From Paul Riggs

Following our time in Yokosuka, Japan and our patrols from there, we left for Okinawa. The word was spread that we would have a brief stay in that port before going on to other more important ports of call on that deployment.  Buckner Bay and White’s Beach were kind to us and our work continued according to plan.  Our Executive Officer, Mr. Napier announced that we were not to go into Village #4, which was exactly where we set our sites at the very first opportunity.  More tour guides were there to attend to our curious needs and we enjoyed the benefits of those cultural exchanges.  We also, found a “warm welcome” (??!!!) in a place referred to as Four Corners.  It was mostly occupied by Marines who didn’t know that submariners were crazy and appreciated being called stupid and crazy.  We didn’t make any friends but, had a wonderful time. This was my first experience of buying a bar for the night.  A few shipmates tossed a white hat on the floor and we all started throwing money at it.  When the owner was satisfied that there was sufficient funds for him, the other patrons were asked to leave.  Need less to say, that didn’t rest well with the Marines who thought they were going to enjoy that establishment for the evening.  

I’ll never forget my last morning there when I awoke in Village #4 and realized that I had little or no time to return to the boat on time.  I flagged a car out on the road and got a ride to top of the bluff where I exited the car and ran down the steep hill.  At the bottom of the hill, I abruptly stopped in shock.  The boat was not at the dock!  I looked out in the bay and saw our sub sitting in the middle of Buckner Bay.  By this time, shipmate Krummings was next to me and we found a sailor in a boat shack who agreed to take us out to the Segundo in a whale boat.  As I crawled over the ballast tanks, Napier asked me why I was late.  Still a little confused by the affects of local beverages, I answered, “Uuuhh” and pointed to the Conning Tower.  All I heard was, “Go below”.  Then I went to the Con for maneuvering watch and our departure from Okinawa to the memorable sounds of “Hang Down Your Head Tom Dooley”.  Just when I thought we were ready to leave, our fellow Quartermaster Myers arrived alongside in a whale boat.  We all knew who he was but, he failed that test when asked if he remembered his name.  Sleepy Pete and Wop tried to set a record for almost missing movement but, they made the boat just in the nick of time.  Luckily, all of us had been in Village #4.

So, it was back to work and continuing my learning experience for qualification.  All of us were a closer knitted group and pampered our boat with the care it deserved for always getting us through the best and the worst the ocean had to deliver.   Now, it is off to Hong Kong.