Segundo swim party
Once upon a time, long ago, a large group of rather average guys were
steaming along in the Pacific Ocean either bound for or coming from the Western Pacific. ( Seems like that was
what we did best at the time.) The USS Segundo (SS 398) should have her name engraved on a monument somewhere
over there based on the amount of time she spent there. Anyways, somewhere out there the skipper (Robt. Aiken)
decided it was time for a swim call since we were two hours ahead of of our SOA. Turned out to be a popular
call because I think everyone not on watch was a participant. After calling a halt to our progress through the
water we flooded down to deck level, set the shark watch and the old man hit the water followed by everyone.
While we were frolicking around in the water like a bunch of teenagers the OOD decided that the boat still
had just a little bit of way on her. He decided to negate that way with an all back one third bell. Between
the bridge and maneuvering that bell got twisted around to read one third ahead.
Nobody noticed anything until
the boat actually started moving through the water. By this time the swim party had scattered somewhat and we were
no longer all bunched up. But as soon as the motion was detected the bulk of the swim party started beating feet.
When all was said and done everyone was back aboard before the boat got out of range, except for four.
The ocean was very calm and no choppy water was in sight so we all thought, no harm done yet. The boat had
to go out a
ways, blow herself back up to operating trim and then get up to the speed required to maneuver
for a pickup. While all of this was going on there were four lovable sailors out there swimming around and making
jokes. After awhile this fun swim party started to wear on the four and the boat was still not in a favorable approach.
The swim party started drifting apart and separating. One of these super swimmers, J.K. Davis
by name also known as the XO had the sense to wear swim fins. (Good thinking, XO.) Another member had the ability to
float and his name was Pancho Gonzales. He almost floated away. (I have to hand it to old Pancho, he was
remarkebly unperturbed by the whole incident. Probably thinking about what dance he would do on the next liberty.)
The other two guys were Bear Selis, third class RM and
myself, Bob Lawson QM.
We were so tired that we hung onto old J.K. until we were eventually picked up. After I
got my hands wrapped around the ladder on the forward part of the deck, I couldn"t climb up on deck. My hands
wouldn't turn loose of the rungs. We eventually
got aboard and everything turned out all right. I can
truthfully say that I owe my life to J.K. DAVIS XO USN.
The only other day in my life that I've had more fun was at a basketball game in Sasebo, but
that is another story.
Comments invited. This story not embellished in any way. True to the
best of my knowledge....
Bob Lawson ex QM
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