Wound UP
by Gary Sievers, TMC/SS Ret
As a young sailor standing helmsman/planesman duties on the Alexander Hamilton, it was my turn to do the morning report. The normal wording of course is,"Good morning Captain, the officer of the deck sends his respects and reports the hour of 0800. All chronometers have been wound and compared and presents the following reports."
The power of suggestion is a powerful weapon and the control room party had been saying part of the report should be "all clocks have been found and wound". That's what I said and the CO's reply was, "Very well son, dismissed."
Back in the control room all was normal. I hadn't said anything and the CO walks in and says to the Diving Officer, "COB, next time the clocks need to be found and wound you will assist the quartermaster!"
The control room was in an uproar and the COB red.
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