My writings, old and new...: 04/01/2022

Paul Anderson was a friend and I offer this to
his memory.

From a lecture by Paul Dean ANDERSON:

Some people believe that formatted poems
(sonnets or sestinas) are too limiting. I think that part of this art is to
write poems within the restrictions of the form. I think the same is possible
for short stories.

It would be interesting to read stories written using the following
form. It was created by a noted writer, Paul Dean Anderson.

What I written is a my notes
of an informal lecture given by Paul
Dean Anderson at the January 1993 meeting of the Rockford Writer's Guild in
Rockford, Illinois. Mr. Anderson is a well-known writer and co-editor of "2 AM Magazine". This magazine is
published in Rockford and focuses on Science Fiction, Fantasy and poetry of the
horror genre.

Mr. Anderson preached having interior problems for your lead
characters vice external problems. I’ve used this “method” several times. I
tried “selling” it to a high school English teacher years ago and was told “it is a method and methods are wrong”.
She would not say why “methods” are
wrong and I think she was wrong.

I believe this “method” could be used to come up with a nice plot.
Any stories written with this “method”
should be expanded out and that would help “disguise”
the “method”.

I think this “method” could be used at a Saturday half day writing
session at the library. It would certainly be fun!

How to Write a Short Story
that Will Grip Your Readers!

FIRST PARAGRAPH: Give your character a THREAT that everyone can
identify with. It can be a life threat or a spiritual threat.

SECOND PARAGRAPH: Develop the character and show the character’s
reaction to the threat. This shows a LOT about the character.

THIRD PARAGRAPH: Throw in a prop. i.e. "the gun on the
mantle", the stuff that the character is wearing or has in his/her pocket,
a vehicle, suitcase, etc.

FOURTH PARAGRAPH: The second paragraph action did not overcome the
threat. The character "feels down, wants to give up and end it all".

FIFTH PARAGRAPH: The threat becomes more specific to the character
or to someone the character cares about. This is the “do or die moment".
The character now refuses to "take it anymore".

SIXTH PARAGRAPH: The character acts intuitively and in character but
fails to overcome the obstacle. He doesn't save the world (as it were).

SEVENTH PARAGRAPH: Character realizes that he must make a conscious
change to solve the problem. The character MUST grow and change to face his
challenge. The Character MUST make an out-of-character decision. I.e. the
selfish must do a selfless act, the claustrophobe must go into a cave or sewer,
the person scared of arguments must confront an obnoxious verbal bully.

EIGHTH PARAGRAPH: The character must take the out-of-character
decision and combine it with the prop (see THIRD PARAGRAPH) to produce action
in the resolution.

The
resolution can be one sentence (as Mr. Anderson was fond of using). The
resolution can be as long as you need.

Mr. Anderson challenged the Rockford Writer's Guild to write 500
word stories that would embody this ad-hoc outline above. He later stated that
perhaps as much as 2000 words could work. Mr. Anderson hinted that these
"rules" were somewhat ad-hoc but they flowed forth from him so easily
that I had the feeling that they were something he had thought about for a long
time!

I remind you that National Write a Novel In A Month starts on
November 1^st…


Name of the book:  2005 novel

    .     Author: M.W. Be

    Type of book:  military alternative history

stroonggan - Captain USS BASS REEVES CLN-14 (A nuclear Cruiser)
RM3 Erica Lynn Davidson. (I don't recall her Name)
It was just past 10 am and Erica had finished holding field day in the cabin. This was a minor chore since Senior Chief had run field day the previous afternoon. She was expecting "the boys" and the "O!d Farts" (her LT, her Senior Chief and her Policeman) to return soon.
Her Policeman, an Army Staff Servant, seemed older than both her "Navigator" and Lawyer. Neither had been in the personal hells the "Old Farts"had and those three were happy for them; the Navigator and Lawyer were the Navy equivalent of an bc Army Staff Servant...
The phone rang, it was the duty Communications Yeoman at the Comm Centre.
"Erica, this is Big Red, we got a Routinemessage stating that CAPT Morgan, the Commanding Officer of the REEVES will be dropping by to visit. You should have a message on your printer."
"Thanks Red." Big Red hung up and Erica found the message on the printer and tore it off. She was running the radio system without encryption and did not worry about security. The message said this Naval Captain would be over later that morning.
Her Marines were standing watch under an awning on the pier. A Navy car pulled up and a man around 40 got out. He went around to the passenger side and pulled out a picnic basket. He nodded at the Marines who snapped to attention and saluted sharply. This visitor snapped to attention and in the grace of his salute to the Marines could be seen the Midshipman he had once been.
Then the moment was over and he said "I'm here to see LT Anderson-Piere."
The Segeant said "he has not arrived yet Sir. They like to receive visitors under the tarp on the ass end of the boat."
"Thank you Sergeant; have a pleasant day gentlemen."
Not for the first time was this Captain mistaken for a Chief Petty Officer.
RM3 Davidson saluted him aboard the LEE.
"Welcome aboard the LEE sir. What can I do for you?"
"I came to visit your Good Ship and Crew. I understand you have a table and chairs quote under the tarp on the ass end of the boat unquote. I brought donuts."
She smiled and led him to this spot.
By Guam standards it was warm but not hot, and still just a bit humid.
CAPTAIN Morgan took out a large jug of iced tea and a couple dozen donuts. He poured two glasses of iced tea and she filled her mouth with almost A half donut. She glanced at her guest.
This Naval Captain was tall and slender. He wore A thin khakie uniform with his Naval Captain Eagles, his Water Wings (Navy Surface Warfare Officer device) on the left and his "Commond At Sea" pin in the right and worn "boon dockers" (the classic enlisted work boots). He was relaxed and seemed like a senior member of the Chief Petty Officer ranks rather than a senior aofficer.
She found him confusing. She did not know he had three daughters in their mid to late teens and understood her very well. After a couple of minutes, she wad mixing her "sirs" with "Chief". CAPT Morgan found this very entertaining. The four Marines looked confused and worried when CAPT Morgan waved them aboard.
Erica stepped up to her hostess duties and offered the four Marine Guards donuts and iced tea. He engaged them in conversation until the "five young ones" politely carried the conversation. His daughters had various boy friends over the short period of time they had been dating. He ashad commanded men - and women - for perhaps 19 years.
He understood them very well.
===
Eventually the missing crew returned to their boat.

They had been getting career counsoling from their RADM (Rear Admiral) and his Master Chief). The LT was told he would make Lieutenant Commander fairly soon and would have to decide what direction his career would take. He was a Ship Driver but could be an Intelligence Officer. The Senior Chief was on the short list for promotion to Master Chief. He was told to contact his Senior Retailer (person who picked jobs for personnel). The Cop was surprised to see an Army First Sgt wearing A Green Brret at this meeting who told him of An Army Infantry Battellon Commander who recruiting recruiting for something he called "Delta". He was very knowledgeablabout the Staff Sergeants career and had some interesting ideas. He was scary. " Yes The Cop was interested...

The remaining crew received fairly standard counseling.
One of the Marines noticed the ship's car approaching and said " Sir, the missing people are returning and with your permisdion, I'd like II s to greet them."
CAPT Morgan graciously waved his right hand in dismissal and then stood at attention to return the Marine's salutes. Erica saluted them off the boat and returned to stand next to him.
"Have you known my L T long Chief?"
"Not long, just since his first ship assignment."
"Oh, that was a long time ago!"
The Captain. Simp!y smilled with amusememt.
Erica saluted het crew back on her boat and said "Sir, you have a visitor."
She lead her "boys" to where CAPT Morgan stood and formally introduced them to CAPT Morgan.
"Have you met everyone before CAPT Morgan?"
"Yes, I have young lady, I commanded his first ship and !y Master Chief wad the Engineering Leading Chief. I met xxx when the Rabbi introduced xxx as being a suitable candidate for this duty."
Erica looked puzzled.
"My Command Master Chief is a Rabbi." He looed at LT Anderson sphere and said "you are looking well Michael! Ah, my manners! I brought donuts and iced tea. I know it is safe for human consumption as yourMarines and Erica field tested both."
They sat and the group proceeded to continued field testing the donuts and sweet tea.
CAPT Morgan passed A small package to Anderson-Pierre. The later opened it and found A large silver star in a small case.
"This is the first Command At Sea Star I received from an o!d Captain of mine and he from an old Captain of his. You'll pass it down some day. Now, what is the major problem you have?"
"Refueling underweigh Skipper. I think xxx would like to discuss this."
Xxx did not but decided to be brief.
"Sirs, the Boat can cruise at 15 knots with an 1,800 nautical mile maximum. range,. We need to refuel before that. We were thinking of lugging 55 gallon cans on deck but no one thinks that is practical. In fact it is Gaul darn Damn dangetous. We need us a gas station. Sir."
"I command a gas station and can help you out. We'll have to plan our trip most carefully. We can propose a starting time and run it past the Admiral and his Chief of Staff. A lot of our timing depends on the Supply Department and on COMNAVMAR (Commander Naval Marianas). We will also need berthing In Hono (Honolulu) for both boats. I suggest you decide on the comfort food you'll want as I don't think We'll be waiting long. I take it Bill will be doing the BT (Bathythermograph coding)?"
"Yes", Lt Anderson-Pierre replied.
" Good. We will refuel you at the half way point and bring over some food from my ship. I suspect you might appreciate outsider cooking by that point. I can arrange refresher training in BT observation decoding as my Senior Chief Sonorman likes to teach outsiders. Plus, when we refuel the boat and her people you can give your BT slides to him. He collects them like a dragon collects gold and hangs onto them as gready."
"Yes, Sir", Bill the Navigator teplied. " Ah'll package them nicely for delivery."
Neither the QM1 or Naval Captain saw any point to mentioning this Sonorman senior chief would run their BT slides through his very expensive scanner and analysis machine. The Captain saw no reason to tell any one the cruiser took BTs themself but off the side of the cruiser where they were obscured from the YP.
CAPT Morgan left shortly afterwards and Anderson-Piere looked at everyone and said "everyone needes to have their dress Whites prepped and a set of Summer Whites ready. We cruise in working uniforms. I'm curious what the Army dress uniform you'll be wearing."
"Yes, Sir", his Policeman said.
<hr>
They finished the doughnuts with some ice creamme which had mysteriously appeared in the little freezer unit of their refer.
They took A long break.
Then, their Laywer reached into his brief case and pulled out some forms.
"That Lawyer who reently took refuge on the Admiral's Staff gave me these forms." He handed out each form to each of his shipmates. Each started with:
"So, all y'all are fixing to go to sea?
Each page had a different name on it. Erica who was passing out the forms before v he meeting resumed, noticed they all had their Hospital Coreman Senior Chief down as " Primary Physican" with the Senior Chief's Primary being an MD Captain on the Cruiser.
Before the planning meeting meeting had resumed, she had discussed medical items with her Senior Chief. She said to him:
"Senior Chief, I noticed your Primary Physician is a Commander on the big boat."
"He is an old friend. He taught some of the classes at Corspe Man A school and at the Army 18 Delta school. We hit it off. In fact, the old fart named his son after me."
"Oh".
"If any of us need some medical attention beyond what I can provide then We'll decide if he and his support staff can come to us or if we need to go to the big boat. His assistant is a Light Commander, one of the only male RNs in 'Mother Navy'. He attended 18 Dee with me. Did I mention he was Army Infantry, Green Beret Medic, before he went to Nursing School and transferred to the Navy. In 18 Dee school, as an instructor when was a Nurse Lueutenant, he spent more time counseling future infanTry - SEALs, various flavours of Army Special Forces, Air Force and CIA - than he did officially teaching. In fact, the students and even the Instructors started calling him Sensei or Teacher. He got some really strange reactions when patientsasked for 'that Nurse Indie Sensi". His name tag was gifted to him by the Navy Hospital Mono and so he wears a name tag that reads Sensei (先生、せんせい). It confuses people! He really puzzles people in Japan when they see this! His CIB and EIB give him a lot of prestigue. His jump boots and jump wings help a lot! Army regs say you can not wear the Expert Infantry Badge once you are awarded the Combat Infantry Badge but President Kennedy signed an executive order allowing Navy people to do so. You'll like him."
She did...
===
The meeting resumed in true Navy style: donuts and very stroong coffee. (Some how the earlier donuts had lead to a lack of interest in eating more donuts!)
"Please read the 'So, all y'all are fixing to go to sea?' materal carefully. It is based on the 'hot wash up' forms you filled up after our last at sea time.
The forms included check lists of itemsvranging from favorite sleeping clothing to comfort food to books, games, training material (Rating Exam time is coming up kids! was typed on several of the forms). On Erica's form was a note: See HMCS. The Police man's form also had this note as it had to with his PTSD.
There was the sound of A bell ringing from their teletype machine and a note reading " WE HAVE A CAPTAINS EYES ONLY MESSAGE FOR YOU. ARE YOU READY TO RECEIVE IT?"
LT A-P said "cut a tape please so we can make extra copies and bring it to me."
Erica did as directed and gave her CO the message.He read it, under it to the Senior Chief and said "pass it around."
The message stated the Cruiser's Master Chief - an old Boiler Tender - would come over the next day with the ship's Electrician' Leading Chief. The
===
SSGT makes SFC before the LN1 and QM1 make CPO. He gets permission from his Colonel to attend Chief's Initiation "with my brothers". Describe the shit they go thru. As each new CPO is introduced, cop with Ranger short haircut and professional barber shave comes out in full Army dress uniform with mirror shined boots. He is most impressive.
" Like the boots," his Skipper says, "I'm very impressed!". " Give the Devil he's due" the Cop says while loo!ing intently at HMCS Scott, "my First Sgt shinned my boots saying he did A better job." <Get correct name of Army E-8 Infantry.>
Later still: Cop is in Delta, by then an Army First Sergeant (E-8) and is answering to "Senior Chief". It puzzles the crap out of outsider witnesss on...
===

===

...
I will need to edit my story to bring the nuke cruiser into it. I will have to incorporate ship diesel fuel delivery into it.
The cruiser will have A toed array and be used to survey the Pacific for submarines. To do this, A 35 knot ship would have to cruise at 15 knots and escorting the LEE would be fine cover!
... sLast sections:
Chiefs imitation and the Staff Sergeant does this out of sympathy for the LNC and QMC.
Officer quarters is one rack, she gets it.
CO sleeps on cot in main cabin. H wears boxers, sleeps very sounds (but seems to awaken quickly when called for an emergency). and may have been mollestrf when both of his gay sailors could not resist the urge to " have their way [orally] with him.
They do BTs every 6 hours with the QM1 analysing them in the morning and the RM3 sending in the reports. The cruiser is also doing their own BT obs via a specialized FORTRAN programme and using said computer to reanalyze LEE's BT observations...
After the at-sea battle, it turns out Intel had predicted there would be no pirate action near the LEE. Rest of trip back to Guam, the LEE is escorted by the cruiser!
Radar picks up signatures of approaching fast boats. The LEE is running with lights on; the cruiser is running dark and on the other side of the LEE.
Linguists on BASS REEVES transcribe from the two boats:
Boat 1: "Radar is showing an island behind the boat. I don't think this can be real."
Boat 2: "That is not an island! Islands don't move!"
Boat 1: "Is that an enemy ship we were not warned about?"
Boat 2: "It must be. Time to go home and beard those Russians..."
The two pirate boats turned and cruised away. CAPT Morgan told his Intelligence Sections - radar, SONOR and Naval Security Group translators - be ready. Then he told his OOD "turn the external lights on for 10 seconds."
His OOD held up a stop watch and said "light her up" and pushed the button when the lights went on. At 10 seconds the OOD said "darken ship" and the lights went off.
The pirates reacted as if they had seen A Kracken. They went to full throttle, and called on Marine Band radio. They intelligence section knew the Morse Code frequency these pirate favoured when they thought they needed long distance comms." One of the manual morse interception operators later told CAPT Morgan the morse was so bad, sounded so panicked, that not even their best operators could make sense of most of it!
Those Pirates were the birds of jokes for years to come.

svengali
===
Well to rehash what I typed prep attempted nap:
Time to stick my E6s with the Chief Initation:
Purpose:
A. To teach fresh caught Chiefs the ways of Chief Petty Officers.
B. To teach fresh caught Chiefs both their places in the hierarchy and their privileges as well as their duties.
C. To force them to endure the time honoured ritual of the Chief's Initiation!
Bring in a Special Forces unit Command Sergeant Major called "Country".
He spends A couple of hours teaching a room full of sailors and one SSGT(Army) and a surprise candidate, one of the BASSE REEVES's Security Group Linguists SSGT of theduties expectd of Senior NCOs. It is eye opening.
Who gets wbo?
QM1? LTjg "Mikey"
LN1? The Lawyer they had saved
SSTG? The LCDR RN from the BASS REEVES.
===
Do I gin up text about the three asking or just state their selection as fiate accomplish?
Yup!
Around 1984 I was selected to be a "Defense Attorney" for an Aerographer Mate First Class who had made Chief Petty Officer. I know very little actually about what the actual private actions were and was told it was none of my business.
I know a little from online reading but so what? This is my novel and I can invent a Chief's Initation in my universe!
One month before the Chief's Initiation, each of 14 prospective Chief Petty Officers were summoned to the august presence of their Commanding Officers and Leading Petty Officers.
LT Anderson-Pierre and HMCS Scott thought everyone else had gone to early lunch and hang out on base. Both looked at their Quartermaster and Legalman and Staff Sergeant and LT A-P said "I suppose you're wondering why we've called you here."
"I wasn't invited", Erica said.
No one was actually surprised she had stayed on the boat. After all, they had heard her boiling water for her Earl Gray and humming while putting Creamme Cheese on her baggal.
" Correct," the Senior Chief replied, "this is a planning session for the Chief's Initiation. You're welcome to stay."
Erica eased herself on a chair toward the end of the table after putting a large mug on the table. She clamped her lips shut but no one expected her to stay silent.
"Are both you ready to withstand your coming initation? Remember, there are expenses involved! This is going to be the biggest event in your Enlisted Carerrs. Failure to attend means you will become E-7 name not Chief name."
"Do both of you agree to blindly step into the Abysses?" Senior Chief Scott was quite impressive!
"Yes, Sir", both Sailors replied.
" Good, good," Senior Chief responded. "We have some material for you to read. Then, the Chief Petty Officer Association will buy yoour first set of chocked whites. That is, hat, the chocker white uniform, white socks and White polishes dress shoes. You will end up going to a Custom Tailor for the uniform, the Base Exchange for the shoes and a little custom hosiery shop in Agana. It would make you more comfortable if a friend - a female friend - went with you both to get those socks. Perhaps you know someone who can walk you in and out of this place?"
They all looked at Erica who was happy to blurt out "I will!"
"Staff Sergeant X, when you learned you were going to be promoted to Sergeant First Class you asked if you 'could experience the Chief Iniation' with your brothers. The Admiral went to Commander Seventh Fleet who went to the Deputy CNO for Personnel who asked the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy, Master Chief Robert James Waljer, Jr, for his blessings. He granted it and while this Vice Admiral sat in Master Chief's Office, he called the Sergeant Major of the Army William G. Bainbridge and explained the situation. Apparently Sergeant Major Bainbridge laughed heartily and then gave his blessings. About 20 minutes later a Priority message, which was handled with suspicious speed, came through to the Master Chief. A couple of days later, the General Cmmanding the Army in Honolulu contacted our Admiral to let him know the Army will pay for your new dress uniform. You'll need new jump boots; the old fellows were very adamet about this."
"Yes Sir, Captain!"
No one knew if SSGT X was using the generic title for a Ship's Commander or the Army rank for an officer who wore Rail Road Tracks. The odds were Army usage...
That afternoon, they went to a small and very private shoe shop where detailed measurements were taken of the three future Senior NCOs. They went by First Class aircraft to an excussive little factory in Hong Kong. There old Master shoe craftsmen built wooden block forms of each man's feet and biuilt shoes for the two sailors and boots for the sailor. These Masters constructed white dress shoes for the other 11 CPOSelectees. A week after that, the three from the USS LEE reported to the shop to receive their fitings.
The new foot ware was esquite.
A week later, the second set was received.
The dress uniforms were flawless.
Erica had a wonderful time taking "her three gentlemen" shopping for various items.
These were the highlights of the pre-CPO Initation.
They were given green Navy Ledger books with a label "CHARGE BOOK". The book had a chain which clipped to a belt loop. Enery Chief Petty Officer, Senior Chief Petty Officer and Master Chief Petty Officer they met had to write ridicous " chrges" into these books.
SSGT X, who lived in the Chief's Quarters got off very lightly. As one "Old Gentleman" growled "it's hard to be mean to someone who buys his share of the beer".
The Command Master Chief of the USS BASS REEVES hammered them with hilious charges and then moved the group to a table with easy chairs around it. He told stories about a troubled young sailor in 1957 who had gone astray. This young Sailor had been reported to their Chief who had " saved his Soul".
One of the three guests from the USS LEE asked "what became of the Boiler Tender Third Class?"
"He realized his true family were his Division shipmates and became a better Sailor and leader. He spent time with his Chief - a Rabbi - and converted to Jusiasm. Thus, his Chief saved his soul and arranged his marriage to a nice Jewish girl, a refugee from Poland. For his sins, the newly mentally saved Sailor ended up a Rabbi and Command Master Chief of this boat."
The silence was profound.
In his outer office, the XO stepped in, pointed his finger to the closed door leading to the Master Chief's office and said to his Office Yeoman "is he in"?
" Yes, Sir, he has two almost Chiefs and one almost Sergeant First Class who brought their Charge Books over."
"Is he preaching?"
"Yes, Sir, XO, he be doing that!"
"I'll beard him later", the XO said and went onto the next item on his agenda.
He never did visit with the Master Chief as whatever issue it was resolved itself.
===

My 2005 Novel, additions to...


Name of

stroonggan - Captain USS BASS REEVES CLN-14 (A nuclear Cruiser)
RM3 Erica Lynn Davidson. (I don't recall her Name)
It was just past 10 am and Erica had finished holding field day in the cabin. This was a minor chore since Senior Chief had run field day the previous afternoon. She was expecting "the boys" and the "O!d Farts" (her LT, her Senior Chief and her Policeman) to return soon.
Her Policeman, an Army Staff Servant, seemed older than both her "Navigator" and Lawyer. Neither had been in the personal hells the "Old Farts"had and those three were happy for them; the Navigator and Lawyer were the Navy equivalent of an bc Army Staff Servant...
The phone rang, it was the duty Communications Yeoman at the Comm Centre.
"Erica, this is Big Red, we got a Routinemessage stating that CAPT Morgan, the Commanding Officer of the REEVES will be dropping by to visit. You should have a message on your printer."
"Thanks Red." Big Red hung up and Erica found the message on the printer and tore it off. She was running the radio system without encryption and did not worry about security. The message said this Naval Captain would be over later that morning.
Her Marines were standing watch under an awning on the pier. A Navy car pulled up and a man around 40 got out. He went around to the passenger side and pulled out a picnic basket. He nodded at the Marines who snapped to attention and saluted sharply. This visitor snapped to attention and in the grace of his salute to the Marines could be seen the Midshipman he had once been.
Then the moment was over and he said "I'm here to see LT Anderson-Piere."
The Segeant said "he has not arrived yet Sir. They like to receive visitors under the tarp on the ass end of the boat."
"Thank you Sergeant; have a pleasant day gentlemen."
Not for the first time was this Captain mistaken for a Chief Petty Officer.
RM3 Davidson saluted him aboard the LEE.
"Welcome aboard the LEE sir. What can I do for you?"
"I came to visit your Good Ship and Crew. I understand you have a table and chairs quote under the tarp on the ass end of the boat unquote. I brought donuts."
She smiled and led him to this
By Guam standards it was warm but not hot, and still just a bit humid.
CAPTAIN Morgan took out a large jug of iced tea and a couple dozen donuts. He poured two glasses of iced tea and she filled her mouth with almost A half donut. She glanced at her guest.
This Naval Captain was tall and slender. He wore A thin khakie uniform with his Naval Captain Eagles, his Water Wings (Navy Surface Warfare Officer device) on the left and his "Commond At Sea" pin in the right and worn "boon dockers" (the classic enlisted work boots). He was relaxed and seemed like a senior member of the Chief Petty Officer ranks rather than a senior aofficer.
She found him confusing. She did not know he had three daughters in their mid to late teens and understood her very well. After a couple of minutes, she wad mixing her "sirs" with "Chief". CAPT Morgan found this very entertaining. The four Marines looked confused and worried when CAPT Morgan waved them aboard.
Erica stepped up to her hostess duties and offered the four Marine Guards donuts and iced tea. He engaged them in conversation until the "five young ones" politely carried the conversation. His daughters had various boy friends over the short period of time they had been dating. He ashad commanded men - and women - for perhaps 19 years.
He understood them very well.
===
Eventually the missing crew returned to their boat.

They had been getting career counsoling from their RADM (Rear Admiral) and his Master Chief). The LT was told he would make Lieutenant Commander fairly soon and would have to decide what direction his career would take. He was a Ship Driver but could be an Intelligence Officer. The Senior Chief was on the short list for promotion to Master Chief. He was told to contact his Senior Retailer (person who picked jobs for personnel). The Cop was surprised to see an Army First Sgt wearing A Green Brret at this meeting who told him of An Army Infantry Battellon Commander who recruiting recruiting for something he called "Delta". He was very knowledgeablabout the Staff Sergeants career and had some interesting ideas. He was scary. " Yes The Cop was interested...

The remaining crew received fairly standard counseling.
One of the Marines noticed the ship's car approaching and said " Sir, the missing people are returning and with your permisdion, I'd like II s to greet them."
CAPT Morgan graciously waved his right hand in dismissal and then stood at attention to return the Marine's salutes. Erica saluted them off the boat and returned to stand next to him.
"Have you known my L T long Chief?"
"Not long, just since his first ship assignment."
"Oh, that was a long time ago!"
The Captain. Simp!y smilled with amusememt.
Erica saluted het crew back on her boat and said "Sir, you have a visitor."
She lead her "boys" to where CAPT Morgan stood and formally introduced them to CAPT Morgan.
"Have you met everyone before CAPT Morgan?"
"Yes, I have young lady, I commanded his first ship and !y Master Chief wad the Engineering Leading Chief. I met xxx when the Rabbi introduced xxx as being a suitable candidate for this duty."
Erica looked puzzled.
"My Command Master Chief is a Rabbi." He looed at LT Anderson sphere and said "you are looking well Michael! Ah, my manners! I brought donuts and iced tea. I know it is safe for human consumption as yourMarines and Erica field tested both."
They sat and the group proceeded to continued field testing the donuts and sweet tea.
CAPT Morgan passed A small package to Anderson-Pierre. The later opened it and found A large silver star in a small case.
"This is the first Command At Sea Star I received from an o!d Captain of mine and he from an old Captain of his. You'll pass it down some day. Now, what is the major problem you have?"
"Refueling underweigh Skipper. I think xxx would like to discuss this."
Xxx did not but decided to be brief.
"Sirs, the Boat can cruise at 15 knots with an 1,800 nautical mile maximum. range,. We need to refuel before that. We were thinking of lugging 55 gallon cans on deck but no one thinks that is practical. In fact it is Gaul darn Damn dangetous. We need us a gas station. Sir."
"I command a gas station and can help you out. We'll have to plan our trip most carefully. We can propose a starting time and run it past the Admiral and his Chief of Staff. A lot of our timing depends on the Supply Department and on COMNAVMAR (Commander Naval Marianas). We will also need berthing In Hono (Honolulu) for both boats. I suggest you decide on the comfort food you'll want as I don't think We'll be waiting long. I take it Bill will be doing the BT (Bathythermograph coding)?"
"Yes", Lt Anderson-Pierre replied.
" Good. We will refuel you at the half way point and bring over some food from my ship. I suspect you might appreciate outsider cooking by that point. I can arrange refresher training in BT observation decoding as my Senior Chief Sonorman likes to teach outsiders. Plus, when we refuel the boat and her people you can give your BT slides to him. He collects them like a dragon collects gold and hangs onto them as gready."
"Yes, Sir", Bill the Navigator teplied. " Ah'll package them nicely for delivery."
Neither the QM1 or Naval Captain saw any point to mentioning this Sonorman senior chief would run their BT slides through his very expensive scanner and analysis machine. The Captain saw no reason to tell any one the cruiser took BTs themself but off the side of the cruiser where they were obscured from the YP.
CAPT Morgan left shortly afterwards and Anderson-Piere looked at everyone and said "everyone needes to have their dress Whites prepped and a set of Summer Whites ready. We cruise in working uniforms. I'm curious what the Army dress uniform you'll be wearing."
"Yes, Sir", his Policeman said.
<hr>
They finished the doughnuts with some ice creamme which had mysteriously appeared in the little freezer unit of their refer.
They took A long break.
Then, their Laywer reached into his brief case and pulled out some forms.
"That Lawyer who reently took refuge on the Admiral's Staff gave me these forms." He handed out each form to each of his shipmates. Each started with:
"So, all y'all are fixing to go to sea?
Each page had a different name on it. Erica who was passing out the forms before v he meeting resumed, noticed they all had their Hospital Coreman Senior Chief down as " Primary Physican" with the Senior Chief's Primary being an MD Captain on the Cruiser.
Before the planning meeting meeting had resumed, she had discussed medical items with her Senior Chief. She said to him:
"Senior Chief, I noticed your Primary Physician is a Commander on the big boat."
"He is an old friend. He taught some of the classes at Corspe Man A school and at the Army 18 Delta school. We hit it off. In fact, the old fart named his son after me."
"Oh".
"If any of us need some medical attention beyond what I can provide then We'll decide if he and his support staff can come to us or if we need to go to the big boat. His assistant is a Light Commander, one of the only male RNs in 'Mother Navy'. He attended 18 Dee with me. Did I mention he was Army Infantry, Green Beret Medic, before he went to Nursing School and transferred to the Navy. In 18 Dee school, as an instructor when was a Nurse Lueutenant, he spent more time counseling future infanTry - SEALs, various flavours of Army Special Forces, Air Force and CIA - than he did officially teaching. In fact, the students and even the Instructors started calling him Sensei or Teacher. He got some really strange reactions when patientsasked for 'that Nurse Indie Sensi". His name tag was gifted to him by the Navy Hospital Mono and so he wears a name tag that reads Sensei (先生、せんせい). It confuses people! He really puzzles people in Japan when they see this! His CIB and EIB give him a lot of prestigue. His jump boots and jump wings help a lot! Army regs say you can not wear the Expert Infantry Badge once you are awarded the Combat Infantry Badge but President Kennedy signed an executive order allowing Navy people to do so. You'll like him."
She did...
===
The meeting resumed in true Navy style: donuts and very stroong coffee. (Some how the earlier donuts had lead to a lack of interest in eating more donuts!)
"Please read the 'So, all y'all are fixing to go to sea?' materal carefully. It is based on the 'hot wash up' forms you filled up after our last at sea time.
The forms included check lists of itemsvranging from favorite sleeping clothing to comfort food to books, games, training material (Rating Exam time is coming up kids! was typed on several of the forms). On Erica's form was a note: See HMCS. The Police man's form also had this note as it had to with his PTSD.
There was the sound of A bell ringing from their teletype machine and a note reading " WE HAVE A CAPTAINS EYES ONLY MESSAGE FOR YOU. ARE YOU READY TO RECEIVE IT?"
LT A-P said "cut a tape please so we can make extra copies and bring it to me."
Erica did as directed and gave her CO the message.He read it, under it to the Senior Chief and said "pass it around."
The message stated the Cruiser's Master Chief - an old Boiler Tender - would come over the next day with the ship's Electrician' Leading Chief. The
===
SSGT makes SFC before the LN1 and QM1 make CPO. He gets permission from his Colonel to attend Chief's Initiation "with my brothers". Describe the shit they go thru. As each new CPO is introduced, cop with Ranger short haircut and professional barber shave comes out in full Army dress uniform with mirror shined boots. He is most impressive.
" Like the boots," his Skipper says, "I'm very impressed!". " Give the Devil he's due" the Cop says while loo!ing intently at HMCS Scott, "my First Sgt shinned my boots saying he di

...
I will need to edit my story to bring the nuke cruiser into it. I will have to incorporate ship diesel fuel delivery into it.
The cruiser will have A toed array and be used to survey the Pacific for submarines. To do this, A 35 knot ship would have to cruise at 15 knots and escorting the LEE would be fine cover!
... sLast sections:
Chiefs imitation and the Staff Sergeant does this out of sympathy for the LNC and QMC.
Officer quarters is one rack, she gets it.
CO sleeps on cot in main cabin. H wears boxers, sleeps very sounds (but seems to awaken quickly when called for an emergency). and may have been mollestrf when both of his gay sailors could not resist the urge to " have their way [orally] with him.
They do BTs every 6 hours with the QM1 analysing them in the morning and the RM3 sending in the reports. The cruiser is also doing their own BT obs via a specialized FORTRAN programme and using said computer to reanalyze LEE's BT observations...
After the at-sea battle, it turns out Intel had predicted there would be no pirate action near the LEE. Rest of trip back to Guam, the LEE is escorted by the cruiser!
Radar picks up signatures of approaching fast boats. The LEE is running with lights on; the cruiser is running dark and on the other side of the LEE.
Linguists on BASS REEVES transcribe from the two boats:
Boat 1: "Radar is showing an island behind the boat. I don't think this can be real."
Boat 2: "That is not an island! Islands don't move!"
Boat 1: "Is that an enemy ship we were not warned about?"
Boat 2: "It must be. Time to go home and beard those Russians..."
The two pirate boats turned and cruised away. CAPT Morgan told his Intelligence Sections - radar, SONOR and Naval Security Group translators - be ready. Then he told his OOD "turn the external lights on for 10 seconds."
His OOD held up a stop watch and said "light her up" and pushed the button when the lights went on. At 10 seconds the OOD said "darken ship" and the lights went off.
The pirates reacted as if they had seen A Kracken. They went to full throttle, and called on Marine Band radio. They intelligence section knew the Morse Code frequency these pirate favoured when they thought they needed long distance comms." One of the manual morse interception operators later told CAPT Morgan the morse was so bad, sounded so panicked, that not even their best operators could make sense of most of it!
Those Pirates were the birds of jokes for years to come.

svengali
===
Well to rehash what I typed prep attempted nap:
Time to stick my E6s with the Chief Initation:
Purpose:
A. To teach fresh caught Chiefs the ways of Chief Petty Officers.
B. To teach fresh caught Chiefs both their places in the hierarchy and their privileges as well as their duties.
C. To force them to endure the time honoured ritual of the Chief's Initiation!
Bring in a Special Forces unit Command Sergeant Major called "Country".
He spends A couple of hours teaching a room full of sailors and one SSGT(Army) and a surprise candidate, one of the BASSE REEVES's Security Group Linguists SSGT of theduties expectd of Senior NCOs. It is eye opening.
Who gets wbo?
QM1? LTjg "Mikey"
LN1? The Lawyer they had saved
SSTG? The LCDR RN from the BASS REEVES.
===
Do I gin up text about the three asking or just state their selection as fiate accomplish?
Yup!
Around 1984 I was selected to be a "Defense Attorney" for an Aerographer Mate First Class who had made Chief Petty Officer. I know very little actually about what the actual private actions were and was told it was none of my business.
I know a little from online reading but so what? This is my novel and I can invent a Chief's Initation in my universe!
One month before the Chief's Initiation, each of 14 prospective Chief Petty Officers were summoned to the august presence of their Commanding Officers and Leading Petty Officers.
LT Anderson-Pierre and HMCS Scott thought everyone else had gone to early lunch and hang out on base. Both looked at their Quartermaster and Legalman and Staff Sergeant and LT A-P said "I suppose you're wondering why we've called you here."
"I wasn't invited", Erica said.
No one was actually surprised she had stayed on the boat. After all, they had heard her boiling water for her Earl Gray and humming while putting Creamme Cheese on her baggal.
" Correct," the Senior Chief replied, "this is a planning session for the Chief's Initiation. You're welcome to stay."
Erica eased herself on a chair toward the end of the table after putting a large mug on the table. She clamped her lips shut but no one expected her to stay silent.
"Are both you ready to withstand your coming initation? Remember, there are expenses involved! This is going to be the biggest event in your Enlisted Carerrs. Failure to attend means you will become E-7 name not Chief name."
"Do both of you agree to blindly step into the Abysses?" Senior Chief Scott was quite impressive!
"Yes, Sir", both Sailors replied.
" Good, good," Senior Chief responded. "We have some material for you to read. Then, the Chief Petty Officer Association will buy yoour first set of chocked whites. That is, hat, the chocker white uniform, white socks and White polishes dress shoes. You will end up going to a Custom Tailor for the uniform, the Base Exchange for the shoes and a little custom hosiery shop in Agana. It would make you more comfortable if a friend - a female friend - went with you both to get those socks. Perhaps you know someone who can walk you in and out of this place?"
They all looked at Erica who was happy to blurt out "I will!"
"Staff Sergeant X, when you learned you were going to be promoted to Sergeant First Class you asked if you 'could experience the Chief Iniation' with your brothers. The Admiral went to Commander Seventh Fleet who went to the Deputy CNO for Personnel who asked the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy, Master Chief Robert James Waljer, Jr, for his blessings. He granted it and while this Vice Admiral sat in Master Chief's Office, he called the Sergeant Major of the Army William G. Bainbridge and explained the situation. Apparently Sergeant Major Bainbridge laughed heartily and then gave his blessings. About 20 minutes later a Priority message, which was handled with suspicious speed, came through to the Master Chief. A couple of days later, the General Cmmanding the Army in Honolulu contacted our Admiral to let him know the Army will pay for your new dress uniform. You'll need new jump boots; the old fellows were very adamet about this."
"Yes Sir, Captain!"
No one knew if SSGT X was using the generic title for a Ship's Commander or the Army rank for an officer who wore Rail Road Tracks. The odds were Army usage...
That afternoon, they went to a small and very private shoe shop where detailed measurements were taken of the three future Senior NCOs. They went by First Class aircraft to an excussive little factory in Hong Kong. There old Master shoe craftsmen built wooden block forms of each man's feet and biuilt shoes for the two sailors and boots for the sailor. These Masters constructed white dress shoes for the other 11 CPOSelectees. A week after that, the three from the USS LEE reported to the shop to receive their fitings.
The new foot ware was esquite.
A week later, the second set was received.
The dress uniforms were flawless.
Erica had a wonderful time taking "her three gentlemen" shopping for various items.
These were the highlights of the pre-CPO Initation.
They were given green Navy Ledger books with a label "CHARGE BOOK". The book had a chain which clipped to a belt

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