mine!"

2006-05-27T06:26:00.000-07:00

Aboard the USS Towers DDG 9 - 1988 - Going into the Persian Gulf from the North Arabian Sea.

A lookout spots a metallic object floating in the water. We get closer, it's black and appears to be a 55-gallon drum.

It could be a crudely made mine placed by the Iranians. A potential danger to commercial shipping, so the ship goes to general quarters - seems we're going to 'take this thing out'.

We had already set up several additional machine gun posts along the sides of the ship and all were quickly manned. I was at the ASROC deck gun station on the Port side. We slow and the "mine" is going to pass about 30 yards off our port side. We're told to standby to open fire on the object.

Now, I'm thinking if this is a mine and we blow it up 30 yards from the ship, aren't we all at risk of being hurt? Or the ship damaged? But, as you know... it wasn't my call!

We get the order to fire on the object. (somewhere I have pics of this but I have to find them)

We shoot who knows how many rounds into that thing... After about 10-15 seconds of gunfire the cease fire order comes....

Seems we've turned a floating hollow drum into a colander and it's sinks.

Not a mine - but it sure did break up the monotony of sweeping sand off the ship every couple hours!

Memorial Day 2006

2006-05-27T05:56:00.000-07:00

I've waited to start this blog until this weekend.
It will no doubt be filled with many funny stories - but let's never forget how blessed (or lucky) we are to be able to share ours. We wore - or still wear - the uniform, to think of how many others wore the same uniform and never had the chance to share their stories because they gave all to preserve our way of life. I'm, humbled by that thought - proud to have worn the uniform - yet somehow feel like I could have done more - because I was lucky enough to serve near the end of the Cold War, where not many shots were fired in anger.

If this blog had a theme song it would be Eternal Father, the Navy Hymn.

Take a minute - think about the price this nation has paid for freedom.

Enjoy your freedom - it's bought and paid for!