Navy Nukes

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Comment by Tom Lufkin on December 14, 2014 at 9:39pm

When we arrived in Holy Loch the usual change of command process went forward with a greater sense of urgency than usual.  Clearly the other crew wanted to go home.  In no time the process was complete and we had the boat.  When the opportunity for liberty came along we dispatched a committee to the orphanage an they returned with a list of children who would be invited aboard for Christmas dinner.  The list included their names, age and gender.  Each child was assigned to a “Daddy for the day” who was charged with escorting them around the boat and getting them to all functions.  It’s funny, but although I have not been able to put a name to the faces of the men who organized this event, I still remember the name of the child I looked after that day: Angus Naylor.

 

   A second committee, armed with the list that indicated age and gender, went shopping for Christmas presents for the children. Soon the local merchants became aware of what we were doing and our money went much further than we had estimated.  Our men returned with a huge supply of presents.  Instead of the usual movie we spent one evening wrapping the gifts.  Th role of Santa Clause went to our Hospital Corpsman, affectionately known as “The Quack”.

 

   A liberty launch brought the kids out and that in itself was a thrill for them.  Some were scared and others mischievous.  We gave them a tour of the boat, then took them to the crews mess where they enjoyed perhaps the best Christmas dinner of their lives.  After dinner they were treated to a Walt Disney movie, The Amazing Mr. Limpet starring Don Knotts.  When the movie was  over, we took them up to the periscope stand where the Quack was decked out in an ill-fitting Santa Claus suit.  He had a couple of helpers in some form of costume.  This was when we discovered that British children believe in Father Christmas, not Santa Clause. One of the guys quickly explained we had invited our American Santa Clause to come over especially for them.  As the child sat in Santa’s lap the Quack would ask their name and then repeat it loud enough for his helpers to hear it.  This would send the helpers frantically searching among the huge pile of presents to locate the ones intended for this child, who was kept occupied answering the usual questions concerning their behavior during the year.  When found, a present would be placed in Santa’s hand.  He would present it to the child while the two of them smiled at the camera.  In the end, each child received about three presents and a picture of themselves with the most ridiculous looking Santa Claus.

 

   Soon it was time for them to go and the tears began to flow.  Tiny little girls held tightly to their “Daddies” and cried to stay.  Everyone was affected.  We escorted them with their presents back to the tender where the liberty launches waited to return them to the cold reality that we had given them temporary respite from.  As the launch pulled away the children waved and all the “Daddies” waved farewell to them as I had seen them do to their own children a few weeks before.  It was not lost on me that here were men who wielded one of the most powerful warships ever conceived,  who struck fear in the Russian heart, who could unleash an attack never before seen on Earth.  There, at that moment, these warriors of the deep wiped tears from their eyes; and there was truly “Peace on Earth”.

Comment by B'sNukemom&dad⚓️MM on December 12, 2014 at 10:31am

Hi all - Happy RED shirt Friday!

Comment by B'sNukemom&dad⚓️MM on December 10, 2014 at 11:00am

Sailor has a lot coming up in the next few weeks - 100% exam, oral boards & then graduation!  Wow - been both the longest 2 years and the shortest 2 years LOL.....

Comment by Joe Castle on December 3, 2014 at 1:09pm

Our son just hit a patch of black ice up there a few weeks ago, destroyed his car but other than being shaken up he was fine. Not an ideal situation but it gave us a valid reason to drop everything and go see him so we left Louisville Thanksgiving evening after we pushed our dinner guests out and made the drive to Saratoga Springs, NY to drop him off another vehicle. He's in good spirits and happy to have transportation again, hopefully he learned his lesson, slows down and pays better attention.

Comment by B'sNukemom&dad⚓️MM on December 3, 2014 at 12:44pm

Happy Wednesday!

We were expecting a call from our sailor last night but got a text from him instead at about 8:15pm (11:15 his time in NY) - one of his buddies had hit a patch of black ice and spun off the road - luckily he didn't hit anything and he said he wasn't hurt. Thank goodness! There was a few of them trying to pull him out of the ditch.  We haven't heard any more - he's hoping to call today before he goes in to work..... 

Hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving.  Sailor wasn't home but college son was ;-)  Here we are (including "flat sailor") and gma & gpa.

Comment by Douglas H on November 26, 2014 at 8:15pm

B'sNukemom&dad, our sailor is flying back tonight from WA, a year ago his boat was on patrol and he was dearly missed.  We will, of course, give him extra hugs.  I also want to encourage all our little community to remember those away from their loved ones.

Comment by B'sNukemom&dad⚓️MM on November 26, 2014 at 1:10pm

Wishing everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving.  If you are fortunate enough to spend it with your sailor give them extra hugs and remember those that are away from their families!

Comment by B'sNukemom&dad⚓️MM on November 20, 2014 at 9:20pm

Have a great time! Bravo Zulu to all the grads!

Comment by MagoostersMom ⚓ on November 20, 2014 at 7:39am

Hi. In Goose Creek for Power school graduation! :) Congratulations to all graduating and good luck to any retesting next week! So proud of them all! 

Comment by B'sNukemom&dad⚓️MM on November 12, 2014 at 1:26pm

Sailor says maybe (and of course that's a BIG maybe!) proto grad 1/23/15.  He's in BS.  Getting down to crunch time....Anyone else hearing any dates from their sailor's?  

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