We have a show in Chicago called, "The Silent Service" and
it's about the submarines and peace and war. They had one on
about two weeks ago and it dealt with this nuclear submarine,
which went around the world for two years and never pulled
into port.
It was sort of an endurance test for the sailors to find out how
they would react under these situations. And the whole thing was
kind of summed up in the last five minutes by the captain of the
submarine, and he gave an address to the crew just as they were
about to surface after completing this two year trip and it went
something like this...
Men, I know you are all anxious to be reunited with your loved
ones... in some cases your wives... but we have a few moments
before we surface and I've just jotted down some things that I
think are kind of important, I wouldn't take the time if I
didn't. First of all, I think we ought to give the cooks a
standing ovation for the wonderful job they've done. So, if you
men want to stand now and let's really hear it for the cooks.
I don't think you men realize the difficult problem it is aboard
a submarine to... uh... you men want to stand now for the cooks?
Come on now men, let's let by-gones be by-gones and let's hear
it for the cooks, huh?
Look men, I'm not going to surface until I hear it for the
cooks!!! Alright, that is a little better. Today, as we add
another glorious page to the history of the U.S.S. Codfish,
I think it is important that we reflect on some of the past
glories of the Codfish... uh... I don't know how many of you
men know this, but the Codfish holds a record for the most
Japanese tonnage sunk. Being comprised of five freighters and
fifteen aircraft carriers. A truly enviable record.
Unfortunately, they were sunk in 1954. However, it stands as the
largest peacetime tonnage ever recorded. Our voyage has received
a lot of coverage in the newspaper and I would like to present
our side of it... I think our firing on Miami Beach can best be
termed ill-timed. It happened on what they call in the newspaper
business a slow news day and as a result received a lot more
space than I think it deserved -- since it was the off-season
down there.
Men, I think you will agree, I have been pretty lax as far as
discipline is concerned, and golly nobody enjoys a joke more
than I do, but I would like the executive officer returned.
Now we have looked in the torpedo tubes, we have looked in your
bags and uh ...; I mean it's been over two weeks, men and I...
we're just lucky that it wasn't the navigational
officer or someone real important like that.
Uh... looking back on the mutiny, I think a lot of the trouble
stemmed from the fact that you men weren't coming to me with
your problems... as I told you, the door to my office is always
open. I think you know why it's always open -- that was stolen,
I'd like that returned. It looks like the work of the same man.
But since started the cruise on such a low note, I think it is
important that we try to end it on a high note... and to me
there is, there is nothing more impressive in the Navy as a
submarine that breaks water to see a bunch of sailors in their
dress blues as they come rushing up out of the... oh... the
uh ... that, that hole there, uh ... and come to a parade dress.
This, this to me is one of the, oh... oh, alright... Men, I
have just been notified that we will be surfacing in just a
moment and uh... you might be happy to know that you will
be gazing on the familiar skyline of either New York City or
Buenos Aires ... is that right ? I can't quite make that out..
dismissed men -- that's all.
