Honor, Courage, Commitment

by Leahy, John F.

  0200, Building 1312

  Rasco We took off so fast I couldn’t even get a cadence or chant going. Petty Officer Russell took off; we took off; Petty Officer Kent was shouting for us to sing, to sing anything, even the “Dog Song” that he hated so much, but we were moving so fast we couldn’t get it started. We were flying.

  The RDCs led the division north on Ohio St., the easternmost road on base. Adjacent to the perimeter fence, it was unshielded from the 15-mile-per-hour wind blowing in from Lake Michigan. The temperature had dropped below freezing, and the misting rain had changed to sleet.

  Mary Smith It was brutal. I was cold, I was wet, the sleet was blowing in my face, and I was carrying a seabag. My knees were killing me, my boots were rubbing my feet raw. Looking back on it, that was the low point. That was the point where I nearly dropped out and quit.

  Guiterrez I had a seabag too, and nobody wanted to take it from me. I’m from southern California—we don’t get weather like this back there. I just ducked my head down as far as I could and ran. The seabag was riding up on my shoulders hitting the back of my helmet. Some of the females were crying, I know. But we all kept going.

  They arrived once again at Building 1312. Many battle stations events were designed to call to mind the deeds of Navy heroes; the next event was designed to remind them of the mundane tasks that every sailor does each day.

  As the recruits gradually got their breath back from their accelerated transit, Petty Officer Bandlow began the story. “As part of the preparations for getting under way, a ship must be loaded with stores, repair parts for equipment, fuel, ammunition, and food. In short, everything must be loaded to support sustained operations at sea. Due to the amount of stores arriving on the pier in large bulk quantities, and often at the same time, loading is frequently an all-hands evolution. The ability of a crew to quickly stow stores is essential to meet underway timelines. Additionally, time is of the essence in preserving perishable food stores. On-loads are critical to a ship’s mission accomplishment.

  “History provides countless examples of operations hinge-ing on rapid loading of required stores so that personnel could return to their areas of responsibility to accomplish other critical underway preparations. On 19 August 1994, USS Stark, a guided missile frigate, was on patrol off the coast of Haiti in support of Operation Support Democracy. While routinely en route to Guantanamo Bay, for a brief stop for fuel and stores, the ship was directed late at night to proceed at best speed to moor pierside at first light. The ship was to be loaded with required stores and food as rapidly as possible, and depart for the Straits of Florida with all due haste to subsequently conduct Cuban refugee operations. As the ship moored, the pier was filled with stores to support taking aboard hundreds of refugees who were fleeing from Cuba on floating contraptions of all sorts, including rubber innertubes, makeshift rafts, and anything that would float on the sea. Many of these refugees had little chance of completing their escape on those fragile craft. Stores and fuel had to be loaded expeditiously to allow an underway time at the earliest opportunity. The clock was running. Time was of the essence.”

  Bandlow led the group into the exercise area. Before them stood a large quantity of supplies: ammunition boxes, pipe, rope, timber, spare parts, and other materials common to everyday shipboard life. Many of the boxes were marked “Heavy—two man carry.” Between the stores and their final destination lay an obstacle course that simulated the route that sailors might take when replenishing ship. There were ladders to climb, tight passageways, watertight doorsills to overcome, hatches, and scuttles.

  Midway through the obstacle course, the recruits would encounter a simulated hangar deck, complete with yellow avaition-support vehicles. The remainder of the obstacle course resembled a hold deep inside a combat ship. Ramps, wooden battens, balks of timber, and a tight U-turn confronted the stores handlers.

  Bandlow split the division into two teams. The first team would carry the stores to a watertight doorway halfway through the course, where they would be handed off to the second team. The second group would complete the course and stow the materials in accordance with a printed storage plan. The group was given thirty-five minutes to complete the evolution, and strikes would be assessed for violations such as failing to observe two-person-lift requirements, dropping materials, or committing safety infractions. A siren signaled the beginning of the exercise.

  Zuni Robinson, 19, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

  Oh my gosh, I didn’t like that at all! My body was so tired, from the run and stuff, and that was our fourth or fifth thing, and I was, like, so tired. And then we had to lift these heavy cans, and my hands were getting callouses, and everyone wanted to double-time, and I couldn’t because my legs were so tired.

  Leitner I didn’t like that at all! I was tired, and the stuff was heavy.

  Dizon I think the problem at first was our teamwork. Some people would get stuff, others would just mill around, and we weren’t working together very well.

  Joshua Smith, 21, Fort Morgan, Colorado

  I was right in front of Russell the whole time, and I knew she was pretty mad about the way things went on the Marlinespike. So we just hustled the whole time, and really moved.

  Orlando If the males had listened to us, we would have gotten it done easier and faster. They just jumped in and started carrying stuff. But we figured out that if we went in a circle, and handed stuff to each other, we could do it better. They kept running into each other and us, and that slowed things down some. But they finally listened to us, and then it went lots faster.

  Stamp I thought that was fun. But then, I was the team leader and all I carried was a clipboard!

  Perhaps motivated by the dismal failure aboard Marlinespike, the group performed well during the store-loading exercise. All material was moved and properly stored by the twenty-ninth minute. Petty Officer Russell, who was observing the stowage portion of the event, nodded appreciatively. “You get an additional head call for that, recruits, but make it fast. We’re going for a little swim.”

  0300, Water Safety Training Center

  By 0300 things were beginning to go Division 005’s way. The aggravating sleet, which had plagued the recruits on the run from the Marlinespike, had turned to light snow. The temperature was just 29 degrees—the lowest it would go all night—but conditions had improved overall.

  And some respite was in store for the recruits. Building 1312 is just a few yards from the pedestrian tunnel linking Camps Porter and Moffett. The recruits would have to go through the tunnel to reach the swimming pool in building 1425. And base safety rules prohibited running in the tunnel. They’d make two round trips through the tunnel during battle stations—a welcome break from the jogging or sprinting the facilitators required between other venues.

  Scorsone That tunnel saved me, more than once. I’m not all that fast to begin with, and the weather kept getting worse and worse, and when we came to the entrance of the tunnel and Petty Officer Kent gave the command to break step, it was, like, heaven.

  Leitner I kept falling farther and farther behind as we ran. I’m thirty-five years old—I’d start out at the front, and keep slipping back as these kids passed me by. But at the tunnel, I’d walk as fast as I could, and get back up into the middle or front of the pack before we started running again. They were able to take it easy through the tunnel, but I kept moving as fast as I could walk, and that’s what saved me.

  The division arrived at Building 1425, only to find the main door locked. They had trained at the multimillion-dollar, Olympic-sized pool, which, tonight, was closed for maintenance. After milling about in the gently falling snow, they found the entrance to the smaller, older pool at the eastern end of the building. More surprises awaited them within.

  Jones As soon as we got in there, we changed into our swim suits. They made us put on these old utility pants over our suits—mine were huge! There was no way I could walk in them without holding up the waistband. And they were wet—soaking we
t—and freezing!

  HTl(SW)* Jim Lilly set the scene. “Naval history contains many stories of ships that, despite the best efforts of the crew, succumbed to enemy fire and sank. Take the case of the USS Indianapolis, a World War II heavy cruiser en route to Leyte Gulf, Philippines, without escorts. Shortly after midnight on 30 July 1944, a Japanese submarine attacked the ship with a salvo of torpedoes. Two ripped into the ship’s forward hull, causing catastrophic damage and disabling the communications systems. The bridge was not able to send an ‘all stop’ order to engineering, and the ship continued to plow through the water, accelerating the flooding. The captain was forced to give the ‘abandon ship’ order. Indianapolis sank only thirteen minutes after the initial blast. Of the 1,196-man crew, only 850 were able to abandon ship before the ship went under. These sailors found themselves scattered over thousands of yards, amid an oil slick and small pieces of debris, with only a couple of life rafts.

  “Shark attacks commenced early the next morning, and continued throughout the five-day ordeal until rescue forces arrived on the scene. As the days wore on, many sailors began suffering from the effects of shock, dehydration, and delirium. In some cases the crew did everything right: they grouped together, organized, established a chain of command, pooled their resources, and so on. Many of these sailors survived, despite severe injuries and shark attacks. In other cases, crew members did not remember their basic training, and made several critical mistakes. Sailors who drifted away from their shipmates were very susceptible to shark attach. Some refused to follow orders and committed foolish acts, like drinking seawater. Many became delirious and tried to swim to imaginary islands or down to their sunken ship. Those who forgot their training were doomed. The final headcount summarizes the story well: only 317 of the original 1,196 crew members survived.

  “Now, recruits, place yourself in a similar situation. Your ship is on patrol in the South China Sea when it sustains extensive hull damage. After a valiant attempt to save the vessel, the captain determines that the damage is too great and gives the order to abandon ship. As you prepare to transit to your ‘abandon ship’ station, you notice that there are not enough life preservers for everyone in your team—you must decide who gets one and who does not. After donning your life preservers, proceed to the top of the platform and await further instructions.”

  Hopkins There was a pile of life preservers on the ground, and they told us to put them on. Someone—I think it was Freeman—yelled out to save the life preservers for the people that couldn’t swim too well—those that were NQSs and such. Some people listened to her, and some just grabbed them and put them on. I was going to take one—I was in the front of the line—but I knew that I could swim as well as anyone, so I took one and gave it to Gildersleeve, who was right behind me.

  The recruits climbed the 10-foot diving platform. At this point, the battle stations facilitators yielded control of the division to a cadre of water safety instructors, headed by Chief Dave Gardner. In addition to their roles as safety monitors during the exercise, the swimming instructors would act as “sharks,” making each evolution more difficult by delaying, inconveniencing, and generally harassing the swimming recruits. Some even wore Styrofoam “fins” strapped to their backs, to heighten the effect. Petty Officer Kent changed into his swim suit, and joined in the fun.

  Recruits waited at the top of the platform and, when instructed, stepped off and abandoned ship. The recruits knew that sharks were circling below, and that they must swim across the pool and enter a standard Navy life raft, which was tethered at the far end. After entering, they were to exit through the aft end, swim to the side, and exit the pool area. Strikes would be assessed for water safety violations, including entering the raft headfirst, or for those swimmers who could not make it to the raft without assistance. The first recruits stepped off the tower and into the surprisingly warm water below.

  Freeman I liked the swim, that was fun. And I didn’t mind the instructors dunking us and splashing water—it was just like being at home in Louisiana messing with the guys and all. But when you put those pants on, geez! They were freezing cold! Even the warm water didn’t help much. As soon as I got out I was freezing again, and I stayed cold the rest of the night. And when we went outside and saw the snow was falling harder, it was, oh, man! just our luck.

  Bruce I thought it was stupid. We had to put on these pants that were a million sizes too big, and they had been used by the last bunch of recruits that went through, and they were wringing wet and they were freezing! And all we did was jump off the tower, swim around for a minute or two, and get into the life raft, and then get out. But as soon as we got out, we were freezing again! And then we had to quickly get dressed and get back outside, and it was snowing harder by then. That’s the coldest I’ve even been in my life!

  Hattrich I put on the vest, because it was the last one and no one was going to take it. I could swim, so when I got into the water, I held onto the side of the raft till some of the others got in. I guess the facilitators were picking on the people in the vests, because they kept dunking me, and splashing water in my face for, like, two minutes straight so I couldn’t get any air, and I was stressing out.

  Alcazar I was the one holding onto the raft, and Hattrich was holding onto my arm, and when the “sharks” were dunking her I was wondering if, like, she could breathe, and the splashing was getting into my mouth and nose. I wanted to yell at them to stop it.

  Leitner I had a hard time trying to do an underwater push-up, trying to get into the boat and all.

  Gildersleeve When I kept going to the raft, my legs kept kicking and going under the raft, and one of the instructors kept dunking me. He did this, like, three times, and I figured I better get into that boat. And I couldn’t get into that boat, and I saw Petty Officer Russell on the deck, and she’s laughing at me, cause I was an NQS and she used to rag on me all the time about having to go to swimming classes and all. But it’s hard, man, getting into that life raft with three or four instructors grabbing your legs and your arms and trying to drown you and all.

  Johnson I got another strike there because the instructor said I went into the raft headfirst, but I didn’t, I know I didn’t.

  McClellan He didn’t go in headfirst. I was the team leader on the front end of the raft, and I know he didn’t. But the instructor said he did, and there is no way to argue with them in the middle of battle stations, that’s for sure.

  Shelton I’m swimming over toward the raft, and it’s going okay, because all the sharks are off attacking people with life vests on. And as I swim by, I see Petty Officer Kent, just lolling there, doing a backstroke, and he says, “How’s it going, Shelton?” I mean—we’ve abandoned ship, right? And there’s all this yelling and screaming and splashing going on, and guys getting eaten up by sharks, and me and him are having a conversation, like two dudes who meet on the street. Awesome.

  Although several recruits did incur additional strikes during the event, no one was disqualified, and after drying off to the best of their ability, the recruits prepared to return to Camp Porter.

  0400, Camp Moffett

  It was snowing more heavily as Division 005 left the pool and prepared to return to Building 1312. Curiously, even though most of the recruits were cold, wet, and immensely uncomfortable, there was a perceptible change of attitude.

  Gildersleeve We knew we were halfway there, see. From what people had said, the worst part was done. Me, personally, I’d been worried about the pool. I had never been swimming till I came to boot camp. Once that was done, it was, like, we’re going home.

  Leitner I noticed it, too. I think it was because we usually get up at four in the morning. And there’s a rhythm your body gets into. From then on it felt like morning to me, even though it was still dark outside.

  The run back to Camp Porter was uneventful. Snow was beginning to stick on the grassy areas, but not on the roadways. Passing Building 1405, the Recruit In-processing Center, Division 005 broke into a he
artfelt chant for the first time this evening.

  Rasco I started the chant, and Gildersleeve picked up on it. We usually sing, “PT, PT, good for you and good for me,” but Gildersleeve changed it to “Battle stations, battle stations, look at me, look at me.” I hope the Smurfs could hear us, in there, on their first night at boot camp.

  *Chief Beller is a chief boatswain’s mate (E7), with surface warfare qualifications.

  *Petty Officer Lilly is a hull maintenance technician, first class (E6), with surface warfare qualifications.

  14

  Battle Stations! Keeping Faith

  Unknown to the recruits, their next two events were to be at Building 1312, and the group would not run again until nearly 0630. Neither of the events still facing the division was particularly physically taxing, although both would call for a great deal of coordinated effort if the group was to be successful.

  AD1(AW) Rogelio Velasco joined the division after they had stowed their now dripping outer garments. “As you should remember from your damage-control classes, in July 1967 a bomb dropped on the flight deck of the USS Forestal. The resulting fire spread below to the hangar deck and ultimately resulted in the deaths of 134 sailors and injury to hundreds of others. You will remember the footage you saw of the chief who made an early attempt to attack the fire and entered the scene with an extinguisher. Unfortunately, he never came out—he gave his life in the attempt. What you couldn’t see was the hundreds of sailors who were trapped below who had to find a way to fresh air and safety. Fire is unforgiving at sea, and any ship can become a floating torch with countless flammable hazards to feed the fire. Even if you aren’t directly fighting the fire, you may find yourself cut off and have to rely on your shipmates to help you survive.

  “You and your shipmates must get from one compartment to another. The only way to get there from here is through an emergency escape scuttle located in a redhot bulkhead. Each member of the team must make it through without touching the sides or they will be severely burned. Only confidence in each one of your shipmates will make it possible to overcome this obstacle. You must show commitment to the team effort in lending your ideas and accepting those of others. You must display courage in trusting your shipmates to help you get to safety. You must display honor in giving your personal best in order for the whole team to escape harm’s way.”