Sunday, October 6, 2024

Broken arrow

  A picture from the Past.

 
Liberty call in Messina, Cisely 

My ship was the third over.

For Today:

My memory is sketchy at best, but at times there are things that hit me with a force to bring back an incident in this odd life of mine. Words like Heads and Latrines.  Everyone knows the word latrine; it is the common name for toilet in the Army and Air Force.  Although ‘Head’ is the same in the Navy, just not as well known. “Darnell, you have head duty today!” That meant it was my day to clean the toilet.

Some words were ‘classified’, not to be used off the base or ship. Every ship or base had a ‘code word’ that meant there is an immediate danger, return NOW to your duty station.

When the skipper/commander deemed necessary to get everyone back to the base, or Battle Stations, Announcements or phone calls were made and one word was used; one I remember The code was “Red Coat!” The person receiving the call answered, “UNDERSTOOD” and hung the phone and took off back to the base.

Being part of the military sticks with you. The code word  “Broken Arrow” was part of my life for the last ten years of service. It was a classified word NEVER to be used publicly. So you can imagine my SHOCK to see that printed in a newspaper. It is no longer a classified word, But I did not know that. I took this off the internet:

·         An accidental event involving nuclear weapons or components that does not create the risk of nuclear war.

·         A code word indicating that a unit is in danger of being overrun and requires immediate assistance.

·         A situation where a nuclear weapon is lost, stolen, accidentally detonated, or mistakenly released

·       

I heard it once in my career. We were taking-on some ‘Nuc’s’ in the North Atlantic and the seas were rough. Our ship and the Ammo ship came together ‘collided’ because of a wrong move by one of the ships.  (Over the ships loudspeakers was heard: “THIS IS NOT A DRILL, ‘BROKEN ARROW! BROKEN ARROW’!  The weapons were on deck, but they were secured immediately, by the crew, and a big problem was avoided by fast acting men. Damage to both ships was extensive.

My mind said to me several times in the last couple years, ‘Broken Arrow’.  I am not unique, I am sure that there have been problems, disasters, accidents in all of our lives when we felt the weight of the world on our shoulders. When I see the problems created by Helene, my problems shrink, but they still exist, just minor in comparison.

I know this is  a crazy post, but on my mind.

 

NiteShipslog

PS: 

So, ‘Thanks’ AGAIN to y’all for stopping by the Shipslog. It is nice to know that folks read this stuff.


5 comments:

Chatty Crone said...

That was very interesting Jack. I think the people in NC, GA, And Florida are thinking Broken Arrow right now too. It is awful. And another one is coming through Florida in a couple of days.

I'm mostly known as 'MA' said...

Danger, Danger, that is what it ould mean to me. Having no military history of my own, I can appreciate the need for code words to be used. Sometimes we did that when we were kids. Little did we know what dangers await in life. The Storm damage does seem overwhelming at times, but so many are coming together to help out those in need, it makes one proud to live in the United States. Thanks for sharing your time in the military, thank you for serving!

Susie said...

Oh my dear friend, I just got a wake up last week on what to cry about. I went to my local insurance company to gripe about the increase in car and home insurances. I am always asking for the fellow who runs it to give me his discount. He says he doesn't get one either. But as I sat and wrote out my checks, the receptionist , who's a friend, said her BIL , who is also a friend is getting chemo that very day for kidney cancer and the man that runs the business is getting a port for chemo. I just wanted to cry right there. When I left, I sat in my car and prayed for those two great men. Then I too thought of the storm damaged town and the horrible losses...a small increase is nothing compared. Did I ever thank you for all the service you gave this country? Well I am thanking you now Mr. Hold your sweetheart. Blessings to you both, xoxo, Susie

Mevely317 said...

This is so interesting! We had Code numbers at The Legacy -- everything from guest disturbance to fire or bomb threats.
I've no words to express our horror at Helene's path of destruction. Just yesterday, another blogger (Latane at 'Accidentally Aging') said, "The Appalahian Trail is damanged so badly it will take years to recover."
... and now we lift our prayers for those in the path of Hurricane Milton.

HappyK said...

Like Susie, I thank you for your service!!
My husband was in the Navy for 20 years and was only on a ship for 5 !!!! weeks, and that was when we first got married.