 From Jim Bryant 1/1/06
Some Australian Memories
I read with interest Ted Howell’s recount of our grand WestPac tour via
Australia. My memories are slightly different, probably because I was sober for much of the time. My brother-in-law
was Bob Madill but I didn’t know it until I met him on Segundo, just before we departed for Australia. We were
each a little wary of the other, concerned about being reported on, so we were on best behavior. Howell’s recount
of the Return Servicemen’s Club in New Castle pretty much matches mine, with a few deviations. Madill declared
a truce with me and suggested that we go have a beer but, he said, no women should be involved. I agreed. After
two beers Bob switched to whiskey. After two whiskeys Bob stood up and screamed, “PUSSY! I want PUSSY!”
The good will and friendliness evaporated and we were escorted to the door. We stayed aboard and avoided each
other after that. However, in McKay — contrary to Howell’s memory — we discovered we were NOT universally
beloved. Local ladies were warned that they would be ostracized if the associted with US sailors. We were tied
up to a pier so high that we had to take a liberty boat ashore. At night the locals would come down to the pier and
throw shit at the topside watch (who spent most of his watch hiding behind the sail). T. C. Booth and I went ashore,
ostensibly to buy mother’s day cards which doesn’t exist in Australia. We had been warned by the XO (who
apparently knew who the trouble makers were) to stay out of trouble. So help me, I tried. It was all Booth’s
fault. A local gang was harassing an Aussie soldier and his date. Against my direct orders Booth chose to intervene.
Jeez. The local cops were grateful for our help in putting down the gang activity and so agreed to go back to
the ship with us--once they let us out of jail—to try to keep the XO from beheading us. Our lives were thus saved
but we were restricted to the ship forever. At least that’s how long I think he said. Did I mention that
it was all Booth’s fault?
--
James L. Bryant
PS – I remember Whittington
well, but not just because he bubbled bow buoyancy to take the angle off a dive. When I was being trained as diving
officer I was told by Cancer Ass to always allow a little extra time if we pulled the plug while running full on four. I
had the watch under instruction with Whittington when it happened. I was watching the depth gauge to make sure I shut
the main induction soon enough when Whit started screaming at me to shut it. I closed the valve, snapped my fingers
and said, “I always forget that!” I always had help standing my watch after that. I don’t know
when Whittington slept.
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