Sea
Stories
Sea
Stories
EM3 Lonnie BELL 59 -61
The following is my "sea story":
As I remember it, Lt Tarbuck took command of the Warbler very early in January, 1961, as we were swinging at anchor in the middle of Buckner Bay, Okinawa. He relieved Capt Charles Rogers, whom I served under most of my tour. Shortly after taking command, Capt. Tarbuck gave the order to weigh anchor and we got underway for the pier at White Beach. Even though I was an electrician, my Sea Detail station was the Lee Helm (throttles). Our Sea Detail helmsman was a Storekeeper 2nd Class named Salgado, a Philipino guy who was a really good helmsman.
Capt. Tarbuck had just come from being the XO on an MSO. The MSO's were equipped with variable-pitch props, which gave really good response and could almost start or stop the ship on a dime. Not so the MSC's. Also, on the O-boats (MSO's) the engine orders were given in feet (all ahead one foot, two feet, etc.). On the MSC's the engine orders were given "all ahead (or back) one-third, two-thirds, standard, full, or flank".
Everything went fine for awhile but soon both Salgado and I became aware that we were steaming way too fast to be as close to the pier as we were. Salgado and I were eyeing each other nervously but we sure weren't going to say anything to the Bridge. Finally, Capt. Tarbuck began issuing orders to slow the ship, but it was too late. We were practically on top of the pier when he finally called "all stop", and then he issued my an order I had never heard before. "All back one foot" he called through the voice tube. All
back one WHAT, I was thinking. When I finally got my wits about me I pulled the throttles back one-third, but by then I could have had as much effect by dragging my hand in the water. Capt Tarbuck quickly realized his mistake and began issuing more engine orders but by then there was no stopping us. The engines were All Back Full when we finally broadsided that pier hard enough that it slung Salgado and I all over the Pilot House, and everybody aboard had a hard time keeping their footing. Needless to say, as soon as we secured from Sea Detail Salgado and I were both summoned to the Ward Room for a chat.
To his credit, Capt Tarbuck never tried to pass off any blame. We simply discussed the incident (he sat, we stood) and what we would do in the future to avoid any more such occurrences...and it never happened again.
I came to admire Capt Tarbuck and enjoyed serving under his command. The day I left the Warbler we spoke briefly and chuckled about that incident. I was 20 years old the day we tried to tear down the pier at White Beach. I'm 69 years old today but I can still recall it vividly. Great memories.
James K. Roberts RM1 56-57
I stepped out of the radio shack on my way below deck to turn in for some much needed sleep. The night was dreamlike. We were on our way to Dingalyn Bay in the Philippines for a mock invasion with ninety other ships. Our mission was to sweep the area: anchor in the day and imitate PT boats at night trying to sneak up on the big boys and blow them out of the water with our searchlight. A full moon hung in a clear sky with patchy clouds that resembled cotton balls. The sea was glassy with a gentle swell. As I landed at the bottom of the ladder, I heard laughter coming from the fantail and decided to check it out. Lights out was about two hours before and I was somewhat relieved to find some of the guys still awake. Doc, Pinky, Denny and Mac were on the wooden deck playing mumbly peg. Doc had provided some refreshment from denatured alcohol he had saved when sterilizing his medical instruments. That mixed with some powdered lemon aide made a sort of a screwed up screwdriver. Well it wasn't long until Robbie had joined in the festivities. The only thing I really remember before hitting the sack was that we were playing mumbly peg by throwing the bosun's knife between our fingers on the wooden deck. Strangely, none of us got cut. But we were sure a more sober bunch the next morning. The skipper never knew anything about the whole affair. In retrospect I am a very thankful ex-swabby for the grace of God that watched over me during my young and foolish years.
Bill Senteney (officially Charles W.) ST3 USS Warbler 56-58
--- I just recalled in incident. We were doing sweeping exercises in moderate seas. The 1st cl. BM must have had a bad hair day--it seemed that he couldn't do anything right. His name was Roach. The Capt., who was about as caustic a person as you'll ever meet, with a twisted sense of humor that must have been genetic because nobody could develop one that way, called down for the cook to bring up two uncooked eggs in the shell. The cook did so, then Capt. Morgan called down for Roach to come to the bridge (I was on the bridge.) Roach appeared, the Capt. told him to hold out his hands, then put one egg in each hand, and told him to hold those eggs, one in each hand, for the rest of the day until the sweeping exercise was over--if he couldn't use his hands he was less likely to mess up! -- Just one insight into some of the methods of the less modern Navy.
Two memories that I would like to share at this time more stories later such as...when Captain Paul tried to clear the Bridge with the Carbine...another time. We were on Market Time Operations near Da Nang, and was ordered to find down planes and a helo. One day we located with sonar a downed medi-vac helo, it had been missing for 13 days, the EOD diver's went down, and recovered the body of the pilot. Not a pleasant smell or sight. We took the body to Da Nang, no one wanted it the Captain said "If no one wants it we will just lelave it on the pier" we finally delivered it to one of the hospital ships. The other story... we were dead in the water (DIW) off the coast of Taiwan. We lost all power, and was transferring raw fuel to the day tanks to have electrical power. To make things worse we were in the middle of a Typhoon, bouncing all over, drifting toward China. After the distress signals being sent out... the USS Schofield (FFG 3) came the next morning to take us in tow. I found on a web site a remembrance from a BM on the Schofield.
"However, I think the most unique experience was the rescue of the USS Warbler (MSO something or other) in typhoon conditions off the coast of Taiwan.. She was DIW and xferring fuel to her generators in buckets just to keep the radios and lights up. We shot the mouth of the harbor at 27 knots to compensate for the storm setting us down on shoals. Then it was max speed into the storm and rigging for towing at the same time. I rigged that tow and can tell you it was one of the hardest and best performances of my career. We took Warbler astern, made the turn South and handed her off to a Fleet Tug the next day.. Naturally, the storm had passed by then and the Fleet Tug couldn't see what the big deal was all about..
We also lost some good liberty !! "Neil D. Hamilton (BMC Ret) USS Schofield (FFG 3)
Paul Wamsley, Denver, CO BM2 USS Warbler 67-72 , send us some stories...
Paul Wamsley, Denver, CO
We were out on patrol one afternoon, had the watch up on the bridge, when Capt V. B Paul sent down for the gunners mate to bring up the M1 Carbine, he wanted to do some target shooting. Well the Gunner brought it up; the Capt had his fun shooting at boxes and an oil drum, doing all of his shooting out of the storm windows that was open. Most everybody stayed out of the way. Not much happening, until the Capt was getting ready to put the gun away, but somehow the gun went off with the Capt holding it, the bullet went right through the awning top ricochet off the aluminum frame. Needless to say everybody except me jumped off the bridge on to the signal bridge. The XO - LT C. J. Day, was the first one off the bridge, you should have seen his face. No one got hurt, but I think the skipper scared the hell out of everyone. Captain Paul was one of the most unforgettable Commanding Officer that I have ever had the privilege to serve under, he was a Mustang officer and liked being around the crew. One day we were in Kagoshima, Japan for a little "Show the Flag" trip, and he had the crew all on the fantail giving us a lecture on how to conduct ourselves, and he mentioned a statement that said "I know where you all hang out so don't disgrace us". Yeah he knew where we hung out at because he was hanging out there also. Thank God that LT Day was aboard the ship to keep the Captain under control.