| Getting
Religion by Len Scuito, former QMC(SS), CDR USCG retired |
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The USS Bang (SS-385) was enroute back
to New London in late 1969. We were off of the Carolinas. Hurricane Anne (
name as I recall ) was stirring things up a bit on the surface. We had
been running submerged to offset the turbulence from the storm. There were
many seasick sailors that night. The captain waited as long as he could.
We needed to charge batteries.
After several attempts to snorkel and charge batteries failed, the captain ordered the boat to the surface. A rush of cold air flooded the boat as the hatch was cracked and opened. The lookouts scrambled to the bridge along with the QMOW (me) and the OOD. As we got the our stations and did a surface scan, the boat pitched and rolled violently and it was damn cold. John Monroe (CS3(SS)), the starboard lookout was freezing his ass off. He wasn't wearing enough clothing. After few minutes, John was heard to say" God's cock, it's damn cold out here." At that moment the boat rolled to starboard (Monroe's side) and continued to roll without recovering until the inclinometers below read almost fifty degrees. As the boat just hung there, John was heard to say" I'm sorry God. I'm sorry God. I won't ever swear again. I'll be good. I promise." Well, right after those solemn words were aired, the boat recovered. We recharged batteries and dove to 100 feet and continued onto New London. John changed his ways that night. |
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