Sea Stories

I graduated Texas A&M in May 1984 and spent the next 24 years in the U. S. Navy.  I retired in July 2008 after (surprisingly) achieving the rank of Commander.  Here, I thought I'd relate some of my experiences in the service of my country in no particular chronological order.

Question: What's the difference between a Fairy Tale and a Sea Story?

Answer: The first starts with "Once upon a time..." while the other starts with "Hey!  This is a no
sh!tter...."

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Contents

May 23, 2014: Midshipman Chisholm is awarded his Commission

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May 23, 2014: Midshipman Chisholm is awarded his Commission

Wow, it's hard to believe I was commissioned 30 years ago.....

Saturday, May 5, 1984 - College Station, TX

What a week!  Finished my finals.  My Senior Project was officially accepted.  Paid a parking ticket I never knew I had (that was a diploma hold).  Yesterday morning, my Father read me my oath of office in the private Navy commissioning ceremony with my family and girlfriend in attendance.  Last night, I received my BS degree in Computer Science.  And, today is my official commissioning ceremony with the Commandant of the Marine Corps, P. X. Kelley as the Commissioning Officer.

To say I am excited would be an understatement.  Last December I'd traveled to Crystal City,  home of Naval Reactors, for my Nuclear Power acceptance interview.  For some bizarre reason, ADM McKee saw fit to accept me into the program, and I start Nuclear Power School in Orlando FL in about three weeks.

The ceremony will be long as there are a lot of people getting commissioned in the Marine Corps, Navy, Army and Air Force.  The Marines will go first as is fitting given the identity of the Commissioning Officer, followed by the Navy and everyone else. File out of our seats by row.  Line up smartly.  March up the stairs and across the stage.  Stop in front of the Commandant.  Right Face.  Hand Salute.  Shake hand with your right hand while accepting your fake commission with your left.  Hand Salute.  Left Face and march off stage and back to your seat.  No problem.

So, here we are.  The Marines are clicking right through.  Looks like the Commandant is saying something to everyone, so be prepared.  Looks like about three seconds with the General.  I got this.

Funny, I expected the Commandant of the Marine Corps to be about 10 feet tall.  This guy is a bit shorter than my 6'1".  Here we go.  Don't trip on the stairs.  Don't race across the stage.  Halt.  Right Face.  Hand ...

AAARRGGGGHHH!!!!  The glare!  Can't see a damn thing!  Spotlight shining off the stars on his uniform.

... Salute.

"Good morning, Ensign."

"Good morning, Sir!"

"Where you off to?"

OH MY GOD.  A QUIZ!  Thinkthinkthinkthinkthink!  Florida.  A city in Florida.  THINK!

"Pensacola, Sir!"

"Ah.  Going to Flight School?"

"No, Sir; Nuke School!"

"I thought that was in Orlando."

"It is, Sir!"

(This is taking way longer than three seconds.  I can hear the crowd hush in the background.)

"So, why are you going to Pensacola?"

"I'm not, Sir!  I'm going to Orlando!"

"Are you sure?"

"Not anymore, Sir!"

"Well, congratulations."

"Thank you, Sir!"

Hand Salute.  Left Face.  Slink off the stage.  Slither back to my seat.

"Hey, Chis!  What was that all about?"

"Nothing.  I know his daughter."

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