50 Years Ago Today, Mux steams towards Rio for the first time!
(Excerpt from “The Last Gun Ship - History of USS Mullinnix DD-944” - A Historical Novel By Frank A. Wood)
...1 July 1958 found the Mullinnix and Ranger departing Trinidad, steaming towards Rio de Janeiro, Brazil per USS Ranger Op-Order 4-58. After clearing the Gulf of Paria and securing the Special Sea Detail, Mullinnix began plane guard detail as the Ranger continued flight operations.
An Officer of the Deck (OOD) is always on the bridge when a ship is underway. Each OOD stands a four-hour watch and is the officer designated by the Commanding Officer to be in charge of the ship. The OOD is responsible for the safety and operation of the ship, including navigation, ship handling, communications, routine tests and inspections, reports, supervision of the watch team, and carrying out the Plan of the Day.
When a ship suffers damage, even minor damage, the OOD is responsible and the shit hits the fan. Steaming 4000 yards astern of Ranger, ENS Edward A. Brewton was on top of the world. He was well on his way to a successful career in the Navy and at the moment was in command of the Navy’s newest destroyer. Standing tall underneath his newly minted blue ball cap and dressed in starched Ensign attire with gleaming unscratched Ensign bars mounted on his shoulders, he was king.
Brewton surveyed the Mullinnix bridge in the radiance of the day. She looked like home to him. He approved of her, she suggested sanctuary, respectability and endurance, and she had dignity. Whether arrogance or ignorance, whether lack of training or common sense, Brewton made a series of decisions that resulted in Mullinnix dead in the water and the Captain’s gig in the water. The deck log entry stated, “minor damage to the gig resulted from improper seamanship”.
QM3 Richard “Buss” Bussey, the Quartermaster of the Watch, leered at Brewton out of the corner of his eye with a look the said simply, “How bad does it suck to be you?”
Brewton’s world imploded on him. His crumpled face resembled a tennis ball that had been left several days in the rain. Punishment was swift and severe – restricted to quarters and suspended from duty for ten days. What wasn’t recorded in the deck log – the probable end of a Naval career...
To be continued...
Cheers,
Woody
...1 July 1958 found the Mullinnix and Ranger departing Trinidad, steaming towards Rio de Janeiro, Brazil per USS Ranger Op-Order 4-58. After clearing the Gulf of Paria and securing the Special Sea Detail, Mullinnix began plane guard detail as the Ranger continued flight operations.
An Officer of the Deck (OOD) is always on the bridge when a ship is underway. Each OOD stands a four-hour watch and is the officer designated by the Commanding Officer to be in charge of the ship. The OOD is responsible for the safety and operation of the ship, including navigation, ship handling, communications, routine tests and inspections, reports, supervision of the watch team, and carrying out the Plan of the Day.
When a ship suffers damage, even minor damage, the OOD is responsible and the shit hits the fan. Steaming 4000 yards astern of Ranger, ENS Edward A. Brewton was on top of the world. He was well on his way to a successful career in the Navy and at the moment was in command of the Navy’s newest destroyer. Standing tall underneath his newly minted blue ball cap and dressed in starched Ensign attire with gleaming unscratched Ensign bars mounted on his shoulders, he was king.
Brewton surveyed the Mullinnix bridge in the radiance of the day. She looked like home to him. He approved of her, she suggested sanctuary, respectability and endurance, and she had dignity. Whether arrogance or ignorance, whether lack of training or common sense, Brewton made a series of decisions that resulted in Mullinnix dead in the water and the Captain’s gig in the water. The deck log entry stated, “minor damage to the gig resulted from improper seamanship”.
QM3 Richard “Buss” Bussey, the Quartermaster of the Watch, leered at Brewton out of the corner of his eye with a look the said simply, “How bad does it suck to be you?”
Brewton’s world imploded on him. His crumpled face resembled a tennis ball that had been left several days in the rain. Punishment was swift and severe – restricted to quarters and suspended from duty for ten days. What wasn’t recorded in the deck log – the probable end of a Naval career...
To be continued...
Cheers,
Woody
posted by Frank A. Wood at 09:53
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