Here is the next Chapter of my Memoir/Novel, Lost and Found.
Be well — be in peace,
Ron Rink
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The day when we would learn about our duty assignments finally came. We were marched to a part of the base where we hadn’t been before. The room we were sent to was very similar to some of the classrooms we had been in.
After most of us were all seated, a Chief Petty Officer walked into the room and ordered us to stand at attention. A few seconds later a Lieutenant walked into the room, saluted us as we saluted him, removed his cap and told us to be seated.
The Lieutenant was the most military-looking officer I had seen since I began boot camp. His posture was perfect – his salute was the snappiest one I’d ever imagined – his shoes were so shined you could see your face in them – his haircut was immaculate – even the way he spoke was stiff and formal.
“Gentlemen,” he began, “You are all to be congratulated for completing your training with flying colors. Your marks in all aspects of the training are among the best we’ve ever seen here at Great Lakes. You are no longer Seaman Recruits, and will be receiving your stripes as Seaman Apprentices before the day is done. We’re very proud of you.”
I found I was wondering if this was the standard speech given to every group of recruits reaching this point in their training. I suspected it was.
“Your next duty assignments have been issued and will be posted on the bulletin board outside of this room. The list will be in alphabetical order by your last names. You will receive further instructions on how to get to your assignments sometime tomorrow. Any questions?”
He paused and looked around the room. Even in this action his eyes were so penetrating it seemed as if you did have a question he would probably be able to pick it right out of your mind.
Seconds later he said, “Hearing none, I will wish you all good luck and good sailing!”
We were again ordered to stand at attention while the Lieutenant marched out of the room. We didn’t salute each other this time because the Lieutenant held his cap in his hand as he left the room. I was disappointed because I wanted to see another one of his salutes so I could practice mine to make it more snappy. The Chief then ordered us to stand at ease.
The moment the Chief left the room we all scrambled to get outside to see what our assignments were. Jim was the first one to make it the bulletin board and said as he saw me coming out of the room, “I’m going to Charleston, South Carolina to the USS Rice.”
I saw Joe was the next one to make it to the list, but he was gone by the time I made it out the door. I finally made it to the list and saw I was also going to Charleston and the USS Rice. I went looking for Jim and Joe to tell them, when Ralph came up behind me and said, “I’m going to the USS Rice. I tried to check where the rest of us were heading, but I got pushed aside too fast. Where are you going?”
I said, “Me too and so is Jim. I don’t know about Joe yet. I didn’t see him after he checked the list. C’mon, let’s go find him.”
I was already getting excited knowing at least three of us were going to the same place. I felt myself almost praying Joe would get the same assignment. As Ralph and I went out the door of the building, I could see Jim and Joe standing together, both smiling from ear-to-ear as they were punching each other on the arms. I pointed to them and gave a punch on Ralph’s arm as I yelled, “Looks like Joe’s going too!”
We started walking a lot faster to reach them. We were four very happy men.
As it turned out, many of the guys in our unit were assigned to the USS Rice.
A couple of days later we had packed up all our gear and were headed for a long and boring overnight train ride to Charleston. I did learn to sharpen up some skills at poker on the way down south, but considering how little I remembered as I wrote this about the train ride, I must have slept a good part of the time. The trip was basically uneventful and the “box lunches and dinners” we got were awful-tasting.
When we arrived in Charleston, we mustered in at the Charleston Naval Shipyard and were assigned to the USS Arcadia for an interim stay since our ship still needed a lot of work to make it ready for sailors to live aboard.
At our first mustering in, most of us were informed we were scheduled for a leave and could go home if we wanted or we could go into Charleston for seven days, or we could stay around the shipyard and bunk in aboard the Arcadia.
Jim, Ralph and Joe decided to go home for the leave. When they realized that I wouldn’t be going they became more curious about why I never talked about my parents or my life in Detroit. Jim said, “I know my parents would help you with paying for the trip if you want to go. They already know you’re one of the “Four Musketeers”, so you’re already part of the family.”
I said, “I know you guys want to know more about what’s up with me and my life, but let’s talk more about it when you return from leave. I think I’ll just hang around here to get better acquainted with the Navy Yard. I may even go into town during the day and check it out.”
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