"The Old Outfit"

By a World War Two Sailor

Come gather round me lads and I'll tell you a thing or two, about the way we ran the Navy in nineteen and forty two. When wooden ships and iron men were barely out of sight; I am going to give you some facts, just to set the record right. We wore the ole bell bottoms, with a flat hat on our head; and we always hit the sack at night - we never "went to bed." Our uniforms were worn ashore, and we were mighty proud. Never thought of wearing civvies, in fact they were not allowed. Now, when a ship puts out to sea, I'll tell you son it hurts, when suddenly you notice that half the crew's wearing skirts! And it's hard for me to imagine a female boatswains mate, stopping on the Quarter deck to make sure her stockings are straight. What happened to the KiYi brush, and the old salt-water bath? Holy stoning decks at night, cause you stirred old Bosn's wrath! We always had our gedunk stand and lots of pogey bait. And it always took a hitch or two, just to make a rate. In your seabag all your skivvies, were neatly rolled and stopped; and the blankets on your sack had better have a three-inch fold. Your little ditty bag: it's hard to believe just how much it held; and you wouldn't go ashore with pants that hadn't been spiked and belled. We had scullery maids and succotash and good old S.O.S.; and when you felt like topping off, you headed for the mess. Oh we had our belly robbers, but there weren't too many gripes; for the deck apes were never hungry and there were no starving snipes. Now, you never hear of Davey Jones, Shellbacks or Polliwogs; and you never splice the mainbrace to receive your daily grog. Now you never have to dog a watch or stand the main event. You even tie your lines today; back in my time they were bent. We were all two-fisted drinkers - and no one thought you sinned, if you staggered back aboard your ship, three sheets to the wind! And with just a couple hours of sleep you regained your usual luster: bright eyed and bushy tailed, you still made morning muster! Rocks and shoals have long since gone, and now it's U.C.M.J.; Back then the old man handled everything if you should go astray. Now they steer the ships with dials, and I wouldn't be surprised, if some day they sailed the damned things from the beach - computerized. So when my earthly hitch is over, and the good Lord picks the best, I'll walk right up to Him and say, "Sir, I have but one request: Let me sail the seas of Heaven in a coat of Navy blue, like I did so long ago on earth, way back in forty two."

... Jim, "The Chief"

Submitted by Dick Gill

Back to "The Old Navy"

Back to TenderTale Main Page