Chief Boring,

Thank you for conducting a very responsible web site, what a breath of fresh air to see that some folks do not see the necessity of the tripe that can be found on many sites. And thank you for the welcome. Not many folks remember lock in’s but that was back in the times that the government felt they knew what was best for the country and it’s defense. That same government interred Japanese folks and some Germans as well. But they felt it was in the best interest of the country, and I still agree with that philosophy.
I wrote a piece about Destroyers that has some historical information in it, but it is not anything like “Once I Was A Navyman”. You mentioned kin that had been on Destroyers and I will forward my work for any Destroyerman that may have some connection to it.

Very Respectfully,
E. A. Hughes, FTCM
USN (Retired)

Some Words About Destroyers

If you are, or were, a Sailor and never rode a Tin Can, you still have some life to live.
The seas set Her mood and on a good night you can’t beat the comfort She will give.
The gentle sea swells provide the sweetest rest that most Sailors will ever want, or know.
You hear and feel the sea as it brushes the hull; you’re close to it and its soothing flow.

Often was the occasion after some time tied up to a pier, and having to sail once more.
The Destroyer Sailor finds that those same gentle seas will lull him as they did before.
He would much rather take a little nap than partake of the typically good noon chow.
I am reminded fondly of days when I rode those Destroyers, yes, I was just learning how.

Also, in the fore mind, are the times, when the seas were resigned to be wicked and mean.
The Can seemed to fight for Herself, to stay on an even keel, to manage each swell clean.
But in sea states, as most Tin Can Sailors have seen. It could be over one and under two.
A shutter of the bow was felt throughout the ship, as was the worrying slap of the screw.

Those seas molded mere recruits into Navymen that could fight in any sea condition.
They’d prefer to ride gentle seas, but it was the high seas that formed the Cans tradition.
The tasks of the Destroyer were many and varied; sea state did not present a real worry.
Steaming from Mayport past Burmuda at max turns into heavy seas, that was quite a fury.
A lot of green water came over the bridge during that 900 mile ride, but we made it there.
In position as a replacement Can, for locating Astronauts, who could fall to sea anywhere?

ASW was a thing we did, we listened every day, in that Sonar Shack we forged our place.
We found that speed was not a friend, we could lose contact; and that was hard to face.
The thermal layers of those seas we had to understand, reading those layers was up to us.
The BT was used in that effort, that was science, but the mule hauling could make us cuss.

Plane guard for Carriers at 32 knots or more, was not exactly a Tin Can Sailors dream.
At night or darken ship it was a nightmare, for the Tin Can crew, and jets that did scream.

The Carrier headed straight into the wind to launch her planes, we must keep the pace.
If a jet went into the sea, the Carrier continued on its way, and the rescue we must face.
We did this job knowing just how important it was, we were at times their saving grace.

We refueled, replenished stores and took on ammunition too, while we were underway.
If we were in foreign seas that was the rule, and it still should be that way, to this day.
It would have meant 17 Shipmates from the USS Cole, would still be with us at this time.
They deserved our nation’s full protection; to provide anything less seems to be a crime.

While manning the blockade of the Cuban missile crisis, we had to maintain our station.
Radio received the word; Soviet warships were ordered to protect this Communist nation.
One of our planes was shot down while on a photographic mission, of the missile sites.
We were ordered to be battle ready with Soviet ships, be on guard both days and nights.
It all ended in 13 days, the warships each headed home. And all the Sailors were relieved.
No battle took place, as we felt was due. We Destroyer men were ready; and we believed.

It is a most important job to man that Greyhound of the seas; to be ready for our nation.
To be part of the screen for a Carrier Group, or to be on the firing line at Yankee Station.
Destroyers were credited with saving many lives at the D-Day invasion, back in WWII.
The accurate fire of the nervous darting Destroyers, used tactics the enemy never knew.

When a tyrant from the Middle East, Africa, Central America or any where in this world,
forces unjust ways on people. He knows a U.S. Destroyer will come with flag unfurled.
Battle Stations are manned by young Sailors; these Tin Can Sailors know what’s required.
They man the Bridge, CIC, Sonar, the Guns and Missiles, and keep those boilers fired.
Along with Machinist Mates, Enginemen, Boiler Techs, Hull Techs and the Corpsman too. Cooks, Electricians, IC Men, Sonarmen, Fire Controlmen, and the Ships Service Crew.
There were also Gunners Mates, Torpedomen, Boatswains and Storekeepers as well.
Electronic Technicians, Radarmen, the Postal Clerks and Damage Control Personnel. Quartermasters, Signalmen, Radiomen, Yeomen and Personnelmen are all at their station
The CO, XO, Officers and Chiefs lead this fighting Crew and provide them motivation.

I spent my working life as a Sailor, I am proud that I could be one of those selected few.
To spend time on Destroyers, I cherish the Ships, the steaming and those Shipmates too.
It was not all smooth seas, but they were mostly smooth, and I prefer those to remember.
Could it be done again, my choice would be; ride that Can and be that old Crew Member.

E. A Hughes, FTCM
USN (Ret), © 2001