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. |
