The Brown Shoes Project

June 30, 1996

The Continued Saga of Lieutenant Intrepid

by Capt S. T. Zink, USN (Ret)

The tale begins aboard the USS WASP (CVA-18) that was tied up at a pier near Balboa, Panama. WASP was en route from San Diego to Boston via South America and the Horn, carrying 150 cars belonging to ship's company personnel but no air group or aircraft. During this time in February 1957, our hero, Lieutenant Intrepid, and other ship's company aviators were making ends meet courtesy of the U. S. Army, who provided L-19 aircraft rides for proficiency flight time.

On this particular day, LT Intrepid assumed the 0800-1200 watch as in port Officer of the Deck (OOD), at the starboard (forward brow) quarterdeck. During the change over of the watch, our fearless OOD read the standing orders that were inscribed in the green ledger book. Included as instructions were words to the effect that foreign visitors were not to be permitted on board that particular day, for security reasons.

All went well on the watch for about two hours as loading and unloading progressed, while ship's personnel went about their duties on shore, and during the times the usual 1MC commands were heard to say "Now hear this"! But the trap was set.

Aware that he had carried out his orders swiftly and precisely, your hero, the OOD, was proud that he had protected the USS WASP from invasion. He thought he could even be commended for his presence of mind and leadership skills. He was unaware that the trap had been sprung.

Thirty minutes later, down the Captain's ladder came the Executive Officer, who demanded to know the whereabouts of the Captain's guests who had been expected at 1000. Your aghast OOD, showing him the standing orders, plead the fifth. Soon, also arriving at the quarterdeck, were the Command Duty Officer, the Navigator, and the Assistant Navigator, who in turn inspected the standing orders.Instead of receiving expected commendation(s), LT

Intrepid was soon led to believe that this international incident might have been avoided had he simply checked and verified his orders at the time of the incident. Several sets of eyes inspected LT Intrepid without mercy, as even more truths were spoken with complete candor.

After being relieved of the watch at 1145, a totally crestfallen LT Intrepid again repaired to his stateroom, missing the noon meal. Dreams of glory faded, and our hero broke out yet again the Watch Officer's Guide, taking solace in the thought that possibly he had learned something that might be useful in the future. Even written orders could be suspect.

At approximately 1000, a decrepit bus drove down the Balboa pier and stopped in front of the officer's gangway and commenced unloading. Out of the bus filed 25 unarmed soldiers in foreign uniforms. LT Intrepid, with quick presence of mind, ordered two Navy shore patrolmen and one boatswain's mate standing by near the quarterdeck to intercept the foreign visitors and escort them back aboard the bus.

Despite a total language barrier, with appropriate hand signals and gestures, the shore patrolmen and boatswain's mate carried out their orders promptly. The foreign soldiers were pushed and shoved back on board the bus under strenuous protest, with some arms and legs sticking out as the doors closed and the bus departed.

Aware that he had carried out his orders swiftly and precisely, your hero, the OOD, was proud that he had protected the USS WASP from invasion. He thought he could even be commended for his presence of mind and leadership skills. He was unaware that the trap had been sprung.

Thirty minutes later, down the Captain's ladder came the Executive Officer, who demanded to know the whereabouts of the Captain's guests who had been expected at 1000. Your aghast OOD, showing him the standing orders, plead the fifth. Soon, also arriving at the quarterdeck, were the Command Duty Officer, the Navigator, and the Assistant Navigator, who in turn inspected the standing orders.

Instead of receiving expected commendation(s), LT Intrepid was soon led to believe that this international incident might have been avoided had he simply checked and verified his orders at the time of the incident. Several sets of eyes inspected LT Intrepid without mercy, as even more truths were spoken with complete candor.

After being relieved of the watch at 1145, a totally crestfallen LT Intrepid again repaired to his stateroom, missing the noon meal. Dreams of glory faded, and our hero broke out yet again the Watch Officer's Guide, taking solace in the thought that possibly he had learned something that might be useful in the future. Even written orders could be suspect.

November 7, 1995

The Continued Saga of Lieutenant Intrepid

by Capt S.T. Zink, USN (Ret)

The scene unfolds aboard the USS WASP (then a CVS) that was standing to, off the coast of New Hampshire on the Fourth of July, 1957, on a clear day.  Our hero, Lieutenant Intrepid, a naval aviator and one who prided himself on naval customs and regulations, manned the starboard (forward brow) quarter-deck as Officer of the Deck (OOD) during the noon watch.

Expected to arrive in the Captain’s gig at 1400 at a location 200 yards abeam of the USS WASP, was the Governor of New Hampshire and his distinguished party. Upon reaching this point, the gig’s coxswain had been briefed to parallel the bird farm and lie to, bring the Governor up on deck, and standby as the Governor received his honors: a 19 gun salute from the USS WASP.

Beginning about 1300, our fearless OOD arranged for the saluting battery to be manned on the starboard bow. Then, two sound powered telephone talkers were placed in communication with each other, one stationed at the saluting battery, and one at the side of Lieutenant Intrepid, our dauntless aviator.

Setting the mousetrap, your aweless OOD briefed his sound powered telephone talker as follows: “Pass this word to the saluting battery: ‘Standby, and the next command you will hear will be fire, at which time you will fire a 19 gun salute.’” The sound powered telephone talker carried out his orders smartly and perfectly.

Observing the Captain’s gig through the long glass as the gig departed shore, our unwary OOD, resplendent in dress whites with sword, white gloves, and medals (two), exuded confidence to all who surrounded the quarterdeck, including the Executive Officer, the Navigator, the Air Operations Officer, and the Assistant Navigator.

As the Captain’s gig steadily approached at approximately 300 yards distance, somebody’s OOD, thinking to make sure the saluting battery was still ready, asked the sound powered telephone talker to pass this word: “Standby to fire!” The mousetrap was sprung.

Hearing the first shot of the 19 gun salute, the coxswain immediately hove to, parallel to the USS WASP, and pushed the Governor up on deck. At the same time, several senior officers near the quarterdeck yelled “Cease fire!” The unknown, failing OOD then commanded by sound powered telephone, “Cease fire!”

The saluting battery ceased firing after the second round. As the totally dismayed OOD observed through the long glass, the coxswain quickly recovered and stuffed the Governor down below, then proceeded to the designated 200 yard offset, again heaving to. This time, LT Intrepid faultlessly executed the 19 gun salute, and the Governor and his distinguished party were brought on board USS WASP without further ado.

Suffering from great pangs of guilt and shame, Lieutenant Intrepid took a very quiet evening meal in the wardroom, not speaking to anyone. He then slunk out to his stateroom to reflect on all of his sins and do lengthy penance.

It is postulated as a true story that the Governor of New Hampshire is the only United States Governor to have received a 21 gun salute from a capitol U. S. Navy ship. Even so, our courageous OOD survived a full career in the U. S. Navy, which speaks well for the forgiveness of sins and cancellation of abject shame.

Names have been withheld to protect the innocent and, fortunately, the guilty. Further punishment is neither required nor desired.