Today we were coming in to Charleston SC around noontime so it was our final day at sea. Our group was assigned to Daywork on our last day so I was up early to help with food. After breakfast and a clean up of the Mess deck, I went up for the morning muster just before 08:00 and met the rest of my group. We were old hands at this by now so everyone was present. After being dismissed and calling out our “Alpha Company Aye!”, I hung out on the waist and met Orion, Katherine, Whitney and a few other were milling around talking about our last day.
Since a few of us were leaving today (like Calen) those people were already in their berth, packing up their gear. Those of us who were not leaving today made sure we were all to go into Charleston together whenever they let us. Whitney told us her parents were waiting down on the dock and would be leaving with them.
At 09:30, the TSA and other Eagle guests were called into the Wardroom for our debrief. We were thanked for our help aboard by Chief Willard who made sure he had all of our information down for our sea time again. The Chief asked if we would stay aboard long enough for the call to Quarters around 15:00 so the Captain could give them to us officially. After many pleasantries and some stories, we were dismissed but told we could check out the Wardroom.
At 09:30, the TSA and other Eagle guests were called into the Wardroom for our debrief. We were thanked for our help aboard by Chief Willard who made sure he had all of our information down for our sea time again. The Chief asked if we would stay aboard long enough for the call to Quarters around 15:00 so the Captain could give them to us officially. After many pleasantries and some stories, we were dismissed but told we could check out the Wardroom.
Rob brought me over the Journal written by a German officer in 1937 back when the Eagle was the Horst Wessel. He thought I might enjoy reviewing it as he had seen me work on my journal so many times before. It has original drawings in it from the officer R Kueppers which they were encouraged to do at the time. I did not do any drawing but I’ll be sure to add many of the photos from the trip.
I diligently took a photo of each page. I found out later my pictures turned out to be a bit of a waste of time as the USCG put the entire journal online:
1937 Logbook Translation German - English ... - U.S. Coast Guard
but I’m still glad I did it as I was able to read it a bit on my trip home. I passed the journal off to the other people wanting to see it.
Around 10:30, we were finally in site of land.
I diligently took a photo of each page. I found out later my pictures turned out to be a bit of a waste of time as the USCG put the entire journal online:
1937 Logbook Translation German - English ... - U.S. Coast Guard
but I’m still glad I did it as I was able to read it a bit on my trip home. I passed the journal off to the other people wanting to see it.
Around 10:30, we were finally in site of land.
It was almost odd to see so much of it again. Just before 11:00, we were nearing Fort Sumter and all available crew were on deck for the informal ceremony. Captain Pulver used the ships PA system to recite the history of Fort Sumter and it’s importance during the civil war.
I was back on the fantail along with many of the officers. Up on top of the CIC, a small gun crew set up about a 3 foot long brass cannon. It was a breach loading cannon (ammo loaded from the rear) and everyone around me had put on hearing protection. I know a few things about canons so I didn’t see why you would need this with so small a cannon unless you were standing right next to it. The Captain finished his recital and ordered the canon fired. I covered my right ear only as the small cannon popped off it’s salute.
As I expected, it was not very loud and I found out why. I talked to the gunnery crew as I noticed they popped out an empty shell casing from the breach of the cannon. It was a shotgun shell which made it really easy to load but also meant that it was just loud enough to get your attention.
I hung out on the fantail and noticed that the dolphins were following us in. Lot’s of people took pictures and I have to say it was pretty cool watching them follow us almost the entire way to port.
I hung out on the fantail and noticed that the dolphins were following us in. Lot’s of people took pictures and I have to say it was pretty cool watching them follow us almost the entire way to port.
I went down to the waist and noticed a lot of teenagers in military uniforms….wait, what? When did this happen? Apparently when I was off doing who knows what, I transport carrying a load of Junior ROTC dropped them off onboard to spend the day and night. There had to be at least 30 of them which was a problem when lunch was called later as the line was enormously long.
Around 11:20 we passed the Aircraft carrier Yorktown and went under the local bridge. We all knew we would fit under the bridge but even the bridge officer next to me noted that someone could probably have touched the bridge if they had been standing up on the top of the main.
The push boats eventually met us and helped bring us into the FLETC dock. FLETC is the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center that trains law enforcement from all branches of the military and civilian agencies. Unlike New London, It was a high security area so only people with security clearance could get in.
Around 12:20, Orion decided to start dressing the lines up so we both started coiling and hanging all the mains lines. While we were doing this, I noticed that when we lifted the lines up, the brass underneath was still not shined. There were still crewmen around shining the brass so I wanted to know how hard it would be to get these areas cleaned too. Crewman Ream was working on shining the brass so I joined her and she helped me with my “experiment”.
While we were working on the brass, other crew had been assigned dock lines and started hauling us in to the dock. While they called out the commands “Back easy! Take strain!” I couldn’t help but joke calling back “Back strain! I’m easy!”.
Crewman Ream and I shined hard and quite a while later (though it did look much better) there was still a lot of dirt we couldn’t get off. The only way this could get cleaned properly is to use a buffing machine so we abandoned the project though it was nice to get to know crewman Reams.
After we got the gangway in place, a truck came up and we formed a line to the trash stores around 13:45. I didn’t join the line immediately but got caught up in some other drama. Some OC’s had put on shirts that said “BEAT COAST GUARD”, referencing the football team. Apparently they had intended to wear them in front of the officers when they got their new ship assignments, Captain Pulver caught one of them on deck. He called out to him a few times without response until he yelled “Hey Shiny!” where the crewman finally looked over.
Captain Pulver called him over and humorously chewed him out and sent him away. He came back later with a new shirt on minus any slogans. In the meantime I set about helping offload the trash from the ship. It was a nasty job but it had to be done. When we finished, two other crewmen that had on the “BEAT COAST GUARD” shirts on emerged from the trash stores completely covered in trash. I guess another officer had caught them earlier and immediately assigned them trash duty IN the trash store room! Their shirts were covered in trash and they too went to clean up.
Unfortunately it was finally time for Calen to leave. It was hard to see him go but we joked and promised to stay in touch. He gave me a decorative knot he tied earlier to give to OC H Johnson and jokingly told me to tell her that he loves her. I promised to give it to her and saw him off.
Unfortunately it was finally time for Calen to leave. It was hard to see him go but we joked and promised to stay in touch. He gave me a decorative knot he tied earlier to give to OC H Johnson and jokingly told me to tell her that he loves her. I promised to give it to her and saw him off.
At 14:05 or so, every crewman available got into a new supply line. Once again we all worked together to pass from person to person tons of food to bring down to the ships dry stores. I was in line with Crewman Reams and my compatriot Jarvis. Like before, it seemed to take forever for the giant stack of supplies to go down. Any time some good food went by I’d joke it wasn’t going to make it to the end of the line. The red velvet cake had us all particularly tempted. After a while we finally got to the last boxes and each group cheered as it went by.
I went off and found Hollis Johnson and gave her the knot from Calen, making sure to quote him that he loved her. She got a kick out of it and I was sure to thank her for her help this week. I also took this opportunity to make sure I added her to the contact list.
At 15:15, the Call to Quarters went out and we all mustered on deck. The XO called out and handed awards to some crew members and announced some new permanent crew. The Xo then called up another crewman who publicly sang Happy Birthday to another crew member. It was obvious that this had become a regular routine for them.
At 15:15, the Call to Quarters went out and we all mustered on deck. The XO called out and handed awards to some crew members and announced some new permanent crew. The Xo then called up another crewman who publicly sang Happy Birthday to another crew member. It was obvious that this had become a regular routine for them.
The XO reminded the crew what their were to do safely in town and he and the Captain stressed and named how certain crew should absolutely get a hair cut when they get into Charleston.
Captain Pulver then took over and again thanked the TSA crew for their assistance and hoped the ongoing cooperation with the TSA would only grow. He then called out each of our names as we accepted our official Sea Time certificates and then dismissed us for our leave.
Captain Pulver then took over and again thanked the TSA crew for their assistance and hoped the ongoing cooperation with the TSA would only grow. He then called out each of our names as we accepted our official Sea Time certificates and then dismissed us for our leave.
Before leaving the ship, we were to talk to the OOD to make sure they knew we were out and about. I was happy to find out Orion and Katherine had decided to stay the night since they were going to rent a car together to drive down to Savannah tomorrow. So we tried to figure out where the van transportation was supposed to pick us up as we walked all the way down to the first entrance.
Elisabeth and Whitney told me they doubted it would be that far down but I said at worse we walk back again and get to see some of the facility. It was a massive facility and the NOAA ships at dock were like small cities. One had a massive crane on it that was used for loading and unloading the large NOAA buoys that also sported a small aircraft hangar aft.
Elisabeth and Whitney told me they doubted it would be that far down but I said at worse we walk back again and get to see some of the facility. It was a massive facility and the NOAA ships at dock were like small cities. One had a massive crane on it that was used for loading and unloading the large NOAA buoys that also sported a small aircraft hangar aft.
As expected, the vans were to meet us at the ship so we made our way back. As we did, I ran into and greeted Captain Pulver and XO Turdo dressed in plaid shorts and golfing shorts sporting their golf clubs. They were avid golfers and didn’t waste a moment going off to hit the local greens. I wished them good luck and it was after that Orion thought of a joke just a minute after we needed it. He wanted to call out “Be sure to get an Eagle!” but they had already got in their car, d’oh!
The first van was immediately full but we managed to finally get off around 16:45. The TSA group ended up being myself, Orion, Katherine, Elisabeth, Daniel, Wesley, Harris, Jen and Margaret.
We started walking around town looking for a place to eat and drink. We ended up at a nice place called Fleet Landing at a table that looked like it came from the middle ages with chairs that looked like thrones. After we sat down, I ordered appetizers for the group and to our surprise, Whitney walked in with her parents! They were fun people and immediately welcome.
At one point in our conversation, I was talking to Whitney’s mother Debbie. I remember I was lamenting the fact that I normally have to fight against my introverted personality and she joked that I was being quite successful at it.
At one point in our conversation, I was talking to Whitney’s mother Debbie. I remember I was lamenting the fact that I normally have to fight against my introverted personality and she joked that I was being quite successful at it.
After we finished the appetizers and drinks, we decided to find a better place to eat and with the help of our phone GPS’s, found our way to a local brewery called the Southend Brewery. It would be awhile before they could get us a table but Whitney and her parents hung around awhile longer before they headed out as they still had a long drive home.
Walking around town we had run into a few other crew members so it was no surprise when we ran into a bunch of the Kings Point crew at the brewery. We were told our tables were ready but the tables were all separate as they had heard us wrong. In the confusion, Wesley and I decided to take matters into our own hands and upset a few people as we moved tables around to accommodate our group. We got some nasty looks from the staff but it was too late by then se we all sat down for a good meal.
Walking around town we had run into a few other crew members so it was no surprise when we ran into a bunch of the Kings Point crew at the brewery. We were told our tables were ready but the tables were all separate as they had heard us wrong. In the confusion, Wesley and I decided to take matters into our own hands and upset a few people as we moved tables around to accommodate our group. We got some nasty looks from the staff but it was too late by then se we all sat down for a good meal.
We left the staff a good tip and made our way to a bar called the Upper Deck. To get to it, you have to go through a very narrow alley and up a stairwell. The place was pretty small but it had atmosphere. We ordered some drinks and settled on a table by the door. While we were talking, Katherine was doodling a ship so I challenged her to doodle the Eagle which she did in short time. So we all in turn doodled our own ships on the same napkin which I was sure to take a photo of.
It was now past midnight so we made out way back to the street. We stopped in a candy store and bought some presents for friends and well…us! Wesley and Daniel had already left before us and we found them less than a block away. Luck had it that our van pickup point was right there. We waited watching some college kids play around across the street for about ten minutes when our van pulled up. To our delight, Hollis Johnson was driving so I presented a large bag of candy to thank her and the other OC’s on our watch. She seemed happily surprised as she drove us back to FLETC.
We were exhausted by the time we got to the gate and Hollis showed her military ID to the gate commander. We were told that the gate would have our names but as soon as the guard found out we did not have military ID’s, we were set to the office or as I like to call it, “detention”.
We were exhausted by the time we got to the gate and Hollis showed her military ID to the gate commander. We were told that the gate would have our names but as soon as the guard found out we did not have military ID’s, we were set to the office or as I like to call it, “detention”.
It’s now well past midnight and we’re ready to drop. We had to wait in line and get interviewed one by one. Once we passed the interview, they took our picture and issued each of us a temporary ID. The cards were a black and white print out and didn’t show a lot of detail. I’m sure I could have switched with Orion and no one would have been the wiser.
Finally we were all processed and we loaded back into the van. Hollis drove up to the gate and the guard waved us through. Katherine pointed out that he didn’t even bother to check our ID’s so anyone could have got in the van at that point. We checked in with the OOD and all made our way back to our berths to conk out for the night.
Day Ten:
http://emaxadventure.weebly.com/1/category/day%20ten/1.html
Finally we were all processed and we loaded back into the van. Hollis drove up to the gate and the guard waved us through. Katherine pointed out that he didn’t even bother to check our ID’s so anyone could have got in the van at that point. We checked in with the OOD and all made our way back to our berths to conk out for the night.
Day Ten:
http://emaxadventure.weebly.com/1/category/day%20ten/1.html